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a million tiny little things

eight

Harry awoke on Saturday morning praying for rain. He couldn’t wait to see Fallon, but if a storm was brewing, they wouldn’t be able to watch the outdoor movie. If it was raining, he hoped she would join him for a private, non-horror movie indoors. Even if they were alone, he still intended to tread lightly on the physical advances, but he yearned for private time with Fallon. Also, he was nervous he would come across as a wimp while watching The Shining.

He sighed as he pulled back the curtain and saw nothing but blue sky, as far as he could see. A quick search on his phone informed him there was no rain in the forecast. Barring an earthquake or other natural disaster, he would have to watch the film.

The earthquake idea was an intriguing one, but Harry suspected the shaking ground would scare him worse than the movie. He remembered back to when he and Fallon were in the elevator, and she had been the brave one and calmed his nerves. He guessed it would be her job again tonight. One day he hoped to be a man, but today would not be the day.

He sighed again as he stepped into the shower. Perhaps the weatherman would be wrong.

**

The weatherman had not been wrong. The mercury hadn’t climbed past sixty all day, but it had been a lovely spring day. Harry suspected a chill would settle in for the evening and wondered if it would be too cold to watch a movie outside. He debated pointing out the fact to Fallon, but when she opened her front door with a wide grin on her face, he couldn’t bring himself to suggest a change of plans.

“Hi!” Fallon greeted happily as she opened the door. She blushed at her overexcited greeting, but when Harry offered her an adorable, dimpled smile, she relaxed. It was still surprising he wanted to spend time with her. She didn’t think she was anything special – there wasn’t too much wrong with her, she supposed, but she was rather vanilla – but Harry’s smile made her wonder what he saw.

She had been nervous about their date all day. While she couldn’t wait to see The Shining, she suspected Harry wasn’t as excited about the movie. She wanted to ask him and ensure they weren’t doing something only she wanted to do, but she didn’t want to risk him bailing either. She also didn’t want to come across as a needy little girl. The dating world was so complicated.

“Hi yourself,” Harry greeted, clasping his hands in front of him and rocking on his heels. He wanted to pull her into a hug straight away, but were they there? He wasn’t sure. “You look great,” he added with a shy smile. He loved how Fallon could dress so casually – just jeans, boots and a floral top – but still look incredible. He was certain he would end up knocked out of his socks if they ever went to a formal event together. “Not quite Catnip, but I think I like it more,” he added, tapping his head.

Fallon’s stomach tumbled at his compliment, but she replied with a shy smile of her own. “Oh… well, thank you…” she told him, opening the door further. “Come in for a minute,” she told him, gesturing for him to enter her home. “I’m just grabbing a couple things.”

Once he was inside Fallon’s door with the door closed behind him, Harry didn’t want to leave. He’d never prayed harder for rain, but it was all he could think about as Fallon darted in and out of the kitchen, packing a small bag with various items.

“You have a great place,” Harry commented, glancing around the small apartment. It was a fraction of the size of his own home, but it was cosy and lived-in. Personal photographs covered the living room wall and a few blankets laid haphazardly across the sofa. There was some clutter on the coffee table, but it wasn’t messy, just comfortable.

“Thanks,” Fallon answered, smiling at Harry. She glanced at the living room wall, her eclectic blend of photos looking off to her. But she couldn’t have Harry in her home with her usual photos on the wall, so she swapped out a couple earlier in the day. She didn’t know if they would end up back at her place after the movie. She didn’t know if he would even look at her photographs. But it made her more comfortable to have some of her life under her hat for now.

“It’s small,” she added, almost feeling as though she had to stick up for her apartment. “But I moved here three days after I turned eighteen, and I haven’t really… I don’t want to go anywhere else,” she surmised with a shrug.

“It’s perfect,” Harry assured her. “I like the fireplace,” he added, stepping further into the living room. “Who’re all these people?” he asked, looking closer at the wall of pictures. “That had to be your dad, isn’t it?” he continued, pointing to a picture of a tall, stocky man with the same smile as Fallon. It was odd to see the smile he liked so much on a middle aged, grey haired man, but genetics were funny.

Fallon joined Harry in the living room, looking at the photo he pointed at. “Yeah, that’s my dad, and my step-mom, Shelley,” she answered. “At our house, back home. That was my room,” she added, pointing to a window behind her dad and Shelley. “And Adam’s,” she said, pointing to another window. With a start, she realised mentioning his name didn’t make her as uncomfortable as before. Perhaps she would tell Harry about her family sooner than she thought.

