Bella's pov

Yesterday night Harold proposed that we should meet.
Today college went real quick I tried hard to keep my mind off that proposal.
Also I finally came to know that Drake Weasley dropped out of our college.
Why and now which college is he in or what is he planning to do?
I didn't know any of it neither I cared.

After reconsidering it nearly a million times and taking advice from Susan and indirectly from granny. I finally decided that we should meet. I mean whatever it is the place couldn't be more private than changing rooms and more creepy than garage.

However, I was still not sure about it I have never even talked to a boy before unless necessary and now I was ready to meet him in a restaurant and not only that, I was even ready to lie to my parents for meeting him.

I should not be feeling this way but it feels so right to do so.
It was very unlike me to feel this way, which was quite concerning.

At last I decided not to think much and give it a go. So I texted him.

Friday evening 5pm?

He replied almost instantly.

Friday it is then. I'll text you the location.

Will be waiting. _________________________________________

Friday

As planned I took a half day in college and was home by 3:00pm .

"So you are going to meet him. When did you even decide this?" Asked Susan she was evidently pissed of

"Umm-Yesterday ." I almost whispered

"Whose idea was this?"

"His. Ofcoarse!" I said way to quickly

"When did he ask you?"

"Uh-Wednesday night."

"So he proposed this on Wednesday, you decided it on Thursday and you're telling me NOW? When you need my help to choose you a dress!?" She ranted

"Oh Mi. I didn't expect this from you. " She added while giving a dramatic gasp in the end.

"I know Susan I'm sorry. "

"Urgh! You know it sometimes gets on my nerves."

"What?"

"This habit of yours of bluntly accepting your mistakes."

"Should I not accept?"

"Nah. Oh you should but not so easily as its not a big deal!"

"I know. I know its a very big deal that I kept this thing from you I'm really sorry Susan. "

"Okay I forgive you."

I let out a dramatic sigh.

"But you're going with him alone!?"

"I told you this like ten times Susan."

"I'm very well aware of it but its just very unlike you."

"Susan I haven't talked to any boy in my life except my college mates , teachers and your boyfriends ofcoarse."

"Thats the thing...."

"No listen to me . Isn't this what you always asked me to do ,come out of my shell and "socialize" especially with boys?"

"Yes but you only met him like a week ago."

"Thats the thing na. Its only been a week and it seems like we are friends for ages. And Susan you know it doesn't matter to me, how long I've known him what matters is I trust him atleast that much that I can go to a restaurant with him." I said

"And I can't just socialize with any boy. He is friendly with me, he listens to me and I like talking to him." I added further

"You know how happy you're making me by speaking these things. It feels like I'm a mamma and my baby has just taken her first two steps." She said dramatically.

"Sometimes you behave like a weirdo." I said shaking my head .

She chuckled in reply.

"Okay so dresses..."
_________________________________________

After half an hour of
"Yes"
"No"
"Uh-maybe not"
"Not that."
"Um-no"

We finally ended up choosing two dresses.
Now we needed to choose one of them
And I did not want to waste half more hour in doing so therefore I went to my granny for advice.

Though she has crossed her 60s she was way to cool atleast cooler than mother. She choosed the perfect dress for today.

By 4:45 we were out of my house.
It was a big relief mother wasn't home otherwise I would have to make up ten more stories to go. However I had already told her that I was going at Susan's place.

"Which restaurant?" Asked Susan

"Some named the "Original U.S. Restaurant" ".

"Hmm .You know the way?"

"He sent me the location."

"Okay . So best of luck. "

"Thankyou?" I said not so sure how to answer .
_________________________________________
The restaurant was not very far from my house. I was standing in front of the venue within fifteen minutes.

Wow exactly on time! Couldn't show more punctuality.
Huff.
Anyways I entered the restaurant.
I was welcomed by a glorious smell of roast goose entering my nostrils as I saw a waiter was taking a plate of a roasted goose, stuffed with prunes, and apples, deliciously steaming.

"Excuse me young lady."
I turned my head to the direction of the voice and was met with an elderly lady wearing an extremely sweet and welcoming smile.
I couldn't help but smile with same intensity in return.
"Yes" I replied

"Are you here with Mr Harold?"

"Umm. Yes." I replied uncertain how come she knows that.

"Hmm. I see. We were waiting for you young lady.."

"Ah..Call me Bella." I had to say as she was so apealing.

"Pretty name for a pretty face." She said not once ceasing to smile.

"Come let me show you your seat."
She said

"Alright."
She directed me towards my table.

"Have a seat dear. Harold would be here any moment. "

As soon as I sat down she went without even waiting for a second.

Weird I thought.
By now I had come to a conclusion that either Harold had booked some "special" package or anything thats why I was getting this special treatment. Or he was acquaintance with someone at a high post of this restaurant...

Whatever it was I'll ask him.

It was 5:10 by now and Harold was nowhere to be found .I was getting more and more anxious as the time passed.

