Dawn FM • h.s.

• twenty-three •

     It had been at least four days since I had actually spoken to Harry, and now with it being the weekend, I knew I wouldn't have to deal with him. He had tried to win me over by bringing me food, but I would simply give it back to him with a note that said, "No, thank you." Or, by bringing it back I meant that I would place it outside his door so I wouldn't have to try and talk to him. I felt like taking the food from him would show that I had forgiven him, when that wasn't what happened. He hadn't left me alone when I asked, and now he was paying for it.

Reading on the sofa, I was about halfway through the romance novel. While I usually went for more feminist-type books, there was something about a romance that I just usually could not put down. Even if the man in the novel was ill-tempered, and the woman was sometimes childish. But, since I was halfway through, and it was only about nine, I figured I would probably get through the rest of this book by eleven and then call it a night. After all, this was my third book of the day, and I knew I would need to go out and get some more shortly.

It was around ten when I felt like I needed some water, so I placed my book down on the table, getting up from the sofa to get a drink. Grabbing a glass from the cupboard, I filled it with ice, quickly filling it with water. Sipping on the drink a few times, I filled it up again before I made my way back over to the sofa. Picking up where I left off, I was reading about the woman being asked to host a party in a penthouse. It sounded like such an extravagant life, and I wondered if I would ever even step foot in something so fancy. Then again, I had plenty of time to figure all of that out. It wasn't like I didn't have any time at all.

After what felt like another hour had passed, I heard what I thought was a knock at my door. It was weird. I didn't expect anyone, and I knew it was at least ten now. Quietly getting up off the couch, I placed my book down again. Not wanting to make a bunch of noise, I slowly walked over, glancing out the peephole to see Harry. He was standing there, his fingers running through his hair quickly. I didn't know what he was doing here so late. It wasn't like he had called to say he was coming over. Plus, I was still irritated with him.

As I was about to walk back to the sofa, there was a knock again. This one was more urgent, a sigh leaving my lips. I glanced down at what I was wearing, noting that my pajamas were cute, but he probably was going to be irritated by them. The strawberry pattern was adorable, but the spaghetti strap tank top and very short shorts were probably something he was going to be very unhappy with. Though, the more I thought about it, the more I realized I could give two shits about what he wanted.

Pulling the door open, he quickly stood up straighter, green eyes assessing me the way they normally did. He looked me over twice, my eyes focused on him. His arms were both behind his back now, and I didn't know what he was doing. He was acting weird, and looked nervous, and I had only seen him nervous once before at the dinner party last week.

"Um, hi," he greeted.

I stared at him. He wasn't getting me to talk unless he had something really good to say. I continued to stand in the doorway, Harry standing on the porch outside. The light was on so it was easy to see him. He was wearing a black shirt-sleeve button down, a couple buttons undone up top. His shirt was tucked into his dark trousers, the pinstripe lines very faint, but I hated how well he always dressed. Discarding the hugs, I glanced around, knowing that I normally would be concerned with bugs, but I wasn't that worried today. The air tonight wasn't as hot and muggy as it had been previous evenings.