The Deal

*Olivia Harper*

I lay on my back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. I felt uneasy, and stupid.

Over the years, since mum had died, I’d managed to keep every feeling bottled up safely inside. I didn’t want anyone to know, or to feel sorry for me. I knew they did anyway, and I hated it. I hated the sad look in people’s eyes when they watched me, knowing that I’d lost the reason for my existence and that I was suffering. What was it to them, if I was suffering? It was my problem, not theirs.

But Harry. How had Harry managed to get me to open up to him? And the worst part was, he didn’t even try, he didn’t even ask me. I told him—like an idiot, I let everything spill out.

I wondered why it was so easy to talk to him. I recalled his perfectly still form, his piercing green eyes watching me curiously as I spoke, and he listened silently. The disgusting pity that I saw in other people’s eyes was never there in Harry’s eyes when I talked about mum. His smile was strangely comforting, and it would ease the pain that would come along with remembering the fact that I didn’t have my mother anymore.

I felt comfortable with Harry. That was the truth, and I would never admit it out loud. I would never even have admitted it to myself. His presence made me feel relaxed, and for some strange reason, it made feel safe. When I was with Harry, I felt like no matter problem I was going to have to face, I’d be able to face it. I was suddenly becoming a lot more dependant on this curly haired boy, and I wasn’t sure if I liked it. I didn’t want him to affect me in any other way except physically, like he was supposed to.

I couldn’t help but wonder if my deal with Harry was turning out to be more than just what it was supposed to be about.

—-

*Harry Styles*

I walked out of class, feeling good. Great, I thought to myself, a free period. And after having to endure my economic’s teacher drone on and on about supply and demand, it was a well deserved free period.

To my surprise, as I was stuffing my books into my locker, Lexi walked up to me.

“Hey, Harry!” she said brightly. I smiled at her.

“Hi, there.” I replied. I recalled the day at Niall’s house, when Lexi had kissed me. That reminded me of Olivia’s face when she watched us, and I had to hold back a smirk.

“I was wondering if you were free this evening.” she said.

“Why?”

“You see,” she said, “I need help with my French homework. My grades are horrible, and if I don’t get any help, I’m going to fail in the test that’s coming up next week. Your french is good, right?”

I shrugged. “Decent, I guess.”

“Will you help me, then?” she asked, looking up at me from under her lashes. “Please?”

I nodded. “Sure.” I told her.

“Great!” she said happily, and to my surprise, she jumped up to kiss my cheek. “Thank you, you’re a sweet heart. I’ll see you at my house then? I’ll text you the address.”

“Erm, sure.” I agreed, and watched her skip off to her next class.

—-

I knocked on Olivia’s classroom door, and waited for the teacher to open the door. He did so, and looked at me questioningly.

“Can I help you, Mr. Styles?”

“Sir,” I said in a polite tone, “Ms. Grant wants Olivia to meet her in the staff room. She says it’s urgent.”

I watched as the tiny old man grumbled under his breath and asked Olivia to leave the classroom. She walked up to me and I smiled at her. She returned the smile, but there was some sort of defensiveness in her eyes, something closed off about her. I frowned, and reached out to take her bag from her. A few girls in the class aw’ed, but Olivia only shook her head.

“I’ll take them,” she mumbled.

The door shut behind us, and I gestured at Olivia to follow outside to the lawns. “I’m surprised this works every time,” I said.

“What works?” she asked me.

“Getting you out of class like this,” I said, as we walked into the open grounds. The area was completely deserted, with all students and teachers in class. “Don’t the teachers suspect?”

“I suppose you charm them with that smile of yours.” she joked, and I turned to grin at her.

“Mm, I suppose I do.” I said, and then leaned into her. “Do I charm you with my smile, Harper?”

I watched as a slow blush spread across her cheeks and she smiled. But almost immediately, the defensiveness in her eyes was back and her smile vanished, and she stepped back. I frowned.

“What’s wrong?” I asked her.

“Harry,” she said, not looking at me. “I’m not really in the mood.”

“What?” I asked, surprised. “Why?”

“I just…” she mumbled. “I don’t know.”

I leaned in again, trying to capture her lips with mine. “I can get you in the mood.” I said, smirking.

She turned her face. “No, Harry.” she said, and my lips made contact with her cheek instead.

“Oh come on, Harper,” I said, brushing my lips against her neck.

“Harry—”

I moved to her collarbone. “You know you want it.” I said.

“Stop it, Harry!” she said loudly, and pushed me. I stumbled backwards and stared at her, stunned.

“What’s up with you today?” I asked her.

“I told you.” she said. “I’m not in the mood.”

“Is everything okay?” I asked her. “Did something happen at home?”

To my surprise, her eyes widened in anger. “God, what is it to you?” she spat at me. “You’re so nosy, Harry. Why do you always want to know every damn thing? Just leave me alone!”

I stared at her, hurt. “I was just asking, I thought if something happened—”

“Then it’s probably none of your business!” she snapped. “And honestly, why does it suprise you so much if I don’t want to have sex with you once in a while? Keep it in your pants!”

An uneasy silence settled over us, as I struggled to reply. I was shocked with the way she was behaving. I wasn’t sure what was wrong. Was it something I did? Or something I said? Or was this really an issue with her parents at home?

