W Y A T T

Despite it being fall, and winter being right around the corner, California still managed to provide lovely weather even at twilight. The sun wasn't bright enough to lighten the table in Harper's backyard and the sky was already lilac, slowly but surely fading to dark. We lit up the backyard's twinkling lights and lamps, and brought some old fashioned candle lit lamps to the table that Harper's parents had stored in their garage for a few years now.

While we set up the lights and brought the drinks and glasses to the table, we savored the last moments of this trip as a group. It's not the same with Noah and Ben gone but they have college to think about, money to save up and they don't come from a rich family like me, meaning they can't afford to come home for just three days and waste hundreds of dollars in gas. But they were there through Zoey's phone via facetime. Meanwhile Laura and James picked up dinner - fish tacos from the best taco stand in all of California.

Harper and I had a flight to catch, so, after we ate what truly were the best tacos I'd ever had in my entire life, we said our goodbyes to everyone. Her parents drove us to the airport and hugged us both goodbye right before the security gates.

During the whole weekend, Harper and I didn't have a moment alone, just the two of us. We were always with someone else. This would be the first time in three days that we didn't avoid each other using a pointless conversation with whoever was by our sides. Despite being at an airport, with the cacophony of chaos all around us, it felt silent between us. As if there was a void between us that we could no longer fill.

"I'm just going to the bathroom real quick." I said after we found some seats right after security. Harper just let out a muffled "Okay." while she nodded her head and focused on fixing up her backpack after having to remove the liquids for inspection. I dropped my backpack on the empty seat next to Harper and walked away to the restrooms.

Even after waiting in line to dry off my hands, I couldn't have taken more than five minutes there. Yet when I came back, and much to my surprise, I found a guy sitting on the seat next to my bag, talking to Harper.

"Whose bag is that?" I could hear him ask from a distance.

"What bag?" She questioned.

The guy - a total kook, with blonde hair and skin pale as a ghost, dressed in khakis and a polo that cost more than a domestic plane ticket -, pointed at a small trolley that stood in front of them. I noticed it even caused some disruption amongst late travelers who wanted nothing more than to be able to run through the airport hallways to get to their respective gates.

"I don't know." She shrugged her shoulders and looked around.

"Should we see if there's a number on the tag?" The guy pointed at the trolley again.

I couldn't believe it. This was one of the oldest tricks in the book. That guy is such a douche. Still, eager to see how it would all play out but wanting to be nearby just in case Harper would need help getting rid of him, I watched the whole scene unfold from a short distance.

"Um... maybe we should just call security and have them take care of it."

The expression on his face gave away his total and utter surprise regarding her answer and I couldn't help but let out a small chuckle.

I knew his type far too well. Rich, arrogant, drunk with power, too used to having people - mostly girls - do whatever he says. I mentally shook my head in disbelief.

"You know, if you lose a personal item at an airport and don't reclaim it within a few hours, they burn the bag. I saw a show about that one day." She looked him in the eye. "Better to just call security and have them handle it."

And then I mentally laughed at how effortlessly she ended him right then and there. The expression of disbelief and surprise in his face was priceless. It was like I was watching a good old comedy movie.

"Um..." She had just turned his brain into a knot and he was still trying to have his way. "It's a Prada bag. I think it's safe to say someone lost it."

He extended out his arm, grabbed the bag by the trolley handle and showed her the ID tag attached to it. "Could you call? My phone died."

Harper did and to no one's surprise but Harper's, his phone - that had died - magically started ringing.

"There you go."

Poor Harper just stood very still in total disbelief, her mouth agape, couldn't believe this had just happened.

"Now you have my number, stranger." The way this guy said that with so much pride was almost disgusting.

Harper glanced at the bag once more, to look at the identification tag.

"Well, Jeffry, you are a dick." She flashed him a sarcastic smile. "But thanks, 'cause now I'm glad I have your number on my phone so I can delete it and block it."

Jeffry didn't even know what to do with himself, probably feeling the most embarrassed he's ever felt, and rightfully so.

Enough with the show. I thought.

I waltzed back to my seat, put my backpack on the floor and sat down, fully ignoring the guy.

"Hi babe." I said as I looked at Harper with a smile on my lips. "Sorry I took so long, there was a huge line."

The guy got up from his seat, taking his precious Prada bag with him. I pretended to only see him now.

"Airports, right?" I casually said that before putting my arm around Harper's, all while eyeing him.

