Harry and Claire went to an Italian restaurant that night. Silence wrapped them like a blanket on their way to in the car, Harry tried to make small talk but Claire immediately closes the conversation making it harder for Harry to progress. Once they were seated Claire couldn’t help but notice that the waitress was flirting with him, but Harry was too busy scanning the menu. Claire second guessed this little detail, thinking Harry might just be acting like he didn’t notice.

“The New York strip with Caprese salad, please,” Harry said as he closed the menu and shoved it towards the girl.

The girl turned to Claire, asking for her order.

“Oh, um Spinach Ravioli. Thanks” Claire simply said and handed her menu.

Harry drummed his fingers on the table debating with himself if he should start another useless conversation when Claire beat him to it.

“How come I never see you around the library before?” She questioned.

“I’m doing this paper, I’m actually quite behind on it now…” Harry dragged, biting his tongue as he looked at Claire see if she was buying his little white lie but he couldn’t make it up.

“Yet, not one visit with research materials” Claire stated, crossing her arms as she leaned back on the cushion.

Harry felt like he was being interrogated, this is not how his usual dates flow. But for the sake of the bet he was willing to put up with it, he did agree with Claire it’s quite sudden.

“Boy, you sure are observant” Harry boyishly scratched the back of his head and smiled.

“Can’t blame me, since you almost killed me and now you’re suddenly popping out everywhere I am”

“Don’t flatter yourself, Claire.” Harry said

“I’m not the one who asked to have dinner” Claire fought back, ” Now, why did you drag me all the way here?”

“You don’t waste time, do you?” Harry said mimicking Claire’s crossed arms.

“Let’s just say I’m not a fan of small talk”

Harry sighed and rested his forearms on the table,” How many times do I have to say that I want to be friends?”

“How come?” Claire asked, she was about to say something but their orders arrived.

“First of all I felt really bad about leaving you alone that night, and you seem like an honest, creative, well dignified person…” Harry picked up his utensils and began to dig in his food,” I just wanted to get to know you more”

Claire didn't buy one single bit of what Harry just said and continued eating.

“How’s the Ravioli?” Harry asked as he cut through his steak.

“Swell” Claire sarcastically said as she toyed with her food,” Can I just ask?” Claire blurted.

“What?”

“What do you get out of this?” Claire said taking a sip of her water

“Is it a crime that I’m trying to be friends with you?” Harry argued

“No, it’s just that I know about your reputation. Sleeps with different girls every night, doesn’t care if he hurts them or not for his own personal pleasure” Claire smiled sweetly, sarcastically mocking Harry, “I’m not dumb so you can drop the act, Mr. Styles.”

“It’s Harry. You know significant things about me, do tell who’s bad mouthing me so I could properly destroy their life” Harry shared the same sarcastic smile.

Claire huffed in reply and chewed on her ravioli. Harry gritted his teeth as Claire ignored him again, he continued to watch her as she munched on her ravioli. He down his wine glass and then cleared his throat.

“Do you want to know the full details?” Harry suddenly asked. Claire, getting caught off guard.

“Excuse me?”

“Do you want to know how I sneaked up to them, offering them a drink, placing my hand on her hips….” Harry took his time to carefully select his words,” locking them in place between a surface and my body?”

Claire’s mouth was agape, her breaths started to slow down. She couldn’t believe Harry just said that. It was her turn to clear her throat and break Harry’s intimidating gaze.

“No need,” Claire said as she gulped after.

“Look. I’m trying to make an effort here but if you can’t see tha-” Harry started to talk again but Claire cut him off

“I don’t even know why I even bothered to come here with you in the first place” Claire stood up,” I don’t want to be associated with guys who treat girls as if they’re toys”

“Clai-“

“I hope I never see you again” and with that she walked away, heading straight to the reception of the restaurant.

She looked out the window and saw Harry getting in his Porsche and drove off, she asked for the bill but the server said that Harry already took care of it. Claire felt guilty as soon as she heard, she collected her things and the front of the house asked her if she wanted to call for a cab and she said yes. Claire wondered if she was too harsh on Harry while she was in the cab. His words playing like a cassette tape on rewind in her head.

“Well-dignified? Please” Claire scoffed as she rested her head on the window, remembering what Harry said earlier. Claire arrived at her apartment after a few minutes and texted Peyton about her dinner with Harry.

iMessage
Claire: i hate this day

Peyton: work?

Claire: went to dinner with Harry

Peyton: WHAT?!

Claire: nothing happened, where are you? Come over.

Peyton: I’m actually out with my friend from piano class, sorry C.

Claire: its fine, have fun! Message me when you get the chance :)

Peyton: kay, love ya! I’ll try to come over tonight

//

“What are you even doing?” Blair asked as Harry called Claire’s phone.

“One… Two… Three” and with that, he hung up, again, for the nth time.

“After what you said at dinner last night, I don’t think a phone call would fix that” Blair stated noticing that Harry called multiple times and Claire didn’t pick up.

“Who says I’m saying sorry?” Harry smirked. Blair, furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

“You said she’s nice right? I’m doing this so that her guilt would eat her up” Harry informed

“I only said that to make her think she judged me and I got offended even though it’s all true, this…” he made imaginary quotation marks, “Phone call, is only for show. To make it seem like I lowered my pride for her”

“This is why I love that big head of yours, its full of surprises” Blair stood up from the piano bench and closed the keyboard.

