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Mistletoe Deadline

Ten|I'll be Home for Christmas


13 December 2018
2 days left in Operation Mistletoe

The quad was quiet during finals week. Student were all cooped up in coffee shops, libraries or dorm room studying to try and not kill our gpas. So it was a shock when I rounded the corner and found the object of my search snuggled into a blanket studying on the vast stretch of grass between buildings.

Harry didn't seem to mind the cold as he flicked through the book in front of him. The only noticeable sign that he might be feeling the weather the red that tipped his nose and ears. I pulled up immediately in my tracks not wanting to catch his attention. What was I thinking? What was I going to say? 'Hey, Harry I'm sorry that I implied that you were a guarded asshole and then ruined a night with your friends because of something your ex-girlfriend said.'

So instead I went with the time honoured phrase that always helped when someone didn't know how to start a conversation, "Hey."

Obviously not expecting to be interrupted Harry looked up from his book with a look of confusion, then recognition and finally a guarded look, "hi," he replied gruffly.

"Can I join you?" I stated gesturing to his blanket he had laid out over the snow.

Instead of answering Harry just adjusted his position until there was room for me on the rather small blanket. Trying not to fall over in front of him or dump my books all over the snow I gingerly sat in the corner provided. Harry had apparently decided that me joining him didn't mean that we were going to be making conversation as he went back to paging through a business analytics textbook.

"Hey, I'm sorry," I said softly trying to get his attention but unsure if it had worked.

"Okay," Harry said softly still not looking at me.

"I didn't mean it. I mean you are reserved, but I mean everyone is reserved about some things, and I understand if you don't want to talk to me it's fine. But I just don't like the two of us being mad at each other because you know despite the fact that you are frustrating as hell I do actually enjoy hanging out with you. So if you don't want to tell me anything about your past that's fine, and I mean I can just talk about me if it makes it any less awkward and..."

I hadn't realised that I was rambling until I felt Harry's fingers on mine freezing from the bitter cold. Glancing up I noticed him staring at me intently for the first time since I sat down ignoring his book. He was looking at me like he could see through me, like everything that I had been trying to say had been processed and accepted, and there was nothing else to say. Unable to handle it I felt myself drop my gaze my face turning red.

"Riley, it's fine," Harry said before taking a deep breath as if unsure about his words, "I mean I wasn't exactly pleasant either and yeah I don't like talking about myself, but that doesn't mean that I don't like hanging out with you. I mean you annoy the hell out of me too, but somehow it's..cute."

I didn't know how to respond to that, so I just sat there for a second a smile sliding onto my face. He had just called me cute. Cute, I didn't know what I thought of that or how to hide the blush that was deepening on my face so I did nothing and we ended up in an awkward silence. It proved too much for Harry as he sobered and looked at me like he wanted to say something and didn't know how to put it.

"It's just hard you know," He started his voice slow and sombre as if he was unsure about sharing but making himself, "everyone keeps asking me about things like holiday plans. And it's hard cause like I have a crap home life and I don't know how to tell people that I'm just going to hang around here and watch Netflix the whole break."

It wasn't much, but I knew that to Harry his admittance was huge so I just gave a nod and an encouraging smile rubbing my finger against his hand that I realised for the first time were still clasped in mine. Something pricked at the back of my mind, Courtney's words that Harry would be the perfect holiday date.

"You aren't going to spend Christmas with anyone?" I asked the words slipping out of my mouth before I could stop them.

Harry just hung head he had a sad, haunted look in his eyes. It was the kind of look and idea that made my chest hurt. So more because of the look in his eyes than the words in the back of my mind I asked him the question that I hadn't been expecting to.

"Would you want to spend it with me?"

Harry looked up a look of confusion and something that looked a bit like hope on his face. But the look faded a second later.

"I couldn't intrude." He said shaking his head, "Besides you should be spending Christmas with your family."

It was then I realised that I was going to have to explain my situation to Harry, not that I was looking forward to it. I had no idea how to tell to him that he would be doing me a huge favour spending the holidays with my family. So with a sigh, I looked at Harry a sheepish look on my face I let go of his hands.

"Well you see," I started, "you'd actually be doing me a favour. My sister has a deal with my mom that she can bring her fiance home for Christmas if I bring home my boyfriend that I stupidly made up to stop them asking and now I'm in a bit of a bind."

Harry looked at me stunned for a second and I started to panic slightly. Had I said something wrong? Should I not have asked him anything? But then to make things worse, Harry threw back his head and let out a barking laugh.

"So you want me to pretend to be your boyfriend for the holidays?" Harry asked a wide grin splitting his face like it was one of the funniest ideas that he had ever heard.

I didn't know what to say to that. It was almost like he was implying that it was insulting for me to ask him. Feeling my face flush in humiliation I placed both hands tightly around the strap of my messenger bag hugging it close to me before turning to get up.

"It was a stupid idea anyway," I muttered shifting my weight before a hand on my arm stopped me.

Turning I saw Harry looking concerned before dropping his hands and picking at his cuticles in what appeared to be a nervous habit. Shooting me a tentative smile he seemed to be choosing his words.

"It's not stupid. I mean we all say things to get out of stressful situations. And I mean I'll do it. I don't have anything else to do anyways." Harry let out a shrug as if to try and distract from the seriousness of his words, "and I mean it's not like it will be hard to pretend with you."

I couldn't believe what I just heard. My problems were all solved with a single sentence. I had a boyfriend to bring home for the holidays. So with a grin splitting my face I sat down on the blanket once again facing Harry. Still, I was trying to forget the feeling that his last sentence was invoking in my chest as my heart sped up a bit.

"Thank you," I said suddenly bashful.

"No thank you," Harry stated, "I mean I wasn't looking forward to spending Christmas alone. Now, what did you tell your parents about me?"

I must have given Harry a confused look because he let out a chuckle and a slight shake of his head sending his curls tumbling into his face, "We have to get our story straight before we go right? I mean I wouldn't want your parents finding out that you brought a random shmuck right?"

"Oh right!" I exclaimed suddenly realising what he had been implying. "How much time do you have?"

The question seemed to shock Harry before he looked at his book then his watch. A look of panic crossed his face briefly before he turned to me his face getting embarrassed.

"Not long actually I have a final in like twenty minutes. But we could meet up at a coffee shop tomorrow afternoon if you want? I mean I'm done with finals by then, and you obviously told your parents a lot."

Stammering a bit, I let out an 'of course.' I felt terrible for keeping Harry from his obvious last-minute panic studying so instead I stood and brushed the snow from where it had pooled slightly on the cuffs of my boots.

"Tomorrow afternoon sounds perfect." I offered with a smile, "text me where?"

Harry let out a nod, and I went to leave his next words so soft I wasn't sure if I had even heard him right.

"I hope I meet all your expectations."

With a smile, I left Harry studying in the grass hoping to finally be able to do some studying of my own now that everything had been cleared between us.

Notes

So Harry is going!! :)

2 Chapters left in part 1!!

Comments

YAY!!

You should definitely continue writing this story!!

cataclysmic cataclysmic
12/31/18

I would love to read what you have! I don’t mind if Christmas is over lol I love Christmas! I was wondering what happened to you, but figured the holidays always get a little crazy! Xx

@YouLoveWhoYouLove

So I double updated :) And there's another double update tomorrow because I'm so behind :)

And I adore all those Christmas songs

ontheedge ontheedge
12/12/18

I need more!