Chapter 22: C'mon Harry, You're Braver Than That

Meghan, Kate, Chloe and Bubbles are all sitting in my room. I've invited them over for a study session, since we've got exams next week. I'm being pretty productive, I dunno about the others though.

"Nat?" Bubbles asks me and I look up from my book.

"Yup?" I pop the 'p'.

"Callum wants me to bring some friends to this bonfire thing we're going to tomorrow," she says.

"Oh, uhm. Ok? Won't I be third wheeling?" I raise my eyebrows.

"Nope. There's a group of us going," she tells me.

"Oh. Actually, I forgot I've got something on tomorrow," I say.

"Really? What is it?" she asks.

"Nothing much, just a... just a family thing," I say, continuing with my work.

"Stop lying, babe. Your family said they'd be home all day tomorrow and that we could stay for as long as we wanna," Kate raises her eyebrows at me.

"Oh, erm...... I'm going to see my cousin. Yes. My cousins," I nod, convincing myself.

"What are you actually doing?" Meghan plops onto a stool beside me and looks at me, her gaze penetrating.

"My cousins!" I blurt out, the words don't even answer the question. "I'm going to see my cousins!"

"Nat, tell us what you're really doing," Chloe sits down on the floor next to Meghan.

"I told you! I'm seeing my cousins!" I say, looking back down at my maths study notes.

"Do you even have cousins?" Bubbles says from where she now stands over at all the photos on my wall, of all my family and friends.

"Um...." I whisper quietly. "Yes?"

"How do you not have cousins?" Kate asks me when 'yes' comes out as a question.

"Well... my parents are both only childs," I say.

"AHA! You are lying to us! What're you really doing tomorrow?" Bubbles says.

"What time is the bonfire? "I ask.

"7:00, can you come?" she says.

At that moment my phone rings. I smile at the others and walk out of the room. "Hey."

"Hullo, mate," I can hear his smirk through the phone.

"Wassup?" I ask, leaning against the wall beside my room, shutting the door behind me to confine my friend's gossiping to one room, I really hope they don't have any extendable ears... Because I don't have a cat.

"Not much," he says. "Being suspended is bo-oring," he stretches out the word and I think I hear a ball bouncing on a wall.

"Better you then me," I smile.

"Well, I mean, I'm already Eisenstein, school's for suckers," he says, continuing to bounce the ball.

"Ok, Albert," I roll my eyes. "When're you coming back?"

"Aw, you miss me. Dude, I know we're B-F-Fs but I'm kinda enjoying my time at home, away from you," he says, I can hear his smile through the phone this time.

"C'mon sweet-cheeks, you just said that suspension is boring," I say.

"Did I?" he says. I laugh.

"What're you calling for, Alex?" I ask after I stop laughing.

"Oh, yeah. Pick you up at 12 tomorrow?" he asks.

"Sure. Will we be done by 6?" I ask, remembering the bonfire.

"I have something on at 7, so yeah."

"Did Callum invite you to this bonfire thing?" I ask, knowing his answer.

"Yup," he pops the 'p'. I hear him take a bite of something and he speaks with his mouth full, "You too?"

"Bubbles asked me," I tell him, leaning my foot against the wall and readjusting the phone on my ear.

"Cool," he keeps eating - what I think is - his apple.

"So, 12 tomorrow?" I ask.

"Yup. I'll bring some food," he says. "See you Nat."

"Bye Alex," I say and hang up.

I walk back into my room and close the door behind me. I look up after shoving the phone into my back pocket, at my friends. They are all looking at me, formed in a straight line, arms crossed and identical quizzical looks on all their faces.

"Woah," I raise my hands in surrender. "What is this? Law and Order?"

"We know what you're doing," Bubbles says. She's having the most trouble keeping her face straight.

"We heard you," Kate says.

"We know who you were talking to," Meghan says.

"We know what the conversation was about," Chloe says.

"We know you lied about yo-" they all say in unison before Bubbles burst out laughing and the other girls drop their expressions and laugh along with her. I just stand there, sarcastically raising my eyebrows and pushing my chin back into my neck, eyes widening.

