Dedicated to JerrytheGiraffe because I love you, I love Sorcery and I love Lira - Lira for life x

HARRY DIDN'T WANT TO BREAK his promise - he persuaded me to go over to his place for dinner after all. Not that I needed much persuasion. I was pretty much there before he was.

We both thanked Louis before leaving, and he wished us the best and to get home safely. He also promised to down the bottles of wine we'd bought him and we'd just laughed at his stupidity. Liam waved us goodbye just as we were about to walk out the door.

"Are you sure you want me to come over tonight?" I reluctantly asked, secretly fearing that he would change his mind last minute and change the day. "I don't have to come over tonight if it's too much of a hassle."

Please don't be too much of a hassle.

Harry shook his head as we climbed the stairs and waited by the curb for our taxi. Harry had been kind enough to call one before we left and the estimated arrival time was about ten minutes according to Harry's past taxi experience.

"I seem to be lucky with them," he'd said. "They always arrive five or ten minutes after I phone in."

"And I seem to be lucky when it comes to Chinese food," I joked and he'd only smiled widely at me. That smile was ridiculously good at making my heart beat uncontrollably. It was a smile that could cheer you up on a rainy day; it was just as beautiful and captivating as sunlight. I could have watched him smiled for hours.

The taxi, much to Harry's irritation, arrived a little later than he'd hoped and when we finally jumped in and the directions to Harry's were spoken, both of us were freezing. It always became cold quickly in the city during Autumn - well, everywhere it did. I'd always found it a lot more cool in the city than I had back home in the smaller populated area. The city didn't quite have the homely feeling to it. After all, growing up out of a city did make you think differently that way.

When we arrived at Harry's, I unfortunately found myself slightly disorientated. Probably because of the alcohol and the high I was feeling when being so close to Harry for such a long period of time. God, he was just intoxicating. I was the moth, he the flame. He the magnet and I the metal.

"What are we eating then?" I questioned as he led me through the street to his place. It wasn't a flat like my home and Louis', it was a terraced house made of red brick. There were a few potted plants underneath the windows and the front door was blue.

Harry turned to face me. He shrugged. "What would you like? I can order something or I could cook?"

The thought of watching Harry cook me a meal was intriguing. I just couldn't bring myself to ask that of him after he had a break-down at the party. I wouldn't do that to him.

"I think take-out would be nice," I answered. "And no matter what you say, I'm paying half like you did at mine."

Harry pouted as he unlocked his door and welcomed me inside.

It was homely. A contrasting collection of brown, cream and white furniture was situated around the living room and in the hallway. Several paintings of cityscapes and photographs of family hung on the walls and there were several books dotted here and there. In conclusion; it was beautiful, just like the owner.

"Your house is lovely," I said as Harry showed me around the living room.

He chuckled. "It's not much. Just like every other house, to be fair."

I shook my head. "It's nicer than most. My place looks like a bomb site compared to this place. It's so ... clean."

Harry just laughed as he took my coat and left to hang them up in the corridor. I took the opportunity to look around. Most of the books lying about where classics and encyclopaedias. I noticed a science magazine sitting on the coffee table and I grinned. Beside it, was a stack of newspapers. I recalled Harry telling me he had a keen interest in papers, especially the puzzles at the back if he lost interest in the inked text.

"What do you prefer? Indian or Chinese? Or pizza, how could I forget pizza?" he said as he wandered back into the room. "Would you like a coffee or cup of tea? Or coke, I have coke. Don't know why though - it's really unhealthy."

I just laughed and said I'd love a coffee. While he left, I thought to myself, What do I want for tea? Besides Harry, of course, because he's scrumptious. 

"What are you in the mood for?" I questioned.

"Pizza?" he suggested and I nodded. I hadn't had a pizza in so long and I'd never seen Harry's home before. It was like a two-in-one treat. I sat down on the couch and carefully picked up the closest newspaper. There was an incomplete word-search in the top right corner and I desperately wanted to pick up a pen and finish it for him.

"If you find the word 'elm' let me know," Harry's voice sounded from the doorway. I looked up to see him leaning against the wall, one hand holding a glass while the other dried the inside with a towel. Oh Lord, those hands and their actions, I found myself thinking and hoping I wasn't drooling too.

"I'll be sure to," I told him.

Harry glanced up at the clock that was sitting above the fireplace. "I'll order now, because I don't want it to get too late before you start to get tired and bored of my company."

Honey, I could be in your company all day and I'd still not be able to get enough of you and your perfection.

"It's fine. I like your company," I admitted with a small smile.

