Awkward Beat [H.S]

Chapter 5

In which Fitz goes on a date... but not with Zayn.

Chapter 5

I checked myself in the mirror one last time, inhaling deeply as I smoothed down my dress.

"Okay," I breathed, repeating the word for the millionth time that day to calm myself.

"Okay. It's okay."

I paused, staring at my reflection.

"Nope."

Without another glance, I left my room and rapped on Harry's door.

"Come in," rang his voice. I popped my head in to see him in front of his own mirror as he buttoned up his shirt.

"Hey," I said, smiling sympathetically. "So I was thinking that maybe... I don't want to do this."

Harry's reflection rolled his eyes. "Trust me, neither do I."

"Right..." I trailed off. I scraped my top teeth awkwardly against the bottoms. "Would it be the worst thing if I didn't come? I mean, how much do you really need me?"

Not entirely buttoned, Harry whirled around, nostrils flaring. "No," he said, letting his hands fall lifelessly to his sides. "You can't back out."

"Why not? You know at some point I'm going to say the wrong thing."

He shrugged. "Then don't say anything at all."

I crossed my arms. "It's shocking you don't have a girlfriend, with you being so gentlemanly and all."

"You know what I mean," Harry said with a groan. He grabbed his jacket from his desk chair. "Look, I trust that you can keep yourself in check for one evening."

"Well, that's touching," I said, oozing sarcasm from every word, "but unfortunately, I don't have that kind of confidence in myself. And to tell the truth, your dad sort of scares me."

"He scares me, too!" Harry said, ushering me out of his room and down the hall. "Fitz, he said if I don't pick up my average, he'll hire a tutor. And when my dad hires a tutor, he picks them himself and arranges for the most convenient sessions – like Saturday nights and Sunday mornings. My life already sucks enough during the week. Don't let him take away my weekends, too."

I laughed at the ridiculous plea. "What does any of that have to do with me? Pretending to be your

girlfriend doesn't say anything about your schoolwork."

"It does," Harry insisted, placing a hand on my shoulder when I sat on the stool. "It says I'm committed. Done playing around. It says that I don't go out drinking every weekend because my girlfriend wants me to stay at home and cuddle."

I scrunched my nose. "What a boring girlfriend you have."

"Come on, Fitz," Harry begged, squeezing my shoulder. "Don't abandon me. Think of it this way: if you don't go along with it, I have to tell him you're living here. You've only met him once, but you saw his face. What are the odds he'll let you stay?"

Sighing, I muttered, "Fuck."

"Exactly," Harry said with a wide grin. He gave me a pat on the back. "I'll get your coat."

I was sure I'd come to regret this later. Unless...

As Harry held my coat for me and I slipped it on, I said, "I still think you owe me a favour."

"Glad to," he agreed easily. "That's fair."

"All right. Now, let's go be in love in front of your father."