Harry glanced sideways at Fallon. He liked when she opened up, but it made him nervous, like she would slam the door in his face at any moment. He wanted to learn more about her brother, but he sidestepped his mention for now. “Where’s this?” he wondered, nodding to a photograph of a wide open field with a handful of cattle scattered about.

“That’s our farm,” Fallon answered. “Well, my grandparents, but my dad and uncles help run it. So this view is from like… over on this side of the house, and my grandparent’s driveway is like… kind of over here,” she tried to explain as she pointed between the two pictures. She heard the wistful tone in her voice as she spoke about the farm. It was still the only place she’d ever had true happiness and acceptance and wanted to go back more often than not.

“It’s beautiful,” Harry commented, nudging Fallon’s shoulder with his own. “You miss it?”

“Not really,” Fallon lied. She missed it like crazy but she didn’t want to sound like a sad little girl. Harry didn’t need to hear her woe. “It’s so much nicer… warmer… here, you know?” She picked up one of the throw blankets and folded it into a manageable size. “Should we go?” she asked, sticking the blanket into the bag on the table.

Fallon really was the worst liar Harry had ever met. There was no question she missed Wyoming, but he wouldn’t force her to confess her homesickness. Rather, he confessed to his own. Perhaps she would be more comfortable talking to him if she knew he felt the same way.

“I miss home all the time,” Harry told Fallon as they walked down the stairs to his waiting vehicle. “I try to go back as much as I can, even if it’s just for a couple days and a Sunday roast. And I talk to my mum almost every day, too,” he added with a quiet snicker. “But I’m not a momma’s boy!” he reassured Fallon jokingly.

Fallon laughed. “Sure,” she teased back, bumping her hips against his. She liked how Harry could so easily talk about himself and his life. It took the pressure off her, and she loved hearing about his life. It was as though she was listening to a fairy tale. His voice was as deep as the sun at midnight, steady and unhurried. She could listen to Harry talk for hours.

Harry smirked at Fallon as he opened the back door. “Well, maybe a bit…” he confessed. He took the bag from her hands and took a quick peek inside before tucking the bag on the backseat. He couldn’t see anything but the throw blanket, but there was something harder in the bottom. Her preparedness was adorable. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder how many other dates she’d had at the same venue.

He pushed the thought from his mind and shut the car door before facing Fallon. He grinned at her again as he reached for her hand. “You look really nice,” he told her, blushing as he realised he’d already given her the same compliment. “I already said that…” he corrected sheepishly. “But… you do…”

A crimson hue crept up Fallon’s neck, matching Harry’s colouring, but she smiled. “Thanks, Harry,” she told him with a grateful smile. She squeezed his hand. He was so sweet.

Harry took a step closer, pulling Fallon closer to him. “You’re welcome,” he murmured. Kissing her inside, in private, would have been smarter than kissing her on the public street, but Fallon’s road wasn’t busy, and also, he didn’t care. He ducked his head, softly brushing his lips against hers. A gentle, chaste kiss, unlike the last one they shared at her front door, but the sweet innocence of the kiss sent a ripple of goosebumps across his skin. Gentle or passionate, Harry would enjoy every single kiss shared with Fallon.

“Should have done that inside,” Harry whispered into Fallon’s ear, “but better late than never, right?”

Fallon nodded, snaking her free arm around Harry’s waist. Her movements were slow, still hesitant, but Harry made it easier for her to have confidence. “I wanted you to do that as soon as you came inside…” Fallon whispered, her words almost inaudible. Her face heated to a thousand degrees as she voiced her confession.

Harry almost leapt for joy at her words. He pulled back, looking at Fallon’s bright red face. She was looking down at her feet, so he nudged her chin upwards. “Me too,” he assured her, pinching her warm cheek. “You’re pretty cute when you blush like this,” he teased her, capturing her soft lips between his again.

Fallon’s entire body warmed, and her stomach tumbled to the point of nausea. But it was a good nausea, excited butterflies awakening at Harry’s words and touch. She couldn’t remember if anyone else’s words had ever had such an effect on her. No, she knew. No one else had, no one had come close.

“Well… thanks…” Fallon answered, her face still hot as she let out a quiet laugh. “It’s all for you,” she added, finding humour in her distracted mind.

Harry guffawed. “Thanks,” he chuckled, rubbing his thumb across her hand before opening the passenger door. “Your chariot, m’lady,” he told her, gesturing with a flourish. He smiled at her again as she climbed into the car and gave her arm a gentle tickle before he closed the door and strode around the vehicle to join her.

“So,” Harry began, reaching for Fallon’s hand as he pulled away from the curb. “You’re a fan of horror flicks? I should have known… You brave superhero, you…” he teased, tapping his fingers against her hand. “You going to protect me again tonight?” he wondered.

