Chapter Eighteen

"Welcome back to good 'ole muggy England." Harry grinned broadly at his ginger friend. It had been a while since the two had spent time together, but with Ed being back home and Harry on holiday, they decided to get together for some drinks. 

"Same to you," Ed nodded in thanks.

"How is the lyric project coming along?" Harry posed the question as the two finally setlled at one of the tables. The bartender knew their orders, so all Harry had to do was wave at him. Two minutes later their drinks were on coasters in front of them. 

"It's done. Well, I have one last spot I guess, but I think I need to wait for a little while. I need to come to terms with the fact that the project is over, you know? I've been to ten of Sam's favorite places and finishing it just seems so... Cemented, you know? It's over and when that's done, I have to get back to the real world and I can't do that just yet." Ed sighed, staring at the glass in front of him. The condensation of the cold beverage dripped onto the coaster. 

Harry nodded in understanding.

"So who're you dating nowadays?" Change of subject seemed like the best idea to Ed.

"No one," Harry's voice got defensive and Ed could see straight through him. Harry really wasn't the best at lying, he needed to work on his pokerface. He was a nice guy, he couldn't lie without feeling eternally guilty.

"Spill it. I know that face, it's the face of a child having a crush on a girl." Ed teased openly, knowing his friend wouldn't take any of it personally. Harry was quite like a child, and he wasn't afraid to admit it. 

"Yeah, whatever. There's a girl, and it feels serious. But nothing's gonna happen." He shrugged it off, trying to avoid going any deeper into the conversation. Ed elbowed him in the ribs, which made Harry gasp out in pain. "Okay, okay! Don't get mad at me, I would never take another mate's girl. There's the bro code and I respect it."

Immediately Ed thought of the guy's friends' girls. "Eleanor? Sophia? Amelia?"

"Nah, mate, it's Alexi." The second he gave the girl's name, he shut up and starting flicking his finger against the table. An immediate telltale of nerves rippling through his body. "I'm not gonna do anything, though! I know you're not ready, but I also know she means a lot to you and that maybe…. In a few years… Yeah, mate, I'm not gonna do anything."

Ed simply stared at his friend incredulously, which Harry took to be anger. Harry shrunk back losing his child-like grin as he continued to thump his pointer finger against the wood. Then the last thing he expected happened - Ed burst out into laughter. "Alexi? Really?"

"I said I'm not gonna do anything about it," Harry got defensive again, a slight pink tint warming up his cheeks.

"If you don't do anything about it, I'll personally whip your arse. Alexi would drive me nuts if we ever dated, I would kill her after a day."

"Wow, thanks, glad to know I bring out the murderer in you." The voice made both Harry and Ed stop immediately in their tracks. Alexi was standing there with an amused smile gracing her lips as her eyes twinkled with humor.

"How much exactly have you heard?" Harry choked out.

"Just the part about Ed killing me if we dated." Ed could see the look on her face and knew that she definitely heard more than that, but she kept quiet. She was right to not say anything about Harry's confession, she'd let him tell her himself. "Don't worry, sweetheart. The feeling is most definitely mutual." 

The ginger gave one nod of the head with a grin. "What are you doing here?"

"Wow, first you want to kill me and then you forget you invited me out tonight. Are you trying to tell mesomething?" Alexi put her hand to her heart and faked sadness. 

"We'll never turn down your company," Harry spoke up, scooting to the next chair to let Alexi slide in.

"I hope neither of you mind, but I invited Ellie as well. So that way I don't have to deal with you two by myself."

Almost as if it was planned, Ellie joined the table with a bright grin. Ed immediately felt a bit happier at the sight of her chestnut hair and hazel eyes, especially at the pure happiness that was written across her face. She almost reminded him of Sam, just that she seemed so content with her life. He knew she probably didn't have the easiest life, but both her and Sam gave off this happiness to just be breathing. It was satisfying to just hear Ellie talk about the stories that happened at work or to watch her intently listen to someone else, investing everything into their story.

Ellie and Harry were deeply submersed into a conversation about the way a tour actually works, and Alexi leaned over to tap Ed on the shoulder. He turned to her with quizzical eyes.

"You know, I never met Sam and I never knew her, but I think I can say that she'd be smiling right now, Ed."

so that was the end. oops?

don't worry the epilogue will pull it all together and i'll post it on thursday probably. hehe.

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