Always.

“So, what did you need to talk to me about?” I asked Harry, who had walked over to my locker and leaned back on the one beside mine.
“I was hoping we could talk a little more, uh. . .” he cleared his throat, “privately.”
I rolled my eyes, placing all my books from my backpack onto the shelf in my locker. “I’d love to but I have marching band practice until 6.” I reply grabbing my Nike gym bag from the bottom of my large locker.
The halls had basically cleared out since it was now 3:30 and school ended at 3:15. The only people left were those who were in sports or band, or the ones who have friends in band.
“Want to come over for dinner tonight then? 6:15, yea?” he looks me in the eye as I shut my locker, one knee was bent and foot on the locker, and one hand rested on his face with his thumb tracing over his lip.
“I don’t know Harry. I mean, I have to come up with 10 facts about this guy who sits by me in my sociology class. He seems like a real lame ass to be honest.” I smirk.
“Why the hell are we friends?” He says slowly, making sure every letter is heard, though there is a sense of humor traced in his words.
“Because I’m the best, and we’re the only ones who would put up with each other’s bull.”
I turn and begin walking down D hallway in order to get to the band hallway, Harry walks close beside me. “You know you’re absolutely right.”
“I also have this project I have due on Monday for English already, and I need to figure out who I want as a partner and ugh…So, Harry.” I stop and turn to him as we reach the closed doors that lead to the band hall. “What do you think about Liam?” I stare up at his thoughtful face, as he takes his bottom lips between his teeth.
“He’s a good friend.” Is all he says?
“He seems really sweet, we were partnered up in class today and we both have the same favorite book, it was actually really cool and-”
“No, absolutely not.” He interrupted.
“What?”
“You’re not going to date him, Kelly.” What the hell!
“Harry that is not your decision! Since when do you tell me who I can and can’t date?”
“Kelly, he’s been one of my mates for years, I know too much and I don’t think you should date him.”
“Well, Harry, like I said that is not your decision! What if I told you that you shouldn’t date Caroline because I ‘know too much’? We may be best friends but that doesn’t give you the right to make my decisions for me!”
“I’m just trying to help you, Kelly! I don’t want to see you get hurt and know I could have done something about it.” We were both raising our voices, hands flying everywhere as we spoke.
“Harry, I have never, not once, heard you speak ill of Liam! Why now? You don’t even have any evidence based on past relationships or anything that shows me it will turn up bad! Plus, I don’t even know him well enough to be in a relationship with him! I was just asking!”
“Well, I am so sorry for trying to be helpful and a good friend! Maybe next time I’ll try harder not to care.”
“Oh stop it! If you had to help me with guys, you would find something negative about all of them just like you always have.”
“That’s because none of them are good enough for you, Kel!”
I didn’t reply to that, mostly because I didn’t know what to say, but the band hallway door opened to a familiar blonde male. Harry turned around to face the wall, running his fingers through his hair. I stood against the opposite wall, arms across my body and a small smile on my face.
“Hey, Niall.’’ I almost whispered.
“Hi, Kelly.” He had a huge smile on his face then looked towards Harry. “Um, sorry if I’m interrupting anything.”
“No, of course not.” I shake my head.
“Ok, well, uh we’re about the start and Mr. Potter was just wondering where you were.” Beginning his sentence, he removes his eyes from mind, looking everywhere but.
“Oh shoot. Yea, I’ll be there in a minute! Thank you, Niall!”
He nods slightly and turns and lets the door close.
I looked at Harry, still facing the other wall. “I’ve got to go.” I turn and place my hand on the door handle hoping he will say something.
“Yea, see you later.” He says coldly. I turn to look at him in disbelief, but found nothing but an empty space.
I rolled my eyes and walked to the band room to change. Most of the band was already outside on the practice field, so I quickly ran to a practice room and changed.
I ran out to the field as soon as I was dressed. Everyone was standing close to their first set, chatting with other sections around them. I made my way to the front podium and climbed up the ladder.
As Stone, my band director makes eye contact he starts talking to the band. He just says we’re going to run through the whole show once with the cd, and then we’ll go through music, and the both. I took this opportunity to look for a hair tie because it is too hot for all this hair to be down.
“Hey Danielle!” I sort of shouted over to the other drum major podium.
She turned to me and smiled.
“Do you have a hair tie I can use?” I asked her, pointing to my head in case she didn’t understand.
She nodded and pulled the tie off her wrist, she and I both went to get down. She was on the 25 yard line and I was on the 50. Before she could finish, Niall went from the pit and took the hair tie from her and jogged over to me when I was on the ground.
“Here.”
“Oh, thank you Niall. You didn’t have to do that.” I smiled, taking the hair tie from his fingers.
“No problem.” He shrugged and walked behind the vibraphone.
I looked toward Danielle and mouthed a thank you before stepping back up.
I looked around to the band talking and looked at Mr. Stone and watched him give me a thumbs up.
