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Monday, December 30, 2013

A friend of mine is having a New Year’s Eve party. Would you like to come?

The text message arrived out of the blue on the day before New Year’s Eve. The holidays had come and gone without a hitch, and Kit had ventured back down to London as soon as the festivities wrapped up, eager to get back to Kevin and push the thoughts of Harry out of her mind – thoughts that made her feel incredibly guilty and shameful, thoughts that encompassed her mind when she was trying to sleep at night, thoughts that she knew she couldn’t ever act on, but wanted to, desperately so. Her only solace was continuing to believe they wouldn’t be spending time together, despite Harry’s insistence that they were friends, and they would. She couldn’t see it happening, and hoped it wouldn’t take long to forget about him. But when all she saw when she closed her eyes was his bright, dimpled grin and piercing green eyes, she knew forgetting about Harry would be a challenge.

I know it’s short notice, he continued, sending another text when Kit didn’t answer right away. But it would be lovely to see you.

Kit read the messages several times, rolling onto her back and propping her feet against the headboard of her bed. In typical girl fashion, she carefully went over each word, scrutinizing his message until she had it memorized forward and backward. She almost had herself convinced that he was asking her on a date when a third message came through.

Also, bring Kevin. I’d really like to meet him.

Kit furrowed her brow, studying the final message intently. “Well… that’s weird,” she stated out loud. After Tim’s tirade about Kevin, and Kit and Harry’s moonlight moment, she didn’t think there was anything in the world that could make Harry want to meet Kevin.

“What is?” asked Kit’s roommate, Charlotte, stopping short in front of Kit’s opened bedroom door on her way from the washroom. She leaned against the doorjamb, crossing her arms in front of her as Kit sprawled across her bed, holding her phone in Charlotte’s direction.

“Harry’s asking me and Kevin to some New Year’s party,” Kit informed Charlotte, her lip upturned in an incredulous smirk. Charlotte, being not only Kit’s roommate but her closest friend, had been informed of the Christmas party and the feelings Kit was attempting to push away. Charlotte was one of the few people who actually liked Kevin – his surly attitude and pompous persona matched hers – and immediately took his side regarding Kit’s feelings, which wasn’t unusual. Charlotte and Kevin had an odd bond – a bond that had a tendency to make Kit more than a little uncomfortable, after the bond he shared with her last roommate.

“That’s a stupid idea,” Charlotte replied, her voice caked with disgust. “He’s probably just asking to start something.”

“Harry?” Kit asked, scoffing. “I don’t think he’d ever even hurt a fly,” she commented, rolling onto her stomach and propping her chin up on her elbows. “I think he might just… I don’t know… want to meet Kevin?” She looked at Charlotte, shrugging her shoulders. “But… it is… weird…” she repeated.

“This guy almost kissed you… and caressed your cheek, for Pete’s sake… and now he wants to meet your boyfriend?” Charlotte shook her head. “He just wants to size up his competition, Kit. See if he’s got a chance,” she added, rolling her eyes at the thought of anyone having a chance to oust Kevin. “You’re a fool if you go to this party,” she advised Kit, shaking her head once more before carrying on down the hallway.

Kit exhaled loudly, letting her head drop against the bed. She didn’t think Charlotte was right, but she still felt a twinge of apprehension at the thought of attending the party. But stronger yet, she guiltily felt excited at the thought of seeing Harry again. She didn’t even consider whether Kevin would want to join her as she tapped out her reply.

That sounds like loads of fun! Thanks for thinking of me J Where’s it at?

She stared at the word ‘me’ for what seemed like hours, debating on whether it was appropriate. Harry had mentioned Kevin as well… should she do the same? Reciting the two sentences in her head repeatedly, she reluctantly changed the word ‘me’ to ‘us’. She was part of an ‘us’. The use of the word shouldn’t have felt like such a hardship to her. Still, as she sent the revised message, she wished she’d used the first draft.

Finally, Harry thought to himself as his phone signaled a new text message. He beamed when Kit said she could make it, but he could have done without Kevin’s RSVP as well. He’d only extended the invitation to him to ensure Kit would attend. He didn’t want Kevin anywhere near him, and hoped he would find something else to do that night.

