When Harry had gone to sleep, Alex picked up the phone, wanting to make an online order from Apple. Alex had always seen Harry had a keen potential of writing. His poems and short stories that he wrote all about her were just beautiful. Surely if he could type what he thinks, maybe he could be what he always wanted to be: an author.

"Hello? I would like to order a couple of your latest products," Alex said once someone answered.

-o-

Harry groaned and stretched like a starfish the moment he woke up. That was his way of communicating he officially is awake and he wants to cuddle with Alex. But when the bed beside him was cold, he started to panic.

Alex left me, just like Ginny did, Harry thought worriedly.

But then his rational mind kicked in and chided him for his lack of trust in his girlfriend. As Harry was collecting his calm and thinking about the possibilities on where Alex could be, two tiny hands covered his eyes.

"Guess who?" Alex whispered in Harry's ear.

Harry turned around and hugged Alex quickly, as if she was to disappear if he didn't act quickly. Burying his nose in her hair, he used the scent of her strawberry shampoo to calm him down.

"I'm so sorry, did I worry you?" Alex asked, hugging him back.

"I got so worried," Harry admitted, "When I didn't sense you beside me when I woke up."

"I'm sorry," Alex said, "I was putting together a little something for your birthday today."

Harry lifted his head in surprise. It was his birthday?

"You think I forgot? You're silly," Alex laughed, pulling him towards the stairs, "I have been planning your perfect day in for weeks."

"You didn't have to do anything," Harry insisted, "I just like cuddling with you."

"I took the day off from work today," Alex winked, "You can cuddle and more. But nothing dirty though."

Harry laughed as he let his girlfriend lead him to the kitchen.

"The most important thing of birthday is the cake," Alex said as she neatly placed one candle in the middle of the cake, "Because I don't want the cake to burn under the weight of multiple candles, I decided to be safe with one."

Alex lit the candle and motioned for Harry to blow it.

"Make a wish!" Alex cheered as Harry blew the flame and closed his eyes for a second.

I wish Alex and I can have a future together, Harry briefly thought before opening his eyes to see Alex grinning at him.

"You look like a puppy under a love potion," Alex smirked, "I think you wished something happy then."

"But I can't tell you," Harry smiled.

"I know. I want whatever you wished to come true so I won't probe," Alex smiled, "Now cut the cake! It's your favorite – strawberry."

-o-

After the couple enjoyed a couple of slices of cake together (which Alex made from a cake mix from the store because she is not shy to admit that her cooking skills are nowhere near Harry's), the two went into the living room.

"Presents," Alex exclaimed, clasping her hands in excitement, "One second, okay?"

Harry nodded and watched his girlfriend leave the room and quickly enter with a couple of boxes.

"You said you love writing, so I thought I could give you a couple of things to help you jump start your career," Alex smiled, "At least, I love their products and I thought you should have top-notch stuff to help you write easily."

Harry was confused until he opened the biggest box, which was a Mac Book. It had another box attached to it to reveal a blue laptop case.

Harry was speechless and Alex took it as an opportunity to gesture him to open the last box, which contained an iPad.

"I don't know what to say…" Harry mumbled.

"Do you like it? I mean, if you don't, that's okay I can go return it and we can get something you do like-" Alex babbled before getting cut off with a hug.

"The most important thing is that you support my dream and that was something Ginny never did. Thank you for the best birthday ever," Harry whispered.

Tears filled Alex's eyes. It was the first time someone appreciated anything she did. And it felt kind of alien to her, someone who was constantly condemned for her actions.

"You're welcome, Harry," Alex said.

-o-

Alex was at her work the very next day and Harry used his brand new laptop to track Harper Finkle down. He found that like Alex said, Harper was in a long-term relationship with Zeke Beakerman. She also did move in with him, like Alex told him.

Harper accepted his friend request on Facebook and he had access to her cell phone number. Typing them in on his cell phone, he prayed that she answered.

"Hello?" Harper said.

"Hello Harper," Harry said.

"Mason? I swear if you answer one more time I will call for a restraining order on you!" Harper yelled.

"No, I'm not this guy named Mason, my name's Harry. You know, you friended me?" Harry asked.

"Okay… but why are you calling me?" Harper asked.

"Mason's in jail," Harry explained.

