"Can't do this now," I croaked, my hand automatically resting on my stomach.
"The Coach? Are you serious?" he snapped, not moving out of my way. "I didn't peg you to be just like the others."
"What are you talking about?"
"Sleeping with the Coach to get on the team."
"Er- who has done that?"
"I don't know but it's just something they would try and do. Don't change the subject." Harvey snapped, his cheeks blossoming a deep crimson.
I stared at Harvey in surprise. His tone was laced with authority, making me feel like I have to go sit in a naughty corner.
"For your information, I did not sleep with the Coach. He picked me up to take me home and I fell asleep in his car, so I crashed at his. No big deal, nothing happened, end of story."
"That's really inappropriate."
"I know it is, but he's not a teacher and nothing happened. No one knows about it, either."
He scoffed. "Excluding me, obviously."
"You're my best friend, I wouldn't have hidden it from you. It's not some big secret because nothing happened. He did me a favour, since you ditched me with the red head girl."
A deep flush crept up his neck and spread over his cheeks. "I-I didn't ditch you."
"Yeah, you kind of did, but that's okay. Did you have fun?"
His flush only got deeper.
"I take that as a yes then." I laughed, going around him, heading into the kitchen.
"I still don't think that is okay, what you did," he frowned.
"Yes Harvey, you've made that clear," I yawned, waving him off. "Now are you going to continue to harass me or are you going to give me some details about you and your hot new girlfriend?"
"S-she's not my girlfriend!" he spluttered.
"Uh huh."
After pouring Harvey and myself a juice, I collapse onto one of the dining room chairs.
"Well," he said, joining me at the table. "I walked her home."
"Oh," I said, leaning forward, although my stomach clenched as I did so. "And?"
"I kissed her on the cheek," he declared proudly.
I rolled my eyes. "Okay, seriously what happened? I won't judge."
He blinked at me. "I just told you."
"Oh."
He looked around my kitchen awkwardly.
"Harvey, have you ever kissed a girl? On the lips?" I asked, suddenly feeling terrible for having thought he was joking. That was probably a big step and I just made it seem extremely insignificant.
He stared down at his cup, his face such a flaming red, I wouldn't be surprised if he lit on fire.
"Aw, you're the cutest," I cooed.
"Shut up," he muttered, glaring down at his juice.
"I'm very proud of you for having the courage to do that. Did you get her number?"
"Oh damn it," he groaned. "I didn't even think to ask."
"Harvey!" I laughed. "Boy, you need some help."
"Tell me about it! The most girl I've ever talked to is you and I didn't even make that happen - you did."
I shrugged. "Look at you now though, breaking into my house and stuff."
"I didn't break in," he muttered. "The back door was unlocked."
"It's breaking in when no one is home, dork."
He ducked his head. "Sorry."
I laughed. "It's fine, dude, come over whenever. I seriously don't care."
He continued to mutter under his breath.
"I'm going to have a shower. What are you doing today?"
"I better go home before my mother goes into cardiac arrest," he sighed. "I forgot to leave her a note I was going out." He got to his feet and stretched. "Oh, by the way," he paused, hovering at the doorway. "Tomorrow night, mum wants you over for dinner."
"Okay, I'll be there," I promised.
"Okay, see ya," he said with a wave, disappearing from the kitchen doorway.
Leaning back in my chair, I stared up at the ceiling.
Facing Coach tomorrow is going to be fun.
***
Since I am still recovering from my wicked hangover, I decided noodles will be suffice for my dinner tonight.
Folding my legs beneath me, I sat the bowl on my pillow.
I was three quarters of my way through my dinner, when the front door banged open. Mid-slurp, I peered through the doorway, not sure who it would be.
"Hi, honey," my exhausted mother sighed.
"Hey." I replied, more expecting it to be Harvey, to be honest.
She swayed over to me, kissing me roughly on the forehead. She leaned back and stared down at my bowl.
"Good, healthy dinner, I see," she said flatly.
"Ah," I sighed dramatically. "If only I had a mother who would stay at home and cook dinner for me."
