Strangers

Chapter 1: Manchester

IF YOU'RE READING THIS AND HAVEN'T READ FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES TURN BACK NOW YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY ;) But seriously, this is the tertiary book of a series, so go read Friends first xxx

September 6, 2015.

“How do you have so much stuff?” Harry whines, his arms carrying a heavy box down the hallway.

“Well I guess I could have left the 50 photo frames with picutres of you at home.” I tease, looking across at him as we walk down the corridors of the dorm.

“No, they are all very very necessary.” He mocks with a completely serious tone, causing me to giggle.

“I’ve officially been present for both of your first days of uni. You know most people only have one, you’re so selfish.”

“Oh ha-ha. Well done though, you’re doing better than my parents.”

“You’re 23, I don’t think you need your parents here.”

“Well it would have been nice of them to come anyway.”

“They’re not even in the country! I think the children in Tanzenia need them a little bit more than you…”
“You’re not wrong.” I admit, I don’t really mind that my parents aren’t here.

“I’m always right, we’ve established this.”

“No sweetie, we established that I’m always right.” I shake my head at him, sticking my foot out in an attempt to trip him.

“Rude.” He gasps, acting offended by my ploy to hurt him.

“Heads up!” A random, male voice yells and I bob my head immediately, the football that was launching through the air missing me by an inch and falling gracefully into Harry’s hand. Harry is now on the verge of falling over, ball in one hand and balancing the box between his arm and hip.

“Sorry, love.” The shirtless guy and presumed owner of the ball walks past, taking the ball off Harry.

“See you at the party tonight.” He raises his eyebrows at me, walking backwards to look at me.

Harry glowers at him and I laugh.

“Oh baby are you jealous?” I stop walking, turning around to stand in front of him, the box between us as I reach my hand up and poke his dimple.

“No. I still just don’t understand why you want to live on campus though. Last chance to take me up on my offer of getting us an apartment nearby?” He smiles innocently, he knows what my answer to this will be but he’s pushing this discussion again- for the hundredth time.

“Harry, we’ve discussed this, so so so so many times. How many times do I have to tell you, I don’t want to live alone again.” I start walking down the hall in the direction, I think, of  my dorm room.

“But you wouldn’t be living alone, you’d be living with me.”

“Yeah for like 10% of the time. You are never in England and when you are, your life is in London, not Manchester.”

“It could be in Manchester though. You’re here, Mum’s not too far from here, what else do I need?”

“Friends, a recording studio, band members, management, literally everything is in London. You’re very sweet to offer, but I need to live on campus, at least at first.”

“But there’s boys here.” He whines, he’s not being too serious, there’s a joking aspect to his tone but I know the underlying reality of his jealousy is there.