Loveablecece, fioamj, , kirbyjimenez88, acuriousbeastie, quintaocastro, scar, greystephen93, vxdarvey, vickster51, malagenabolakaful, DonnaRSpecter, Tvseriesislife, donnapspecter, spectographer and guest THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE REVIEWS. I loved them and read them over and over while writing this.. I don't really know how I feel about this chapter, but it's done so here it is. I really hope you do like it and I'd love to know what you think about it. So enjoy and let me know. X - M
180 DAYS OF DONNA
CHAPTER 10: THE CLASS PRESIDENT
She jumps back at the sudden car honk, her right-hand clings onto the umbrella. Bringing the handle close to her chest, much like her left hand covers her heart and her eyes fall shut for a moment. Turning on her spot on the front porch, she glances at the green Mustang rolling up on the driveway.
Snickering once, she shakes her head and makes her way down the three steps to the sidewalk. Turning to the left, she takes four small steps forward and stalls on the driveway as the car drives up to the spot where she's standing now. Watches him lean over Marcus to open the door on the passenger's side.
"Marcus move to the back."
"Not fair," Marcus objects.
"You can also walk."
She bites down on her tongue at the little exchange between the two brothers. Watches the way the younger one lets out a sigh but still undoes his seatbelt and climbs over the gearbox to the backseat. She lets her hand rest on the door, leans forward to look at Harvey. "You do realise umbrella's exist?"
Harvey shrugs once. "Just get in."
Pressing her lips into a thin smile, Donna first removes her backpack, dropping it in front of the passenger seat before she sits down and brings the closed umbrella inside, quickly closing the door behind her. She looks over her shoulder at Marcus when the engine roars. "Sorry," she whispers at the younger man, holding a finger up in the air, she quickly reaches for her backpack. Pulling the bag on her lap, she removes the tin foil wrapped bagel and hands it over to Marcus as a way to make it up to him. "Cream cheese and salmon bagel," she offers, "your favourite."
"Yes." Marcus smiles at the redhead, eagerly taking the bagel from her hands, the sixteen-year-old deposits his new lunch in his own backpack before removing the one he made himself this morning, handing it back to her. "Peanut butter and jelly," he admits with an apologetic smile. "Sorry."
She laughs once but takes the sandwich from Marcus' hand regardless. "Delicious."
"Liar," Harvey mutters under his breath, witnessing the exchange from the corner of his eye and a glance in the rearview mirror here and there. It's when she places his brother's sandwich in her bag and reaches in yet again, this time removing a book and handing it over to Marcus too that he speaks. "Hey. What do I get!?"
"Nothing," Donna teases him with a look, sticking out her tongue in his direction before turning to look over to the backseat again. Extending her right arm she taps on the cover. "You need to pay attention to the second chapter, it includes a reference and if you miss that on your paper Miss Hessington will automatically fail you."
"Thank you."
Harvey turns on the signal to the right, driving onto the parking lot. "You're doing his homework for him now?"
"Please," she scoffs, shifting on her seat one last time, she closes the leather straps of her bag again. "As if you ever take notes during physics."
He opens his mouth to commentaroundbut presses his lips together in a firm line when he knows that whatever he'll say is pointless.
"Who gets his homework made now," Marcus counter comes from the back seat while the older brother parks the mustang.
"Ooh," Donna objects, now looking back and forth between the two guys. "Don't think I've forgotten about Emily."
"Emily?" The two Specters ask in unison.
She lets out a dramatic sigh, tilts her head to the side as she narrows her gaze in on Harvey. Wondering if he's serious. "The doll from biology class," she answers then, turning to her right to open the door. She gets out of the car and moves the passenger's seat to the front to let Marcus out who nods in understanding. Her gaze landing on her best friend again. "I do still have that picture if it would refresh your memory."
He slams the door shut, his face lifting in a beat at her words and he meets her gaze with a deadpanned expression of his own. "Don't you dare."
Marcus looks back and forth between the redhead and his brother, eyes glistening in understanding. He turns to Donna once more. "Please, show me."
"Marcus Cornelius!"
Donna bites back a laugh at his outburst, turns on her spot. Her shoulder bumping against Marcus's, she urges him to follow her as she pretends to reach for her phone. Catching Harvey rush around the car in her peripheral vision, she just about manages to step aside when he tries to steal her phone from her hand. She gives the younger guy next to her an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry RC3."
"You always pick his side." Marcus sighs.
Harvey catches up with her in two quick steps, grins proudly at his brother's words and the hint of confusion that washed over her face. The three of them rushing to the door now that the rainfall was kicking back in. Reaching the entrance before the others, his hand falling on the handle he pushes the door open and lets her slide inside first. His shoulder bumps into hers when he follows her right away, leaving Marcus to catch the door on his way in. "Thank you," he states then, talking to her but just loud enough for his brother to hear.
"For what?" she asks by the time Marcus walks next to Harvey again.
"For picking my side."
She chuckles once, glances at the two brothers on her left. Her gaze landing on the oldest for a moment, it's not the first time she heard them argue about her, despite both of them being fully aware what her answer would be. Shaking her head then, she continues to look ahead as they round the corner. "Always," she whispers then, so softly, almost as if there wasn't an answer at all.
