// CHAPTER FIVE:: ten minutes //

"I'M surprised, Bingham," Audrey said as Harry walked up to her, in his casual clothing, "You can act."

"I could always act," He told her and she scoffed, which made him raise a brow, "What?"

"Remember that play we did in fifth grade about Alice in Wonderland?" She recalled, "And you played.. who was it again?"

"One of the Tweedles," He rolled his eyes, playfully, "Yes, I remember."

She chuckled lowly, "Oh, so you remember the part of how you threw up on stage after your first line in front of the audience?"

"You will never let that go, will you, Audrey?" He groaned and she chuckled lowly.

"I don't think I would," Audrey shook her head in amusement before a group of football players came towards them.

"Good job, Harry," Jason, one of the players, said as he and his friends stood around Harry and Audrey, "Felt like I could of done better, but I guess they just give roles out to anybody."

"Very funny, Jason." Harry rolled his eyes and shoved Jason as Audrey watched Harry soon talk to the group of boys about the party before Kelly came in between Audrey and Harry, her friends crowding the group even more.

Audrey slightly stepped back to give them space as they continued to talk. Harry noticed Kelly had replaced Audrey and gave a small smile to her, kissing her on the cheek briefly before glancing at another player, Clark, choosing to ignore that Audrey wasn't next to him anymore.

"You need us to bring anything tonight, dude?" Clark asked Harry as Audrey stood around awkwardly. She didn't really associate with anyone in her grade besides Harry and sometimes she would talk to Cassandra's little sister, Allie, who would always stick around her best friend, Will.

Harry shrugged as Cassandra walked up the aisles and toward them with Allie and Will behind her, "Whatever you got. And guys, try and bring some vodka tonight. It's BYOB."

"Party at your house tonight, Harry?" Cassandra intervened, "So nice of you to invite everyone."

"Would you even come, Cassandra?"

"Is that really the point, Harry?" Allie retorted.

"It's not for the play. It's for the people that are helping out with prom," Kelly assured, "But if you want to come..."

"It's okay, I'll see you tomorrow." Cassandra declined the last minute invite, "Good job, everyone."

Audrey felt like this was the time to tell Harry she wasn't going. It wasn't her crowd anymore- she didn't want to go down the same dark rabbit hole again, especially with a group of kids who didn't know or like her.

Cassandra began to walk off, so Audrey called out her name, "Cass," causing her to turn around and watch Audrey jog up to her, "You were really good out there."

"Thank you, Audrey." She then glanced at her sister and her best friend before over at the crowd of kids, "Are you going to the party because we can take you home if you want?"

"No I'm not going, but I got my mom's car, so thanks." Audrey told her.

Cassandra nodded at her answer, "I'll see you at school tomorrow, though?"

"Yeah," She nodded and looked at the other two, "Nice seeing you guys." She turned on her heels and walked off to go toward Harry as everyone was having their own conversations, "Uh, I think I'm going to head on home."

Harry furrowed his brows and grabbed her arm to pull her away from everyone, "What, why?"

"It's not good for me to be in that kind of environment, Harry. You know that." She mumbled and glanced at her shoes, "The invite was nice and all, but like Kelly said, it's only for Prom Committee-"

"At my house with me being the host," He added, "Which is why I wanted you to come."

"I'm sorry, Harry," She sighed, "Maybe next time or tomorrow you can just tell me what you want to say earlier-"

"Ten minutes," He suggested and she raised a brow, "Stay for ten minutes. That's all I'm asking for."

"Harry-"

"Aud, please." He groaned, not acknowledging that his girlfriend was watching them whisper among themselves. He knew she hated that, but was too focused on the olive skinned girl in front of him, "Just stay for ten minutes- look, I'll even walk you home and let your mother yell at me for it, okay? I'll take the fall, but only if you come tonight."

Audrey bit her lip, staring at the brown eyed boy who she just couldn't resist no matter how hard she tried. She huffed out loudly, "Fine, but I'm staying in the backyard by the pool the entire time."

"I'll be right by your side then," He grinned and she furrowed her brows, "I told you that you won't be the only sober one there."