I put my hair in a low pony before shouting. “Band ten hut!”
Everybody snapped to attention and yelled, “Prite!”
“Get to your spots.” I said, and everyone scrambled their places.
We began as soon then. I had to yell so many times during the first run.
“Flutes! Heads up! Come on, you’re just marching. Keep them up!”
“Your feet should be up! You guys aren’t playing!”
“Ashton! You’re not supposed to be playing, stop beating the drum for 5 minutes please!”
I wasn’t too sure if they liked me too much as a drum major sometimes, but I believed in them too much to let little things get us docked points. I’m honestly a different person off the podium and they all know that, well, except for the freshmen.
After we went through everything Stone wanted plus a couple of other things, he let us take a 7 minute water break. He likes odd numbers.
I climbed down the podium and walked into the school building. I left the band room with my wallet because all we have in the fridge is Gatorade, so instead I’d buy water from the vending machine in D hallway.
I put my dollar and quarter inside and pressed the button for water. It’s ridiculous that the band fridge only has Gatorade. I’m not saying I’m too good for it, but sometimes I just like having some cold water. As soon as I reached to grab the bottle I turned around and made my way back towards the band hall.
“Kelly.” I heard my name and turned.
“Liam, hey.” I smiled as he walked towards me.
“Hey!” He said, once he caught up to me. He was sweaty and was in a tank top and shorts. The sweat glistened off him, and the sight was beautiful.
I looked down at my feet and walked so he wouldn’t catch me staring.
“Uh, so I was wondering if you wanted to be my partner for the English assignment.” He asked, I looked over to see him staring ahead with a hand on the back of his neck.
I smiled, “Yea, sure! That would be great actually.” I nodded, opening my water to take a sip.
“Oh! Good.” He sounded overexcited and then cleared his throat. “So we could meet later tonight or, well no. You probably have plans. If you’re free tomorrow night, we can get it started and all that, if you have time.” He finally stops.
“I’m free tomorrow night, Liam.” I smiled again. “We can talk about it tomorrow. Right now I have to get back to my band, I was already late earlier.” I laugh shaking my head.
“You look really good! Uh, conducting I mean.” We walked to the band hall door and I put my hand on it.
“Thanks. I try! I’ve been wanting to be drum major since 8th grade year, so I hope I’m not too bad.” I shrug.
“8th grade? That’s long!”
“Yea, it is. I’m just glad it happened.”
“Well, I’ll let you go. I’ll see you tomorrow?” he raised a brow making me giggle.
“Tomorrow!” I agreed and we went our separate ways.
***
Finally home, that may have been the longest band practice we’ve had. I just wanted to take a shower and sleep.
I threw my stuff down on my bed and opened my drawer to get my pajamas. As soon as I did that, I put my hair in a bun on the top of my head, then jumped in and took a quick shower.
When I get out and began drying my body, I looked at my phone and saw the time 6:20… Oh Shoot! I was supposed to meet Harry!
I scrambled around the room and put on some leggings and shirt.
Shit, if he wasn’t really pissed before, he would be now.
Grabbing my phone and my keys, I headed to the front door grabbing my shoes, and ran out locking the door.
I ran across the side walk to his house and knocked on the door before opening it up with my key and seeing no one. I quietly placed my shoes on the ground and my keys and phone on the table next to the door.
I locked the door before walking in and looking around. Harry was nowhere in sight, but as I looked in the kitchen I saw what looked like hamburger steaks on the stove.
Yes! My favorite.
I need to go fins Harry though, even if my mouth was watering.
I walked down the halls towards his room and the door was cracked open. I could see Harry lying in his outfit from today besides his shoes. His long legs were extended out straight and his arms were over his eyes.
I sighed and pushed his door open walking in. He didn’t move even a little bit, he just laid there as I sat on the other side of his bed cross-legged beside him.
“Hello.” My voice was small.
“Hey.” He replied. “Didn’t think you were going to come.”
“I couldn’t stay away from you even if I wanted to, Harry.”
“Because I am your best friend?” he asked.
“No, it’s because you’re my next door neighbor.”
He chuckled, moving his hands from his face and looking at me. “I’m sorry for the way I acted.” He said, sitting up next to me, which means I have to look up at him.
“I guess I’m kind of sorry too, even though I wasn’t actually wrong.” I smiled.
Harry shook his head and rolled his eyes. “Come here.” He opened his arms out and pulled me in to his chest.
I wrapped my arms around him and he kissed my head before he let go.
“I made your favorite.” His grin was so wide.
“I saw, I almost didn’t even come in here.” I admitted.
“Of course, let’s go.” He stood from the bed and I followed.
Once we were in the kitchen and he was grabbing plates, I remembered why we were here in the first place.
“Harry, what did you need to talk to me about?” I asked curiously, grabbing my plate from him.
“Caroline.”

Notes