"What was that about?" I ask once they've (by they I mean Meghan, Kate and Chloe, not Bubbles, who's trying to stop laughing) stopped giggling.

"Alex and you are doing something tomorrow?" Chloe wiggles her eyebrows at me.

"Um, no?" I wince. They must've overheard the conversation I had with him on the phone. Serves me right for not walking far enough away from the doorway.

"Is it a date?" Meghan asks.

"What! No!" I yell.

"Calm down, Natalie, Jesus!" Meghan holds her hands up.

"Alex wouldn't cheat on Amanda, with anyone, let alone me!" I say.

They all look at me with disappointment. Kate shakes her head at me. "You're both so blind! Why the hell he's even dating Amanda is a mystery to everyone that only Sherlock Holmes can solve."

***

I throw on a pair of skinny jeans and a singlet, throwing a loose stripy black and white jumper on. All my friends have left and I've just finished cleaning up after all our mess. I take my phone off the charger and grab my wallet, chucking in my phone.

I run down the stairs and into the kitchen. "I'm going out mum!" I say to her.

"With who?" she asks sternly, raising her eyebrows over the plate she's drying.

"My friends," I lie.

"All your friends said that they had family things on today when they left, which is why they went early," Mum tells me.

"Oh. I'm gonna see Felecia then," I say.

"Felecia? Or her brother?" Mum asks, eyebrows raised again. I blush. "All good, Nat. I trust him."

"Um.. ok Mum," I say, turning to leave.

"Don't be afraid to tell me if you sneaked a few snogs!" she calls after me. I turn on my heel.

"MUM!" I yell. "Alex has a girlfriend and so do I."

"You have a girlfriend?" Mum asks. I huff.

"No. I have a boyfriend. Alex is a... an acquaintance," I say, nodding at the word 'acquaintance.'

"Sure he is. And I want to meet this boyfriend. Nathan was it?" she asks, stacking a bowl in the dishwasher.

"Ok. But I gotta run. See you," I say.

"Get back at a reasonable time! Have fun!" Mum calls after me.

"Bye!" I call, taking the keys from the key box and opening the door. Alex's BMW is parked outside on the curb and I open the door. Alex looks over at me, swallowing his food and he shoves a pizza box at me.

"Want some?" he asks, grinning.

I take some. "Wouldn't mind if I do."

I shut the door, hopping into the seat and buckling my seat belt, taking a bite of the pizza. "You're looking fine."

I raise my eyebrows at him. "I doubt you can see me from behind your gigantic ego."

"Oh, that hurt, dude," he says, holding his heart and taking another piece.

"Would you expect anything else from me, babe?" I ask, raising my eyebrow and pulling the pizza away from my face so that the cheese stretches.

"No," he says, turning to me and smiling, so that his white teeth and dimples show I can't help but smile back.

We drive in a comfortable silence to the modelling place, munching on pizza. "Did you pay for that?" I ask when he throws out the box.

"What do you expect, mate? Another bet?" he bops me on the nose before walking inside. I look down, hiding my smile before waking after him. I jog to catch up.

"Wait, so this company juts makes money through modelling shoots?" I ask.

"Don't be stupid, donkey. They have a magazine, a couple of models do things for it. The last shoot we did was for the Instagram to keep viewers updated," he says, turning around and walking backwards quickly, I jog to keep up with him.

"Donkey?" I ask.

"Yup. Aren't they dumb?" he says.

"Like you, yes," I say. He rolls his eyes but takes my hand and spins around, walking faster then before and dragging me up the staircase. I smile when he almost trips on a step. He turns back when he hears my snort. "Shut up."

He pulls my hand up the stairs to the lift and presses the button. He drops my hand and gets in, gesturing me to follow him. He clicks the button.

"Sorry, I was late because of the pizzas, gotta hurry," he says when the lift ascends. The doors open and he grabs my hand and pulls me down the corridor he keeps pulling me until he opens the door to the lobby. The receptionist nods at Alex, giving him a wave, letting him go through, looking up briefly from the phone she's on.