“Why, you scare easily?” Fallon asked, a nervous knot forming in the pit of her stomach. She watched his face and her heart sank. He did not want to watch this movie. “Oh, God, Harry!” she exclaimed, guilt washing over her. She knew he didn’t want to see it. “We don’t have to! Stop the car,” she instructed. “I’m sorry! We can do something else!” She didn’t want Harry to do anything he didn’t want to do.

Harry laughed. “Oh, shut off,” he told her. He felt bad, he hadn’t meant to let Fallon know he wasn’t looking forward to the movie. He glanced sideways at Fallon and gave her hand a comforting squeeze. “We’re going to the movie. I just might pay more attention to you than it… Actually…” he offered her a coy smirk, “I might have done that no matter what movie we watched…”

Fallon shook her head, but unable to deny how much she enjoyed his words. “No, no… that’s not fair,” she insisted. “I want to do something you want to do!” She felt terrible and wished she would have trusted her instinct when she believed he didn’t want to see the movie.

“Well, I want to do something you want to do,” Harry countered with a grin. “And I’m the one driving, so… too bad for you!” He looked over at Fallon, letting out a quiet chuckle at her distraught face. “Oh, babe…” he laughed, the pet name intentional, not accidental. He liked how it sounded. “It’ll be a great time. So get that frown off your face and get excited because… I know you’re looking forward to the movie.”

Fallon huffed out a loud sigh, causing Harry to laugh again. “Okay,” she agreed after a pause. He was right. “But if you want to leave… can you please let me know?”

“Nope,” Harry answered. “We’re watching the whole movie… we’re eating guacamole… you just have to deal with it, I guess,” he teased. Her concern over his feelings was adorable. “And if I need you to hold my hand or protect me from the creepy twins, or whatever else is in this movie… then you have to deal with that, too…” he added with another squeeze of her hand.

Fallon sighed again. “You’re kind of annoying,” she pointed out. “But… I don’t mind… holding your hand…” she added shyly.

“Me either,” Harry replied, pulling her hand to his lips and kissing her knuckles. He wished he hadn’t brought up the movie, and he hoped he hadn’t ruined Fallon’s evening. He wanted her to have a great time, and he also wanted her to know they didn’t always have to do things he wanted to do. It was give and take in a relationship, not just the Harry Show.

A relationship. The sudden thought took him by surprise. He knew it was too soon for anything like that. He and Fallon were still getting to know one another, and they had only been out together once. But thoughts of Fallon occupied his mind more than anyone else ever had. He wanted to talk to her all the time, and he missed her if she took even half an hour to answer a text. He had no desire to talk to, think about or spend time with any other women. And while he didn’t know if Fallon felt the same, he hoped she did.

The outdoor theatre was only a short drive from Fallon’s home, set up in the far corner of a park. There weren’t very many vehicles, and Harry wondered again if the theatre had cancelled the movie. He pushed the thought from his mind. It would disappoint Fallon if she couldn’t watch the movie, so he reminded himself to stop wishing it away.

Fallon stepped out of the car, still guilty she didn’t run her idea past Harry before making the plans. She reminded herself she had asked him if she should buy the tickets, and he said yes. He could have suggested something else at that point. But, with another twinge of guilt, she remembered she probably sounded so excited about the movie. He likely didn’t want to burst her bubble. Her heart warmed at the thought. He really was so sweet.

Harry walked around the car, giving Fallon’s back an affectionate pat before opening the back door and pulling out her elusive bag. “Lead the way,” he instructed, looping the bag over his elbow and taking Fallon’s hand. “Because… you’ve been here before… right?”

Fallon nodded. “A few times,” she answered as they walked towards the rolling field. “My friend Jasmine has come with me a couple times… and I’ve come once or twice, just… by myself…” Or four times, she thought to herself, but she didn’t want to sound pathetic and friendless.

“By yourself?” Harry repeated, smiling down at Fallon. He liked that she had the self-assurance and confidence to see a movie by herself. He hadn’t ever done that. If he couldn’t find anyone to see a movie with him, he didn’t go. Fallon was again proving she was much cooler than Harry. “I think that’s really cool.”

Fallon blushed. “Don’t make fun,” she grumbled. “I don’t really know many people here, so…” she said, trailing off. That sounded worse. She’d lived in the city for over seven years and worked on the same show for three. It was pathetic she didn’t have more friends.

“I’m not!” Harry laughed. He squeezed her hand and nudged her shoulder. “I think it’s cool,” he repeated. “I like that you can do things on your own. That’s something I’m not very good at,” he admitted. “You’re a cool little cat, miss,” he told her, a teasing tone to his voice, but he was serious.