Unable to hide the smile that tugs on his lips at her whisper, he looks down at the floor as they silently continue to walk through the hallways. It's when their lockers are in sight that he speaks again. "You should delete that photo though."
"Never," she answers with a laugh, winking at Marcus behind Harvey's back.
Rachel watches the three friends walk forward, the way Harvey looks down and how his gaze flickers back up at the redhead in a beat when she laughs loudly. The brunette taps her hand against the books in her arms, contemplates her options but she really needs to talk to her friend.
Marcus's pace slows down when he catches Rachel walk towards them, swallowing once he stops walking altogether then. His movement getting a curious glance from his brother when the sixteen-year-old turns on his spot and walks away without as much of a goodbye.
Rachel frowns for the briefest of moments at Marcus' departure but doesn't allow herself to think much of it. "Harvey," the brunette announces her presence by greeting him instead. Leaving her best friend's name unspoken, she merely hooks her arm around Donna's. "I have to tell you something."
Donna's eyebrow rise in surprise, she shares a glance with Harvey but silently closes her locker and follows the brunette when Rachel pulls on her arm. The two of them making their way into the ladies room, the redhead speaks as soon as both of them are inside. "You kissed Mike."
Rachel lets go of Donna's arm, spins around in front of the sink and drops her books on the counter. "Yes," she answers with a nod.
"Where?"
"On the mouth."
Donna tilts her head to the left, challenging Rachel's answer.
"Last night," Rachel answers now with a smile. "In front of my house after he walked me home. We hugged and it just happened."
Donna's breath hitches for the slightest of moments. Covering the uneasy feeling with an even brighter smile, she reminds herself they were talking about Mike. "Did you talk to him yet?"
"No," Rachel shakes her head, now reaching for her phone. Unlocking it she opens up the messages. "He texted me this morning," she announces handing over the phone.
Donna takes over Rachel's iPhone, glancing down at the screen she notices that Rachel hadn't replied yet. "You didn't answer?"
"I didn't know what to say."
The redhead gazes at the brunette in surprise. "You didn't know what to say, he said -"
"I know what he said," Rachel beams. "It's just. I –"
Donna bobs her head up and down, a chuckle escaping her as a thought crosses her mind. She turns around, keeping the phone out of Rachel's reach as she starts typing. "That's why you have me."
Rachel's eyes widen at the typing sound and she leans forward, trying to take her phone back from her friend's hands. She just about manages to get it back before Donna hits send and she can't help but read the message the redhead typed before even moving her thumb to the backspace button.
"Just hit send."
The brunette redirects her attention from the phone to Donna. "Should I?"
"Trust me," Donna counters confidently, smiling when she watches her friend let out a breath and then hit reply. She reaches for her bag again, swinging the handle over her shoulder she waits for Rachel to lift her books from the counter before she opens the door. A buzzing sound vibration through the room before she can do so.
"Oh my god. He answered."
"See."
.
"Debbie."
Her eyes close at the sound of his voice coming from behind her and she can tell he's only four steps away from her at the sound of his shoes on the pavement just outside of school. Letting out a deep breath, she tries to compose herself in the three seconds she knows it will take for him to catch up with her. "It's still Donna, doofus."
He laughs once, shrugs slowly while delivering her signature phrase back to her. "I know - Where are you going?" he asks after a moment, confused about the direction she's headed.
"Home," she answers. A small frown forming on her face as she turns to look at him.
"My car is the other way, you know that right?"
She stalls and turns ninety degrees to the left on her spot. Now looking over her shoulder to the dark green Mustang. "Yeah," she admits glancing back at him, "but it's Monday and you always hang out with the guys after school."
He bobs his head up and down in understanding, that indeed being a typical Monday afternoon. "First of all, I drove you to school so you don't have to walk back –"
"Harvey," she starts, softly shaking her head as she thinks about how Marcus must have done exactly that when his day ended an hour before theirs.
He shakes his head, doesn't want to hear her objection and he signals in the direction of the parking lot with his hand. Silently pleading her to accept his offer and follow him to the car. "And this physics paper isn't going to write itself, so."
Donna chuckles now. "Yeah, it really isn't."
He narrows his gaze in on her, drops his hand on top of the Mustang. "What?" he inquires when he sees her mischievous smile.
"Your deal fell through."
He frowns and keeps looking at the redhead, not sure what she means.
"Mike kissed Rachel."
Harvey looks up in surprise, thinks over her words for two seconds and returns her stare with an impressed smile. He knew Rachel liked the new guy but he didn't think it would only take two months.
"You should tell Marcus."
He tilts his head to the side at the mention of his younger brother. "What? No way."
"Way," she counters with a nod, both of them opening the doors to either side of the car. Sharing another look between them once they get in the car.
"Fine," he sighs, turning on the engine. "I'll tell him."
.
.
Rachel increases her step, takes two larger strides to catch up with the redhead as they walk into the cafeteria. Taking her next step in sync with her friend, she whispers her name and hooks her arm around Donna's, pulling her a bit closer.
