{edited}

May POV

I hear my doorbell ring. I sigh loudly and roll out of bed.

I don't want to summer to end. I hate school, mostly the people. But, I shouldn't worry. I have 2 months left.

I pull back the door and see a tall boy with bright green eyes staring down at me. "Hey, is Sadie home?" Harry asks kindly.

"Uh, no. S-she's out." I say. I bite my lip after. "Um, she should be home s-soon, though. If y-you wanted to w-wait." I hate that I can't stop stuttering.

"Okay, cool." I let him in. I close the door when he enters. "Sorry, about how your sister treated you the other week. That wasn't cool."

"You shouldn't be s-saying sorry." I say calmly. "Uh, I'm us-used to it anyways."

"She's even like that when no one is around?" Harry asks curiously.

"Yeah." I answer timidly.

"Can I ask you something?" His eyes meet mine.

"S-sure."

"I'm not judging you, or making fun of you but is your stutter a nervous one? Or like a everyday one? If that makes sense."

"Both." I say. He nods.

"Does it happen when you're around new people?"

"Yeah, o-or people I don't know really." I answer. I bite my lip after. He smiles. "What?" I ask.

"I've known Sadie for years, and never talked to you."

"That's p-probably a good t-thing."

"Why?"

"I'm not interesting, i-if you can't tell. Also, my s-sister would give you uh, crap."

"I can handle your sister. She thinks she's tough, but she's far from." He cracks a smile. "And for you, I bet you are interesting, you just don't like to come off like it."

"There's h-honestly nothing cool about me. Y-you're not missing much." His eyes stare at me. Is he actually listening to what I'm saying?

"I'll figure you out eventually." A gentle smirk goes on his lips. The door opens and my sister walks in.

"Ew, Harry why are you talking to May?"

"Nice to see you too Sadie. How was your day?" Harry changes the topic.

I slip out of the hallway and walk upstairs. I hope I didn't sound like an idiot. That's all I need is for him to think.

***

Later that day I do my usual binge watch on Netflix. I'm starting to run out of shows.

Adam: hey

Adam: it's been 5 minutes bitch

Adam: you reply quick usually wtf

Adam: MAYYYYYYYYYY BAE

Adam: hehe that sounds like maybe

Me: what?

Me: Stop making puns about my nameee

Adam: whatever

Adam: wyd , i'm bored

Me: about to get food

Adam: what food?

Me: idk pizza or something

Adam: can i join?

Me: sure meet me at the pizza place near 70th street

Adam: yes mama

I close my bedroom door behind me and head to the front door. "Hey May." Harry greets me. "That kinda rimes." He smiles.

"Hello." I greet softly. His eyes look to my shirt.

"Nice band." I'm wearing a Fleetwood Mac shirt.

"Thanks." I murmur.

"Do you not smile much?" He asks me.

"Uh, I don't know."

"Where are you heading to?" Harry asks curiously.

"The, um pizza shop on 70th with my friend Adam."

"Mind if I tag along?"

"Y-you want to hangout w-with us?" I ask, clarifying.

"Yeah, why not?"

"Is t-that a good idea?"

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"B-because uh, if you're s-seen with me you'll be made f-fun of." I say. His head tilts. "And plus if my s-sister would find out she w-will hate you most l-likely."

"There is nothing wrong with you May." Harry says, looking at me. "I can be seen with whomever I please. I'm not famous. So, I'll drive us?"

~

Harry and I walk into the pizza shop and Adam and our friend Ronnie are at a booth. Adam's eyes widen at me and Ronnie chokes on her drink.

"Wow, you brought someone." Adam greets with a smile.

"Piss off." I roll my eyes. Harry sits beside me.

"I'm Adam." He introduces himself. "This is our friend Veronica, her nickname is Ronnie."

"Hi." Harry says kindly. "You're the one that called Sadie a hungry hippo right?" Adam smiles.

"I'm glad you remember me."

"You called her a hungry hippo?" Ronnie comments to Adam.