“Yay? Or nay?”

Harry looked across the room where his friend Ed was stretched out on the other sofa. He shrugged at Ed, looking down at the phone again.

“I mean… she said yes,” Harry told him. “But… it sounds like they’ll both be coming.”

Ed let out a chuckle. “What did you think would happen?” he asked Harry. “She’d come alone? Come on…” he said, scoffing gently. “Plus, you’ve got what’s her face Kardashian coming anyway, so how many irons you plan on sticking in this fire?”

“Jenner,” Harry corrected with an automatic roll of his eyes. Once he was back in London after the holidays, and feeling unbearably lonely, he sent the text to the boring, tiresome girl in an attempt to forget about Kit. It was a completely futile effort, but he tried. Lord, was he trying.

“Right… that’s the name she uses to make reservations, isn’t it?” Ed laughed, knowing full well it wasn’t. “But seriously… Kendall’s hot and more than ready to give it to you, so just get on that and forget all about this other one. Seriously,” he added for good measure.

Harry sighed. For a guy who could write such romantic songs, Ed certainly had an off-color manner of speaking. Despite his profane tone, however, Harry knew his friend was right. Kit had a boyfriend – albeit a terrible boyfriend, but a boyfriend nonetheless. Harry had invited another girl to come to the party with him. It wouldn’t be fair to anyone involved if he focused all of his attention on Kit.

“Suppose you’re right,” Harry admitted with another sigh. “It’s just pretty crummy when someone cool like Kit is with some wanker like him.”

“You don’t even know the bugger,” Ed laughed. “He might be just as cool.”

Harry let out a loud laugh. “He messed around on her, so I can’t really see him being very cool,” Harry reminded Ed, having reiterated everything Tim had said to Ed. He found himself getting angrier with the man he’d never met as he filled his friend in on everything he learned about Kit’s partner, and wasn’t sure if he would be able to keep his feelings in check when face-to-face with Kevin. He knew he had no choice, but to say it would be a test would be an understatement.

“Yeah, well…” Ed trailed off, offering Harry a shrug. He didn’t have a defence as to why Kevin would cheat on Kit, but it didn’t mean it was kosher for Harry to entertain the idea of attempting to woo her away from her boyfriend. “Just keep your pants on,” Ed advised Harry. “You don’t need this tosser finding out you want to bang his girlfriend and take some story to the Sun.”

“I know, I know,” he answered, sighing exasperatedly. He’d heard it all before – don’t do anything in public you don’t want anyone to see, don’t give anyone any ammunition to call the press, don’t be a fool, and be aware of your actions at all times. It was stressful and onerous, but ultimately, he loved his job and knew the constant self-awareness was just something he had to deal with to do what he loved. Any punches he would want to lay across Kevin’s face would have to be wishful thinking only.

~*~*~*~

“So…” Kit began, intently focusing on the plate perched on her lap and not looking up at Kevin. She had been rehearsing how to bring up Harry’s invite to Kevin all evening but found it was difficult to sound completely nonchalant and yet insistent at the same time. She wanted to go, but she didn’t want Kevin to know just how badly. If he knew how much she wanted to see Harry, he would refuse to go and, even worse, forbid Kit from going as well. She couldn’t have that happen – she needed to see Harry.

“Are you eating your spring roll?” Kevin interrupted, leaning forward and tapping his fork against Kit’s plate. She was planning on it – spring rolls were her favourite part of Chinese takeaway, and she always saved the best for last. But by sharing an order with Kevin, she seldom got to eat her spring rolls. She’d suggested time and time again that they ought to order extra spring rolls, but thrifty Kevin would refuse, saying two was enough for the two of them. But it never was.

“Go ahead,” Kit told Kevin, smothering her sigh and reminding herself that she also liked cashew chicken, and Kevin hated it. She could fill up on that and he could enjoy her spring roll. It would be okay.