Words about what happened with Mike the night before on the tip of her tongue, she's been waiting all day to tell Donna but she swallows in her words once more when she spots the guys sitting on the table in front of them. The blond guy in question walking over to said table from the distance. A few text aside this morning she hasn't really had the chance to talk to him either.
When her gaze finds his blue eyes she smiles softly, both a wordless greeting and a plead not to bring the obvious up yet. When he nods Rachel turns to look at Donna again. "Are you nervous?" she asks letting go of her friend's arm. The results of the class president campaign about to come in in a few minutes.
Donna bites down on her bottom lip, thinks over Rachel's question for a second.
"You've got nothing to be nervous about," Harvey chimes in. "You're going to win this."
She crooks her head in a beat and turns to look at him. Something about the tone he used and the mischievous glint in his eyes irks. He seems too certain of himself even for her liking. "Ooh no."
"Ooh no, what?" He counters instantly, his smirk smile making place for a confused frown.
"What did you do?"
"What -"
"You didn't rig the election did you?" she voices her thoughts as soon as they come. It's the laugh that leaves Tanner's lips at her question that she turns to face the others again. Her hand falling on Rachel's elbow. "What did he do?"
"Hey!"
Rachel glances at Harvey and back to the redhead, she notices the pleading look in her eyes. She swallows and brings her lips together. Biting her tongue she wonders if she should tell the truth.
"Rach," Donna presses.
The cheerleader shakes her head at her friend's confused look. "We -"
"We what?" Donna looks back and forth between her two closest friends.
"We," Rachel continues again, signalling their little group at the table she glances at her friend's best friend. "We handed out flyers for you when you were sick at home the other week."
Donna's lips slowly part in surprise, she redirects her gaze from Rachel to him. Her eyes locking with his, she doesn't even have to ask before he nods in acknowledgement.
"They all helped," he answers signalling the four others, once more leaving the redhead speechless. She can only mouth a simple 'thank you' in the direction of her friends. "See nothing to be nervous about," he continues. His elbow playfully poking hers when she turns to lean against the table next to him.
She presses her lips into a soft smile and looks at him. Wordlessly thanking him once more.
He laughs then. "You really thought I'd rig the election for you?"
She opens her mouth to speak, closes it again when a witty comment lacks her. "Well," she starts at last. "You did kind of promise me to get rid of a dead body if need be, so it isn't that far a stretch."
He laughs again, wants to comment something in return but the bell of the school's intercom system cuts him off. The redhead lets out a deep breath, shuffles on her spot for a moment and glances at him from the corner of her eye one last time before looking up at the speaker on the wall.
"And now the results of the senior class president election; this year's senior class president is Miss Donna Paulsen."
"Ooh my God." She jumps up at the news, the three words leaving her lips a few times more in surprise. It's the overwhelming sense of happiness that makes her wrap her arms around his neck mere seconds later, forgetting everyone else around them as she hugs Harvey close.
And just like a few night ago, his own arms instinctively wrapping around the small of her back. This time making her feet lift off the ground.
Letting out a somewhat disappointed but mostly relieved sigh, the head cheerleader enters the cafeteria just after the announcement and Scottie's pace falters a little bit at the sight in front of her. The redhead wrapped in Harvey's arms, her feet lifted from the ground and no doubt both sporting the same bright smile neither shows the other.
The sight itself shouldn't be that big of a deal, everyone knows the two of them are the closest of friends but she knows that even for the two best friends in particular this isn't common behaviour. The way they break apart only confirming it.
The redhead quickly moving to their other friend, Rachel, embracing her too as the room fills with more squeals seconds later. Him high-fiving Mike, it's the look on his face that tells the head cheerleader everything she needs to know but deep down knew all along. How she asked the questions to the wrong person that day at the carwash but Dana also knows that his answer would have been the same as the one she got anyway. They might not know it but she does.
Forcing a smile on her face, she takes the last three steps to cross the cafeteria to the table the group is seated. Her hand falling on the redhead's shoulder, Scottie now too congratulates the class president on her win and a surprised chuckle escapes her lips when Donna also hugs her.
"Thank you," Donna answers pulling back from the embrace, she still feels her cheeks blush from the first embrace minutes ago. She catches her gaze drifting off to him again, now turning her frame ever so slightly to remove him from her line of vision.
"Dana," she speaks then, remembering the promise she made a few weeks back. "Will you be my Vice President?"
Scottie smiles brightly and nods in return. "Yes. I will."
"Donna," Mike calls for the redhead's attention now too, wanting to congratulate his friend. Tanner and Louis waiting to do so too.
"Vice President. Not bad, congrats."
A soft chuckle leaves Scottie's lips when she hears Harvey's half-assed compliment and she turns to face him with a non-amused look. "If I lost by one vote, I'm holding you accountable," she counters, knowing fully well his vote has gone to the redhead. She also knows that if it came down to it, it wouldn't be his but her own vote for Donna that would have been the deciding factor.
He grins, shakes his head but doesn't comment. Knows for a fact that most people from their little group voted for the redhead over her, he also realises that can't be an easy thing to accept.