"Yes. It's a long story." Adam looks to Harry. "You're one of them, so why are you with us? Especially dear May over here, who knew she would be able to talk to someone new. I'm genuinely proud."

I stare at him. "I hate you." Adam smiles at me and waits for Harry to reply.

"The truth is I'm trying to understand May better, so that's why I'm here." Adam looks to me and smirks.

"Welcome. I'll order. Harry would you like anything?"

"I'm good, thanks." He says politely.

"May, the usual? Honestly you're the hungry hippo most of the time." I brush off his remark.

"C-can I get mine t-to go?"

"Oh god, okay. Ronnie come up with me. I don't want to seem fat." She nods and goes up with Adam.

The place isn't that busy today. I'm glad, most of the time you can barely talk, it's so loud.

"To go?" Harry asks me.

"I don't like e-eating in public r-really." I honestly hate my stutter with passion. Harry nods.

"In front of new people I'm assuming?"

"That, and in general." I pause, he's grinning. "I-I know I'm weird."

"No, it's fine. Everyone is different."

"So, um, w-why do you want to figure me out?"

"Because I want to know you."

"Why?" I ask.

"Because why not? I think you're interesting."

"If it's b-because I stutter around p-people sometimes, it's nothing be-besides me being socially awkward."

"Why would it be the stutter? Maybe overall I think you're interesting."

"Just hard to believe."

"They'll be done hopefully soon. That guy always slacks off when it's not busy." Adam announces. He sits back down in the booth. "Ugh, May stop with the band tee's. You remind me of my Mom."

"Thanks Adam. I'll tell that to your Mom the next time I see her." I smile. His eyes roll. I drink my water

"So, are you guys a thing?" Ronnie asks. I gag on my water and Adam laughs.

"Someone has a gag reflex." Adam hums with a smirks.

"I want to hit you."I say, flicking my straw wrapper at him. I wipe up the water that is on the table.

"We're not a thing, Ronnie." I reply back to her.

"Oh, okay." She winks. I scowl my eyes at her. "I'm joking, duh. May is a Nun." Adam giggles.

"A Nun?" Harry asks. Oh god.

"It's a stupid i-inside joke." I mumble.

"It's a funny one. You see, nuns are virgins and dress weirdly. That's what we call May." I roll my eyes. Ronnie and Adam are breaking out laughing.

"That's not even clever n-nor funny." I retort.

"You know we love you May." Adam wipes his eyes. "Oh god, I needed a good laugh."

***

"Do they always mess with you?" Harry asks me, as we drive back to my house.

"Yep."

"Does it bother you?"

"No, n-not really. At least I k-know they're joking, mo-most of the time anyways."

"They seem pretty cool." I chuckle. "What?"

"Cool?"

"Yeah. What's wrong with cool?" I stare at him. "Oh, because I'm popular I can't call other people cool?"

"I'm glad you got t-the hint." He chuckles. We pull up to my driveway. Luckily Sadie isn't home.

"Thanks for letting me tag along." Harry says kindly. I nod.

Harry POV {last week}

"I saw you talking to May." My ex-girlfriend Karen remarks with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah?" I ask. The music is pounding through my ears. I'm about to home, I just need to find my coat.

"Why?" She chuckles. "All she does is stutter."

"That's not nice." I defend. "It could be a nervous thing."

"What? Do you like her?" Her eyes widen. "Awe, someone has a crush on Sadie's little sis." I'm only 1 year older than May.

"I don't have a crush on her, Karen. I was just making sure she was okay."

"Uhuh." She smirks.

"I'm being serious."

"Prove it."

"How?"

"Make her fall in love with you." She smirks. My eyebrows furrow.

"Why?"

"Because why not?" She chuckles. "Be super nice to her, pretend you care about what she says, be her boyfriend."

"What do I get in return?"

"No one will know I saw you talk to her. Plus, 100 bucks."

"200."

"Deal Styles. Give me weekly updates. Also, don't tell Sadie."

"Of course." I smile.

A://N

:)

(:

comment??

thoughts so far on this book?

~lauren