Keeper

Chapter 24

Harry's patience seemed to be wearing dangerously thin as he began pulling at the roots of his hair, his breathing becoming distinctively louder.


I felt bad for him. I really did. His mom was dead and his father was in jail, I didn't want to ask if he had any grandparents left, or even a aunt, uncle, or cousin that could be there for him.


Thankfully a waitress came over after a few minutes, her long dark brown ponytail bobbing up and down as she leisurely strolled towards us. She appeared to be in her mid twenties.


She pulled a pen out of her pocket and tapped the end repeatedly on the notepad she was holding.

"What can I get you two to drink?" She asked mildly. Her tone of voice was sweet but I could tell it was nonetheless fake and she in fact didn't want to be there.

Her eyes scanned over both me and Harry before eventually landing on mine, her lips greeting me with a warm smile.


"A water with lemon." I answered simply.


The waitress nodded and diverted her attention over to Harry. He didn't return the eye contact.


"A Sprite." He answered, staring down at his hands.


"I'll be right back with that." The waitress chirped before briskly turning on her heel and walking back towards the kitchen.


I was started when I heard Harry break the silence,


"What do you want on the pizza?"


I glanced back up from the table to see Harry already looking at me.

"Pepperoni?"


Harry nodded,


"Yeah, sounds good."

I watched as Harry's eyes drew distant as he stared down at his hands.


"I'm sorry." I blurted out.


Harry scrunched up his forehead, his eyes coming back up to meet mine. The lighting in the restaurant made the green appear even brighter.

"For what?"


I opened and closed my mouth before biting down on my lip, the words hard to form in my head. After a few seconds I decided to just speak whatever came to mind at the very moment I spoke it,

"That you have to live alone. And your mom."


Harry grabbed at his lip ring, moving it around with his fingers.

"I actually like living alone." He shrugged.

There was a silence before he spoke again,

"At first it was a little bit lonely, having no one to talk to, having no one to keep you company, but...you get used to the silence."

There was a pause before he continued,

"And my mom," his voice cracked.

He coughed into his arm,

"It was just her time is all."


Before there even a chance for another awkward silence the waitress returned with our drinks.


"Here you go." She hummed, placing our drinks down in front of us.


"Thank you." I mumbled. Harry didn't even bother and immediately took a sip out of his straw.


"Now what can I get you to eat?" She asked, impatiently tapping her foot.


"A large pepperoni pizza." Harry answered. His eyes darted over to mine and he cracked a smile,

"And an order of garlic knots."


I raised an eyebrow at Harry and once the waitress left he spoke,

"They are honestly the best thing you can order at this restaurant. You haven't live until you've tried Angelo's garlic knots."


I couldn't help but laugh,

"Okay. I've just never had them before."

Harry's eyes widened,

"Oh, you're missing out."


The smile on my face was inevitable, I loved seeing Harry like this, a big smile on his face and a joking sense of charisma.


"Well, I'm glad you ordered them then."


"Hey, tomorrow's Friday." Harry pointed out. His face seemed to light up as he spoke.


"Yeah, and?" I laughed.


"We've got to do something."


"What do you have in mind?" I asked.


"Bowling?"


"I haven't been bowling in forever." I smiled.


"Bowling it is." Harry winked.


Our pizza only came out minutes later, along with Harry's self proclaimed infamous garlic knots.


"Try one." He pushed.

I picked one up out of the basket. I lifted it up to my lips but stopped to scrunch up my nose,

"It's covered in garlic."


"Hence the name, 'garlic knots'."


I have Harry an unsure look which caused him to roll his eyes,


"Just try it." He whined.


I did as instructed and hastily took a bite.

I let out a sigh as I stared at the remaining ball of dough.


"What? Don't like it?" Harry asked.


I looked back up with him to see a frown etched on his lips. I couldn't help but crack a smile due to his seriousness.

"No. It's delicious." I laughed.


"What'd I tell ya?" Harry taunted.


"Shut up."


"Make me."


"Oh my god." I groaned, resting my head in my hands.


I heard Harry laugh,


"Eat up, the pizza's getting cold."





Once we finished eating and ended our seemingly hour long discussion on our other various types of favorite foods, Harry drove me home, stopping right at the front curb this time. My dad was already home but he was probably too indulged in whatever book he was reading to notice or even care.


I unbuckled my seat and and turned to face Harry,

"Thanks for today." I smiled, and he gladly returned one.


"No problem. Thank you for uh, agreeing to go with me."


"No problem." I whispered.


Harry slowly started leaning across his leather seat and I quickly clamped a hand over my mouth. He gave a raised eyebrow and I sighed into my hand,


"My breath sticks." I mumbled against my palm.


Harry didn't stop though, instead a smirk played at his lips.


I watched as he placed a kiss to my temple, his lips lingering before completely pulling away.


"Goodnight Harley." He winked, licking his lips in the process.


"Goodnight." I nodded.


I quickly opened the passenger door and stumbled out, tripping over my own two feet causing a laugh to erupt from the driver's seat.

I jokingly waved to Harry and he waved back with a wide grin before I shut the car door and walked up to the front door.


As I had guessed my father was in his normal spot on the couch, his eyes never leaving the incredibly fine, small print as he mumbled to me,


"Hello Harley."


I mumbled a 'hello' back, quickly making my way up to my room. I sat down on my bed and pulled off my back pack, just as I did I felt my phone begin to vibrate. My stomach started to fill with butterflies as I pulled my phone out of my pocket, the bright screen slightly disappointing me as it read, 'Layla'.


"Hello?" I answered, my tone of voice sounding much more rough and irritated than I had expected it to be.


"Harley?" Layla asked, not hesitating to return the attitude and sassed me back.


"Me and Anna are coming over, me need to talk to you."


I rolled my eyes to myself,


"I have homework."


"We're already on our way so it'll have to wait."


"Why?" I asked.


I could tell she was becoming agitated by the second,


"We just need to talk."






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