The Night I Met Harry

Harry:
"But we need to talk."

Winter:
"No, come on. We can talk later. Please."

I pulled at the hem of his shirt while placing small intimate pecks around his neck. I didn't mean to seem so needy and forward but little things like that were the least of my worries. It was an extremely painful desire that had been driving me insane this morning so my only thought now was to satisfy it.

Harry:
"Once, and then we talk."

Winter:
"Anything you want."

These feelings I'd been experiencing throughout the pregnancy had also created waves of anger or crankiness if simply ignored. I couldn't think of the last I'd come across to him this way but I hoped he understood my circumstances. My phone buzzed in the background as I finally separated him from the shirt and led the pecks to his chest.

Harry:
"Could be important."

Winter:
"Ignore it."

I hoped that it was something insignificant or trivial because I of all people knew what it was like to call and get nothing. The guilt subsided to nearest the back of my mind as the jest of what was about to happen took over. I cursed myself silently but the fact of the matter was there was no way I'd be of use to anyone in this state anyways.
He stopped what I was doing to cup my face and push my hair away from it. He'd done that for a second in a manner of examination and rubbed softly with his thumb.

Harry:
"Slow down...We have the entire day, and you know I have to be gently with you now."

Just the words I didn't want to hear but I nodded so that it could resume. This was the worst craving ever. My skin burned like he'd hurt himself with my touch but I closed my eyes to drift away the feeling of haste from my body.

Winter:
"Okay."
--

Harry's POV:

I was in the car now. Eyes straight ahead in alignment with the road that seemed to go on forever. I told her I'd be gone just briefly to run an errand for work, given it would probably be better to do so while she slept. A smile imprinted on my face as I thought of how much she needed me in such a hot way a few hours ago. Despite the things I'd heard about pregnant women, it was very rare that it pulled Winter that much out of character. I felt guilt for enjoying it... On a separate note, I didn't know yet how to tell her where I'd really been going but I had the rest of this little trip to figure it out. We still hadn't formally discussed the things we needed to about the other night...but I assumed because it was something neither of us really wanted to mention or even give thought to again. I guess that could be included into the talk I intended for us to have about today.

I pulled up, parking near the curb of a non-busy street in an area a long way from my home with Winter. I waited in the car by the corner annoyingly for her to appear somewhere around so this could quickly be over and I'd have more time with my fiance. I turned the car off as I checked my watch and again the area. The day had been dreary for most of the morning but the sun could be seen shining from between the trees the hovered over the road from each side of the street. I check my phone once just to see if the status of it had changed. Nothing.

A breath was taken as I tapped against the steering wheel with my index in impatience. That's when I saw her bend the corner. To my surprise she still looked the same despite the time I had apart from her. She even seemed to dress the same; jeans fitted and ripped in places and a plain white shirt that clung a little over-sized to her small frame. Rings of a variety hugged her fingers as she pushed back her hair against the wind. Her left arm had been crawling with dark ink that looked pleasant to her appearance as she drew closer. I unlocked the door hesitantly as she proceeded, pulling the door and sitting in the passenger seat next to me. The car door was shut behind her and I felt myself regretting this already. The close proximity of us was something Winter wouldn't approve, but really I knew she wouldn't approve of any of this.

Jessie:
"You're not going to look at me?"

She uttered after awhile of us sitting in silence. It wasn't awkward because I knew her too well to ever feel that around her... It had just been awhile.

Harry:
"You have to stop calling."

Jessie:
"Why's that?"

Harry:
"Because I can ignore you but she can't. If she ever has my phone and she see's you calling then I-"

Jessie:
"So don't ignore me. Why do you do that? I told you it won't be like the last time."

Harry:
"That doesn't even matter."

My eyes burned into the wheel until she reached for my face to turn it toward her.

Harry:
"Don't."

I didn't want to be so mean to her but I was determined to control the direction of this...and there would be no touching. I watched as her demeanor saddened with my words.