Harry grinned and looked down at the glass he was drying. It almost looked as if he were blushing but I knew that was ridiculous. In each other's company, I was the one to do all the blushing. Harry was the ray of sunshine that made me smile.

"And I like yours," he finally said as he left for the kitchen once again.

THE PIZZA ARRIVED RATHER LATE and Harry and I were starving by the time we'd placed several slices on to our plates. Harry made a joke about how it seemed like all the luck of food arriving quickly sat in my flat and I'd just laughed.

"I think we could have gave the chips a miss," he said as he gestured to the large pizza before us that we would no doubt struggle to finish.

I nodded as I chewed and said, "I think you're right," after I swallowed.

It was nice sitting and talking with Harry ... OK, it was more than nice, it was amazing. I just couldn't quite comprehend how much of a kind, genuine person he was. The world needed more of him. The world needed a thousand Harrys wandering about. It would make the world a nicer place to live in.

Wow, I thought. I maybe had a little too much to drink at Louis' place.

There was a moment of silence between us and I glanced up at Harry. He was chewing while staring off into space. Only then I did I realise - this was the place where he had caught Sally with another man. That bitch. I wondered if he'd slept in his own bed since? I sure as hell knew I'd be put off if I were in his position.

"Do you want to talk about what happened tonight?" I quietly pondered. "If not, that's cool. But I'm here if you want someone to chat with."

Harry looked up at me. His eyes were full of sadness suddenly and he looked as if he were fighting back tears. I knew I would take away his pain if I could, feel it for him if I could. No one should have to suffer. Especially not Harry.

He sighed. "I think I let it all out," he admitted with a nod. "It's just a little hard to move on, no matter how much I'm trying to. Everything I see or hear, in some way, reminds me of her. The party - she made me like them. The theatre - I love it and would always take her. The stupid show on Netflix I never liked the look of - she gladly sat and watched it with me to see if I'd like it after all. It just annoys me, Jane. It's like she's a shadow - following me around and clinging to everything around me."

"Then don't let her," I whispered. "Don't allow the memories of her eat away at your brain. Think of something else or someone else. Just..."

He just sighed. In defeat? Exhaustion? I didn't know but I hoped it was neither. I didn't want him to give up, to be ripped at the edges, never fully intact. I didn't want someone's awful decisions to exhaust him either. I just wanted him to be himself. His happy, cheery self. But he was being held back by a shadow, a memory.

"Just..?" he asked, looking at me expectantly.

I shrugged, not exactly sure where I'd been going. "I just want you to be happy," I finally said.

A ghost of a smile crept onto his face and he thanked me. My head spun a little. Because of the alcohol or Harry sitting before me looking like Greek God, I didn't know. Either way, I still wanted to jump on him.

"Pizza OK?" he asked me and I just nodded.

"Amazing," I told him. "Just swell."

As we gradually ate our way though the majority of the food, Harry had switched on the TV at one point and put on a television quiz show about general knowledge. He shouted angrily at the contestants who didn't answer questions correctly and even called the host an annoying prick. I just laughed along with him and answered the questions to the best of my ability.

"It's goat!" Harry groaned at the player - who was called Bob and looked as if he was having the time of his life on the show - chose what, according to Harry, was the incorrect answer. I watched as the vein in Harry's neck become more prominent as he got mad. It was hot.

"See!" he fussed as the answer did turn out to be wrong.

I took a sip of my coffee and said, "I see your collection of factual books didn't go a-miss." I gestured to the many books lying around the room.

Harry just laughed and told me, "I meant to pack those away, actually. I was just in such a hurry to leave the house. I was gonna miss my bus if I didn't."

"Harry, it's London - there's a bus or taxi around the corner," I joked and he just shrugged.

"I wanted to see you," he said.

What? I thought, my laughing coming to a stop as I locked eyes with him. The whole world seemed to pause for a moment. He'd wanted to see me? My heart raced at his words and I wanted so badly to stand and pull him up to my lips by the collar of his shirt.

"Really?" I asked, voice croaky. "Really?" I asked again, clearer.

He nodded. He looked down at his fiddling hands. "I just really love how much you can take my mind off of things for a while, Jane. You make me feel better ... and I couldn't ask for a better friend."

Oh, there's the friendzone, I realised and I mentally and emotionally deflated. What a way to ruin a night, Harry. Thanks, you beautiful bitch.

"Oh," I said. "You're welcome. I try as best I can to make you feel a little better."

"You really do make me feel better." He leaned towards me and placed his large hand over my own. Looking into my eyes, he said, "Thank you."

I smiled as I leaned forward too and placed my free hand over his. I so longed to place my lips over his instead. Looking into his eyes, I said, "You're welcome," when what I really wanted to tell him was, 'I love you.'