"Don't start."
"You did." I sang back, returning my focus to the TV.
"My job is going great, thanks for asking," she said dryly, wandering into the kitchen.
"Yeah, so is my life. Thanks for caring."
Her sigh echoed through the house.
She walked back in. "Sorry, honey. I'm not thinking clearly."
"Don't worry. I'm used to it."
I really did try to keep the bitterness out of my tone. I wasn't successful.
"I'm going to go shower," she said, dragging her feet with her.
"Up the stairs, to the left," I instructed sarcastically.
I didn't miss her deadpan stare before mounting the staircase.
I was trying to be helpful. It's not like she even knows what this house looks like. She hasn't even lived in it, really.
"Better off just by myself," I muttered, glaring at the T.V.
***
"You must be Grace!"
I blinked in surprise at the woman that stood in front of me. She is tall, with a slim build. She has soft, brown hair, piled neatly into a tight bun on the top of her head. It was pulled so tightly back that it was actually harsh on her features. She had deep, brown eyes, very similar to Harvey's.
The woman would have to be mid-forties I'd say, although appearing to dress as if she was from the 50's. She had a traditional style dress wrapped securely around her body, that ran down to her ankles. It is something you would find at an op shop if you were going to a 50's party.
"That's me," I beamed back.
"Anne," she said, nodding and giving me a slight curtsy. I stood there awkwardly.
"Come in," she urged, opening the door.
"Thank you," I murmured, stepping inside.
Immediately, I was engulfed with warmth. I glanced into the living room, where a fire was crackling away. The house is really nice, but I felt like I had stepped inside the house in a show you'd see in T.V during the day, made about 40 years ago.
"Please, make yourself comfortable," she beamed.
"Hey," Harvey said, loping down the stairs. "You're early, that's weird."
"Wanted to make a good impression," I grinned, nudging him. "Neat place."
He gave me an odd look. "Neat? Yeah right."
"No really, it is actually the neatest place I've probably ever seen," I laughed. "Does your mother clean this house every day?"
"She doesn't work so yeah, pretty much."
"Ashley, Lindsey!" she called and her voice smooth like silk. A shiver ran down my spine at the sound.
"Are they your sisters?" I asked.
"Yeah, they're twins. Evil twins."
I laughed.
Two girls, who looked about eight, came tearing down the hallway, racing each other. They had freckles scattered across their cheeks and mouse, brown hair, done into plaits. Although one of them had one of their plaits falling out.
"Girls, no running. We have a guest." Anne told them sternly.
"Hello," they chorused.
"That's cool," I grinned, glancing at Harvey. "Hi girls, I'm Grace."
"I'm Lindsey," the girl with the messy plait grinned.
"I'm Ashley!" the second one exclaimed.
"Nice to meet you!" I smiled.
"Are you Harvey's girlfriend?" Ashley asked.
"No," I laughed and paused when I caught the frown on Anne's face. "We're just good friends."
"James," Anne said, knocking softly on a shut door. "Dinner's ready."
"I'm workin'," a voice snapped back. A tired, grumpy voice.
"And that's my dad," Harvey muttered. "He's in a mood."
"Ah," I nodded awkwardly.
Plastering an over-the-top fake smile on her face, Anne knocked again. "Honey, we have a guest. You said you would join us."
The sigh was deep and could be heard through the door. I bit my lip, feeling like a nuisance.
"Please Grace, take a seat," Anne smiled, her too-bright smile never wavering.
Trailing behind Harvey, I plopped down onto my seat.
"Dinner smells wonderful," I forced myself to say.
"Thank you, honey."
The door banged open and I glanced towards Harvey's father. He is a small, awkward looking man. He has thick rimmed glasses that are too big for his face. His face is covered with a patchy beard and wrinkles gathered around the corners of his eyes.
"Grace, this is my husband, James. James, this is Harvey's... friend, Grace."
No one missed the hesitance before 'friend'.
"Grace," he said with a nod, tucking his shirt into his pants.