Harry chuckled and looked around the room, it looked so foreign to him now since he rarely spends time with Blair in it.

“Aren’t you going to miss this room?” Harry asked, filling with some music sheets on the standees in front of instruments.

“I’m sure The University has more up to date music rooms” Blair smiled, already imagining the black classical piano in the middle.

The university that Harry and Blair were talking about is Avalon University, but in Spencer it is only referred as “The University” since most of the alumni of Spencer goes to Avalon.

Harry frowned since he felt that he was the only one who felt sentimental about a room, but it wasn’t just a room for Harry. This was where he first confessed to Blair, where they would go to get away from the hectic school schedules they have and just share each other’s company.

“I have to meet Louis, we’re going shopping” Blair said as she took her bag from the floor, snapping Harry out of his thoughts.

“Oh, you need a ride?” Harry offered.

“It’s fine, Henderson is waiting with the limo. See you later?” Blair smiled, Harry nodded in return.

That same afternoon Claire went straight to her current apartment to sort her remaining things before her move in day when she got a text from Peyton to meet her at the salon. Claire smiled as she read the text and finished boxing her set of books. Claire arrived minutes after since the salon was not too far from her apartment.

“Hey” Claire chirped as she spotted Peyton sitting on one of the chairs and hugged her.

“Hey! I was trying to get a hold of you last night, I was going to come over but you didn’t answer” Peyton pouted.

“I slept early, sorry” Claire stopped embracing her and settled on the chair beside Peyton’s

“It feels like forever, even though we met up a couple of days ago” Peyton chuckled in return

“I know! We’ll not all of us can go out and party” Claire winked, referring to Peyton’s night out with Blair and Louis.

“I was actually surprised, I mean I’ve been going to the same school with them for years” Peyton gushed,” they look like the type of people that would snub you or come off as cold but they’re the complete opposite”

“I’m just happy that you’re happy” Claire smiled.

“Now, spill! I want to know everything!” Peyton squealed.

Claire rolled her eyes as she began telling her encounter with Harry last night, Peyton, on the other hand, was so focused on listening that she forgot she was getting her haircut.

“Remember Blair? From my music class?” Peyton said.

“Yeah, why?”

“She’s best friends with Harry since they were little, we were just talking about him the other day since their parents made headlines about their sudden engagement,” Peyton said, she looked over at Claire who motioned her to continue.

“She was so worried about him, she said he wasn’t the same after his mom died and now their parents are getting married”

The more Peyton talked about Harry the more her guilt was eating her up, maybe she did judge him way too fast, maybe she did treat him harshly just when he was being friendly towards her.
“Maybe he was being nice after all…” Claire said, her voice almost becoming a whisper as she regretted the way last night turned out.

“What should I do?” She turned to Peyton

“Apologize… I mean it's up to you really” Peyton said, smiling sweetly towards a very problematic Claire.

“According to Blair, Harry’s more closed off after his mother’s death. The rumors spread out about him being a playboy, party goer and heartbreaker didn’t help either” Peyton informed.

“Yeah… I kinda got that…” Claire said, as her mind drifted towards the boy.

Meanwhile, Blaire was waiting in her favorite boutique in SoHo. Louis arrived at the boutique when Blair was trying out shoes, she was sat on a fluffy pink couch drinking the complimentary champagne and smiling at the item of her choice.

“The black one looks better” Louis approached her.

“I know right?” Blair greeted him with a smile

“Where’s Harry?” Louis sat beside Blair, picking up the glass of champagne and finishing it all.

“We parted at school,” Blair said and shrugged.

“I have girls waiting for me, are you really going to make me wait here?” Louis lazily relaxed on the couch

“I’m sure you can replace them in no time, c’mon this is the only time we can bond” Blair rested her head on Louis’s shoulder.

“What’s in that pretty little head of yours?” Louis sweetly asked.

Blair sighed,” My mom’s awfully happy today…”

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Louis furrowed his eyebrows.

“Not when it involves Harry’s dad” Blair argued

“Now that you mentioned it, I was thinking what that marriage would do to our friendship” Louis sighed, Blair suddenly sat straight and looked at him with curious eyes.

“What do you mean?”

“I just know that everything will be awkward between you and Harry, I mean, it is already awkward…” Louis struggled to find the right words and stared back at Blair.

“I just hate the thought of losing the two most important people in my life,” Louis said, finally letting out all his cooped up courage.

Blair caressed Louis' hair and smiled, “You won’t, Lou”.

I’m already losing you, Louis thought and smiled back. They both just sat there, in the middle of the boutique, staring at each other with smiles on their faces, just like when they were younger.

NEXT ON INTOXICATED:

Claire dropped her bag and stood in front of Harry, “Strip.”

“W-what?” Harry’s eyes almost popped out.

Notes

HOLAAAAAA! OKAY, SO I GOT EXCITED <3 I'm so excited for you guys to read all the drama. OKAY, I TAKE IT BACK I SHIP CLAIRE WITH HARRY RIGHT NOW SO EFFING BAD.

Shipping Louis and Blair so hard in this chapter :( its so bitter sweet.


Tell me what you think will happen on the next chapter! comment below!!!! <3

AND DO YOU GUYS LIKE THAT I UPDATE QUICK OR NAH ???? LOVE YOU ALLL!!!