Rachel watches Mike and the other guys talk to her friend, a blush creeping up over her cheeks when his bright blue eyes meet hers and she looks down in a beat because they haven't exactly defined what they are yet. She drags her feet over the floor, shuffles a little on her spot and slowly lifts her gaze again. Her stomach fluttering this time around when she catches how he looks away now and a smile tugs on the corner of her lips.
"Maybe we could get pizza?"
The brunette only realises she pronounced her thoughts out loud when she notices six pair of eyes turning to look in her direction, the sparkle she spotted in the blue ones the only answer she really needed she finds herself diverting the conversation nonetheless. "All of us," Rachel adds now, signalling the little group. "Celebrate Donna's win."
The redhead smiles at Rachel but shakes her head, wanting to brush it off.
"Yeah," Harvey replies. "We should celebrate."
Donna lets out a soft sigh, glances back and forth between her two closest friends and then the rest of the group. "Okay," she gives in when she notices all of them are nodding, Tanner already stating his order aloud. "Okay," she repeats, laughing softly. "But I'm going to have to call my mom first so I'll see you guys there."
Harvey looks at the redhead for a moment, thinks over her words but doesn't comment them. Instead, he reaches for his backpack and swings it over his shoulder. "Okay let's go, I'm starving."
Mike pulls the zipper of his jacket shut, takes two steps forward to follow the other guys but lingers a bit when he notices that Rachel is staying behind. Looking over his shoulder in her direction he catches her wave.
"I'm waiting for Donna," she explains leaning back against the table, signalling the redhead on the phone behind her. Her fingertips now tapping against her thigh, his gaze making her nervous even when all he does is nod. "Why don't you order for me."
The new guy grins and bobs his head up and down once more, she hasn't given him the opportunity to talk to her yet but nothing so far tells him that she regretted it. "What do you want?"
"Surprise me."
.
Letting the handle of his backpack slide over his right shoulder, Harvey manoeuvres his way between the table and the seating of the big corner booth. Dropping the backpack on the seat to his right he moves to sit close to the corner.
Louis moving into the booth from the other first, followed by Dana. It's Mike who stares at the taken seat for a moment before following both Tanner and Katrina's lead of pulling up a set of chairs to the table. One for himself, one for Rachel.
.
"Congratulations," Rachel chirps again the second Donna ends the phone call with her mother. "I'm so happy for you."
"I can barely believe it," the redhead whispers. "It did happen, right? You heard it too?"
Rachel chuckles and smiles softly at her friend. The redhead doesn't show her insecure side often but when it happens it's rather endearing. "Yes," Rachel replies in a beat, nodding to emphasise her answer. "It really did and there's the rest of the group in the pizzeria to prove it." She reaches for Donna's arm. "Come on, miss president. Let's go."
.
"What will it be?" the waitress asks, pulling her notebook and a pen from her apron. Her gaze landing on Harvey first, she nods and waits for him to reply with his order.
"One pizza pepperoni and one crispy shrimp," he answers, deciding to order for the redhead too since she hasn't arrived yet.
"A calzone," Louis reads of the menu, handing the plasticised piece of paper back to the woman. The waitress takes everyone's order, going round the table to end with Mike. She nods once at the boy with big blue eyes, impatiently tapping her pen against the note block.
"Uhm," Mike mutters, glancing back to the menu. He knows his own order but he has no clue what to get Rachel. "One Hawaiian- Or make that two."
"Eew."
"No, wait."
Mike's stare flickers up from the menu to the others at their reaction to his order. "Ma'am, wait," he calls after the waitress, looking back at the menu. "Change that to one Hawaiian and – crap," he curses under his breath, now even more unsure than before. "What does -"
"Definitely not anything with pineapple," Katrina answers before Mike even fully pronounces his question. She smirks proudly and sips on her drink.
"Something fancy," Harvey adds in.
"Figs," Louis offers after a moment, his suggestion resulting in an acknowledging 'yeah' coming from around the table.
Mike bobs his head up and down, slowly turns to face the waitress again. "Do you have any pizza's with figs?" he asks, barely being able to get the word out of his mouth. Doesn't understand the combination at all.
The older woman lets out a tired sigh. "That would be with goat cheese, prosciutto and balsamic vinegar, can I write that down?"
"Yes," Mike answers, quickly handing the menu back.
.
Donna presses on the bar and pushes the door to the little pizzeria behind their school open, stepping inside she turns on her spot and holds the heavy door open for Rachel to enter.
The brunette nods at the redhead and Rachel then smiles brightly when she spots their group of friends in the back. Gently tapping Donna's elbow with a flick of her wrist, she signals for the new class president to follow her to the rest.
"Hey guys," Rachel announces their presence, her hand brushing over Mike's shoulder for the briefest of moments. The two of them exchange a look before she pulls back the empty chair next to Mike's and sits down.
Donna removes her bag, walks past the seat Rachel just chose and she doesn't even have to ask before Harvey drops his own backpack to the floor, freeing up the spot he saved for her. "Thank you," she smiles, sliding onto the seat of the booth next to him and she too places her bag on the floor near their feet.
