The Wall Flower
Chapter Three
-Harry’s POV:
“Coming, Haz?” Jules asks me after the bell rings signaling for lunch.
“Yeah, I’ll catch you in a minute,” I respond letting her give me a short kiss and look for Carrie. I realize she was turning around going the other way, “Carrie!” I say once I finally catch up with her.
“what do you want.” She asks as she backs away slowly and I see someone grab her arm. I look and see none other than William. He’s clawing her arm already forming marks once I realize what’s going on.
“Lay off, mate.” I say pushing him away.
“You’re making a bad choice if you chose this cunt over me, lemme tell you that Styles.” He says letting go of her and turning toward me pushing me back.
“no, I wasn’t, she’s not worth it, come on let’s go.” I respond and drag him toward the cafeteria.
I felt like a pussy backing off of William that easily, if I wanted Carrie to trust me, I was going to have to prove I wasn’t going to hurt her.
-Caroline’s POV:
After lunch, we’re released to go home, I hurry from the cafeteria straight out the door and walk as fast as I can until the school is no longer is in view and finally let myself take a breather. I decide to take a detour and stop in a Starbucks only 5 blocks away from my house. I order my usual French Vanilla Chai and take a seat by the window watching all the people walking to and from their destination. From here, I can see the university where Tatum and Gemma are attending and can almost picture them sitting hip to hip next to each other never leaving the other’s side. I remember when Tatum and Gemma had their first serious fight, Tatum was a sophomore, and Gemma had gone to a party that she wasn’t invited to. Which was a rare occasion considering Tatum was the social butterfly of the class of 2009. I remember her running through the door straight to her room not letting anyone in. She cried and cried and wouldn’t speak to anyone for 4 days. Then, after Gemma had realized what was wrong, she came over and tried apologizing and they both ended up being friends again. That was the only time I had ever seen my sister cry, and I was afraid she wasn’t going to be alright. Since she was only a year above me, me and my sister had always been close and more like friends than sisters, but without her at the same school as me anymore I didn’t know what I was going to do.
Before I knew it, my chai was gone and I had to start heading home, as I approach my house I see a mop of curls sitting on my front steps.
“I was afraid you were never coming home,” He spoke as he stood up and met me at the bottom stair.
“I think we both know you’ve never been afraid of my well-being.” I snap and walk past him.
“That’s hardly fair for you to say.” He says grabbing my arm, coincidentally in the same spot William had clawed earlier. This causes me to wince and he notices sliding his hand down my arm until he’s holding my hand.
“And why wouldn’t it be?” I say snatching my hand away and crossing my arms.
“Because I protected you, didn’t I?” he says throwing his arms into the air.
“Oh, I’m sorry, my hero! Well, guess what, too little, too late.” I say mimicking his actions.
“And what is that supposed to mean?” He asks.
“It means, if you really cared about me getting hurt, I really could have used it in 7th grade, or 8th, 9th, 10th or even last year. But I sure as hell don’t need it anymore.” I say turning around.
“Wait!” He says following me up the remainder of the steps. “I know I should have been a better friend-
“A better friend? Harry, we aren’t friends. Friends don’t beat up other friends.” I interrupt about to unlock the door, but he grabs the keys from me so I can’t.
“I never actually beat you up, and before you interrupt me again let me explain. I know I should have been a better friend, and that I haven’t actually been a friend to you at all, but I’m sorry. I’m sorry for just watching as they torment you, and I’m sorry for not stopping them, I just..” He pauses as if he’s afraid on what he’s about to say.
“afraid that if you started talking to the loser chick next door they were going to make fun of you too? Ditch you, and put you through what I’ve been going through ever since you ditched me. I already know. You’re just afraid that if you start hanging out with me, they’re going to hurt you too. You didn’t have to tell me. In fact, you don’t even have to apologize. If you’re really sorry, show it, because your words mean nothing to me.” I take the keys from his hand and unlock the door about ready to walk in and turn around to see the same expression on his face. “Look, I appreciate your apology, but we can’t be friends, Harry. You’re dating Jules and-
“We’re not dating.” He quietly states.
“Well you could have fooled me.” I say referencing to the kiss I witnessed this morning and before lunch.
“Nah, she cares for me more than I do for her, I just.. I don’t know how to tell her we aren’t dating and still be friends with her..” He says trailing off.
“Because she’s quite the catch.” I say closing the door, which is stopped by his foot.
“Come over to my house.” He states, rather than asking.
“No.” I say trying to shut the door, which is still blocked by his foot.
“Please, I need to make things up to you.” He begs.
“No. Goodnight, Harry.” I say successfully shutting the door. I set the keys in the bowl and go to the den to watch Harry slowly making his way down the street, and I don’t even feel the slightest bit of regret.
“Coming, Haz?” Jules asks me after the bell rings signaling for lunch.
“Yeah, I’ll catch you in a minute,” I respond letting her give me a short kiss and look for Carrie. I realize she was turning around going the other way, “Carrie!” I say once I finally catch up with her.