“Anyway…” Kit began again, watching Kevin ruin her spring roll by dousing it in soya sauce. “Have you thought of what you’d like to do tomorrow night? New Years,” she added unnecessarily. She stressed to herself to tread lightly on the subject, and not let Kevin pick up that she was eager to spend the evening with Harry.

Kevin offered Kit a shrug, his attention focused more on the television set than his girlfriend. “Get liquored up somewhere, anyway,” he told her, his lips smacking together and revealing the half-chewed spring roll. “Haven’t really heard of anyone having a ripper, but I guess we can get out to some club or something,” he added, not sounding overly thrilled at the idea.

“Rather just stay here and get you all pissed up, yeah?” he told Kit suggestively, raising his eyebrows with a grin as he nudged her foot with his own.

Kit forced herself to smile back, letting out a giggle that she hoped sounded sincere. Sex with Kevin was never something she wanted to do. She’d lost her virginity to him only months prior, and only because he’d been so insistent on her showing him how much she loved him. He’d seemed quite hurt when she didn’t want to sleep with him, so feeling bad for hurting his feelings, she did. She knew she didn’t love him, but she hadn’t wanted to lose him. She still didn’t want to lose him – she didn’t want to be alone.

“Well… we could do that…” Kit agreed, hoping she sounded as suggestive as Kevin had. “But… well, I got an invite from one of Tim’s friends today. Might as well get me pissed up on someone else’s booze, right?” she asked him, mimicking his foot nudge.

Kevin furrowed his brow. “Tim’s friend?” he repeated, his confusion understandable. “That sounds… absolutely revolting,” he told Kit with a laugh. “Is your lovely brother going to be there, too?” he wondered. “I can’t believe you’d actually want me to go to a party with your brother, knowing how badly he treats me,” Kevin added, his voice a cocktail of hurt and arrogance.

Kit scoffed, the sound coming out louder than she’d intended. “God, no,” she assured Kevin. “He’s not going to be there. Like I would actually want to spend my night with that idiot, anyway,” she lied. She let the statement hang in the air for a moment while she thoughtfully chewed her food.

“I mean… it’s something to do,” she added after a few beats, punctuating her statement with an uncaring shrug. “It’s at Alexa Chung’s house…” she told Kevin, pushing her food around on her plate and silently counting to five before looking up at him for his reaction. Kevin wasn’t a person who fawned over celebrities – he thought fame was undeserved, and boasted that he easily could be an actor or a musician if he was just discovered at a coffee shop like the rest of them were – but Kit saw his eyebrows raise slightly at the mention of the British model-turned-TV-host’s name.

“How does your fucking idiot brother have friends who know Alexa Chung?” Kevin asked, rolling his eyes. As soon as his question was uttered, he answered it himself. “Oh… his friend’s that poof in that gay ass band, isn’t he?”

Internally, Kit screamed in frustration but externally, she simply nodded. She hated the way he so brazenly used the demeaning homosexual terms, and as much as she wanted to defend Harry, she knew it was always easier to agree with Kevin than to start an argument that would begin with “trust me, I know he’s not gay”.

“Probably gonna be a pretty big waste of time,” Kevin told Kit, digging his toes into the tops of his socks and tugging them off, kicking them under the coffee table. It was a habit of his that annoyed her, but she found herself more irritated than usual at his disrobing. For a moment, she found herself wondering if Harry would annoyingly kick off his socks, or steal her food. She wondered if she would care.

“But, I mean… I suppose…” he added after a moment, shrugging again and not appearing pleased with agreeing to Kit’s suggestion.

Kit’s eyes widened for a moment, stunned at Kevin’s response. She had been prepared to lay it on thicker and convince him that the New Year’s party was a good idea, but he’d agreed so quickly, she hadn’t had to utter any of the lines she diligently rehearsed in her bathroom mirror. It was a relief, but almost disappointing.

“Yeah?” she asked for clarification, biting the insides of her cheeks to keep from smiling too big. But the thought of seeing Harry again in just a day made it difficult not to convey her excitement on her face. “We can dress up,” she added, though more for Kevin than herself. Despite his lack of work ethic and red-balanced bank account, Kevin enjoyed the finer things in life and was always looking for an excuse to wear a crisp, tailored suit and tie.

