"So where did you sneak off to so late last night?" Mason asks as I enter the kitchen. I walk over to the counter and pour myself some coffee.

"I didn't sneak off, weirdo. I told you I was leaving." I sit on the stool beside him at the massive island we have in our kitchen.

"You didn't say where you were going."

I shrug and sip the hot liquid, trying not to smile at the memory of last night. I must have been on the beach for three hours with Mr. Sty- I mean Harry. That's going to take some getting used to. I like his name, though. It really suits him. We did a lot of kissing then we talked for a while...then kissed some more. It was incredible; just laying in the sand together. I got to learn a lot of things about him.

"So how was your date last night?"

I practically spit out my drink. "What? What are you talking about?"

He pulls his eyebrows together. "You went on a date with Ryan. Well, it must not have been that great if you forget it already."

"Oh! Right, yeah sorry. It umm...it was fun." Shit, I need to get a lot better at this if I'm going to hide a relationship with my teacher.

"Are you going to go out with him again?"

"I don't know."

"Do you like him?"

"What is with the third degree, Mason?"

"Geez, sorry. I was just curious. Before you seemed really into him. Are you still?"

I set my mug down and face him with a small smile. "Sorry. I'm just really tired. I was out a lot later than I planned to be."

"Where did you go anyway?"

"Just to the beach."

He laughs and lifts his mug to his lips. "Doing some thinking?"

"Something like that." I take my mug out to the backyard and curl up on a lounge chair, soaking in the sun and shutting my eyes. Despite the hours we spent together, none of that time was spent discussing how Harry and I could make this work. We just asked each other questions and spent the whole time getting to know each other. It was incredible. We didn't talk about anything extremely major, but I already feel like I know him way better.

I don't know how any of this happened. In a perfect world Harry would be a lot younger or I would be a lot older. We could go on normal dates to dinner and a movie, hang out, hold hands in public. This is going to require a lot of lying and sneaking around. Is it worth it?

What am I saying. Of course it is. I can't get him out of my head no matter how hard I try. The truth is, I don't want to. He's incredible and for some reason I feel like I need him. I have no idea why he took interest in me, but he did. And I could not be happier. I smile to myself and feel my phone buzz in my pocket.

From: Harry
Staying on the beach until 4 am probably wasn't the best idea. Are you as tired as I am?

I laugh to myself and quickly type a response.

To: Harry
Definitely. What are you doing today?

From: Harry
I'm supposed to be grading papers but...I could be persuaded to do otherwise

My heart flutters as I read the words on my screen. Does that mean he wants to see me? Before I can figure it out I get another message from him.

From: Harry
Any chance you want to see my new place?

I smile from ear to ear at the invitation. I can't believe this is actually happening.

To: Harry
I would love to :)

"What are you smiling about?" I jump as Mason comes and sits on the chair next to me. I quickly hit send and put my phone down on the chair beside me.

"Nothing."

"Sure. Do you want to go miniputting with me and Natalie today? She wants to hang out but I'm getting really bad at lying to her."

"Then stop lying! Mase, I refuse to be a part of that. I have told you so many times to break up with her and at this point it's just cruel. If you don't love her anymore then she deserves to know."

"I know, I know. Just please come. You can bring Ryan if you want."

I shift uncomfortably. "I don't know...I don't want to seem needy. We just went out last night. Maybe I'll bring Kylie."

"No!" He shouts. I turn and give him a questioning look. "That's umm...I don't think that would be a good idea. They don't really get along."

"Yes they do," I argue. He stares at the pool and I stare at him, waiting for an explanation. "Holy shit do you-"

"Don't ask me," he interrupts. "Just don't ask."

My mouth drops open and I stare at the side of his face. This is not happening. My brother likes my best friend. I knew something weird was going on with them but I never would have thought that he actually likes her. That is just too strange for me. My brother and my best friend. My best friend and my brother...

"I know it's weird, Sav," he says quietly without looking at me.

"You think?"

"Give me a break, okay? I didn't give you a hard time when you hooked up with Troy."

"First of all, I was drunk. Second, he was drunk. Third, you weren't supposed to find out about it because it was a one-time mistake."

He rolls his eyes and swivels on his chair, putting his legs over the side and facing me. "Well I did and I was pissed, but I told you that if you liked him I would be okay with that. Can't you just do the same?"

"Kylie is my best friend, Mason. Do you not understand how weird it would be if you dated her?"

"I'm not dating her!"

"No, you're leading someone else on."

He stands up and I can see that he's getting annoyed. "Quite being so judgemental, alright? It's my life. Get over it."

