Chapter One- Harry’s News

“Tom?” I heard Mum call up the stairs two weeks later. I put down my guitar and moved to my door, before standing at the top of the stairs.

“What?”

“Harry’s on the phone for you.”

“Right.” I jogged to the end of the corridor, and picked up the cordless for this floor. “Got it!” I called down.

“Okay!”

I watched her hang up, and put the phone to my ear, “Hey, are we still meeting up tomorrow?”

“What? Oh, yeah.” He sounded nervous, I noted. Like he was about to say something he thought I wouldn’t like.

“Then what’s up?” I asked, wandering back into my room.

“Well… This is going to seem like a really weird question that I- as your best friend- should never even imagine asking…”

I sighed, “Stop stalling and ask before school starts again.”

“I saw Dougie today,” he blurted out. There was silence for a moment.

“And…?” I ventured to ask.

“Well, he looks amazing. Really good. And we got talking. He gave me his number. I wanted to know if you would mind if I asked him out. It’s cool if you don’t want me to. I’ll back off if that’s the case. I mean,-”

“Harry, you’re babbling,” I told him sternly, cutting him off. Though, the news came as a bit of a shock. I’d known that Harry was bi for as long as he had, but I couldn’t imagine Dougie being his type. Maybe before, but not when he was all serious. “I don’t mind,” I heard myself say.

“Really?” Harry asked doubtfully, and I couldn’t blame him. He was probably expecting me to ask him to back off. I had dated Dougie for a long time, yes, but we weren’t right for each other, and I had no right to stop him from dating other people- even if ‘other people’ was my best friend. That would be selfish of me.

“I’m serious. If you like him, go for it. I dumped him because it wasn’t working between us. I have nothing against him- though, he probably doesn’t like me much anymore… I want you to call him.”

I could sense him nodding. “Okay. I will. Thanks, Tom. You’re a great friend. See you tomorrow.”

“See you then.” I hung up and put the phone back, before going downstairs to the kitchen to get a drink.

“What did Harry want?” Mum asked conversationally, chopping up lettuce. It was just me and her in the house. My sister lived with my dad, and had done since my parents had divorced a few years ago.

“To ask out Dougie,” I told her.

She sent me a sideways glance, “And you’re okay with that?”

I leant on the counter, “I know it seems weird, but yeah. I really don’t mind. If Harry and Dougie work out, I’m happy for them. Dougie and I weren’t a match- maybe Harry can bring him back to life.”