The Night I Met Harry

I shuffled through the watercolors at the craft shop just up the road from our house. I was surprised that Harry had gone across the store to check out some frames he wanted to line the hall with, considering his mood earlier. It was always fun shopping with him though. My arms were full as I picked up a few packs of kneaded erasers before balancing everything and heading in the direction he’d been. I didn’t take two steps when I bumped into someone, spilling everything I had neatly in my arms, across the floor.

“Oh. I’m sorry, I’ll help you.”

He fumbled around for the pencils that had gone astray.

Winter:
“It’s okay, it’s my fault. I’m clumsy…”

I continued to collect everything as my eyes trailed upward. Oh.

Mason:
“Funny I keep running into you?”

I got that it was suppose to be funny but this was one of the last people I’d looked forward to seeing today.

Winter:
“Yea…”

I trailed off. He just seemed really friendly. I mean don’t get me wrong it was a nice character trait but that fact hardly mattered under the new circumstances. I still felt like such a fangirl at the traces of ink reflecting on his arms; whoever had done them had taken a lot of time in getting the details right. I forced my eyes away when I’d realized he’d been holding everything in his arms in a manner to walk and continue the conversation.

Mason:
“You know, for this to just be a vacation you’re always here.”

I nodded choosing not to explain myself or even go into anything further regarding my stay here. I motioned for him to hand everything back to me when I begin thinking of the introduction to my exit.

Mason:
“I’m one to talk though; this is actually my vacation too. I find a lot in here so I figured I’d just stock up on things before I go, you know.”

I nodded again so he knew I was listening but I could tell shortly after that he noticed my reluctance to carry the conversation. He stopped me, holding my arm to cease my steps forward. It was quiet. Too quiet for this to be a medium-traffic store.

Mason:
“What happened?”

I wondered when he would mention it. Prying once again. It was lovely of him to ask, really, but I didn’t know him well enough to explain even if I wanted to.

Winter:
“I’m clumsy. You may have noticed.”


I didn’t even know where I was going with that. I looked down hopping the conversation would fall in that direction. There was a queasiness that hovered about me today since leaving the house that I’d hoped to soon rid myself of.

Mason:
“It’s not… him is it?”

Harry? That was absurd, he would never. Restrictions were held around me to prevent me from laughing at the question though I wasn’t in a humorous mood.

Winter:
“Harry doesn’t hit me, Mason.”

Mason:
“Harry is it? Well…forgive me for prying but he does seem a little intense. And I don’t take you as someone who’d ever get in a fight.”

I guess it was my own fault because I didn’t care that the scar had been there, I didn’t even attempt to cover it with makeup. It wasn’t something I urged myself to dwell on and until he mentioned it I’d forgotten it was there.

Winter:
“Just leave it.”

He searched as if forming the next statement out there on the spot. Maybe he had been getting the wrong impression about us, simply from his unwillingness to just let the topic die when I released my hint. I shifted there, staring up at him as he made a face I wasn’t yet use to seeing.

Mason:
“If it was that, you’d tell me right?”

Probably not even then. No.

Winter:
“Harry doesn’t abuse me, okay. Just drop it.”

I was a little pissed off, not going to lie. But I also realized that statement could have easily been taken as a form of denial. Whatever. At least I knew what went on. I guess everyone else was free to commit assumptions because I still wasn’t going to cover it. I moved aside for the others that excused themselves as they passed us. A girl with ginger hair left behind her the smell of a sweet perfume that may have been nice to most people, but fogged my head a bit.

Mason:
“Okay, I’m sorry…Honestly, I just wouldn’t be okay with that.”

His contact with my eyes was a weird vibe. He looked into them with certainty as if he’d just admitted something. I blank my eyelids giving me a reason to look away, only to be met with it again. He watched my face as if studying the curves and natural elements of my skin. The things seemed to become a bit heavier in my hand with the emotional weight, and the silence I was willing to break by dropping them.

Harry:
“Winter, I didn’t know if you wanted the 20 inch or-“

He stopped short to examine the situation quite sternly.

Mason:
“Uh nice seeing you again, Winter…”

Something was picked up from the shelf just beside me. He’d gotten really close to my face as he reached for whatever it was, his eyes staying on me instead of his object of interest. He grabbed my kneaded erasers from just there and placed it on the top of the pile I now carried, swopping one with the other.

Mason:
“You should try those, they’re a lot better.”

I was left there with Harry and an arm full of art supplies when he’d gone. Quite fearful of his reaction because what Mason had just done seemed really flirtatious, most likely giving him the impression that the entire exchange had just gone that way. He’d begun to take them from me quietly, his eyes not leaving mine.

Harry:
“Did I interrupt?”

Ugh.

Winter:
“Please don’t go there. We’ve had this conversation already.”

Harry:
“Then what the hell was that about? And why is he always around…”

Winter:
“I don’t know Harry, to be honest with you.”

Harry:
“He’s going to get what he’s asking for the next time. God. I thought I told you not to talk to him.”

Winter:
“I wasn’t…I-I won’t.”

I didn’t like his tone with me at the moment but at least he wasn’t on the brink of going mad like our previous night.