5:15
Now I started to question my decision to come on time or should we say earlier than time . What if he comes by 5:30 and I'll become a fool who waited for half an hour for him to come....

Urgh..This overthinking.....

Thank Lord a waiter came before I would have blasted with these stupid weird assumptions.

"Water?"

"Yes please."
_________________________________________

5:00 pm

Harry's pov

"Where are you going?"
Asked Charles.

"Not a date."
I replied with a grin.

"Sorry to ruin your "not a date" . Here have a look."
He said almost throwing his phone towards me.

"Ahh. I know tomorr...." before I finshed my sentence I realized that the message he was showing me had more to it.

"What the heck?"

"I know Harry I tried my best but.."

"No its not possible I have somewhere important to go how can they expect me to do this interview now!?"

"Because tomorrow you will be going for your tour."

"Yes that's the reason I wanted to tell Bella everything today itself. How can I do this interview?"

"Well it was one of your producer's conditions. "

"Damn it..You're right. "

"Don't worry it won't take long."

"Should I message her...."
As soon as I said the meeting started on my phone.

"Shit!" I said out of frustration

"Hey don't worry just deal with this,it will end soon then you could go meet her."
_________________________________________

Bella's pov

Its five thirty and Harold's not here yet.
If it was not Harold who we were talking about then by this time I would have agreed on the fact that he won't come and would have left the place.
But it was Harold we were referring to, and I knew he will come. Maybe he was stuck in traffic .Yes, that could be the case.

To pass time I began to inspect the restaurant .It was not very fancy and I liked that. It was good gilt , balmy outdoor restaurant .
The atmosphere was hushed and serene . It was positively clean and spacious as Harold mentioned earlier.
By now I was sure that it was popular for its Italian food by the number of people ordering for the same.

After applying all the measures to divert my mind off the uncertainty that Harold won't turn up. I was almost ready to leave.

When a waitress came towards me she was young unlike the others working here.

"Do you need anything?" She asked politely.

I shook my head and smiled not in mood to speak anything.

"Are you here alone?"

I sighed.
"No."

"You waiting for someone?"

I couldn't help but smiled again owing her nosy nature .Nevertheless I answered her.

"Yeah...You're new here?"
I asked having nothing else to do.

"Uh-yeah not exactly but joined two weeks ago. "

I nodded.

"Well you know this isn't the first time I witnessed something like this?"

I gave her a questioning look and asked
"Like what?"

"Umm. Girls waiting for boys."

I nodded again.

"You know all boys are the same . I'll suggest you not to wait for him any longer, he's probably not worth it. "

I slightly raised my eyebrows at her showing her that I was a bit offended by her assumption about Harold.

"No its okay. I'll wait for him . I'm sure he'll come. "

"Okay. Your wish." She said and went.

I decided to wait for him for some more time. 'Cause the idea of ditching him just doesn't feels right. I know he'll come, it was very easy for me to think that he'll not turn up but I believe that he'll . Its better that I wait more half an hour for him and he comes relaxed than he coming and finding me gone.

As it is he waited for four hours in the garage for me that day I could atleast wait a few more minutes for him in this comfortable restaurant.

Few more minutes passed.

Finally looking at my watch it was 6:00 pm. One whole hour passed and he didn't come.
I believed that he would.
I waited for him but he didn't.
I felt terrible and again not because he didn't turn up but because I believed he will.

I could not afford to wait any longer not after what I started to feel right now. I can't even explain myself why I'm feeling dejected that he didn't come.
Looking at my phone I thought what would have happened that he didn't even text me once?

Without wasting anymore time in thinking nonsense, I stood and went towards the exit.

I silently thanked god that the elderly lady wasn't here or else I would have had to explain her why I'm leaving without meeting Harold..

As soon as I took a step further outside the restaurant ,someone held my upper arm stopping me. As far as I could make out, that person was entering the restaurant.

But how dare he touch me!
I glared at him and was ready to shout at him for doing such a thing .
But I frooze as soon as I saw him. He had a hoodie on his head with black sunglasses and had a bandana wrapped around his face. He was dressed in such a way making it hard to recognize him but it wasn't really hard for me to make out that he was Harold.

I could tell it because he held my hand and he was standing close enough for me to recognize his cologne. That scent had always mesmerized me I could in no way mistake it.

He pushed me slightly making me shift inside.

By now we were standing by the main door of the restaurant blocking people's way and also providing people a clear view show.

I did not want to go back inside therefore I tried to free my hand from his almost gentle but firm grip.
He removed the cloth from his mouth giving me proper view of his perfect face.
His eyes held guilt he stood there with a pleading look.

I on the other hand continued with my mere protest.

"At least let me explain?" He finally spoke pleadingly.
_________________________________________

AN

Stupid ending....IK
Next chapter will be more interesting and come soon till then
Happy Reading
Xoxo