I'm sorry this is late, but yesterday was my grandmother's funeral. Please continue to pray for my family. 

///

The One With Harry (Picture whatever Harry you prefer. Personally, James Franco > that stupid one from The Amazing Spider-Man. But you can imagine either, or whoever you want to play Harry in the MCU.)

Betty's father's friend had a beach house, and she wanted everyone to come and stay for the long weekend. You were reluctant, not because you had work or anything (your performances were over for your show) but because of Peter.

A month or so after your breakup, Peter started to date someone new. Her name was Felicia, and she was everything that you weren't, it seemed. Gorgeous in every single way, and with a personality addictive enough that even your friends seemed to forget the fact that you, in fact, existed and were present in conversations.

You couldn't compete with her. And seeing her with Peter nearly killed you every single time.

It killed you, but you had to go. Betty wanted you to. So, reluctantly, you packed your bags. Luckily for you, Felicia couldn't go. (Thank goodness.)

Betty's car was pulled up in front of your apartment complex. You grabbed your two bags and took them downstairs, where half of your friend group was loading up. When you got to the car, Peter was there. He put your bags in the trunk, offering a smile as he did.

"Hi," he said.

"Hey," you replied. You tried to smile, too.

"You sitting in the back?" he asked.

"Uh, yeah, probably," you said, nodding. "I think Flash probably called shotgun."

"Probably," he laughed. "So - you doin' okay?"

You blinked. "Uh... yeah. Sure. You?"

Before he could answer, Betty honked the horn. She poked her head out of the window. "Come on!" she shouted. "I want to beat traffic!"

You glanced shyly at Peter, who shut the trunk. Then you went to get in the back of the car.

//

Getting to the beach was a huge let down. It was pouring so there really wasn't a chance to hang out on the sand. Everyone was stuck inside, bored out of their minds.

Ned and Flash were taking turns building things and burying one another in the sand. You and Peter were sitting on the couch while Betty and MJ were hanging out in the kitchen, making frozen drinks. You were brushing sand off of the sofa.

"I'm fine, by the way," Peter said.

"Huh?"

"When you asked earlier how I was doing, I was going to say that." He smiled.

"Oh. Okay." You nodded, smiling. "That's... that's good. I'm glad you're doing good."

"I'm happy you're okay, too," he said. "Although you've been acting weird lately."

You swallowed. "W-What? I..."

"Look, I know things are different. And I don't expect you to want to talk to me after what I did three months ago. But I'm... I'm here for you. Alright?"

You pressed your lips together tightly. "Peter..." You sighed and scooted closer to him, tucking your legs underneath you. You propped your elbow up on the back of the sofa and he mimicked you, getting closer. "Peter, what happened three months ago... I think we both can-"

Suddenly, the door opened. Felicia came in, silver hair full of volume, lips painted with pretty black lipstick. She wore a black tank top and a pair of black shorts, and as she stepped inside, she beamed teeth so white that they literally shone in the light.

"Hey, everybody!"

Peter jumped up. "Felicia!" He walked over to her and put his hands on her hips, and he leaned in and kissed her. "Hey, what are you doing here? I thought you had work."

"I did," she said, wrapping her arms around him and squeezing him tight. "But I got off early and called a taxi, and instead of telling him to take me back home, I told him this address." She kissed his bottom lip.

You huffed and fell back on the sofa, shutting your eyes to block out everything.

//

That night, you stayed in your small bedroom. You were scrolling through Twitter, not really paying attention to what you were looking at. You just wanted to ignore the fact that Peter and Felicia were hanging out downstairs, laughing and listening to music. 

And the song that they were listening to was your old song.

You should be sad about it, but you were just empty. 

While you were scrolling still, your phone buzzed in your hand and a text notification popped up. You opened it. It was Harry.

Hey! How's the beach?

Rainy. 

That sucks. Beats staying in the city I bet though.

Not really.

Everything okay?

No. 

What's going on dude??

Peter is here with his new girlfriend

Things are just weird

Oh man. I bet.

You really need to get over him

Wow thanks, never thought about that one!

I didn't mean it like that 

I just mean that you deserve way better than he could ever give you

I mean he cheated on you. You don't deserve to be hung up on a guy that could do that to you. 

Yeah well

That's just the kinds of guys I attract

I'm not like that

You sighed. Recently, Harry had been flirting with you a little more than usual. And you weren't sure how to respond to it.

What are you doing?

What do you mean?

I mean you say sweet things to me like you like me

I do like you

Harry I don't want to get back into a relationship if it's just going to end up with me having to listen to my ex dance to our favorite song in the other room

I would  never hurt you

And I'm not even going to ask you out right now 

I'm not going to force you into anything

Right now, just know that I will never hurt you

Hey, I have to get ready for work. I'll talk to you when you get back home. We should go get a drink or something.

Sounds good

Thank you Harry

You put your phone down on the bed next to you. Looking up at the sand-coated ceiling, you thought about Harry. And thinking about him almost made you smile.

//

When you were dropped off by Betty, you walked up to your apartment complex. Standing at your front door was Harry, a case of bottled soda in his hand. 

"Hey," you said, smiling wide. "What are you doing here?" 

"Just wanted to surprise my favorite girl on her way home," he said. He winked and held up the case. "You said going out for a drink sounded good, but you've been out all weekend so... I figured I'd bring the drink to you. But I knew you didn't really like beer, so figured soda was the way to go."

You got your keys out and unlocked the door. "I am impressed."

"Good," he said. "That was my goal this whole time."

You laughed. "Come on in."

You and Harry spent hours at the kitchen table, drinking soda, telling stories, playing cards. You felt comfortable with Harry. He was your best friend now. It was strange, because he was always your friend, but not in your friend group. But now he was all you really had. 

You finished your last bottle of soda and sighed. "I can't believe he found someone else so quickly."

Harry took a sip. "Yeah."

You shook your head. Laughing without emotion, you dropped your head and rubbed the bridge of your nose. "How ironic is it that he was the one that kissed someone, and I'm the one that is stuck feeling like I was wrong for what I did?"

"What did you do?" he asked. 

"I let him go." 

Harry sighed. "Listen to me," he said. You looked at him, too, just so he would know that you were listening. "What he did to you was wrong. And there is no excuse for it. But if he was willing to do that to you at all... then he isn't worth it. You can get over him. I know it doesn't seem like you can, but it is possible."

You nodded. "Yeah," you agreed halfheartedly. 

"___, you're a great girl. And whoever he replaced you with... I can guarantee that she is nothing like you. No one in New York is as perfect as you are." He shrugged. "It's just the truth."

Your eyes softened.

And you realized - Harry had literally been there for you the whole time. When you were doing that show, he was there to support you. He made you tea when your throat hurt from singing, he brought you lunch during your breaks. He took care of you when things with Peter fell apart, and at the beach house the night before, he made sure you knew you were being taken care of.

Harry had always been there. 

He was what Peter never was, even when you were together. He was never there when you needed him, just when he felt like coming around. 

"Well, we are officially out of soda. Do you want me to run out and get some more or-"

You reached across the table, putting your hand on the back of Harry's neck. You pulled him forward and kissed him fully on the mouth. He froze in shock and then melted into it. 

Breaking away, his eyes opened slowly. You pulled your lip in between your teeth. 

"I'm... sorry."

He smirked. "Don't apologize. Do you realize how long I've been waiting for you to do that?" 

"I'm sorry it took so long." You put your hands on the table. "I think I just realized how much I really care about you."

He shook his head and leaned in. "Do not apologize to me about anything," he murmured. 

You let your eyes shut slowly as his soft lips met yours.