"I ordered yours," Harvey announces when he notices her hand moving to the one menu left on the table, causing her movement to stall in a beat. "The usual," he answers her unspoken question, turning his frame into the corner of the booth, his right arm landing on the backrest behind her.
"Crispy shrimp," she says, a chuckle escaping her when she sees his nod. "Let me guess. Pepperoni?" she teases her best friend, rolling her eyes when his signature smirk spreads across his face now. "Boring."
Rachel turns to face Mike, having overheard the conversation between the two best friends she suddenly remembers what she asked him to do. "And what can I expect?" she asks him.
"I can't say," the blond answers making Rachel frown. "You wanted me to surprise you, so you'll have to wait and find out."
A few minutes later the waitress returns to the group of high school seniors with the first two plates, placing the calzones in front of Louis and Katrina. A second waiter now joins them at the corner booth. "Crispy shrimp?" the young man asks eyeing the table.
"Yes, me," the redhead answers upon hearing the order and even though he already told her as much she still glances at him for a moment, returning with a nod to the waiter when Harvey smiles in confirmation.
"Pepperoni?" the guy asks now, this time resulting in Harvey lifting his left hand from the table.
Leaning back to let the waitress place his pizza down in front of him, Tanner catches the redhead steal a slice of pepperoni pizza even before she touched her own. His knowing gaze is met by the small smile Rachel gives in return when she notices his look.
Harvey playfully swats her hand away with his own. "That's mine."
The little exchange between the two best friends something so common no one really questions it anymore but anyone who pays attention can see how this time it's different from all the times before and what makes it special. Their looks.
Harvey grins, bites the inside of his cheek to stop the smirk from spreading into a full smile as he pulls his hand away again. Gazing at the redhead from the corner of his eye, he flexes his fingers over the table and redirects his gaze on his drink when she looks at him.
Two sparkling hazel eyes staring up at him, her lips twitching ever so slightly until she sticks out her tongue and reaches for the slice of pizza once more. Now swapping it out with one of her own.
Rachel moves a bit to the left when the waitress returns with the last two plates. Mike's and her own. Letting her stare follow the first plate that is placed on the table in front of him she can't help but look a bit disgusted. A motion that doesn't go unnoticed to the rest of the group either when Donna voices her friend's thoughts.
"Pineapple?"
Mike's mouth drops again and he looks up at the redhead. Catches a glimpse of the horrified look on Rachel's face and he silently thanks the rest for saving his ass with the orders. "I -"
"And one with figs," the waitress announces, placing the last pizza in front of Rachel.
The brunette smiles instantly at Mike who sighs in relief. "How did you know?"
Mike shrugs once. "Good guesser?" he lies, ignoring the way Harvey rolls his eyes.
Donna bites down on her lip when she notices the looks being exchanged across the table and she just catches the end of his eye roll. Her elbow automatically finding its way to Harvey's ribs, she shakes her head.
"Good guess indeed," Rachel answers, eyeing her pizza again. She takes in the smell and snaps a quick picture of it for on Instagram. Then watches her crush devour his pineapple covered pizza for a moment. "Why do I like you again?"
.
"Hello," Katrina chirps, looking up to Dave when she feels her boyfriend's hand on her shoulder. "What are you doing here?"
Dave chuckles, he reaches for a free chair and turns it around. His elbow bumping against Tanner's shoulder next.
"Hey man," Travis greets his former teammate by moving his own chair aside.
Dave nods once and sits himself down on his chair, turning to face his girlfriend again. "I got home last night and I was going to surprise you by picking you up at school but I saw you all sitting here." The blonde smiles at his words and leans to the left, greeting her boyfriend with a quick peck on this lips.
Harvey shifts over his seat, lowers his gaze from the couple in front of him to his food. Reaching for his drink he catches a glimpse of his watch in the process. "Shit," he mutters under his breath, bringing the glass of coke to his lips he downs the remainder of his drink. He lifts the last slice of his pizza from his plate, takes one big bite off it before dropping it on her plate. His right hand tapping against the backrest for a moment before it lands on her shoulder.
She jumps a little on her spot, tilts her head to look in his direction when he taps her shoulder once more.
"Practice," he answers, getting up from his seat. He waits for her to slide over the bench and out of the booth. Reaching for his backpack from the floor, he nods at the rest of the group as he rounds the table. "Dave," he greets the former student with a slap on his shoulder. "Good to see you but I got to go. Practice."
Katrina grins and turns to look over her shoulder. "You got to hurry. Dad won't like it if you're late."
"I know," Harvey counters, making his way out of the pizzeria.
Donna slides back onto her previous seat, focuses on the pice of pizza he dropped on her plate. She picks up the slice of pepperoni and eats it while she listens to Dave tell he'll be staying till after homecoming. That soon becoming the main topic at the table until the group starts to thin out little by little.
First Louis and Dana, both leaving to work on their Spanish project. Tanner next by moving to the counter to talk to some girl. Donna rolls her eyes at how easily he gets the blonde to agree to joining him at the dance a week from Friday. Donna laughs at Rachel's words next, looking down at her drink, she reaches for the straw in her milkshake and swirls it around.
