You Couldn't Understand

Harry's POV

I can't believe she actually just walked away from me. I mean.. No girl has ever not wanted me, and yeah that sounds arrogant but it's true. I stand and stare at the classroom door for a few minutes after it's closed and eventually manage to make myself walk away. I'm headed back to class when I see Nathan at his locker. He's the more chill of Jamie's two friends so I may as well see what he thinks. If Ashton can be civil, so can he.

"Hey," I mutter as I approach him. But he doesn't look up until I'm standing directly next to his locker.

"Oh," he says, pulling one of his earbuds out, "sorry did you say something?"

"Just hey. Have you uh.. Talked to Jamie.. About.. Ya know.. Us?"

He looks at me with a look of amusement at first before his eyes quickly cloud over with anger.

"As far as I'm concerned, you're not a unit. And I hope to God you never will be," he slams his locker closed and turns to walk away, placing his earbud back in and playing his music.

"Whoa," I object, grabbing his shoulder, "What the hell did I do to you?"

He spins around, angry now, "Everything was fine before you showed up. We were fine. But now Jamie has to adjust to all this change, people looking at her, at us.. Not to mention your bitch of an ex. Just do us all a favor and fuck off."

"What if Jamie needs a little change? You all letting her destroy herself clearly isn't the most effective technique. I can deal with Alexis. And I can handle Jamie," I say with more confidence than I expected out of myself.

To my surprise, he laughs.

"What?" I question.

"You know nothing. You swoop in and think you know how to deal with everything after a week. News flash: Ash and I are her best friends. She doesn't need some pretty boy who's going to scamper off the second he gets in her pants," again he starts to walk away.

"Kinda like you do with every girl you meet?" I state. He stops walking and I take my opportunity to continue, "That's why you hate me. I remind you of yourself."

"I'm nothing like you."

"Oh but you are. Face it- we've been at the same parties going for the girls with the short skirts and the hungry eyes, knowing that after we get them we'll walk away. You're exactly like me. So what makes you more worthy to be in Jamie's life than me?"

Just as I finish saying this, the bell rings to release everyone to their next class.

"Shut the fuck up, Ken. I haven't had everything handed to me my whole life. Not money, not grades, and definitely not a girl like Jamie. You're right, we treat women similarly. And that's how I know that she deserves a lot better."

"I can be good for her," I start, but he interrupts my statement with a more raised voice.

"No you can't! She's not fucking okay! She's not another one of your toys!"

"I know that you care about her, and that's why you're doing this.. But I care about her too, and-" once again I'm interrupted.

"I'm going to repeat myself- fuck. Off. You don't care about her. You don't care about anyone but yourself. You mistreat women and we both know it. What happens if she doesn't want to be with you? You gonna make her? Make her grant your every wish like a little slave? Tell me, Ken, if she gets you mad enough, what'll you do?" He pauses here. Noticing the crowd that's gathered. I guess the two of us arguing is a sight to see.

Now I'm angry. Nathan is like all these other people, assuming that he knows everything about me. When in reality, he knows nothing.

"What are you implying, Nathan?" I ask through bared teeth, even though I know where he's going.

"I'm implying that if your ex is so willing to hit, maybe you are too. I mean, I saw Jamie's wall. Where's that temper gonna get you with a girl as stubborn as she is?"

He saw her wall? Did Jamie tell her friends about my outburst? Fuck. I knew that moment was going to get back to me.

"I would never lay a hand on her." I'm seeing red now at the fact that he would even suggest that.

"Oh, please. Dude, I know guys like you because I am guys like you. Selfish, inconsiderate, sex-driven assholes who take advantage of girls who just want attention. But hey, even if I am a dick, at least I don't have that temper of yours. I may be a lot of things, but sure as fuck am not a big enough dick to put my hand through a wall or even have the chance of putting my hands on a girl who just-"

As he speaks, I hear a voice say Nathan's name, and as he turns to look I take my opportunity to respond to his accusation. But I barely see the recognition in his eyes before my fist collides with his jaw with a sick crack.

"Oh my God, Nathan!"

Now I see why that look crossed his face. Jamie was standing right there, and I didn't even see her. She rushes forward to look at her best friend, who is on the ground holding a hand to his face. But before she reaches him, he's up and coming at me.

Notes

To the reader who messaged me on tumblr like forty years ago: I am so sorry I didn't update that night. I got distracted and my phone is dumb and blah. So yeah, here's a chapter now! As always, thanks for reading and subscribing.

Tumblr: deyes-and-nights

-JKM