I stare at him with an open mouth as he goes back inside. Really? Mason and I never fight. I hit my head back against the chair in frustration. I pick my phone up again to see if I have any more texts. Harry sent me a message giving me the address for an apartment building. I lay in the sun for a few more minutes before heading inside to shower and get ready. I get dressed and shake my towel over my hair as I walk over to Mason's room. The door is already open so I just walk it. He's laying on his bed with his phone and he definitely doesn't look happy.

"Mason?"

"I'm not in the mood to be lectured, Sav."

"I'm not here to lecture you." I walk over with my towel and sit on his bed, crossing my legs. He stares at his phone screen. "I'm sorry I freaked out, okay? It's just weird. I think you need to figure out stuff with Natalie before you even think about whatever you...feel for Kylie."

He sighs and sets his phone down on his stomach. "I know. I asked Nat to come over today. I'm going to talk to her."

"Finally!" I groan, flopping onto my back beside him. He laughs and hits my arm. "Do you know what you're going to say to her?"

"No idea. How do you break up with someone you've been with for two years?"

"Break up?"

We both shoot into sitting positions, I'm sure the same shocked expression on both of our faces. Natalie is standing in the doorway of Mason's room looking horrified, tears in her eyes. I look at Mason and he looks like a deer in headlights. Natalie suddenly runs out of the room and Mason jumps off the bed, chasing after her and calling her name. Oh boy. I walk back to my own room to do my hair. I feel so bad for those two. They were always so perfect together and I know she has no idea that Mason isn't into it anymore. And on top of it all he likes one of her friends... I don't even know how that's going to work.

When I'm done with my make up I head back to my closet for my brown leather satchel. When my phone starts ringing I run back to my bathroom to get it.

"Hello?"

"Did you get my message?"

I smile at Harry's voice. "I did. Sorry I had a thing with my brother. When do you want me to meet you?"

"Is everything okay?" he aks. I walk out to my balcony.

"Everything is fine."

"Good. In that case you can come over whenever. I'm over here dropping off some of my stuff and I was going to start to unpack."

"Sounds like fun. I'll bring some pizza."

"No, you don't have to do that. I can make something. I've got lots of...beer and crackers." I laugh and hear him chuckle a little as well. "On second thought, pizza sounds good."

"Great. I'll be over soon, I just want to make sure my brother is okay first."

"Take your time. I'm not going anywhere."

My stomach does a summersault and I smile to myself. The words sends chills down my spine. We say our goodbyes and I turn around to go back inside, practically jumping out of my own skin when Mason is standing in the door.

"Ryan?" he asks somberly. I think about saying no, but I nod instead. I don't need him asking unnecessary questions. "You're going to see him?"

Shit. "Yup." I guess I'll have to go see him now. "How'd it go with Natalie?"

He steps out and leans on his forearms against the railing, head hanging low. "We're over. I don't feel that way about her anymore, but I still care about her. I hate seeing her cry and I hate knowing that I'm the reason she's hurting."

I walk up beside him and put my hand on his back. "I know. You did the right thing, though. She'll be okay."

"Yeah. When are you meeting Ryan?"

"Umm...later on. I'm going to go shopping first I think."

"Oh okay. Can we hang out tonight? I've seen you girls do the movie and ice cream thing and I think I might need a little of that," he says, trying to joke but just sounds really sad. Shit.

"I can stay home with you, Mase. I don't have to go out."

"No, I'll be fine. Go have your fun. I'll get some junk food and we can watch Step Brothers tonight." I roll my eyes and he stands up, trying to smile but still failing. I pull him into a hug.

"Are you sure? I can stay." I really want to see Harry, but if my brother needs me then I need to be here.

"No I'm not going to be much company. Tell Ryan I said hi." I nod and start walking back inside, Mason following me. "Also tell him that I said to keep his hands off you."

"Yeah, I'm not telling him that." What would he say if he knew that my teacher was the one putting his hands all over me...

---

"What's your middle name?" I ask, pulling a bunch of books and CDs out of a box. Harry looks up from his work and smirks at me.

"What?"

"Just curious."

He chuckles and continues with his tools putting together the entertainment unit he got for his living room. "It's Edward. What's yours?"

"Edward. Like the vampire."

He stands and points to me with his screwdriver. "No, never like the Twilight guy."

I laugh and continue emptying the box onto the coffee table. He has a lot of old-looking novels. Looks like Mr. Styles is quite the reader. I guess that makes sense...he is an English teacher.

"So what is yours?" he asks, going back to his work.

"I'd rather not say."

"I told you mine! Come on, my full name sounds like I'm from the eighteenth century. It can't be worse than that."

