My tears are dry and I have showered and somewhat mentally stable by the time Steph returns from the movies.
"So how was your...hang out with Harry? she asks and grabs her pajamas out of her dresser.
"It was okay, he was just his normal..charming self" I tell her and manage a laugh. I want to tell her about what we did but I am ton ashamed. I know she wouldn't judge me but I don't want anyone to know, I just hope Harry doesn't tell anyone, although I wouldn't put it past him. Steph looks at me with concern evident in her eyes and I have to look away.
"Just be careful okay, you're too nice for someone like Harry" she says and I want to hug her and cry into her shoulder. She knows Harry better than most people and she even thinks I should stay away.
"How was the movie?" I change the subject. She tells me how Tristan kept feeding her popcorn during it and that she is really starting to like him. I want to gag but I know I am just jealous that Tristan actually likes her, the way Harry doesn't like me. But I do have someone who loves me and I need to start treating him better and stay away from Harry. For real this time.
Eventually Steph falls asleep and I do the same thing shortly after.
The next morning I force myself our of bed and get dressed. I feel drained, I have no energy and I feel like I could cry at any moment. My eyes are red from crying last night so I walk over to Steph dresser and grab her makeup bag. I pull out brown eye liner and draw a thin line under my eyes and put on my eyelid. It makes my eyes look much better. I put on a little powder just to cover under my eyes and give my skin a little colour. A few swipes of mascara and I look like a new person. I am pleased with the way I look and I put on my tight jeans and tank top. I feel naked so I grab a white cardigan out of my closet and put it over. This is the most effort I have made in my appearance for a regular school days since picture day my senior year of high school.
I stood by the coffee shop and grab Liam a drink too. I am still pretty early to class so I walk slower than usual.
"Hey, Tessa right?" I hear a guy's voice say. I look over and see the preppy boy, Louis I think was his name.
"Yea, Louis right?" I ask him and he nods.
"You coming over again this weekend?" He asks. He must be part of the frat. Of course he is, he is preppy and generous.
"Oh no, not this weekend" I laugh and he joins me.
"Bummer, you were fun. Well, if you change your mind you know where it is" he laughs. "I gotta go or I will be late, see you around" he gives me another smile and walks away.
Liam is already seated and thanks me repeatedly for bringing him coffee.
"You look different today" he says as I sit down.
"I put make up on" I laugh and he smiles. He doesn't ask about my date with Harry and I am grateful. I am not ready to talk about it yet. Just as I begin to stop thinking about Harry, it's time for Literature.
Harry is sitting in his normal seat in front. I want to ask Liam fo switch seats with me but I don't want to have to explain why. Harry is wearing a white T-shirt for once and his tattoos are visible underneath it. It amazes me how attractive I find his tattoos and piercings, I have never cared for either before I look away quickly and pull out my notes. I hope Liam arrives soon so I won't feel so alone with Harry.
"Tess? Harry whispers as the class begins to fill up. No. Don't answer him. Ignore him. I repeat to myself.
"Tess? He says again, this time louder.
"Do not speak to me Harry" I say through my teeth and still avoid looking at him. I will not fall back into his trap.
"Oh come on" he says and I can tell he is laughing at me.
"I mean it Harry, leave me alone" My tone is harsh but I don't care.
"Fine, have it your way" he says equally harsh and I sigh. Liam walks in and I am so grateful.
"You ok?" Liam asks kindly.
"Yea, I'm fine." I lie and class begins.
After class Harry walks out before me and doesn't try to talk to me again. We continue ignoring each other all week and I am beginning to forget about our mistake. Each day that passes without talking to him makes it easier to not think about him when I get back to my room. Steph and Tristan have been hanging out all week so I had the room mostly to myself all week which has been both good and bad. Good because I get a lot of studying done but bad because I am left alone with my thoughts about Harry. All week I have been wearing a little bit of makeup but wearing my normal baggy and conservative clothes. By Friday, I feel like I am really over this whole mess with Harry, that is until everyone keeps talking about the party. There is a party there every Friday and usually Saturday too so why they fell the need to get excited about it every weekend blows my mind.
After being asked by at least ten people if I will be at the party, I decide to do the only thing that I know will keep me from going. I call Noah.
"Hey Tessa!" he chirps into the phone. It has been a few days since we have actually talked on the phone and I have missed his voice.
"Hey, do you think you could come visit me?" I ask.
"Sure, we will plan it out and maybe I can come next weekend" he says and I groan.
"No, I mean like today. Like now, could you leave right now?" I know he likes to plan things just like I do but I need him to come now.