He jogs around the corridor and my arm almost pulls out of my shoulder when he tugs on my hand to follow. I jog along behind him, his arm reaching out behind him, holding my hand. He opens a door and walks through quickly, leading me over to Denis. We stand in front of him.

"Hello Alex and Natal-" he stops when he sees our hands still joined, I blush. I didn't notice mine was still connected to his, it felt so right there. His hands are so soft and feels like the missing piece of a puzzle if my hand was one... What's wrong with you, Nat? We quickly let go. "Have you updated your relationship status?" Denis raises his eyebrows.

"Nope," says Alex. "I did that a while ago."

"Congratulations!" Denis beams at us.

"Oh," I laugh. "No, Alex has already got a girlfriend."

"Yeah, and Natalie's got a boyfriend," I look over at Alex and see his scowl before he looks at me and its replaced with a neutral expression.

"Yeah," I turn back to Denis, who is frowning.

"Well then. We'll be getting right into it," Denis claps his hands and wanders off, gesturing us to change into different clothes.

***

3 hours later, Alex and I are walking through the carpark. He unlocks it and we get in. This shoot wasn't too uncomfortable, most of the shots they took were of Alex and I talking, completely unaware that someone had the camera positioned on us. I buckle up and flick through the channels on his radio.

"You good there Little Miss Fussy?" Alex raises his eyebrows, still looking at the road.

"You don't have any music on your channels!" I say, exasperated.

"Well, you know, I prefer to just drive in silence, not with music blasting from my speakers, dude," he says.

"I'm not gonna blast it, babe, I'm just going to play it," I say, huffing.

"Why don't you just turn it off-" he hits the power button.

"Hey!" I yell.

"-And enjoy the scenery around you," he says. I cross my arms and pout like a 3-year-old.

"The scenery? I hate to break it to you sweetie, but we're on a highway," I say.

Alex laughs sarcastically. "Not the highway, Nat, the beautiful scenery right beside you," he says. I look side to side, not spotting anything.

"Where?" I ask. He rolls his eyes. "Oh, you. Sorry, I didn't know it was opposite day today."

"Its not," he chuckles. We pull up at my house. "I am beautiful."

"No, you're not, sweetpea," I say, hopping out of the car. I bop him on the nose, leaning into the car. "You're handsome," I shut the car door behind me.

Ooo, damn I'm feeling bold today. I turn around and wave over my shoulder at Alex, smiling. I can't see him through the tinted windows and I turn back around still walking, hearing his car drive off and open the door.

"Nat! I have some news!" Mum calls me from the living room. I walk in.

"Good or bad?" I ask her.

"That depends on what you think about it," she says. When I don't reply she keeps talking. "D'you wanna know?"

"Yup," I say.

"We bought a house!" she says.

"WHAT!" I shout. "You did what?"

"Bought a house. We aren't suited to this one and we're only renting, we found one we liked."

"And you didn't think of talking to me about it?" I say.

"No, sorry kiddo," Dad walks into the room. "We didn't know what you'd think of it."

"Why would I think its bad? Isn't it just a house?" I say.

"Well, not necessarily the house, its very glamorous. But rather... the location," Mum says hesitantly.

"Oh no," I cover my face with my hands, already knowing the answer to my next question. "Where is it?"

Mum answers.

Dammit.

***

I throw on some jeans and a light blue silky blouse, chucking a casual grey cardigan over the top and doing my hair into a messy bun. I tuck the loose strands behind my ears and jump downstairs in my converse.

I take a backpack with everything I need, including HP3, in case I feel like being anti-social. "Bye Mum! I'll be home by 12!"

"Ok, sweetie!" Dad, not Mum, yells after me.

I hop into my car and bounce around to 'I want you back' by the Jackson five until I reach the spot Bubble's told me to go to. I hop out of the car and lot it, swinging my backpack around from one shoulder so I can chuck my keys in it. I walk towards a clearing were I can see orange flames through the trees. I smell the smell of smoke and beer, two things I'm not such a fan of, but at least it wasn't cigarette smoke. I walk into the area and see the only free space is over near the bar, so that's where I go.