Looking back up she finds herself silently observing the other four left at the table. Two clear couples, now both emerged in their own little bubbles. She watches Dave reach for Katrina's hand while he gets up from his chair. They both smile and announce their goodbyes, Katrina drops a ten dollar bill on the pile in the middle of the table. Donna waves in return, lets out a soft sigh as she leans back against the booth. Her gaze returning to her other two friends. Both once again talking to each other.
"Right," she whispers, letting out a soft sigh. She leans to the side and reaches for her bag from the ground. Pulling out her wallet, she now too drops the money for both Harvey's and her own food on the table. Zipping the bag up she swings it over her shoulder and slides over the booth to the side. Saying her greetings, a mumbled 'I'm going home too,' she leaves new couple behind.
.
Donna steps into her room a little after eight, the automatic routine kicking in. She flicks on her light, walks over to her desk to drop her backpack and then moves to her window, opening it a little to let in some fresh air. She finds herself glancing inside the room of the house next door just like on Halloween, that too also becoming a part of her routine. Biting down on her lip she shrugs once when she notices he isn't home yet.
Turning around once more, she pulls her phone from the pocket of her pants. Unlocking it with a press of her thumb, she navigates to the music app and puts on her Lana Del Rey playlist, turning the music up to full volume. She dances on the tip of her toes to her bed. Tossing her phone on the mattress, she pops the button of her jeans open and pulls the zipper down. Wiggling herself out of her skinny jeans she kicks the denim to the lounge chair and she pulls the duvet back a little in search for her pyjama's. Lifting the pair of shorts and the tank top in her arms she makes her way to the bathroom for a quick shower.
Returning to her room a few minutes later, she runs her hands through her damp locks, bringing the auburn strands together she rolls it up into a messy bun. Moving her hands from the back of her neck up in the air, she swings her arms and dances to her dresser. She reaches for some moisturiser and applies it to her face while singing and dancing along to the next song her song phone started playing.
Harvey steps into his dark room, brows knitting together when he catches the sudden movements from the corner of his eye. Glancing to his right he spots her dancing around her room. A soft chuckle escapes him before his lips settle into a soft smile. Shaking his head, he looks down and lets the handle of his sports bag slide over his shoulder, dropping it on the floor. Tossing the baseball bat down next to it.
Pulling his dirty jersey over his head, Harvey throws it towards the clothing bin in the opposite corner of his room. Making his way over to the closet, he pulls the top drawer open and rummages through the contents to pull out a pair of sweatpants. Flinging it over his shoulder, he walks back to the bathroom.
Feeling a shiver run down her spine then she turns around on her spot, lips pressed together in search for something to put on she spots his sweater from the corner of her eye. Slowly walking over to the lounge chair near the window, she lifts the dark blue piece of clothing from the armrest. The fabric of the sleeve slipping through her fingers, she hesitatingly stares at the sweater for a moment but when another shiver runs down her spine she brings it closer. Instantly slipping her own arms through the sleeves, and pulling the zipper up right up to her nose.
Although she was the last one to wear it, it's his cologne that overcomes her, the moment taking her by surprise. She pulls the zipper down just a little again but keeps it on. A pleased smile spreading over her face at the warmth it brings her. She shuffles on her spot, catches herself staring out of her window once more and she sighs again. For someone who is fine on her own, she felt alone in that moment.
Bored and not sure on what to do or how to spend her time, she turns around and makes her way down to her bed. Knee sliding over the mattress she picks up her phone from between the pillows. Unlocks the device she drops herself on her back, moving through her apps she opens snapchat and plays around with the filters. Taking two selfies, captioning them both with 'bored', she sends them to iamharveyrspecter.
Exiting the app when there isn't a near instant reply, she opens WhatsApp followed by the last message from him instead. She stares at his name at the top of her screen and the last seen time announced underneath it, the hour staring right back at her from before he even left the pizzeria.
Letting out a deep breath, she drops her phone on her pillow and rolls around on her stomach. Her nightstand now coming into sight, she spots the baseball behind her picture frames and the lamp. Crawling a bit over the duvet she stretches her arm, knocks over one of the pictures to reach for the object. Moving the baseball around in her hand she rolls back on her bed, letting her thumb run over the red threading.
Harvey runs a towel over his head, tosses it on the floor at the bathroom and makes his way back to his room. Automatically glancing to his right but this time he doesn't see her dancing around. Walking over to the window regardless, his gaze still fixed on the room opposite of his own, he excuses his own behaviour by opening the window to let in some fresh air.
When a breeze of fresh air enters the room and hits his frame, he wakes up from his daze and tears his gaze away from her. Turning around on his spot in a beat, he turns on the light in his room and reaches for his notes before dropping himself on his bed.
Donna moves around again, her head falling to the right for the briefest of moments she stares back at the ceiling. Her brows knitting together in a frown she bobs her head back to the right and pushes herself up when she realise she spotted a light turned on. Baseball still in hand, she slowly gets up from her bed and she walks over to the window.
