Quinn POV

I unbuckle my seatbelt and grab my things. Before I reach for the door handle, Harry grabs my hand.

"You know I didn't mean to come off as a dick earlier, right?" He says while looking into my eyes.

"You did a little." I tell my boyfriend who frowns a little.

"I just want everything to go alright. Of course I want you to be yourself—it's just that they can be dicks sometimes, and me telling you to change wasn't me saying it because you looked bad, it was me trying to make you fit in, if that makes sense." He rambles a bit which makes me snicker.

"I get it." I say honestly. Harry gives me a weak smile then leans in and kisses my cheek.

"You're not mad at me, are you?" He asks in a lowered voice.

"No," I say. "Just next time explain better why you want me to act and or look different."

"Will do—but this is the only time I want you to look differently than what you usually look like. Since it's non of my business really what you want to wear and stuff. Am I making sense?" His rambling makes me grin.

"Yes," I say, answering his question.

"I just feel bad now, because I didn't mean to come off like I want you to change who you are. I love who you are, and I don't want you to think I want you to be different, because I don't." He explains.

"I'm not mad, Harry." I tell my boyfriend who tilts his head at me. He gives me a slight pouty lip which makes me snicker. I lean in and kiss his lips, and he kisses back instantly.

We soon leave his car, and walk to the restaurant. I forgot my umbrella, which defeated the purpose of bringing it. At least I had my coat to keep my white shirt dry.

When we walk into the restaurant, we see four people in the waiting area talking amongst themselves.

Harry greets his friends with a hello and I stand beside him, just listening in. Once their eyes go to me, my face heats a little.

"Um, this is Quinn, as you know," Harry introduces. "Quinn this is Zayn, Tom, Carly, and Erica." He points to each person as he says their names.

I get a fake smile and muffled hello's. I return the fake smile, but try to make mine look a little more convincing.

The hostess comes to us and soon directs us to the fairly large table in the back.

I sit next to Harry and no one is on my  right since I'm on the end. I'm kind of glad because I don't have to get stares with hidden messages.

Once I see them scanning the menu, I hesitantly do. My eyes scan the prices and I'm taken back by how cheap everything is.

The most expensive salad is 12.95.

I've never seen that before.

The only restaurant Harry and I go to are diners because besides my usual restaurants that I'd rather not take Harry to, I like the diner.

The most expensive thing I've seen on the menu is 26.95. Some reason I believe this is the discount menu, but only a few places have those menus. I doubt Apple Bee's is one.

The waitress comes by and asks for our drinks. They all seem to know her because they talk to her like a friend. Harry remains a little silent, but has a gentle grin on his lips. Harry and I order water while the other four order some type of soda.

Before the waitress leaves the table she asks a question. "Are we separating the bill between all of you guys?" She asks with a small smile.

"Yes please." Zayn answers kindly.

"Our things will be on one bill." I hear Harry say. His hand motions to me and him. The waitress nods then walks away.

All of our eyes are on Harry now. "I can pay for my own thing." I whisper to Harry.

"Nope." He tells me with a gentle grin.

A conversation soon starts up and I'm just looking around the restaurant I've never been in.

I don't know what they're talking about, but I don't think it applies to me so I'm okay.

Erica is wearing a navy blue shirt that has a band logo on it. Her light brown hair is pulled into a messy bun and her makeup is subtle. Some jewellery is on her body like a nose ring, bracelet, and a necklace.

Carly, who is dating Tom, is wearing a olive green shirt that's a loose V neck. Harry told me one day she's mixed between African American and Irish, which makes her skin tone golden in a way. Her hair is curly and her eyes are a dark brown. I think she has nice curls, my hair is more wavy than anything.

"You're friends with Kay, right?" I hear someone ask me.

I zone back into the conversation and look to Carly who is speaking to me. The table has fallen quiet, and everyone is waiting for me to respond. "No, uh, we have mutual friends," I answer. "Why?" I ask.

"Just curious," She says. "Since her and Harry slept together she gives us free weed." A grin escapes on her lips.

Being remembered that, that happened makes my cheeks heat and my bottom lip go between my teeth.

"Really?" Harry comments.

"What? I'm just saying she's cool to give us free weed." She shrugs her shoulders and leans back in the chair.

"Uhuh," My boyfriend mumbles.

Our waitress Miranda comes back with drinks and takes our orders. I'm the only one that ordered a Caesar salad, the rest ordered a burger. The Caesar salad is the cheapest salad since it's 9.99. Harry just got an appetiser that will come out with the rest of our meals.