I smiled, feeling awkward. It is clear he didn't want to be here.
Anne began serving dinner as everyone else found their seats.
"So, Grace," Anne smiled. "Tell us about yourself."
"I moved here from Greenway a couple weeks ago."
"Greenway?" James asked. "I've covered a couple stories from there."
"Stories?" I asked.
"James is a Journalist," Anne explained. "He writes for the Daily Telegraph."
"Oh wow," I nodded, having forgot Harvey told me that. "That's cool."
"Why did you move?"
"Mum," Harvey sighed. "Can we just have dinner, please?"
"What? Am I not allowed to get to know the girl who you have been seeing so regularly?"
Now it is definitely awkward.
"Sure, but you don't need to ask 20 questions."
"I think asking questions is perfectly reasonable." she hissed, before leaning back and smiling at me. "Sorry, you were saying?"
"My mum got a job offer, so we moved to be closer."
"What does your mother do for work?"
"She's a cardiovascular surgeon."
"Oh, that's a tough job," she said in surprise. "Does your father stay at home to look after you?"
"It's just me and my mum," I shrugged, biting into some of the baked potato, just to have something to do.
"Did you mother and father get a divorce?" she probed.
"Mum!" Harvey snapped. "That's enough."
"What?"
"It's okay," I said, although it was not okay. I pat Harvey's arm. "My father died."
"What's your last name, Grace?" James asked.
"Connaway." I said, trying not to get annoyed with the series of questions they are being sling-shot at me.
"Ah, yes, I remember now. Car accident, am I right? I wrote an article on it. I interviewed your mother, actually."
I placed my fork onto the table, suddenly not feeling so hungry. This isn't a topic I feel comfortable discussing with people I don't even know.
I nodded.
"You were trapped in the car, yes? For a few hours? I can't remember all the details."
I felt my face drain of colour as the memories of the horrible day my father died bombarded into my mind. An uneasy feeling washed over me and I felt like I was going to throw up.
"Look what you've done," Harvey growled. "Now you've made her uncomfortable."
"It's fine," I said uneasily, taking a sip of water.
"No, it's not. Do you want to go?"
"Dinner isn't finished."
He stood, his chair screeching on the tiles.
"Harvey," Anne hissed. "Sit down."
"You wonder why I don't ever have anyone over. Come on, Grace."
Silently, I stood and slid my chair under the table, my hands slightly trembling.
"Thank you for dinner," I said politely.
James shook his head and didn't reply. Anne looked embarrassed.
Grabbing my hand, Harvey pulled me towards the front door. I glanced down at our hands, a little surprised at the bold move.
"I'm sorry," he muttered as we walked out the door. "They are so nosy. Are you okay?"
My eyes are burning with the desire to cry, but I blinked them back. I hate talking about my father's accident.
"Grace?"
I hiccupped, looking away from him.
"Aw man," he groaned. "I'm going to go back inside and-"
"Harvey, just hold me," I whispered.
Pausing, he pulled me towards him and hugged me tightly.
"Is this why you don't like travelling in cars?" he asked softly.
"It gives me anxiety," I muttered, sniffling.
"I'm sorry."
I gripped him tighter, burying my head into his chest. "Sorry for crying. I haven't talked about it in a while and the memories came back and-"
"Shh," he said soothingly, rubbing my back. "It's okay. Let's just get you home."
Detangling from each other, I slowly began walking towards my house.
"You don't need to walk me home, it's a long walk back."
"It's okay and I could use the walk," he said with a smile.
I smiled back.
"When I have dinner with your mum, hopefully it won't go so terribly," he laughed.
I snorted. "I don't even have dinner with her, so good luck."
"That's rough. When did you see her last?"
"Last night, actually," I sighed. "We didn't really talk."
He wrapped an arm around my shoulder. "It's okay, Grace. You have me now."
I felt my eyes turn wet again. "Thanks Harvey."
"No problem."
I drew closer to him and sighed.
Maybe this night wasn't so horrible, after all.