"Ana, it's seven. If you don't get up now, you'll be late for your first day." Those dreaded words - no, I don't fucking want to get up.

I groaned, burying my face back in my pillow, "Five more minutes, Celia," I mumbled into the soft pillow.

"You said that half an hour ago, Miss Levin - come on, up up up," she ushered me from the warmth of my bed, and I stumbled sleepily towards the bathroom.

"Would you please get me some coffee, Celia?" I smiled as sweetly as I could, kissing her cheek as she nodded in response, "You're golden."

I stepped into the shower, the scent of my honey shampoo awakening my senses. I washed my hair, letting the heat of the water run over my body, much different from the icy feel of the rain last night. I sniffed - yep, I definitely had a cold coming on. Thanks for that, Harry.

I finished showering, drying off and I put my clothes on, not bothering to go for something too nice. It was the first day back, after all. I brushed through my hair, Celia resurfacing from downstairs to hand me my cup of coffee.

"You're the best," I thanked her, blending in my concealer and continuing with my makeup. I finished fixing my hair and drank my coffee - I was finally ready.

"Anders is waiting to drive you," Celia smiled, handing me my bag, "Have a good day, hun."

I shot her a smile as I headed downstairs to meet Anders, our driver. He was my favourite, for definite - he'd been working for us since I could remember, and had lasted far longer than any other staff member.

"Uncle Anders," I grinned, sliding into the backseat of the car.

"Ready for your first day back, eh?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," I sighed, dumping my bag beside me. I was exhausted, having not gotten some sleep until nearing three am, and I wasn't exactly excited to return to classes that I didn't care for in the slightest.

The ride to school was only ten minutes, and it was spent in a comfortable silence. Once we arrived on the busy street, I thanked Anders and bid him goodbye, getting out of the car and groaning. Here we go.

"Ana! I was wondering where you were!" I turned around to notice Kaylee, waving as she ran towards me.

"Hey, Kaylee," I smiled politely as she joined me by my side, walking with me as we headed inside the building, "Where's Sadie and Louis and the others?"

"They're already here, I said I'd wait up for you," she explained, "You look so pretty!" she exclaimed, and I frowned a little. I knew I looked almost as exhausted as I actually was.

"I look like I got dragged through a bush," I laughed, shaking my head as she rolled her eyes at me, "But thank you."

We arrived at my locker, and I grabbed a few books out of it, shoving them into my bag. I promised to meet Kaylee and the others at lunch, and she sped off down the hall in the direction of her class, while I headed in the direction of mine.

History - wonderful.

"You're late, Miss Levin," Mr Bates scolded as I scurried through the door of the classroom.

"Traffic, Sir," I lied, taking my seat in the third row beside Sadie, pulling my books out quickly.

"Oh, yeah? Which way did you come?" a voice sounded from the back of the room, the ring of an accent which I now recognised as Harry's.

I didn't turn my head, instead I continued getting my work ready, "The new street they put in off Sebastian Avenue," I said through gritted teeth.

"Isn't that new street supposed to lessen traffic? Not increase it," I could almost hear the smirk in his voice.

"Apparently it's not doing a great job," I answered firmly, and with that, Mr Bates continued with class - not before shooting me a look for interrupting.

"Ignore Styles in the back," Sadie leaned over to whisper to me, "He's a total loser who always has some kind of cocky shit to say."

"What's his deal?" I asked her, tapping my pen between my fingers. Sadie didn't know that I'd met Harry last night, nor did I plan on telling her - it wasn't important, and I didn't need her to bug me about it constantly.

"God fucking knows," she whispered in response, rolling her eyes, "All I know is he can barely scrape enough quarters up for a damn sandwich at lunch," she laughed, and I shook my head.

"Don't be so rude," I sighed, "Who cares how much money he has?"

"Shit like that matters," she argued, "especially when he dresses like his entire wardrobe was found at a yard sale."

"Sadie, that's cruel," I frowned, putting up a weak argument.

"Shut up, Ana, you're dressed like a homeless person today, too," she teased me, and I rolled my eyes.

"You're a bitch."

"Takes one to know one," she laughed, and I continued with my work silently until the end of class. The bell finally rang, signalling our dismissal.

"I'll catch up with you," I told Sadie, and she shot me a puzzled look before leaving class with everybody else, Mr. Bates included. Harry headed for the door, and I quickly sped after him.

"What the hell was that?" I snapped, glaring beside him as I walked quickly to keep up with his long strides.

"Well, hello to you too, Miss Levin," Harry smirked beside me, pulling a cigarette from his pocket and sticking it between his teeth as he pulled out his lighter.

"We're sticking to formalities now?"

"If that's what you're into," his playful smirk deepened as he brought the flame to the tube, lighting it as he swung the doors wide open, stepping outside.

I followed closely behind him, "Where are you going?"

"I'm ditching, where does it look like I'm going?" he answered matter-of-factly, raising his arms in the air and balancing his cigarette between his lips again.

"Why are you-"

"Come with me," he grinned, taking a drag from his cigarette - an invitation I didn't want to decline.

I shifted from foot to foot, biting my lip in contemplation.

"I'll buy breakfast and everything," he grinned, his curls flopping against his forehead, tapping his tube between his fingers.

"You drive a hard bargain," I answered easily, shooting Harry a grin and walking down the steps to stand beside him.

He was wearing a sweater and skinny jeans, but this time he wore a tattered brown suede jacket over the top, as well as sunglasses despite the lack of sun, his boots crunching against the concrete pavement as he walked.