“what do you want.” She asks as she backs away slowly and I see someone grab her arm. I look and see none other than William. He’s clawing her arm already forming marks once I realize what’s going on.
“Lay off, mate.” I say pushing him away.
“You’re making a bad choice if you chose this cunt over me, lemme tell you that Styles.” He says letting go of her and turning toward me pushing me back.
“no, I wasn’t, she’s not worth it, come on let’s go.” I respond and drag him toward the cafeteria.
I felt like a pussy backing off of William that easily, if I wanted Carrie to trust me, I was going to have to prove I wasn’t going to hurt her.
-Caroline’s POV:
After lunch, we’re released to go home, I hurry from the cafeteria straight out the door and walk as fast as I can until the school is no longer is in view and finally let myself take a breather. I decide to take a detour and stop in a Starbucks only 5 blocks away from my house. I order my usual French Vanilla Chai and take a seat by the window watching all the people walking to and from their destination. From here, I can see the university where Tatum and Gemma are attending and can almost picture them sitting hip to hip next to each other never leaving the other’s side. I remember when Tatum and Gemma had their first serious fight, Tatum was a sophomore, and Gemma had gone to a party that she wasn’t invited to. Which was a rare occasion considering Tatum was the social butterfly of the class of 2009. I remember her running through the door straight to her room not letting anyone in. She cried and cried and wouldn’t speak to anyone for 4 days. Then, after Gemma had realized what was wrong, she came over and tried apologizing and they both ended up being friends again. That was the only time I had ever seen my sister cry, and I was afraid she wasn’t going to be alright. Since she was only a year above me, me and my sister had always been close and more like friends than sisters, but without her at the same school as me anymore I didn’t know what I was going to do.
Before I knew it, my chai was gone and I had to start heading home, as I approach my house I see a mop of curls sitting on my front steps.
“I was afraid you were never coming home,” He spoke as he stood up and met me at the bottom stair.
“I think we both know you’ve never been afraid of my well-being.” I snap and walk past him.
“That’s hardly fair for you to say.” He says grabbing my arm, coincidentally in the same spot William had clawed earlier. This causes me to wince and he notices sliding his hand down my arm until he’s holding my hand.
“And why wouldn’t it be?” I say snatching my hand away and crossing my arms.
“Because I protected you, didn’t I?” he says throwing his arms into the air.
“Oh, I’m sorry, my hero! Well, guess what, too little, too late.” I say mimicking his actions.
“And what is that supposed to mean?” He asks.
“It means, if you really cared about me getting hurt, I really could have used it in 7th grade, or 8th, 9th, 10th or even last year. But I sure as hell don’t need it anymore.” I say turning around.
“Wait!” He says following me up the remainder of the steps. “I know I should have been a better friend-
“A better friend? Harry, we aren’t friends. Friends don’t beat up other friends.” I interrupt about to unlock the door, but he grabs the keys from me so I can’t.
“I never actually beat you up, and before you interrupt me again let me explain. I know I should have been a better friend, and that I haven’t actually been a friend to you at all, but I’m sorry. I’m sorry for just watching as they torment you, and I’m sorry for not stopping them, I just..” He pauses as if he’s afraid on what he’s about to say.
“afraid that if you started talking to the loser chick next door they were going to make fun of you too? Ditch you, and put you through what I’ve been going through ever since you ditched me. I already know. You’re just afraid that if you start hanging out with me, they’re going to hurt you too. You didn’t have to tell me. In fact, you don’t even have to apologize. If you’re really sorry, show it, because your words mean nothing to me.” I take the keys from his hand and unlock the door about ready to walk in and turn around to see the same expression on his face. “Look, I appreciate your apology, but we can’t be friends, Harry. You’re dating Jules and-
“We’re not dating.” He quietly states.
“Well you could have fooled me.” I say referencing to the kiss I witnessed this morning and before lunch.
“Nah, she cares for me more than I do for her, I just.. I don’t know how to tell her we aren’t dating and still be friends with her..” He says trailing off.
“Because she’s quite the catch.” I say closing the door, which is stopped by his foot.
“Come over to my house.” He states, rather than asking.
“No.” I say trying to shut the door, which is still blocked by his foot.
“Please, I need to make things up to you.” He begs.
“No. Goodnight, Harry.” I say successfully shutting the door. I set the keys in the bowl and go to the den to watch Harry slowly making his way down the street, and I don’t even feel the slightest bit of regret.
Notes
I really, really wanna hear feedback from everyone! And I'm open to ANY suggestion you guys may or may not have about this story, I just wanna know how you all feel about ALL of this, which is kinda alot. I feel like the next two chapters will just be getting to know the characters still until things start happening!*Rate/Comment/Subscribe* For more and longer updates :)
-Tristen
Completely understandable. Life always seems to be really busy, especially this time of year. Looking forward to the update. :)
3/25/14