mutuality | wroetoshaw

fourteen

HARRY.

It was Christmas Day, and Tilly had fallen asleep in my bed. Safe to say, it wasn't how I had imagined my Christmas to play out, but it was much better than whatever scenario I'd had in my head.

My first thought was to tell Ethan - after all, he'd been witness to my constant pining over this girl.

Literally the first time I saw her, I knew there was something about her. Until my birthday meal I wasn't able to put my finger on it, but when I saw her arrive in her dress, there were butterflies in my stomach and I knew I was completely and utterly screwed.

Because there was no way in hell me and her were ever going to become a thing. Not in this lifetime. So I pushed it down. Very far down, and far away from ever bubbling to the surface.

Besides, this technically wasn't the first time we'd shared a bed. After my party, from what I'd been told by her anyway, she'd stayed the night to look after me. It was just a shame that I was too drunk to remember it.

But not this time - no, this time I was thankfully stone cold sober, and I woke up at seven in the morning to see a sleeping Tilly just across from me in bed. I didn't want to wake her; I knew it was going to be a hectic day and I honestly wanted her to get all the sleep she could, so I rolled over, giving her privacy and so not to startle her when she eventually would wake up.

I entertained myself on my phone for a while, before I felt the duvet being tugged, the sound of sheets rustling motivating me to roll over once again.

"Harry?" I heard her ask, and I quickly finished rolling over, finally making eye contact with her. "Oh my god, I fell asleep in your bed. I'm so sorry," she apologises, sitting up abruptly.

"No, Tilly, it's honestly fine - don't even worry about it, I slept fine and so did you," I say quickly, not wanting her to panic so early on a special day.

"What time is it? I forgot to set an alarm, I-"

"It's only half past seven. I haven't heard Eliza yet, I'm sure you haven't missed anything," I tell her, to stop her worrying.

"Okay," she says simply, and I can see her face relax slightly. "I hope I didn't snore," she adds on, and her words bring a smile to my face, making me laugh. She's good at that. No one else makes me laugh the way she can.

"Oh, you definitely did. Super loud, too," I lie, watching the outrage take over her face, quickly followed by embarrassment, which automatically makes me feel bad so I backtrack. "I'm only kidding. You were fine, I promise. I also apparently have a tendency to kick people in bed who snore - so unless you felt that, you're definitely good."

"I felt no kick, so maybe I got away with it," she grins, stretching her arms as she yawns. "You wanna head downstairs? I think everyone will be starting to wake up soon," she explains to me, and whilst I don't reply with my thoughts, anything that's good with her is good with me too.

"Sure," I reply nonchalantly, nodding my head along. "We staying in our pyjamas or getting dressed?"

"We tend to eat breakfast then unwrap presents in our pyjamas, then get ready for lunch but it's up to you," she tells me with a smile, getting out of bed. I already miss the presence of warmth next to me, craving the next time it'll be there.

"I'll stay in mine too," I announce, hopping off the bed after her. With a little jog, I open the bedroom door for her, letting her go first.

"Well, look at that!" A female voice from the hallway says, surprising both myself and Tilly. It's Georgie.

Tilly immediately frowned at Georgie, shaking her head. "Not sure what you're referring to," she shrugs, joining her as they walk down the stairs together, and I trail behind them both, not really able to contain the laughter that constantly threatens to escape my mouth.