“Obviously… You’ll be sure to comb your hair as well,” Kevin advised her, always being sure to make a comment on Kit’s appearance. He reached over and tugged on a lock of Kit’s hair. “Maybe you ought to try and get in to see someone, see if they can make something happen with this before tomorrow. You’ll feel better if you look better, you know,” he added, his tone as matter-of-fact as though he was telling her to take medicine or go to bed early.

“I will,” Kit promised Kevin, though she didn’t know how she would manage to pay for a last minute hair salon trip the day before New Year’s Eve. Still, she would try. Kevin was probably right – she would easily stand out in a house party filled with beautiful celebrities and models with or without styled hair, but might feel a bit like she belonged if she looked close to the part.

~*~*~*~
Tuesday, December 31, 2013

The door to the hotel room opened before Harry had even stepped off the elevator. A pretty brunette stuck her head out the door and peeked around the jamb, smiling brightly when she saw Harry sauntering down the hall towards her room. He smiled back at her, albeit a bit abashedly. He didn’t know her well – they met through friends and went on one dinner date the month prior. He wondered what she thought about his sporadic invitation, as it clearly came right out of left field. He supposed she was fine with it, considering she’d accepted, but he thought it was fair to assume her mother had more to do with that than Kendall herself.

“Hello,” Harry called out to her as he approached the open door. “You look lovely,” he told her sincerely. Dull as she was, Kendall was a gorgeous girl and had a great sense of style. She was a great piece of arm candy, and if that was something Harry was into, they would have Britney and Justin beat for cutest celebrity couple of all time. But hearing her talk about the calorie count in Baked Lays, or how she can’t believe it’s only Tuesday when it totally feels like it should be Thursday, or how she can do the crow pose now in yoga was enough to make Harry want to pull his ears off and shove them in her mouth in an attempt to muzzle her.

It was a mean thought, and he was glad Kendall couldn’t tell what he was thinking. It wasn’t her fault she’d been coddled and swooned over her entire life, and had no idea that most people didn’t care about her opinion on The Bachelor. Still, he found himself hoping he could introduce her to someone equally as boring and escape her for the evening. He briefly wondered if he and Kit would be able to re-enact their moonlit walk from the week before, but knew as long as Kevin and Kendall were around, the most he could do with Kit would be fantasize about it.

“Thank you!” Kendall chirped happily, stepping into the room and gesturing for Harry to join her. “You look great yourself!” she told him, poking through an open suitcase on the bed. “I’m almost ready,” she promised him, tossing articles of clothes out of the suitcase and across the bed.

“Take your time,” Harry assured her, leaning against the wall as he watched Kendall toss thousands of dollars’ worth of clothing callously from her suitcase. He found it gross that she had such a blatant disregard for the cost of the clothing, but growing up unbearably wealthy, things like that didn’t matter to her. If she wrecked a four thousand dollar jacket, she would simply purchase a new one. It was a common occurrence in Los Angeles, but he wondered how Kit would react to Kendall’s throw-away lifestyle.

“Okay, ready!” Kendall announced breathlessly, tugging a jacket on over her form-fitting black dress. She offered Harry a bright smile, and he immediately felt guilty that he’d invited her to come out when he couldn’t be less interested in her. He hoped he could reiterate to her that it wasn’t a romantic date, and thought she might already know and have the same platonic feelings. But as she smiled at him again, Harry knew friendship was the last thing on her mind. If he wasn’t careful, things could get messy.

Harry smiled back, opening the door for Kendall and following her out of the hotel room. She chirped happily to him as they boarded the elevator, chattering about a television show Harry didn’t care about. He tried to keep his attention on Kendall, but his mind kept wandering to thoughts of Kit. She hadn’t confirmed she was coming, and he hadn’t wanted to be a bother and ask, but he couldn’t think of anything he wanted more than to see her.

Well… maybe there was one more thing he wanted…

Notes