Fallon smiled, but she still felt pitiful. “If you say so,” she sighed in a sing-song voice, trying to make the words sound light. She didn’t need to make their evening any more awkward than she already had. She pointed across the field. “So, we’ll go find a seat first and then…” she pointed again in the opposite direction, “the food is over there. There’s usually a band or something playing for a bit, before the movie, so… you won’t get scared right away…” She winced as she said the words. “Sorry…” she whispered. She didn’t want to make fun of him.

Harry scoffed. “Don’t apologise,” he told her. “Make fun of me all you want! I’m a chicken shit and I deserve it,” he joked, snaking their joined hands around Fallon’s waist and pressing a kiss against her temple. “Plus, you might like when I get scared…” he pondered. “I’ll get all sorts of cuddly,” he told her, pulling her even closer and feathering his lips against her cheek. “Unless that’s a problem…” he teased. He hoped not.

Fallon flushed, her stomach tumbling again. “It’s not,” she answered, letting out a soft laugh. Snuggling with Harry would be the best thing. She would even bet she would ignore the movie, just to pay attention to him.

“Good,” Harry determined, letting their hands swing together as they crossed the park. Legless, padded seats scattered throughout the park, allowing viewers to have a comfortable spot to sit and not block the view. A few patrons had already selected their seats, but most were still available.

Fallon led Harry through the seats before selecting a pair set off to the side, away from the food trucks and centre seating. It would be more difficult to see the screen from the side, but it would be easier to kiss Harry tucked away from everyone else. “How’s this?” she asked him, touching the chairs.

“I’m good with wherever you want to sit,” Harry told Fallon. He didn’t think they had the best view, but Fallon was the expert. Besides, he wasn’t going to watch the movie if he could help it.

Fallon smiled and took the bag from Harry, setting it on the seats to reserve their spot. “Okay, well… we should probably get food before it gets too busy,” she determined. Also, she was starving.

Harry grinned. He loved when a girl wasn’t shy about wanting to eat. “Absolutely,” he agreed, finding her hand again as they walked towards the concession row. “What are you wanting?” he wondered. “I mean, apart from guacamole,” he teased. “Or are you just going to steal mine?”

Fallon snickered. “I’m the thief?” she asked. “Pretty sure that’s your game,” she told him, laughing as Harry hip-checked her. “Well! It is!” she exclaimed.

“Yeah, yeah…” Harry said good-naturedly. “I can’t help it if I’m tempted by good things…” he added pointedly, squeezing Fallon’s hand. “I mean you…” he added in a coy whisper.

Harry’s close whisper – and the words he said – caused Fallon’s skin to tingle. She was almost regretting the movie date, and not because it wasn’t Harry’s idea of a fun time. She now wished they could be alone in her house, or his house, and she could show him how tempted she also was.

“Me?” asked Fallon, her voice mimicking his whisper. “Not the guacamole?”

“Not just the guacamole,” Harry corrected, pulling her hand to his lips. He had to be careful, being in a public place with the sun still shining, but he couldn’t help himself. Fallon was so cute, so pretty, so appealing. He didn’t think she had a clue how much she turned him on.

“You must be hungry, the way you keep trying to eat my fingers,” Fallon teased as they stopped in front of a directory of food trucks hanging from an easel.

Harry had to bite his tongue so hard, he thought he might have tasted blood, when Fallon made a comment about eating her. He yelled internally at himself to keep his mouth shut. He’d already unintentionally told her a perverted joke with the golf clubs, he didn’t need to risk it again.

Instead, he nodded. “I am,” he agreed, looking at the directory. He hadn’t expected such a selection. Guacamole and chips were a given, but he wanted more. “There’s a lot here,” he commented. “Oh, pizza…” he said. “That sounds kind of good…” He looked at Fallon, hoping she knew they didn’t have to share anything. “But, I mean… obviously you can get whatever you want…” he told her, wincing as the words sounded like something an oppressive boyfriend would say.

Fallon laughed. “Thanks,” she teased. “I was actually thinking pizza would be amazing. I’m not just saying that either,” she quickly added. She shrugged. “I don’t care what you get,” she sniffed, pretending to be haughty.

Impulsively, Harry wrapped his arms around Fallon from behind, hugging her tight as he kissed her neck. He couldn’t help himself. She was so fucking cute. “Okay, let’s get a pizza and share, pretty girl,” he murmured. “And I do mean share, for real,” he added. “I won’t eat it all…” He trailed off, pausing thoughtfully. “Well, maybe sixty-forty…”

“Seventy-thirty,” Fallon teased.