I laugh and stand with the empty box to add to the pile near the door. "Alright fine, but you can't use it ever." He nods and looks up at me while screwing in a piece. "It's...Dorothy."

He laughs and quickly covers his mouth with his hand. "Dorothy?" He looks like he's struggling to keep it together. I put my hands on my hips and try my best to glare, but the smile on his face makes it really hard not to smile as well.

"It was my grandmother's name, okay?" I laugh, walking over to him. He just smiles as he watches me walk. He looks so hot...old jeans with rips in the knees, white t-shirt with a paint stain on the bottom.

"Sounds like it," he agrees, eyes scanning my body as I get closer. That accent makes me want to rip his clothes off.

"I like the place," I say quietly, stopping in front of him and looking around a bit. He gave me the tour already; it's a pretty small loft apartment in an old building near the business area of the city, complete with the open pipes along the ceiling. the main floor is one open area with a small kitchen, dinging room and living area. Two of the walls are all brick, since it's a corner unit. The rest is dry wall and painted a earthy tan colour. Off to the side there's stairs to go up to the bedroom, one open space on the next level, but there's nothing up there yet. It's a really cool apartment.

"Thanks. I was hoping you would. We'll probably be spending a lot of time here." He closes the gap between our bodies and rests his hands on my waist. I bite my bottom lip and look down at his, then slowly back up to his eyes.

"How are we going to do this?" I ask quietly. "We didn't really talk about that last night"

"I know. I've been trying not to think about it, to be honest."

"We should, though. This is going to be...difficult. And complicated." He nods and reaches up with one hand to tuck some hair behind my ear. "Are you sure you want to do this?" I whisper. He puts his hands on either side of my face.

"I don't know how it's going to work or what's going to happen, but I've never wanted something so much in my entire life," he says. His voice doesn't waver and by the way he's staring into my eyes I know that he's serious. "Are you having second thoughts?"

I shake my head. "Do you want me to help you with the unit?" I ask. He smiles and leans down to kiss me, pulling away far too soon.

"I would love that."

We spend the rest of the afternoon talking and setting up all the stuff that he brought over. It's not much but it's enough to keep us busy; it was mostly some new furniture he had purchased and a few boxes of his own things. He said he didn't bring much from home since he wanted to start over when he got here. By dinnertime we're just sitting on the ground, Harry leaning back against his hands and me sitting between his legs leaning back against his stomach.

"Do you want to order some food?" he asks, kissing the top of my head.

"I umm...I should probably get going." I sit forward and he does as well, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and holding me there.

"Why?"

"My brother is a home alone and he just broke up with his girlfriend. And I have to go somewhere before I go home." I close my eyes and silently pray that he doesn't ask what I have to do.

"Where do you have to go?"

There it is. "Umm.." I reach up and remove his hands from my shoulders, turning and moving back from him a bit. I cross my legs and fiddle with my hands in my lap. "You know the date I went on last night?" He nods and I take a deep breath before continuing. "Well...I sort of told my brother that I was seeing him today. They're friends and they talk a lot so if I don't go he'll know that I lied."

I look up and bite my lip, waiting for his reation. His jaw is clenched shut tight and his eyes look angry. He stands without a word and walks to his kitchen, leaning against the counter and not looking at me. I stand up and walk over to him, keeping my distance and waiting for him to say something. After a few minutes he still doesn't so I speak instead.

"Harry?"

"What?" he snaps. I flinch a little at the harsh tone.

"Nothing is going to happen. I just need to see him so my brother doesn't ask questions."

"I understand. It's fine. Have fun." He stands and walks past me, starting to clean up some of the mess from when he set up the wall unit. I watch him for a few minutes, not really sure what to do now.

"Do you want me to not go?"

"Of course I don't want you to go!" He says frustratedly, turning to face me and running his hand through his messy hair. "You went on a date with this guy last night, why would I want you to see him?"

"I may have gone out with him, but I ended the night with you, remember?"

"Yeah." He walks back over to me and keeps going, pushing me back against the counter. He comes dangerously close and I start breathing like I just ran up the stairs. "What are you going to do? Pretend to date him while you're seeing me? Date both of us? What? How does this work?" I shrug. "Savannah, you need to make a decision here. You know how I feel about you, but I'm not going to sit at my desk at school and watch you walk around school with another guy."

"I'm not going to date him, Harry. I'll end things with him, I promise." I look down at his chest. "I only want you."

He puts his finger under my chin and lifts my gaze back to his. He's smiling now.

"That's all I wanted to hear."

Notes

moving slowly I know. bleh. i hate writing the beginnings of stories :P

let me know what you think pleaseee :) haven't had comments lately. i want to know what you're thinking!!

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thanks for reading :D