"What can I get you?" asks a topless waiter. Gross.

"Um, a lemonade please?" I ask.

"Really?" he asks, raising his eyebrows and stops tossing the weird thing you make margaritas with around.

"Yes, please," I say and he hands me a can. I don't see anyone I know yet so I sit down near the fire, on a log and start reading. I've been reading for about fifteen minutes before someone comes and sits next to me. Thinking its someone I know, I look up quickly from the book, snapping it shut. I frown when I see someone I don't know seated next to me.

"Why hello beautiful," he says. I wince when I smell his stinky breath. Seriously dude, go get some extra for God's sake.

"Hey ugly, go away," I say and try and find my page.

"Oh, we got a sassy one do we? You're in luck, cutie, that's the type I like," he says, scooting closer to me. I look back down at my book.

"Please leave me alone, I have a boyfriend," I say.

"He doesn't have to know," says stinky-breath.

"Um, if I tell him, then yes, he will know," I say, wincing when he scoots even closer, I shuffle to the other side but he follows.

"C'mon, baby, just have some fun, put the book down," he takes my dear beloved Harry Potter off me and tosses it beside him. Harry should not be shown that much disrespect! Anger bubbling up inside me, I slap him across the face, reaching around him and grabbing the book.

"Ouch!" he cries.

"Don't touch my book," I say and clutch it to my chest. "Please get away from me."

"No, what d'you say? Have some fun with me," he says, scooting even closer.

"You need to re-check your definition of 'fun' mate," I say. He keeps coming closer, not replying to my comment, I shuffle away until I'm on the edge of the log, he comes closer. Just when I feel as though stinky-breath might have me inhaling more of the disgusting gasses coming out of his mouth he is pushed away from me. I stare, shocked, as Alex knocks him to the ground. His hands are pounding the other guy's face before stinky-breath flops on top of Alex and pelts his face. I stand up, Harry Potter falling to the ground, - c'mon Harry, you're braver than that, tsk, tsk, tsk - and run over to the boys grappling on the floor. Alex twist over on top of stinky-breath and punches him in the jaw. I see blood coming from both of them. My hand goes over my mouth.

"ALEX!" I scream. He doesn't stop. If he doesn't soon, he'll kill this guy. I run over. Placing a hand on Alex's tense back, I yell at him again. "Alex! Alex stop! Stop it!"

He doesn't stop. "ALEX!" I scream. He looks up, still fuming. His eyes have gone dark. The dazzling blue that almost always is the color of his irises is now replaced with a black navy. He looks away from me and back at the figure on the ground. I hold his cheek in my hand and turn his face to me. "Look at me."

He does. I know I shouldn't do it, he has a girlfriend, I have a boyfriend, but I stroke his face with my thumb until his breathing is even. His eyes search mine and I search his until they turn back to normal. I gently take his hands and pull him towards a building that I guess is a bathroom. He leans against the bench top, looking at me. I take his hands and inspect the cuts that were made with his punches, washing them in the sink.

"Ouch," I say, holding his cheek and looking at the cut on his lip. He studies me and I look at him until I feel intimidated under his gaze. I walk to the side of the bathroom and take out some paper towels from the suspender and rinsing them. I walk back over to him and take a hand, dabbing the tissue onto it, washing away the blood. I get rid of the dirt in both hands and then look up at his lips. I can't do that. This is a job for his girlfriend.

"Do you have your phone with you?" I ask. He shakes his head, he still hasn't spoken and its making me nervous. "Ok, I'll go and get Amanda."

I take a few steps before he jumps off the counter and takes my hand. I spin into him and look into his eyes. They look... I don't know, but it isn't a happy expression. His back is pressed to the counter and his arms are around my waist and mine are on his chest. "Nat.... Please stay."

"I can't. I'm going to find Amanda. I'm sorry, Alex," I say and push myself away from him, his hands drop from around me. I walk backwards, looking at him. What the hell is this feeling? I can't be around him. I turn back around and run out.