Harry:
“I’m serious.”

I nodded as not to push him. Just then I received a text, or at least I assumed it was from the number of times it buzzed in my pocket. He grabbed it from the denim quickly to scan it over. A deep breath was taken and blown out quickly.

Harry:
“You’re changing your fucking number?”

I could see he was still a little on edge as he gave everything back, passing me to storm in the direction Mason had just gone. I sighed deeply, adjusting the remaining supplies I held in my hands to effectively hold the phone.

Mason:
;)

What was his problem today? Mason had never acted like this, and I was always more than forward with him about my relationship with Harry. Now I was sure he’d just gotten me into a lot of trouble.

Winter:
“Harry. Babe, come back please.”

I called after, quickening my steps to catch up.

He stopped, standing at a neutral point just outside the store. He turned himself in every direction as I stood there on the edge inside of the store. I liked coming here, and the last thing I needed was for the owners to think I was a shop lifter.

Winter:
“Help me Harry, this stuff is getting heavy.”

Little white lies didn’t hurt sometimes if it meant progressing a situation. I didn’t make a habit of them, but it least I got the reaction I wanted. He’d come back to remove them from my arms again, the state of his attitude was still prominent from how he did so. He put the things up for them to be scanned and considered purchased. I waited for him to say something on the matter at hand but he’d just stood there, picking up the bags as she filled them.

Winter:
“Are we going to talk about it?”

No need to restrict ourselves in front of the cashier. She hadn’t seemed like the type to care much anyways, likely just waiting for her next break.

Harry:
“In the car.”

I hope that didn’t mean an argument, but it was likely it did…Although on second thought, after everything he’d probably be a little more patient with me.

--

Silence as I waited for him to begin. He’d obviously been taking me for a ride or something because he didn’t make a left where he needed to. That was fine, I could take that time to enjoy the scenery since we’d be leaving soon…I would miss it. But I also missed our home.

Harry:
“So…”

I turned from the window to listen in attentively. I felt the heat of the metaphorical interrogation lights already as I held the hand that hadn’t been attached to the steering wheel. His eyes were straight ahead.

Harry:
“Is there anything I should know about…anything at all?”

Winter:
“What is there to know that you don’t already?”

Harry:
“Why’s he so attached to you if you just met him? It’s bugging me.”

Winter:
“You were the one that told me to go to that event with him.”

Harry:
“Yea, that was before I knew it was a date.”

Winter:
“It was not a date.”

Harry:
“I couldn’t just tell you not to go. I know it’s your thing. God I can’t even let you leave the house without someone hitting on you.”

I wondered if that were a reference from last night or if he just meant flirting…I probably shouldn’t ask.

Harry:
“It’s annoying…and sometimes I just need a stiff drink to relax a bit.”

I deciphered whether or not that was a hint, and if this run of not drinking was unrealistic. I just thought since we were having a baby and becoming more responsible that he wouldn’t want a drink unless it was occasional. I couldn’t drink even if I wanted to and in a way it didn’t seem fair. I guess I was a handful.

Winter:
“I don’t care if you drink, Harry.”

I knew immediately from the long stretch without it, he’d probably abuse the substance as before. But it was my own fault, and quite silly of me to ask of him in the first place. I wasn’t his mom.

He looked from the road to over at me a few times before speaking.

Harry:
“Is that a joke?”

Winter:
“No. You miss that life, I get it.”

I didn’t get it but at least there wouldn’t be an argument. I stare out of the window at the beautifully organized trees on each side of this road. Their branch of leaves hung over the street in an inward pattern, only allowing small specs of sun to breech. It was a gorgeous day.

Harry:
“I don’t want to drink, Winter.”

He paused revising that statement.

Harry:
“I mean of course I do, but I’d rather not and just listen to you.”

I watched him as he smiled to himself at some memory or idea he’d been visiting.

Harry:
“I guess that’s just another little character trait I picked up when I met you…To actually listen.”

His mind was obviously racing and it seemed he had a lot to say, so I allowed for that as I clung on to him.

Harry:
“If any other female would have told me stop drinking awhile ago, I’m pretty sure I would’ve told them to go to hell.”

Winter:
“…Oh, so I’m kind of important…”

I said playfully, half of it was a question and half a new found observation. He squeezed against my hand gently in reply.

Harry:
“…Kind of?”

I kissed his cheek as the speed began to slow. The car was at a complete stop and pushed into park before his eyes settled on me. Actually it was more on my lips for a moment before he leaned in to kiss them. Warmth tickled my spine with the feeling of making up. I hated when we argued or engaged in small disputes here or there but the outcome of it always made up for everything. Communication was important when it came to any relationship or it was easy to be insecure in it.

Winter:
“Think this will be gone before my birthday?”

I motioned toward my face. He stared at me with longevity before focusing on the chest I’d been revealing. He pulled upward at the top so the level of skin presented was at a decrease. Great, it didn’t matter because I was still nine years old to him.

Harry:
“It will.”

Notes

Hey guys. Sorry I'm like an hour late, I have a MASSIVE headache.

Out of curiosity what chapter of the story is your favorite?

Looking forward to hearing. It'll give me some ideas.