Chapter 13

I sighed as I let my ball drift to the otherside of the gym. I looked at him before running a hand over my face in frustration. 

"Start as friends, Harry. I was raised to never judge a person through rumors but through actions. I need us to go slow, Harry. I don't trust people, I don't like talking to guys. I'm okay with like a group of people talking to them but I don't know how to be around them by myself and I hate when they touch me. I shut down completely. I guess you should know I was raped when I was 6 by my uncle so I've never really had great experiences with guys so I flinch and cower when they touch me." I said with a sigh and his eyes widened. 

"What?" 

"I don't like being touched by guys." 

"No, I heard that. I mean about your uncle." 

"I don't care for it. I'm over it. Well not over it but I've moved past it because I don't want to be a victim of my own circumstance. So can we please just go slow?I've never been in a relationship before." I asked and he nodded, furrowing  his eyebrows. 

"What about your crush? Do you not want a relationship with him?" 

"You're my crush, you idiot." I rolled my eyes and walked to get my ball. His body seemed to relax some. 

"What?" He asked, in shock. 

"You're my crush. We were talking about you but you do scare me. I know I said I would ignore your past but I don't just want to be like those other girls, Harry. So it scares me so I tried to keep my distance but you're so goddamn stubborn. You just keep trying to come closer and it bugs me because I want you to but I'm a very guarded person." 

"Baby, I wouldn't do that to you. Understand this, I've never had a girlfriend before. Never been in a relationship. I've been with alot of girls but I've never had emotional attachments to them. You're different. If you want to take it slow, then we will. I'll wait. I'll go slow. I'll be whatever you need." He said, his hand rested on my waist. I looked into his eyes as he spoke. Nothing was displayed but sincerity. 

"Okay. I gotta practice though. We have a game coming up and I skipped all the practices this week for you and Josh issues so I'm behind." I rested my hand on his that was on my waist. 

"Okay I'll help you practice if you tell me exactly where we stand as far as our relationship. Are we together or no?" 

"Harry, we're not official because that requires a date on your part but I'm yours. I promise." I smiled and he broke into a dorky grin. "I'm yours. I'll take you out next week on a date. Not an option." He whispered holding my waist with both hands as he placed a small kiss onto my cheek making me blush. 

"Whatever. Now hold up your end of the bargain." I held the volleyball between us and he rolled his eyes, scooting back a few and let me serve to him, he would catch it and throw it back that resulted in me bumping or setting it to him. 

I decided on keeping on my gym clothes, putting my jacket on since I was going to change into it after next period anyways. Harry and I walked to Anatomy together, flirting endlessly. His stupid jokes would make me laugh that resulted in me calling him an idiot. He sat next to me, telling my lab partner to get lost. Of course, all the girls in class were jealous that he was my new partner but I didn't care. 

"Seems like we have to write another paper." Harry said as we were passed the rubric for our paper that was due tomorrow. 

"Umm. I guess we can work on it tomorrow during free period and lunch? I mean you can come with me to Theo's game if you want but I'll talk to Josh and let him know where we stand." 

"He's not going to be happy." Harry scratched the side of his jaw, glaring at the guy who was staring at my exposed cleavage. Harry zipped my sweater up a little making me giggle. 

"Of course not but he's not going to have another choice." 

"If you feel he'll let us be us, then I'm all for it. Also, I would love to go with you." He said with a small wink making me roll my eyes. 

"Great. Meet my at my place at 5:30? I have practice." "I can pick you up from practice." "I drove today because Josh's practice runs till 6 and he's going to Theo's game right after." "Okay your house at 5:30. Are you talking to Josh before or after?" 

"Before. Like before practice. We usually meet in the gym so." Our professor, Mr. Chute, was just letting us have a free day today because he was going through some mental crisis with his wife or something. We had today and tomorrow to do a paper over a fascinating body system, why we found it interesting, how does it apply to Anatomy and Physiology and the purpose. 

"Tell me how it goes." He warned me as the bell rang and I nodded. "I'll see you at 5:30." I said and he nodded, giving me a hug in the hall, placing a kiss to my temple before we parted ways. He went home I went to practice. 

"Hey, Josh I gotta talk to you." I tugged on his arm as he was about to enter the gym for football practice. He looked at me, letting go of the gym door. 

"About?" I pulled him to the side of the hall further down. 

"So me and Harry are a thing." 

"Grace." He sighed, covering his face and I shook my head. 

"Not what you think. He's really nice but we're taking it super slow. He's coming to Theo's game today and I promise I'll be careful. We're not going to have sex, I promise. He really is nice. I promise." He still had his face covered as he sighed again, shaking his head in disbelief, finally looking me in the eye after a few seconds. 

"If he fucks up, even once, I'm beating his fucking ass. I mean it. One fucking tear from you and he's going to be in the hospital." He warned and I smiled, hugging him. 

"Thank you." He hugged me back, kissing my head. 

"He better be pretty damn special." 

"He is."