Whatever it was, I knew I wasn’t staying a moment longer. I was honestly hurt by the way she snapped at me, and i thought that giving her the space she needed was the best thing to do.

“Okay, if…you know, you don’t want to, then I guess you should go back to class.” I told her, my voice low. “I’ll, erm, see you around or whatever.”

Immediately, her expression changed and she sighed. “No, wait, Harry—” she grabbed my arm, but I shook her off.

“I just remembered I had some work to do.” I lied, stepping back. “Louis, er, wanted a few notes. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Harry, wait!” she pleaded, but I was already walking into school, walking away from her.

—-

*Olivia Harper*

For the rest of the day, I couldn’t concentrate on my work. Not only what i was doing in school, but also no matter what I did throughout the day, my mind was on Harry.

I was wrong. I shouldn’t have snapped at him like that. Everything that we had talked about the night at the fair, and everything I had felt later was still playing on my mind. I was scared of Harry getting to me like had managed to the last two times or so, and so I had lashed out.

I needed to apologize to him, wanted to apologize to him, but I didn’t see him for the rest of the day. I didn’t have the heart to ask any of the boys. I figured I’d call him when I got home and apologize.

I got home and immediately dialled Harry’s number. I waited impatiently for him to pick up. Finally, he did.

“Hello?” he mumbled.

“Harry,” I breathed, relieved. “Listen, I—”

“Olivia,” he cut across me. “Erm, I’m a bit busy at the moment. Is it something urgent? Can I call you later?”

“Oh,” I said. “Er, I just wanted to…you know…”

“Olivia,” he said urgently. “I really need to go. I’ll talk to you later. Bye.”

He’d already hung up by the time I could reply. “Bye, Harry.”

—-

*Harry Styles*

“No see,” I said, shaking my head and pointing at the answer Lexi had just scribbled. “That’s not what it is…”

I told her the correct answer, and she beamed at me. “Aw, thanks, Harry! What would I do without you?”

I smiled back at her, and continued dictating answers to her. After a while, she set her pen down.

“I’m bored.” she groaned. “Aren’t you? All this French is going to make my brain explode.”

I was bored, to be honest. Teaching Lexi was the most boring thing to do, and I’d rather be with Olivia, doing what we always did. But she was clear that she wanted to be left alone. I knew she’d called to apologize, but I wasn’t in the mood to talk to her when she had called.

“I’m a bit bored, yeah.” I nodded, smiling slightly.

“Le’ts go out for a cup of coffee!” she suggested. “It’ll give us a nice break.”

“Are you sure we should be wasting time?” I asked her. I didn’t want to say it to her face, but Lexi really did need to study, and study hard, if she wanted to pass the test.

“Oh, come on!” She waved of my concern with he hand. “Half an hour won’t kill us.”

I shrugged. “Okay, I guess.” I said.

—-

*Olivia Harper*

I sipped my coffee, as I sat in the familiar coffee store.

Harry was mad at me. I knew he was. And he should have been, he had every right to. I shouldn’t have snapped at him like that. And now he wasn’t even ready to listen to my apology, which only made me feel worse.

Why should it make me feel bad that he didn’t care if i apologized or not? This was the first time someone being mad at me had affected me so deeply. My dad and Linda were mad at me all the time, and I didn’t care. Dylan was mad at me for breaking up with him, but I didn’t care. I’d made Lexi mad at me a few times and I didn’t care. My old friends were mad at me for dumping them for “cooler ones” and I didn’t care. But the thought of Harry being mad at me made me uneasy. I wanted to barge into his house and apologize till he listened to me and forgave me.

I looked up when I heard the tiny bells above the door jingle. My eyes widened when I saw who had walked in.

Lexi and Harry were too busy talking to each other and laughing to notice that I was sitting right there. He said something that made her laugh loudly. I stared, stunned, as he reached out and tweaked her nose, like he had done for me so many times. She blushed, and beamed at him, and in turn slapped his arm lightly.

My face felt very hot suddenly, and something in the pit of my stomach curled uncomfortably, as I fought the urge to get up and leave. But that would mean that they would see me here, and I didn’t want that. I looked down at my cup, hoping with all my heart they wouldn’t spot me.

“Liv?”

Fuck.

I looked up, pretending to look confused at the sound of my name being called. “Lexi? Harry?” I asked, trying to seem genuinely surprised to see them. “What are you both doing here?”

“We came out to grab some coffee!” Lexi said brightly, as she and Harry stood right next to my small table. “Harry was helping me out with my French, and we thought we’d take a small break. Didn’t know we’d run into you.”

He was tutoring her? Is that what he was busy with? My gaze flickered to Harry, who was looking at me. I couldn’t read his expression.

“Oh,” was all I could say. “Well, don’t let me spoilt your fun, guys.” I got up. “I was about to leave anyway, so. “Er, see you.”

“Aw, already? Sorry you can’t stay!” Lexi said, not sounding sorry at all. “See you later then?”

I hope not. “Er, yeah. See you in school.” I said, and grabbed my coffee and walked past them. As I reached to the door, I glanced back at them. Harry was pulling out a chair for Lexi, and I gesturing at her to sit down, wearing his signature half-smile, one of his dimples showing clearly. I turned back around and walked out.

Notes