I wasn't jealous because there was nothing to be jealous of. Harper handled him marvelously, and ended him with nothing but class. But I can't say I didn't enjoy the mortified look on his face, as he looked at me.

Eventually he walked away, probably to go to one of the lounges his daddy pays for, and after he was out of eyesight, I forced myself to remove my arm from behind Harper's shoulders.

"You didn't have to do that, you know?" She said.

"Oh, I do know. I loved watching you take him down on your own, by the way."

It was hot. I almost said it. But I chose not to. Instead I went with, "It was so badass."

"Then why did you do it?"

Because more than loving seeing his face after he thought I was with Harper, I loved having my arm around her and, for a few very short minutes, pretending that we never deliberately chose to ignore what we both felt for each other and agree to remain just friends for the future.

Again, my self restraint helped me and I said none of that.

"Just in case he tried to hit on you again." I shrugged my shoulders.

Harper didn't look convinced but she didn't further her questioning, ending the conversation right then and there.

The thing with Harper and me is that we're not those friends that are tiptoeing around their true, romantic feelings for each other, or walking on eggshells whenever we talk because we don't want the other to know how we really feel. Harper and I aren't scared that once we cross that friendzone line, we're gonna ruin our friendship and ruin what we have going on between us at the moment. We both know how the other feels, and we know that we both feel the same way about each other. We just decided and chose to stay friends. Or, to put it mildly, she suggested that, and I just agreed for the sake of not losing her altogether.

* * *

Once our flight's gate was displayed on the large screens with the flight information, Harper and I grabbed our bags and walked across the crowded hallways until we got there. After sharing a bag of tortilla chips while we waited, we were finally boarding the plane.

Our assigned seats weren't together with me being next to an old guy on 8B and Harper being all the way in the back on 22A. I waited a few minutes until we took off and then sent her a text.

Wyatt: How's your neighbor? Mine's a guy who probably had dinner at 5 PM.

Harper: LOL mine must be a ghost.

Wyatt: What do you mean?

Harper: They don't exist!

Wyatt: Lucky!! Do you mind if I change seats and move there?

Harper: Be my guest.

"Excuse me." I muttered after grabbing my bag and getting up from my seat. Although, to be fair, I don't think the man heard me.

I walked down the hallway, looking at the numbers written above the seats while ignoring the frigid stares, all the way down to number twenty-two. There she was, in her long sleeved sweater and black sweatpants - Harper Moore.

"Thanks for letting me sit here."

"No problem." Harper said before going back on her phone.

I let some silence linger between us until I spoke up again. "Hey so, I was thinking you'd like to come with me to this... event that's happening next Friday night."

"What event?"

"It's like a gathering... of people."

"Just say it's a party."

"Fine, it's a party." Harper shook her head in my direction and gave me a knowing look. "But it's gonna be really lowkey, it's not like the entire student body is attending."

"Who's coming?"

"Me, Jacob and Jackson, and a few other people from our Civil Rights class."

I watched her as she thought it through. Choosing to go to a party wasn't something that she'd do voluntarily, especially when she was already thinking about dropping out of Columbia and going back to California. And definitely not when her friends weren't here to go with her to said party. But since this was an invitation, I was hoping that she'd consider it. And I was genuinely hoping that coming from me would weigh in on her decision.

"I'm asking you to come with me because I think you'd have a really good time." I fidgeted with the metallic buckle on the seatbelt. "It's been a while since I've seen you have fun."

My words spoke volumes and I wasn't the only one to notice it, so I quickly changed the subject.

"I also thought we could use a break from our study sessions." We'd made the agreement to get together every Friday night to study, so I'd help her keep up with some classes.

"I'll have to think about it." She pulled out from her backpack her current read, a book called "The No-Show". "But you haven't been paying attention because I've been having plenty of fun." 

* * *

author's note

is it just me or is harper starting to let wyatt in more and more?

question: what's the lamest pick up line you've ever heard? 

funny story - believe ir or not, i had this very same line used when i was at the airport in london and i couldn't even believe it  😂  i remember thinking it was so tacky and lame that i had to use it on one of my stories and a year later... here we are!

if you're enjoying LEOYAM, please don't forget to vote, and leave a comment with your thoughts! also, considering sharing this story with your friends and whoever you think might like it <3 and last but not least, follow me on ig - missmarswrites - i'm fun, i swear!

xoxo, mars