Strings of Fate

Strings of Fate Cam 47- Plans and pleas +1 Bo The shrill sound of my alarm wakesup in the morning. Although it’s only just morning. since | set the alarm pretty late due to my late night at the police station. | drag myself out of bed and stumble out to the kitchen. I.

NEED. COFFEE. | have the machine heating up when Harry's voice calls out sleepily from the living room “Are you making coffee? Can | get in on that too please?” His voice is hoarse and a little lower than usual.

Shocked, | dart into the living room to find Harry sprawled out on my couch. He sits up with a groan, rubbing at his back which I'm betting is sore from his fall last night.

“When did you get here?” | ask, my mind not processing the scene in front of me. Harry runs a hand through his sleep ruffled hair and stares atlike I'm crazy.

“All night? You INSISTED that it was too late forto drive hand that | should stay over. Then you went to change into your pyjamas and never cback. | checked in on your and you were totally out so | just made myself comfortable on your couch. | did go through. your cupboards to find a blanket, | hope you don’t mind.” He smiles attiredly and | try to remember getting hlast night. | do vaguely remember telling Harry that he would fall asleep at the wheel if he tried to drive any further. I'm fairly sure at the t| meant to invite him to share my bed but apparently | didn’t make it “Sorry, I'm a terrible host. | didn’t mean to fall asle at far. Oops. | flush red.

I'll get us both scoffee.” | excuse myself to the kitchen so that | can hide my embarrassment a little. When | return two minutes later, I'm armed with two large cups of coffee and a smile that is only a little bit forced. Harry downs his coffee so fast you would think he is dying of thirst and it is the only thing available to keep him from literally dying. That or he’s just half as tired as | am. drink our coffee in silence. When we both place our empty mugs on the table, | break the silence.

06 “Thankyou for last night. I'm sorry | got you dragged into the with Simon. | | really didn’t realise he was THAT crazy. If | knew, | would have called the police way sooner.” | sigh and Harry nudgeswith his elbow before draping his arm overand tippingagainst his side.

“Don’t be silly. None of that was your fault. And if scrazy guy is after you, | would much 1/4 Cam 47- Plans and pleas rather be there so | can try to keep you safe. | know you can take care of yourself, | definitely don’t intend to imply otherwise. But... I'm not the type of person that people rely on. I'm finding I quite en it and | hope this incident won't change that.” He speaks casually but | know he’s just trying to hide how serious he really is. | feel the constant warm feeling of Harry’s magic flowing throughand I relax further into his side.

“I'm not sure | could stop, even if | wanted to.” +10 Bon 06: Harry offers to driveto work, but I need a little tto myself so | encourage him to head home, take a nap, have a shower, get swork done, whatever. I'll see him later tonight when he comes into the bar. | take stto shower, wash my hair and generally get myself cleaned up. | drink two more coffees, and by the t| leave for work | feel far more like myself. I'm not early for once, I'm just right on time. Cora is already here setting up and | can hear voices in the kitchen. The lanterns are flickering with their magical flames and the place looks great. | feel energised and more optimistic than | have in a long time. My business is going to be a success, Simon won't be a problem anymore and not only do | love Harry, but I'm fairly sure I’m ready to tell him. Part ofwants to just call him and blurt it out, but he’s been waiting forto admit it to myself and him for months now. Surely | can think of something a little more special. | decide that it's tto figure out Harry's perfect drink. I've given him hundreds of drinks and he always claims to enjoy them, even the awful ones because apparently he sees my messing with him as a sign of affection. I'm a little offended that he turned out to be right. Wait, does that mean | should try to make a drink het will love or one that he will hate because he will know it means | care? Maybe this whole. thing is a terrible idea. Still, | want to go through with it. Maybe | can combine the ideas. Layered drinks are a thing. Maybe | can make one that has one of the awful drinks, or a spelled drink to start with then changes to a good drink? That would be kind of poetic. I'm scribbling drink ideas down on a napkin as Cora serves the first few customers of the evening. Once they have their drinks and they're happy, Cora approaches me, a suspicious look on her face.

“Okay, spill. Something is up with you. You're all daydreamy and you're barely even noticing. the customers. She points out.

“Oh, sorry. | didn’t mean to leave all the work to you.” | apologise. Cora waves her hand dismissively.

“I don’t care about that. You work plenty hard enough. | want to know what's got you so distracted. Usually you're a total workaholic.” She raises an eyebrow and I shrug.

2/4 Cam 47- Plans and pleas “I had a long night and it maderealise a few things. | can’t say it was a good evening, but it was eye opening.” | tell her vaguely.

+1 “Oh?” She waits forto elaborate. | COULD tell her about my feelings for Harry, but | really want to tell him first. | decide to tell her my other news.

“Simon, that creep who was harassing me, he attackedlast night. He's been arrested and he shouldn't be a problem anymore.” | give in way of explanation. Cora throws herself at me. in an unexpected hug.

“I'm so happy for you! | was so worried.” She pauses before continuing in a lower voice, sounding a little hesitant.

“Does that mean you won't be dating Harry anymore?” She asks.

“Huh?” | answer dumbly. Cora shrugs.

“Well, you toldthat you were only dating him to get rid of the creep. If Simon is in jail, you don’t really need to keep dating him. Do you?” She points out. | frown. | hadn’t even considered ending things with Harry. The relationship hasn't been fake in a long time, if it ever was. | need to tell her | care for him after all. Although based on the sad expression she’s giving me, | suspect that she won't be bothered or surprised by the admission.

“I did say that, but 1-” | cut myself off mid sentence when | realise Harry is standing frozen in the middle of the room. He looks... betrayed. Devastated even. Shit. | need to explain myself. That sounded really terrible. It WAS really terrible. | never should have told Cora the relationship is fake. That was the real lie. Wordlessly, Harry spins on the spot and begins to make his way to the door. In a panic, | chase after him, delayed slightly by having to make my around the bar first. | catch up to him in the carpark.

way “Wait, please. | need to talk to you.” My words are a plea. For a second, | don’t think Harry is going to listen.

Then with a deep sigh, he turns to faceand the look on his face hurts more than any biting comment my mother has ever made. | feel lower than dirt. | have not treated Harry the way he deserves and unless | can find the words to make it right, then it is about to cback and biteon the ass.

Bo 06 3/4