Harry’s jaw dropped, looking facetiously wounded. “Why you gotta be like that?” he wondered, grinning as she laughed at him. He loved her laugh. “Come on,” he instructed, taking her by the hand and leading her to the pizza truck.

A few minutes later, Harry and Fallon had their hands full with pizza, chips, guacamole and drinks. They carefully made their way back to their seats, each knowing the other wouldn’t let them live it down if one dropped their food.

“Shit, we didn’t grab napkins,” Harry moaned, casting a wistful glance at the food trucks. He really didn’t want to walk back to the trucks. He had no problem wiping his hands on his jeans, but he guessed Fallon would not do the same. “Guess I’ll be right back,” he sighed.

“Oh… well, I might have some…” Fallon told him, opening her bag. She knew she had a pack of napkins inside, but suddenly, she felt silly toting along a bag of napkins and treats when there was an entire concession stand just across the park.

“Look at you, little Girl Scout,” Harry teased appreciatively. He tugged the bag closer. “What else you got in here?” he wondered. “Oh, sorry…” he said, realising he was snooping. “Can I?”

Fallon laughed and nodded. “Go for it,” she told him. “There’s not much…”

Harry tucked the blanket between them, looking forward to cuddling with Fallon under the knitted throw. He then pulled out two water bottles, in refillable jugs. He didn’t want to come across as a tree hugging hippie, but he appreciated the environmentally friendly bottles almost as much as the blanket, if not more. But then, he pulled out the best part.

“Did you bake cookies?” Harry yelped, louder than he intended. He grinned at Fallon before prying open the Tupperware container. “You did!”

Fallon had to laugh at his excitement. Truthfully, she was hoping for that kind of reaction. She didn’t bake the cookies specifically for Harry, but she packed them with him in mind. “I did,” she agreed. She picked up one of the water bottles and settled against the back of her seat. “I, uhm… sort of had a total Suzie Homemaker day the other day…” she told Harry, fiddling with the top of the bottle. “Meal prep, frozen slow-cooker meals and stuff… I’m sure I was a hoarder in a past life, so when the freezer gets a bit empty, I kind of panic and need to prepare. I mean, obviously,” she chuckled, gesturing to the bag.

Harry helped himself to a cookie. “I’m definitely not complaining,” he told her. He took a bite and closed his eyes with happiness. “Oh shit… yeah, you need to panic all the time,” he teased. He knew it was sexist, but he had a sudden vision of Fallon cooking or baking for him, wearing cute, little shorts as she puttered around the kitchen. He blushed at the idea, but wouldn’t complain if it came true.

Fallon laughed. She was a traditional girl, and she enjoyed filling up her man’s stomach. Harry wasn’t her man, she reminded herself, but he was a man, and she liked seeing him enjoy her baking. “I was going to make some of them into ice cream sandwiches, but I ate the ice cream,” she said with a shrug. “And ice cream cookie sandwiches were a birthday thing when I was growing up, so I felt like I was breaking a rule,” she snickered.

Harry laughed. “It’s funny how childhood rules stay with you, even when we’re grown-ups… on paper, at least,” he added as a second thought. “When is your birthday, anyway?”

“July sixth,” Fallon answered. “It’s the big two-one this year, but it’s like… a Tuesday, or something…” she trailed off with a shrug. “I’ll find something to do.” She didn’t want to tell Harry she had no one to spend her birthday with, except maybe him. And she didn’t want to tell him that, either.

“We’ll go out for dinner,” Harry promised her, the words rolling off his tongue completely matter-of-fact, like he was saying the sky is blue. Despite her birthday being over a month away, and Harry uncertain what they were, or what they would become, it made perfect sense to him. “It might not be crazy Vegas, but… we’ll go out.”

Fallon beamed. “Yeah?” she asked. Part of her didn’t want to believe him, but a bigger part of her did believe him. “And I can pick the place?”

Harry laughed. “I guess so,” he teased. “As long as it doesn’t suck,” he added, bumping her knee teasingly. “Whatever you want to do, babe. I promise.” Both words sounded better and better each time he said them, and he didn’t want to stop promising his babe anything, no matter how difficult it may end up being.

Notes

Comments

@JasperRenee
Thank you! I really appreciate that! It can be a bit difficult to get my head around a new character, so I really appreciate the praise! <3

harambejtrump harambejtrump
3/9/19

Oh I absolutely love Fallon! Something about the character just seems so... realistic if that makes any sense... keep up the good work!!!

JasperRenee JasperRenee
3/9/19