I cast a glance back at him, he looks defeated, but I don't know why. I really hope Amanda is here. I get lucky and spot here hanging around the fire with her friends. "Amanda."

"Natalie," she glares at me.

"Alex got into a fight. He's hurt. He was asking for you," I say. I see Amanda's triumph it face as she stands up taller, shoving her beer into her friends hands and knocking my shoulder as she walks past. I look down at the ground.

I trudge off to the log where Harry, luckily, still is. I pick him up of the ground, dusting him off and chucking him into my bag.

I find all my friends, including Leo and Callum. Kate isn't yet there. "Hey guys," I say, trying to sound happy.

"What's wrong?" Meghan's happy face drops and morphs into one of concern.

"Not much," I say and turn to watch how Callum and Bubbles get on. They're holding hands. Callum says something to make her laugh and her eyes light up. She looks happy. I see Kate arriving, coming through the trees.

"Who're you?" she asks Leo as soon as she gets there. Leo pushes his glasses up onto his nose.

"I'm Leo," he holds out a hand. She shakes it.

"Kate," she says. "What's one plus 0967 894 567?"

"Erm... that would be," he scratches the back of his neck, about to answer before Kate interrupts.

"My number. Glad you asked," she winks and holds up her cup. Leo grins and runs a hand through his hair before starting a conversation with her. Well, BOOM, they hit off. Meghan grabs my arm and pulls me aside.

"What's wrong?" her voice is laced with concern.

"Oh, I've just got a bit of a head ache, parties make me feel sick," I say quickly.

"Ok then, but it doesn't have anything to do with the fight Alex had?" Meghan raises her eyebrows over her glass.

"No," I blush, glad she can't see it. "I'm going to go and get another drink."

I walk off to the bar and take a coke. I sip it as I sit near the fire and read. I feel someone sit beside me. I smell his cologne before I see who it is.

"Hey babe," I look up from my book, I smile, pretending nothing happened earlier.

"Hey dude," he grins. There's a comfortable silence.

"So, new neighbors," I say.

"Yup," he pops the 'p'.

"Fun," I say sarcastically. We sit there for a couple of minutes. "You didn't have to hit him, Alex."

"I couldn't've stood there, watching that when I could do something, Nat!" he says.

"I was handling it!" I try to reason.

"No, you weren't!" he says.

"I was! I wouldn't've let him do anything! He smelt to much like a llama," I say. We sit there before I realize what I just said and my face stretches into a grin and I laugh. It doesn't take long for Alex to join in. His face is lit up by the firelight as his lips stretch into a smile and he chuckles.

"I'll drive you home," he gets up and jiggles his keys.

"I'm all good. Thanks, though," I say and he walks off. Callum and Bubbles come and sit near me, trying to make conversation before they talk amongst themselves. I hear Bubbles's laughing more then ever, I see the look in Callum's eyes when he looks at her. I can tell they really like each other. When they start kissing I decide that its time to leave and I shove Harry into my bag.

"See ya, Bubbles," I wave and walk off. I'm about to hop into the car when I see Alex walking over to me. I've only just noticed he's wearing hoodie, different from his usual leather jacket. I pull my cardigan tighter around me and walk over to him. We meet and stand a couple of feet apart.

"I'll see you next Wednesday?" I say.

"That's when I get back to school, yup."

"Ok then.... See you," I say. He nods and waves. I turn to walk away before turning around and pulling on his hand, he turns to face me. "Alex."

"Nat?" he looks at me quizzically.

"Um. Don't go getting into anymore fights," I say. He laughs. I see the cut on his lip, it hasn't been cleaned properly, Amanda probably just mashed her lips against his instead of cleaning them up. Ew.

"I won't," he says softly.

"Bye," I say, just as quiet.

"Good night, Nat," he turns and walks away.

___________________________________________________

Hi everyone!

What'd you think. Disgusting?

Should I do an Alex POV soon?

Does anyone like Amanda?

i AM SO SORRY ABOUT THE MISTAKES!

bye