"Why are we ditching, exactly?" I asked him, fiddling with the hem of my sweater as we walked.

"I'm ditching because I find no relevance in the shit they teach," Harry glanced at me, "you're ditching because you want to hang out with me."

"No, I don't!" I protested, rolling my eyes.

"You don't want to hang out with me? Ouch, Ana Levin - that stings," he pressed his hands over his heart, causing me to laugh.

"That's not what I meant," I laughed, shoving his shoulder playfully as he took another drag from his cigarette, turning to blow smoke in my face before dropping and stepping on it. I wrinkled my nose, coughing a little.

"Why do you smoke, Harry?" I asked suddenly, stopping in my tracks.

He stopped a few strides ahead of me, not facing me, "Why do you ask?"

"I.. I don't know. I just don't see the appeal," I shrugged.

"I like how it feels," he turned to look at me, his eyes locking on mine.

"You're poisoning yourself," I said quietly, his gaze piercing into me in an unfamiliar way.

"Better me than somebody else," he responded calmly.

"What?"

"I'd rather pick my own poison than have somebody else pick it for me," he continued solemnly, before cocking his head to the side, signalling for us to keep walking.

I bit my lip, unsure of how to process what he had just said. Truth be told, I didn't know Harry at all - just that he liked to smoke, read, and that was all.

I followed him as he walked, soon arriving at a diner - "MONROE'S" the sign read, and I disregarded the 'S' hanging off the board.

Harry nodded towards a smiling woman behind the counter, leading me towards a booth in the corner. The whole place was empty, some unknown 80's song playing quietly from a speaker somewhere.

"Hey, Harry," the woman beamed as she set two menus down in front of us, "And who's this pretty little thing?"

"I'm Ana," I smiled warmly, noticing Harry's eyes on me, "This place is lovely."

"Oh, I'm glad you think so, honey - not so many people seem to agree nowadays," she smiled sadly, pulling out a notepad, "Drinks?"

Harry ordered a black coffee, while I ordered a vanilla latte, and the waitress scurried off to grab our drinks - Harry immediately teasing me for how 'generic that was'.

"How did you find this place?" I asked, glancing down at the menu.

"I come here to write," he spoke slowly, as if looking to see what my response would be.

"You write?"

"I do," he nodded, "always have."

The waitress arrived with our drinks, setting them down and bringing her notepad back out to take our orders. I ordered pancakes and bacon, Harry opting for waffles.

"You're stupid if you prefer pancakes over waffles," he said nonchalantly, taking a sip of his coffee.

"And you're stupid for thinking your opinion will affect me," I grinned, taking a sip from my own drink.

"Be quiet," he smirked.

"No way - the fact you're a waffle-eater pretty much invalidates absolutely anything you say from this moment on," I teased, causing him to scoff.

"So - tell me more about yourself. Is there anything you have other than poor taste in breakfast food?"

I played with my fingers, shrugging, "What do you want to know?"

"Everything," he answered simply, his eyes fixed on me, now.

"I don't know, I- uhm," I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, "I don't know where to start."

"Tell me about growing up," Harry prompted, his eyes continuing to search mine.

"I grew up like any other kid, I guess? I only moved here to Seattle a few years ago, and, um- my parents weren't around very much while I was growing up - Dad was always working, and my mother kinda just dumped me on the maids she hired," I cleared my throat, Harry's expression yet to change, "she only started paying attention when I turned fourteen - I guess she thought that's when she could start to morph me into her ideal daughter, but - I don't like it much," I sighed, "fuck, I sound so ungrateful."

"No, keep going," Harry nods, resting his chin in his hand.

"My parents are those people who think money equals happiness, and I'm starting to wonder if it really does," I continue to play with the sleeves of my sweater, "I always figured that with a roof over my head and money in my pocket I'd be happy but I won't; I'm not. I don't want it."

"People would kill to have what you have."

"I know, and that's what makes me such a bitch."

"You're not a bitch, Ana Levin," Harry spoke softly, his eyes not leaving mine for a second, "You know what I think?"

"Enlighten me."

"I think," he paused, "that you live inside this bubble. You've never had to work a day in your life and you probably never will - you have maids and butlers who scramble to fulfil your every need, and nobody would ever dare touch a hair on your head. You have a group of friends who follow your every move, though really - they're not your friends at all. Your mum's a cow, and your dad, though slightly more reserved, is a dick. I don't blame you from wanting to be different from them."

I felt my jaw drop, stunned by Harry's words, "You don't-"

He held up his hand to silence me, "But I don't think that makes you a bitch, Ana. I just think you're lost."

"I'm not lost," I said hesitantly, still a bit surprised at Harry's speech - I'd never heard him speak so much - he usually had something sarcastic, or short and witty to say.

What was he talking about? My friends aren't my friends? And how did he know a thing about my parents?

"How did you-"

"Food's here," he said, and as if on cue the waitress set our plates down in front of us. We ate in silence - I wasn't really sure what to say to Harry at this point.

"What scares you?" he spoke up, pushing his plate aside as he finished.

"I don't know," I answered honestly.

Harry bit his lip, smiling knowingly, "That's my point, Ana. You don't know what scares you, because you've never had to worry about what could happen; the unknown."

"I don't know how," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

"I know," he looked directly at me, the glint in his eyes prominent as ever, "But you need to learn to live a little," he spoke, his eyes flickering from mine to the window briefly. I watched a smirk spread across his face, his tongue darting out to wet his lips.

"It's raining, Ana."