Jessie:
"...You know...I hate her for this."

Harry:
"Don't even speak of her. This is my choice."

Jessie:
"Yea. Because of her...and now I've completely lost you."

I felt soreness creeping slowly into my veins for her, but shook it off quickly. I looked away and out of the window where the trees had seemed to grow with discipline.

Jessie:
"You know I'm not as close with the guys as I am with you. So now I have no one."

I got a glimpse to where this was going.

Harry:
"Stop trying to make me feel guilty, okay. Because I don't."

I remembered in that moment hugging her closely when she'd lost her parents. That was the day we'd became closer because I was developing into the only thing she had apart from her sister. That's when I brought her around the guys, and with their girlfriends, she fit right in. What we had was never a formal relationship because before I never did those. But we were friends.
And it was hard sometimes not to care.

I forced my heart closed before it could open with the memory. Time was going by but it seemed I had a very little hand in controlling it.

Harry:
"Look...I'm sorry I can't be around anymore, but things have changed. And I just can't."

She leaned the chair back a little further as she got comfortable. The barrier I'd created hadn't fallen but this easily felt like the old times.

Jessie:
"Right. I hear you're creating offspring these days."

It was intended to make me laugh, and though I hadn't I felt myself loosen up.

Harry:
"Shut up."

Jessie:
"Hey, I'm not judging. You've clearly changed from before when we were-"

She stopped short and I'd felt grateful for that. Besides, I already knew where that was going.

Jessie:
"Do you cheat on her?"

Harry:
"No."

Jessie:
"Liar."

Harry:
"Not even once...I surprised myself. But I never really have the desire to... like I did with the others."

I felt the need to shift the subject when I realized how much she'd got me talking about my life with Winter. That was just off-limits to her.

Harry:
"...You'll be fine without me."

She sighed placing her hands to her face briefly before again pushing back her hair. I recognized this as being the beginning stages before an argument.

Jessie:
"Gosh you don't get it. I won't be."

Harry:
"This isn't a conversation anymore. Being friends with you became out of the question when I met her. Just stop calling and texting because I won't answer, okay? I'm sorry, I really am..."

Jessie:
"Whatever."

Harry:
"I am Jessica."

Because I cared a lot for her...but it was nothing compared to Winter.

Harry:
"You have Lisa...she's always looked out for you."

And that was a sister more than what I had.

Jessie:
"...Lisa died a few weeks ago, Harry."

It felt secluded. The soreness in my chest had grown and so again that need to comfort her.

Jessie:
"I called... but I guess you had more important things. Asshole."

Everything registered at a delay as she left the car in tears in slammed the door behind her. I may as well glue the dam thing to my palm from now on from all the trouble it's causing me. She walked quickly back where I saw her approach from. I felt bound to the chair until she'd been snatched quickly from my vision. It wasn't until then that I opened the door and headed in the direction I watched her disappear in.

Harry:
"Jessie!"

If I knew anything, it was that she had a habit of harming herself with substances when life had gotten down. And though I wasn't close with mine I couldn't imagine not having a family. Winter and Riley was now mine.

I ran until I'd caught up to her, catching her arm for her to stop. She tried pushing me off constantly as I refused to let go. I noticed the tears had smudged her eyeliner as I held firmly onto her wrists. She held her eyes to mine for a brief moment.

Harry:
"Stop...just stop, it's okay."

Her hands ceased their force against my chest and she allowed me to hug her in. I thought of how Winter had done me this way when my mind had repetitively replayed the thought of me losing her. The image of it in itself was something that brought nightmares to my day. So I could imagine how she was feeling.

I didn't know why I wasn't in my car and on my way to see to Winter right now...but I wouldn't let go until she told me to. And I had a feeling that wouldn't be for awhile.

Notes

Hope everyone's good.

I'll try posting another, preferably longer, chapter before I go back to school on the 31st. And then the chapters may become less frequent. Thanks for reading, and "welcome" to the new subs.