As Harry and I walk hand in hand up the steps at school, I notice the stares and whispers have, for the most part, subdued. I guess people have finally figured out Harry was ready for commitment.

It felt good going to school today. Other than my impending decision to move back home or not, for once in a few days everything feels at ease. Harry and I are great so I guess that makes everything around us feel better.


"Hey Addie," A familiar voice was heard from behind Harry in the hall, and without looking, Harry's shoulders tensed and his eyes went dark.

"Hi Max." I shot him a polite smile and looked back at Harry, hoping he would get the idea that I didn't want to further that conversation.

Once Max walked past the both of us, I waited until the halls cleared a little before speaking to Harry. "I'm not taking back what I said earlier, but I need to be polite. You have nothing to worry about, okay?"

Harry looked at me with a pained expression before letting his hands rest on my waist. "Okay." He exhaled and kissed my cheek. "Let's get to bio."

Once we sat down in biology, Harry seemed to relax when he noticed I didn't speak to Max. I hated that it had to come down to this, but I didn't want to risk losing Harry over Max, a guy who has feelings for me that I can not return.

Glancing to the front of the room, I see Alicia and feel guilty for not telling her really anything that has been going on between Harry and I. We've also become very close, so I feel bad for not talking to her more. She tells me just about everything, so I should make the same effort. That's what friends do, right?

"Today we are going to begin our unit on Macromolecules." Ms. Davis begins after the bell sounds. I see my phone light up and grab it from my book bag, but hide it under the desk so I don't get caught. Normally I wouldn't bother checking my phone during class, but I notice it's a message from my dad so I am naturally curious. He usually waits until after school if he wants to tell me something.


From: Dad
Sorry for bothering you at school, but your mom is coming for dinner and insisted that you invite Harry. It could be nice to get to know him a little better. Will you ask him and see if he wants to stop by?


I smile discretely recognizing the effort my dad's trying to make. Despite the fact that he has agreed to let me see Harry, I know a still has reservations.

I elbow Harry who looks like he is about to fall asleep and hand him my phone to look at the message. He reads it over and then gives me the device back.

"I'll be there." He says quietly. I can't help but smile at his quick agreement. I'm glad my father is trying and Harry isn't too nervous to attend dinner.


The day goes by quickly with nothing out of the ordinary happening. Usually around this point in the school year I feel like I'm stuck in a routine of school, homework, eat, sleep, but this year, I have yet to dread waking up knowing I have Harry to keep my life refreshing. He really is a nice break in my life, always keeping me in high spirits.

"I have to stop at home, but I'll be over for dinner?" Harry says as we pull up to my house after school.

"Yeah, thanks again for agreeing to come. I'll make sure my dad is on my best behavior." I smile and lean over to kiss him.

"I'm the one that you should worry about," he laughs. "Last time I talked to your dad I nearly killed him."

I had almost forgotten about that incident. "Well I have faith in you." I giggled before giving him one more kiss. "See you tonight."

I step out of the car and walk up to my house. This night could go terribly or it could just be like the first time Harry came to dinner with Anne. I know my dad has promised me that he would give Harry a fair chance, but I'm worried his fatherly instincts will kick in if Harry says anything remotely unexpected.


"Walker!" I immediately stop walking and turn around when someone yells my name. "I know your name is Walker but quit walking!" Alicia jogs towards me almost out of breath.

"What are you doing here?" I laugh when she finally stops in front of me.

"I just dropped Eleanor off at Louis' and saw you." She says while trying to catch her breath.

"What's up?"

"I need to talk to you about Max, you got a minute?"

Oh crap. I really do not want to talk about this right now. I can't lie to her, but telling her the truth is going to be hard. She's one of Max's best friends so I'm not sure she'll think my plan to stay away from him is a good one.

I ponder her question and decide I need to tell her. If she's really my friend she'll understand. "Uh, yeah sure. Come inside?"

Alicia smiled and followed me to my bedroom upstairs. After plopping down in the chair sitting in the corner of the room, she waited for me to sit on my bed to commence the impending conversation.

"Okay so I'm just going to ask. . . Did Max do something to you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know, like anything out of the usual?"

"No?" Well he had confessed that he liked me and wished I wasn't dating Harry, but I don't think that is what Alicia is talking about.

"He was just really upset today, like angry not sad. He wouldn't talk to me and I got worried so I kept an eye on him. He kept looking at you and I know you guys were together yesterday so I thought you may have something to do with it."

Dammit! Maybe I shouldn't tell her. The way she is so worried about her friend right now makes me feel even more guilty for practically ditching Max for my boyfriend.

"Nothing happened." I simply replied, with a shrug trying to keep my cool.

"Look Addie. I may not be the smartest girl in the world but I can tell that something is up. If Max did something, you can tell me, you know that right? He is one of my friends but so are you."

"Alicia, it's fine!" I force a smile.

"Okay but you'll let me know if something does happen? You can tell me anything." She insists. She really is a good friend and I should tell her, but I can't bring myself to it.

"I know that," I smile honestly this time. "Thanks for the concern though. I'm lucky to have a friend like you."

She smiles back before leaning forward on the chair with a determined look in her eyes. "Okay well now that that's covered, tell me about you and Harry! You never talk about him and I need to know everything!"

"Like what?" I blushed. Other than Grace, I've never had a 'girlfriend' to chat with about this stuff. Hell, I didn't even talk to Grace about this stuff. Back home I didn't have any boys on my radar, so it was usually her beaming about a guy or crying after a bad break up. I'd always be the one listening, never the one with the stories.

"Like do you guys go on dates? Is he still an asshole? How's the sex? I bet he's got a big-" She trails off smiling to herself, but I have to stop before she keeps going on.

"Alicia!" I shriek.

"Sorry." She offers an apologetic smile. "But really, how is it? He's treating you well?"

"Yes, we are just fine." I assure her.

We sit in my room for another hour or so before her mom calls her and tells her she needs to get home. Even though I was worried about talking to her about Max, it warms my heart that I finally have a real friend to talk about normal things with. Not a cousin that was forced to my friend, but a real friend. Life here is definitely not as bad as I had anticipated.

---

"Addie! Dinners ready and Harry's here!" I hear my dad call from downstairs, bringing a smile to my face.

I quickly shut my math textbook and run downstairs hoping I didn't leave Harry alone with my parents for too long. I'm sure that'd be awkward for him.

"Hey," I smile when Harry is standing at the bottom of the stairs. He pulls me into a hug and kisses me.

"Hey." He smiles back.

"Hungry?"

"Always," he winks. "But I guess dinner will hold me over until later."

"Harry." I whisper with wide eyes but can't keep myself from giggling.

"Are you two going to join us?" My mom break us from our little moment when she calls from the kitchen. Harry takes my hand and leads me to the other room.

Notes

Hey guys! Sorry for not updating yesterday and fpr this this chapter... This has possibly been one of the worst weeks of my life, but I will make up for these short filler chapters in the next updates!

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