"Fuck."
His body jolts up at the sudden thud on his stomach. Tossing his notes to the side, his eyes quickly scan the room from left to right in search of the source of what made him jump up in the first place. His brows knit together in a deep frown when he spots the baseball on the edge of his bed.
Narrowing his gaze in on the foreign object, he shifts over the duvet and lifts up the baseball. He turns it around in his hand, recognising the brand in that moment he realises it's the one he'd once given to Donna. Lips curling up in a small smile, he turns his head to look to the left. Noticing her standing in front of her window, he tosses the ball back on his bed and gets up himself.
Letting her hands rest on the windowsill, Donna bites down on her lip trying to stop herself from laughing as she watches his dazed face turn into one of recognition. It's only when he gets up and moves to his own window that she notices his bare chest, making her swallow thickly. Feeling a blush creep up on her cheeks she glances down at the garages. She lets out a breath and tells herself to get a grip. When she looks back up she sees he has mirrored her position, a confused expression back now back on his face.
"Want to watch a movie?" She blurts out the question, suddenly realising she had no real answer for his unspoken question. No excuse for having thrown that baseball through his open window. She ends the request with a bright smile, her eyes now searching his as she waits for his answer.
He looks back up in surprise, standing tall as he takes in her question. "Uhm," he mumbles, hand now tapping against the window frame. "Yeah sure," he answers at last. Turning around first, he fishes his black t-shirt from his bed. Pulling it over his head, he puts it on and makes his way back to the window to climb out of it and onto the garages. Watching her open the window further, he stalls just outside. "Isn't that mine?" he questions with a nod of his head in the direction of the sweater she is wearing.
She looks down at the blue piece of clothing, her mouth left agape for a moment while she searches for an answer. Eventually settling on an, "it's mine now." The line delivered with a shrug, she steps aside and opens her window further. "You coming inside or what?"
He snickers once, shakes his head but instead of answering he just does as he's told. Motioning for her to step inside even further, he climbs over the windowsill and steps into her room, pushing the window shut behind him. He finds himself standing there for a moment, unsure of what to say or what to do.
Almost awkwardly scraping his feet over the carpet on his spot, he watches her move through her bedroom. Burying his hands in the pockets of his sweatpants he lets out a breath only to pull his hands back out of his pockets again, this time he crosses his arms in front of his chest. Scraping his throat now, the gesture just a little bit too loud to go unnoticed to her.
The redhead turns on her television and reaches for the remote, now looking at him from over her shoulder. She keeps her gaze fixed on him as she rounds her own bed, sitting down near the bedhead. She watches him still standing there next to her desk and she gives him a quizzical look. "Well," she reasons tapping the mattress next to her. "Get on my bed already."
He snaps out of his thoughts then, does as she tells him once more. He feels that anything but doing that would make something that was so normal to them mere weeks ago even more awkward now. His knee hitting the mattress, he turns around until his back lands against the bedhead just like she's sitting. He can't help but speak though, a joke. Just like she had done the other day, right after their other hug and he feels like it's the only way to come across as if everything is fine. "That's what she said."
She bobs her head to the right, shares a look with him that makes both of them laugh. "We should rewatch The Office," she tells him after their laughter subsides again.
"We watched it all last year." His objection resulting in a mere shrug on her part, he rolls his eyes in return. Adjusting the pillow in his back before he returns to sit in his former position, another snicker leaving his lips that fills the silence a couple of seconds later.
Remote left in her hand, she stalls her movement and she turns to look at him again. Head tilting just a little further as she studies her best friend. "What?"
"Nothing," he answers in a beat. He shakes his head slowly trying to find the words to answer, to cover up what it really was what he had been thinking. "I –"
She crooks her head again, pulls up her knee and lets her elbow rest on it as she narrows her gaze in om him. Not sure she wants to know but she can't stop her silent question being asked.
He swallows once, looks ahead for a moment and curses himself for snickering just now. For even letting his mind drift off to that. "I –" he starts, a somewhat nervous chuckle follows and he can only hope it didn't come across as that. "It's stupid," he adds now. "I was just thinking about what Mitchel said."
He can hear her breath falter in the brief pause that follows and he realises he might as well say it. Because saying it means it doesn't hold any special meaning. It's a 180 from his usual behaviour of ignoring but he said this much so the only way to cover his ass is to follow through.
"That this would be a date," he finishes his sentence and only turns to look at her from the corner of his eye after that. He catches the way her eyes widen just a little bit, realises that she doesn't have an answer ready and he finds himself answering for her then. Using the words she had said the last time. "But that would be weird."
"Highly illogical," she adds so quickly she doesn't notice how he keeps using her own words. "Cause then we would have been on countless of dates," she continues, using the same reasoning as before, hoping that putting it out there once more will make her feel a little bit more at ease.
"And we haven't," he answers in agreement. Continues reasoning to cover his own original remark. "Why would this be a date if those other times weren't a date"
"My point." She nods in return before stating it one more time. "Not a date."
"Not a date," he repeats slowly, swallowing the sudden lump that appeared in his throat away.