"I have practice after school, I am still at school now, I am just at launch."
"Please Noah, I really miss you. Can't you just leave now and come here for the weekend? Please" I am aware that I am begging him but I don't care.
"Uhm..yea sure Tessa. I will come now. Is everything okay?" I am actually surprised squeaky clean Noah is agreeing to this but I am so glad he is.
"Yea, I just really miss you. I haven't seen you in almost two weeks" I remind him and he laughs.
"I miss you too. I am going to get a slip and leave in a few minutes so I will see you in about three hours. I love you Tessa"
"I love you too" I say and hand up. Well that settles that, any chances that I may end at the party is now gone. I have a newfound sense of relief as I walk to Literature, until I look at the front row and see Harry hovering over Liam's desk. What the hell?
I rush over and Harry slams his hand on the desk. "Don't ever say some shit like that again you prick" Harry says and Liam moves to stand up. Liam must be insane to try to fight back against Harry. Liam is muscular and all but he is so kind, I can't imagine him hitting anyone.
I grab ahold of Harry's arm and pull him back away from Liam. His hand raise into the air and I flinch, once he realizes it is me he drops his hand and curses under his breath.
"Leave him alone Harry!" I yell and turn to Liam. He looks just as mad as Harry does but he sits down.
"You need to mind your own business Theresa" Harry spits and moves to his seat. He really should sit in the back somewhere.
I lean over and whisper to Liam, "are you okay? What was that about?"
He looks towards Harry and sighs. "He is just an asshole, they pretty much sums it up" he says and smiles, I giggle a little and lean back over. I can hear Harry's ragged breathing next to me and I get an idea. A childish idea but I do it anyway.
"I have some good news!" I tell Liam in my best mock cherry voice.
"Really? What's that?
"Noah is coming to visit today and he will be here all weekend!" I say and smile while clapping my hands together. I know I am overdoing it but I feel Harry's eyes on me and I know he heard me.
"Really? That is great news!" Liam smiles. Class begins and ends without Harry saying a word to me. This is how it will be from now on and it's fine with me. I wish Liam a nice weekend and walk back to my room to touch up my makeup and grab something to eat before Noah gets here. I laugh at myself a little while doing my makeup, since when am I the type of girl who has to "touch up her makeup" before her boyfriend comes. I know it is since that day at the stream with Harry, that experience changed me and the way he hurt me after changed me even more. It is only a slight change but I know it is there.
I eat and straighten my room up a little, well my side is already clean so I fold Steph's clothes and put them away, I hope she won't mind. My phone finally buzzes with Noah's text saying he is here. I jump off the bed and rush outside to greet him. He looks better than ever in navy blue pants, a cream cardigan and white shirt underneath. He really does wear a lot of cardigans but I love them. His welcoming smile warms my heart and he wraps his arms around me and tells me how nice it is to see me.
"Are you wearing makeup?" He asks as we walk back to my room.
"Yea, a little. it's just something I have been experimenting with" I explain and he smiles.
"It look nice" he compliments me and kiss my forehead.
"Thank you. So what do you want to do this weekend while you're here?" I ask him. He says I can choose so we end up browsing through Netflix to pick a movie to watch. Steph texts me and says she is with Tristan and she won't be coming back tonight so I turn the lights off and we sit against the headboard with Noah's arm around my shoulder and my head on his chest. This is me, not some wild girl swimming in a punk boy's t-shirt. The door opens and I expect to see Steph, but of course it is Harry.
His eyes goes straight to me and Noah and I flush. He came here to tell Noah, I know he did. Panic takes over my body and I scoot away from Noah.
"What are you doing here" I snap and Harry smiles.
"I am meeting Steph" he answers and sit down. "Hey Noah, nice to see you again" he smirks and Noah looks uncomfortable. He is probably wondering why Harry has a key to the room and doesn't bother to knock.
"She is with Tristan, probably already at your house" I tell him slowly, silently pleading for him to leave. If he tells Noah now I have no idea how I could recover.
"Oh, really?" he asks. I can tell by his smirk that he came here just to torment me. He will probably stay until I come clean to Noah myself. "Are you two coming to the party?"
"No..we aren't. We are trying to watch a movie" I tell him and Noah reaches over and takes my hand. Even in the dark, I can see Harry's eyes focus on Noah's hand on me.
"That's too bad. I better go..oh Noah" Harry says and my heart drops. "That's a nice cardigan you're wearing" Thank god. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"Thanks it is from Gap" Noah says. He is clueless and unaware that Harry is making fun of him.
"Of course it is. You two have fun" Harry taunt me and leaves the room.