Harry cocked his head to the side and stared at me blankly. After each passing second, I wished back the words more and more. Finally, Harry broke the silence, “What?”

Now I gave him the blank look, because I honestly didn’t know what to say. The only option, I realized, was to escape and run for it. “Nothing.” I said, shaking my head. My gaze fixed onto the floor as I tried to make it past Harry. Harry held his arm up against the hallway wall, causing me to run right into him. I looked up at him nervously, “Excuse me.” My voice changed to a whole pitch higher. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I should just come out and say what I really wanted to say, instead of not saying anything and potentially regret it for the rest of my life. I needed to start taking chances. I needed to take risks.. but looking up at Harry now, I concluded chances and risks could wait a couple of days.

“Val, what did you say?” Harry repeated, his green eyes staring directly into mine.

I shrugged and tried my best to look nonchalant, “I didn’t say anything—”

“Val..”

I groaned and leaned my head back against the wall, “I might have asked you, how you felt about me?” With every word I said, my voice got quieter and quieter. Harry smiled and leaned his ear closer to me,

“I’m sorry, what?”

I smiled and pushed him away, “You know exactly what I said. I’m not repeating myself for a third time.”

Harry narrowed his eyebrows, but continued smiling, “Why are you asking me this, Val?”

I took a deep breath, looked down at the floor, and rushed the words out, “I just want to know if you liked me or not.”

There.

That was all that was needed to say. That was that. Or so I thought. Harry’s face became serious, and he held a hand up to touch my arm, “Val, of course I like you.” I looked up into his eyes nervously, my heart beat increasing. I was pretty sure I was about to have a heart attack, until Harry spoke again, “We’re friends. I know you thought I was mad at you because of the whole Zayn kiss thing, but I’m over it. We’re good.”

Once again, my blank expression returned. I stared at him, expecting him to laugh and say he understood the true meaning of the question, but instead, Harry just looked down at me and smiled, waiting for me to say something. He genuinely had no idea what I was trying to say.

By now, all my bravery passed. All my enthusiasm about taking risks and chances were completely out of my system. Instead of saying what I truly wanted to say, I just looked up at Harry and said, “Okay… Good.”