I ignore Harry for a whole week.

Easier said than done, really. He sits five feet from me at work and lives across the hall. It's been a miracle that I haven't had to talk to him.

It's Friday afternoon, and I'm in a good mood. I finished editing four manuscripts this week, having turned in my fourth one this morning; and Aaron is picking me up from work.

I'm excited to see him. We've both been busy all week, so we finally get our night out tonight.

The afternoon that l followed Harry still fresh in my mind. Every time I look at him, more and more questions fill my brain. Who are those guys? What numbers?

I shouldn't care. But the way Harry has been more reserved lately makes my mind run.

Four o'clock rolls around and everyone gathers their things to leave. I chat with Perrie as we walk out.

"What are your plans for the weekend? I ask her. She shrugs. "Not a ton. Sleep, eat, repeat." She laughs. "You?"

"I'm seeing Aaron tonight," I say.

"Ooh," She says, nudging me. "I must know all the details over coffee."

I flush. "No, we don't...uh...we haven't."

"Oh." Perrie smiles. "Still, we should have coffee. Does Sunday work?"

"Sunday's great." "Perfect, see you then." Perrie unlocks her car and waves me goodbye.

I stake out the lot, but I don't see Aaron's car anywhere. I take a seat a bench outside and pull my coat tightly around me.

I check my phone for messages from Aaron, but there are none. text him asking where he is, but no reply. Maybe he's driving. Maybe he forgot the address?

He'll be here, my mind insists. He promised.

Car after car pulls in and out of the lot, but not Aaron's. Mr. Crystal nods to me as he walks out, phone against his ear. Even Marion makes her way out, shooting me a smile.

The autumn sky begins to dim, the air getting chillier exhale, my breath swirling in front of me. Where is he?

I check my phone. No messages.

I wait another fifteen minutes before calling him, only to get his voicemail.

I hang up and put my head in my hands. Why isn't he answering? He told me he'd pick me up. He took me this morning, so I really don't have a way to get home. I guess could walk. It's only about fifteen blocks.

I can't help the warm tears that start to fall. Doesn't Aaron care about me enough to pick me up from work?

"Rose?"

I look up to see none other than Harry standing in front of me, confusion written into his features. I quickly wipe my tears away and straighten my posture. I shouldn't have been crying over stupid Aaron.

"What do you want?" I snap.

Harry stares me. "Are you all right?" His tone is soft and baffles me. He's never spoken to me any way that wasn't teasing or hurful.

I frown.

"Why are you out here yourself?" He asks when I don't answer.

"Aaron is coming to pick me up," I say. "And then we're going out to dinner and a movie."

Harry checks his phone for the time. "Rose, it's nearly five o'clock." It's odd to hear him call me by the name I prefer instead of my nickname.

I look away, the wind picking up slightly. I hadn't noticed the grey clouds covering the sky. They look dark and angry.

"Rose, it's going to rain. Aaron obviously isn't coming-- "

"He's coming," I interrupt rudely. "He promised."

Harry sighs. "Just let me drive you home." I look back at him. His eyes are soft. I've never seen him act compassionate before, and it's a bit comforting.

Thunder booms in the distance. At this point, my choices are limited. I either ride home with Harry or get rained on.

I rise from the bench, slinging my bag over my shoulder. Harry exhales and turns to lead me to his car.

I slide into the passenger seat, the leather seats freezing cold. Harry turns on the heat and backs out of the lot.

"Why are you doing this?" I ask as we drive along.

"What do you mean?"

"Why are you being nice to me?"

"I couldn't just leave you there."

"Why? You hate me, anyway."

Harry half smiles. "I don't hate you."

"Look, if you feel bad for me or something, I really don't need your pity."

Harry shakes his head. "Oh, you Americans," he says. "The world always revolves around you."

I cross my arms over my chest. "Are you calling me a narcissist? And why does being American have to do with anything?"

"No," he says. "I'm just saying, you always assume someone's feeling bad for you."

I look out the window as rain starts to fall. think about Aaron. Why didn't he pick me up? My chest aches.

"Why are you here?" I ask.

"What?"

"Why are you in America? You're clearly not American."

"What is that supposed to mean? 'Clearly not American?'"

"You have an accent, dipshit."

Harry laughs. "I moved here four years ago.

"Why?" He shrugs.

"Wanted to try America on for size, guess." He doesn't meet my gaze.

"So... where are you from, then?"

"I have an accent, dipshit," He mocks me.

I crack a smile. "No, I mean where in England."

He shakes his head, shrugging "You've never heard of it."

l narrow my eyes. "Try me."

"Holmes Chapel."

"Oh" I smirk.

"You don't know where that is, do you?"

"Actually, do."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah. In Cheshire, in the west. It's a small town. Small population."

He raises his eyebrows, clearly impressed. "Not bad, Rosie," He says.

And, we're back.

"Please don't call me Rosie," l say for the thousandth time.

"Why do you hate it so much? It's nice."

"I don't hate it. I just hate it coming from you." I hate that when you say it, it reminds me of the darkest time of my life.

"I see." He smirks. "So you prefer "Rosalie, then?"

"No," I say immediately and Harry laughs. It's the first time I've ever seen him really laugh, and it's a nice sight. His eyes squint up and his dimples carve into his cheeks.

I hadn't realized l was staring and I quickly avert my eyes. Harry notices and smiles wider.

"Honestly, though," He says. "You seemed pretty upset back there. Is everything all right?"

I roll my eyes. "I wouldn't tell you even if you were the last person on Earth."

"Harsh, Rosalie."

"Stop it."

"If I call you 'Rose' for a week, will you tell me?"

"No."

"Two weeks?"

"No."

"A month?"

"Stop talking, Harry."

"Come on, Rose. You can tell me. I can keep a secret."

Something about the way he said it made me pause. I open my mouth to snap at him again, but I suddenly stop. I could use a good rant. And from the way Harry looked at me back there, maybe he does care. I mean, he is giving me a ride home.

Jesus. I didn't know 'Harry' and 'care' could go in the same sentence without 'doesn't.'

"Sometimes I think Aaron doesn't care about me," I say in one breath, clamping my mouth shut like a six year old that said a curse word in front of their mother.

Harry nods slowly. "Why do you think that?"

"I..." I can't believe I'm talking about this with Harry. "He always forgets about me and has so much work and I don't think the other interns have as much work as he does." I take a breath.

"Is that what happened? He forgot to pick you up?"

I nod silently, biting my lip. I don't want to cry in front of Harry. I don't want to cry at all over Aaron.

He pulls into the lot of our apartment building. Rain pours around the car.

"We should wait it out," he says. "If we don't want to get soaked."

I nod, focusing on my breathing. Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry--

"It's alright if you need to cry," Harry says, turning to face me.

Damn you, Harry. Damn you to hell.

I shake my head and chew on the inside of my cheek.

"Come on, Rose. Don't hold it in. Aaron doesn't treat you right, does he?" When I look up, his eyes are kind and understanding, sometimes I've never seen in him before.

Something in his tone makes me snap. I bury my face in my hands and let it all out, hot tears streaming down my face. A warm hand touches my back, soothing me.

I hate this. I hate crying in front of Harry. I feel so weak.

Harry doesn't say anything as l compose myself. lean back in my seat, staring at the grey ceiling of the car. I know I probably look as deathly as the storm outside, but at the moment, don't care.

"This is a nice car," l say, my voice slightly hoarse from crying.

"Thanks."

"It has the new car smell."

"It's three years old."

"Hmm."

Harry drums his fingers on the steering wheel. "Want to play twenty questions?" He asks suddenly.