Always

Chapter 56

I wasn’t really looking forward to Friday, so of course, the week flew by in a flash, Friday afternoon arriving before I could barely blink.  All week, I had been trying to get Harry to change his mind about going to the party, but he was resolute.  He had decided he was going to do this and absolutely refused to back down.

I couldn’t tell if he wanted to go to prove that he would when everyone thought otherwise, or because he actually wanted to go to a party.  I strongly suspected it was the former and he was just being stubborn, but occasionally he did seem genuinely excited about it. 

Meanwhile, I grew more and more nervous by the day, steadily convincing myself that this was some kind of trap and something awful would happen.  I wasn’t sure when I had gotten so paranoid.  I told myself I was just being practical; it wasn’t like there wasn’t any evidence to point toward it being some kind of set up, after all.  There was plenty of bad history between the people involved, so I had every right to be wary. 

Lydia and Haley had made it a point to be as polite as possible to Harry, their best attempt at making sure we didn’t back out.  I could tell they really did feel awful about everything that had happened, and it was important to them to try and get back in my good graces, however reluctant I felt.  Harry was still very polite and shy around them, never divulging any information voluntarily and only speaking when spoken to, a deep blush often tingeing his cheeks. 

I was too selfish to give up my private lunchtime with Harry, so we remained secluded in our little world in the library as we had for the past few weeks despite the begging of Lydia and Haley to join them.  I needed my time with Harry during the day, because apart from first period, I hardly ever saw him at school.

Even Jack and Will made it a point to say hello, how’s it going, glad you’re coming Friday whenever they could, which surprised me.  I had figured they would side with Colt, even if they weren’t really the best of friends with him anymore; they were still ‘the guys’ after all. 

Finally, school had ended and Harry and I had driven home together.  He was quiet on the ride, clearly lost in deep thought in his own head.  When we arrived at my house, he frowned at the floor of my room, where we had settled after ditching our coats and book bags.  He sat on the edge of my bed, long legs hanging off the side.  I moved to stand in front of him, pushing his hair back and tilting his face to look up at me.  He blinked twice before he seemed to refocus on my face.

“Harry,” I said gently.  “We really don’t have to go.”  I was very much hoping he would change his mind and agree to just stay in with me tonight, cuddled on the couch and doing nothing in particular.

“We do,” he said.  No such luck.  Damn.

“Why, though, Harry?” I asked.  I didn’t fully understand his determination to go to this party where he would be so out of place. 

“Because no one thinks I will,” he said, frowning up at me.  “And I want you to see your friends.  You guys seem to be getting along a lot better and I don’t wanna jeopardize that.”

“You don’t always have to do what’s best for me, you know.  You can be selfish sometimes,” I told him.  He was so inherently good that all he really cared about was making me happy.  Little did he know I would have been utterly and completely happy spending the night with him alone.  My fingers pet back his hair as his large hands wrapped around the backs of my thighs, his thumbs drifting lazily across the fabric of my jeans.

He shook his head, widening is eyes at me.  “I really do want to go, Joey.  It could be fun! I’ve never been to a party before so I have to see what all the fuss is about,” he laughed, lightening the heavy mood that had fallen over us.  I smiled at him softly.