"You mean that jerk Mason Greyback is finally in hell?" Harper asked.

"You could put it that way," Harry shrugged, "He isn't allowed to have any contact with Alex, something she's relieved about."

"Well it doesn't matter. Two months later she will go bounding back to him, paying his bail, probably and taking him back for the millionth time," Harper huffed.

"But you never listened to Alex's end of the story," Harry argued.

"Wait what?" Harper asked.

"Mason had been abusing her and she had repeatedly tried to leave him ever since she found out he was cheating on her with Juliet!" Harry exclaimed.

"But Juliet is her brother's girlfriend and that little scheming beach ball!" Harper exclaimed.

"Exactly," Harry sighed.

"But why couldn't she leave him?" Harper asked.

"Because he was abusing her physically," Harry explained, "He was so much stronger than her that she had no voice. I managed to beat him up and restrain him until cops came."

"Is she… is she mad at me?" Harper asked.

"You should come visit us," Harry shrugged, "She really doesn't hate you."

"But what if she gets angry? What if she tells me to never visit her again?" Harper asked worriedly.

"Harper, the last time she mentioned you to me was a couple months ago, when I asked her out. She showed me her scrapbook and got very emotional. When she dozed off to sleep she murmured about how she wished you and her were still friends," Harry explained, "She does miss you."

"O-Okay," Harper relented, the words clearly striking a chord.

-o-

"You what?" Alex whispered, the blood draining out of her cheeks.

"She's going to visit you and say sorry," Harry explained, taking Alex's hands in his, "You two can make this alright again."

"She really wants to see me?" Alex asked.

"I told her about Mason and the truth behind it and she became extremely reluctant to visit you, like you would yell at her for abandoning you in the time of need. But after convincing her that you're a nice person, she agreed to come," Harry said, "Her boyfriend is going to be there."

Alex remembered the silly, goofy Zeke. The goofball that always laughed naively at whatever she said. And when Harper decided to leave and never see Alex's face again, she remember their last conversation as if it happened yesterday.

Flashback

"Alex, Harper and I are going to move out and she said we will never see you again," Zeke sadly said.

Tears slipped from Alex's face as she whispered, "What?"

"I know it's sad. I believe you. I believe you would never allow him to hurt you like that," Zeke said, "I tried to explain to Harper but she was dead set on never seeing you again. I love her, so I have no power against her wishes."

"I'll never see you again?" Alex cried.

Zeke stepped forward and hugged Alex in what lasted thirty seconds. Stepping back, he simply smiled at the teary brunette.

"Hopefully not," Zeke smiled sadly, "Maybe the day will come when Harper snaps to her senses that you're innocent."

End of Flashback

"Alex?" Harry asked gently as he watched his girlfriend get trapped into a trance; this happened frequently.

Alex flinched as she focused on Harry's aqua eyes. Somehow the color of his eyes calmed her when she had self-esteem issues.

"You'll be alright, Alex," Harry said, drawing Alex into a hug, "And should she get out of line, I will make them both leave, okay?"

Alex nodded, and asked, "But when are they coming?"

"Tomorrow at noon," Harry said.

-o-

Alex was wearing black pants, a lacy, ruffled blouse, and some sandals. Her hair was pulled into a braided bun and she wore some blush to bring out her angular cheeks and some mascara to accentuate her natural beauty, and dark red lipstick symbolized her gorgeous looks.

Harry simply wore a button up and jeans and clean sneakers for the house. Alex folded her hands anxiously in her lap, desperately awaiting the sound of the doorbell.

"Calm down, Alex," Harry whispered, "I'm right here with you. You're not in this alone."

"You're right," Alex swallowed, "But I haven't seen her in several years, I mean, what will she think of me? I have changed so much ever since I last saw her."

"She should then learn to accept all of you, and if she can't then she's not a true friend," Harry whispered, "But I'm your best friend, someone to tell your secrets to, your hope, your rock and finally your boyfriend."

The corners of Alex's lips tugged upwards at the compliment. Right at the moment, the doorbell rang and Alex flinched as she abruptly stood up.

Clasping the brass doorknob, Alex took a deep breath and opened the door, and gasped in surprise (even though she knew it would be her ex-friend).

"Harper?"

"Alex?"

-o-

TBC