No one commented to why he's getting that, I think to them it's normal. For me, it makes me sad because I know why he got that.

I slip my hand on top of his lap where his hand is. My fingers trace over his skin and my hand squeezes his.

Whenever Miranda comes over Harry looks away from that side of the table and looks over at either me or his friends across from him.

"So what's it like being the Mayer's daughter?" Erica asks me now.

All of their eyes go to me and I hesitate to answer. "Uh, fine I guess." I reply.

"Is it like, cool?" She asks.

"No, not really," I say honestly. She looks disappointed by my answer. Saying that it's nothing special to be my father's daughter says a lot too. If she were to ask Faith, it would be a different ball game. "What do your parents do for a living?" I ask.

"My Mom is a nurse and my Dad is a plumber," Erica pauses for a moment. "Very common, I know."

"Erica." I hear Zayn scold.

"What? It sounds common that my Mom is a nurse. Shit, calm the fuck down." She says with rolling eyes.

I know what she meant, as well as the whole table.

Luckily the conversation changes to the boys talking about whatever. Erica and Carly start their own conversation, and that leaves me as the odd man out. I don't mind, I'd rather not be talked to out of pity, or have snarky remarks made about me.

I play with the rings on Harry's fingers, which makes him snicker to himself. I feel his lips touch the side of my head. A smile spreads on my mouth a little by the simple kiss.

I never knew how big his hands were, if I'm being honest. Comparing his to mine, my hands are tiny. It's odd to think about, but since I'm not being talked to I'm noticing weird things now.

***

Our food comes and everyone focuses on eating rather than speaking.

My salad is decent. I wasn't expecting much for 9.99 but it will do.

I think I'm showing that I don't like it because I'm hardly eating. I feel guilty that I'm not liking it considering Harry is paying for our meals. Sometimes I wish he'd let me pay when we go out, so it's even.

"Harry said you've never been here before," I hear Tom say to me.

"Yeah," I say. "I never had a desire to go." I admit.

"What type of restaurants do you go to then?" He asks me curiously.

"Probably the Country club in town or Vetri," Carly jokes making the table laugh.

"My Mom is friends with the owner of Vetri so I tend to go there a lot." I admit.

Vetri has amazing Italian food and I would love for Harry and I to go one day. The only problem is that it's expensive to some. I think it's a fairly decent price for what you're getting.

"It's 155 dollars per person to eat there." John says with wide eyes. "And I heard they still charge you for drinks."

"I've been to worse places," I say. "You do get your money's worth." I tell them.

"Or you mean your parents money worth." Erica chimes in, which makes the table once again laugh.

"Stop with the jokes." Harry scolds which makes me bite my lip.

"What? She knows her money is only from her parents, Harry. What's wrong with making a small crack about it?" She asks him.

"It's rude." He answers. Her eyes roll at his response.

"Considering we all work to have money to go out and pay for our own things, I think it's funny." Erica is becoming snappy the more they speak.

We all know where that dig was meant to be at. "Just stop with the cracks is all I'm asking." He focuses the conversation back to the purpose, and not the fact Harry is paying for the two of us.

Erica doesn't answer. She just crosses her arms over her chest and looks at Harry with narrowed eyes. He doesn't pay much mind to her, he just changes the topic and plays with his his napkin.

***

We're in the car now, driving home.

It's silent between us two, which I expected. Besides the few cracks his friends made about me, I thought the dinner was fine. I wouldn't go back to Apple Bee's, but it's okay.

"I'm sorry for how some of them acted." Harry tells me, breaking the silence.

"It's okay," I answer. I did bring myself into situations to be made fun of for. I hear him huff and his hand tugs through his hair at the red light. "Why didn't you let me pay for my order?" I ask.

"Because I didn't want you too." He answers.

"Everyone else paid for their own thing." I bring up.

"They've all been in relationships with each other for three plus years. We've been dating for a little over a month, it's different."

"It shouldn't be. Next time we go out, can I pay?" I offer.

"No." He says. I sigh by his words.

"Why not?" I ask. It's only fair."

"Because I don't want you to pay, it's simple." He's becoming tense the more I question him. Maybe it's just an ego thing or something for him.

I don't carry on the conversation. I just lean up and kiss his cheek then return my head to resting on the head rest.

His fingers lace with mine once the light goes green.

"Who was the waitress? You guys seemed to know her." I ask once she comes to my mind.

"She's Destiny's older sister." Harry informs me.

Oh, that makes sense.

I don't respond, I just nod as my reply.

It's silent between us now, but it's not an awkward silence, more comfortable and relaxed one.

A://N

Hello (:

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~lauren