She bites down on her bottom lip, can't say she's surprised for him agreeing with her or her with him but at the same time it still leaves her feeling uneasy. The entire conversation a topic they never even considered and now seemingly a returning theme either way. She redirects her gaze from him to the television on the wall and swallows once.
Her mind mulling over this entire situation, she can't convincingly tell herself this should be the end of their conversation neither how it should be continued. A soft, almost nervous chuckle escapes her at her next thought; one she pronounces as soon as it comes. "Unless something different would happen that would make this a date."
He feels his throat turn dry at her words, already regrets bringing up what she once told him about Mitchell. Ever since she hugged him at his father's birthday things had been confusing enough and this didn't make it easier in any shape way or form, let alone that she hugged him again a couple of hours ago.
Closing his eyes he can still feel her touch burning his skin but he also remembers how she once told him the idea of them was weird. Highly illogical just seconds ago, how this wouldn't be different from all the other times before and yet.
His thoughts running a hundred miles an hour, wondering what she could consider different enough for that to change and he glances at her from the corner of his eye. Swallowing once more when he notices her attention is on the television, probably already forgotten her own words. "But there won't -"
"Exactly."
He forgets how to breathe for a moment, pressing his lips shut at the answer he knew was coming but didn't want hear her say regardless. "So – Are you going to hit play or?" he mumbles when he finds his voice again, changing the subject altogether. He glances back at the screen, realising in that moment she never told him which movie. "What are we even watching?"
She turns to look at him, a knowing grin spreading over her face as she raises her hand and gives him the Vulcan Hand sign.
"Star Trek."
She nods with a pleased smile, hits play and voices her thought on Marcus' costume from a few days ago once more.
He can only chuckle at her arguments, gaze fixated on her as the intro to the movie both have seen umpteenth of times flashes on the big screen. It's only when he finally turns to look at the television that she hits the pause button and his confused gaze returns to the redhead in a beat. His brows only knitting together further when she drops the remote and crawls to the edge of the bed. "What are you doing?"
"I'm hungry," she states simply, rising to her feet. She turns to look at him over her shoulder. "Let's get some snacks."
.
Four steps behind, he follows her back up the stairs, a cup of coke in either hand while she carries the bowl of popcorn. A laugh escapes him when she continues the quotes they started off in the kitchen and he glances up now. His gaze slowly trailing over her long legs clad in a pair of sleeping boxers, his sweater she had apparently now claimed as her own, and her auburn manes bound together in a messy bun. A small smile tugs on his lips and he wrinkles his nose once at the sudden appearance of a vanilla fragrance, not realising it was merely a memory. He shakes his head and takes another step, his attention shifting to his sweatpants. "Aren't you cold?"
She stalls on the landing at the top of the stairs, she looks over her shoulder down at him. "Huh?"
Suddenly finding it hard to formulate a sentence, he merely bobs his head in the direction of her bare legs.
She follows his line of sight with her own gaze, ends up looking down at her legs. Realising in that moment it was indeed a bit chilly for just some shorts. "A bit," she admits in a whisper before she walks back to her room.
Dropping the plastic bowl in the middle of the bed, she pulls the comforter aside and slides into the bed. "Well that's where blankets are for," she smirks, stretching her arm to take the cup from his hand, she pulls the blanket aside on his side of the bed too, her head tilted to the side. "If I'm cold, you must be freezing, wuss."
He rolls his eyes, takes a sip of his drink and rounds the bed to the side she just pulled the blanket away from. He places his glass on the nightstand and sits back down on the spot he sat before, feet sliding under the covers this time. "I'm not a wuss."
She reaches for the remote once more and challenges his statement with a look.
"In my defence," he objects in a beat, pointing at her now with his hand. "That is my sweater."
Instead of answering she hits the play button on the remote for the second time that night, the silence in the room soon being covered by the sound of the movie. She redirects her gaze from the screen to her best friend yet again, watches him for a moment while he watches the movie. She catches the way his lip move as he silently quotes along but she can still hear every line being delivered by his voice. Before she gets the chance to look at the movie, she speaks again. "How did Marcus take it?"
"What?" he mumbles unsure, focusing on her now instead of the movie. He wonders why she brought up his brother but he already sees the answer to his own question in her eyes. "You mean -"
She nods. "I know he never really talked about it but…"
"He knew," Harvey answers truthfully, slowly bobbing his head up and down as he thinks back to the conversation earlier that week and he chuckles then. "He also said he was long over her already."
She smiles softly, doesn't have it in her to tell him that was a lie. "Just don't tease him about it, okay."
Quirking an eyebrow he questions her comment with a stern look. "He's my brother, it's kind of my job to – Fine," he gives in, pressing his lips together. "God, you're no fun."
"What," she inquires, giving him a quizzical look in return. "Yes, I'm looking out for him okay? He's like the younger brother I never had."
He smiles and acknowledges her words with a nod, it very much descriptive of their relationship. He can't help but wonder about their own. "What does that make me?"
She looks away, her eyes closing at his words. "I only ever wanted one sibling," she answers after a moment. A soft smile now gracing her lips. "You," she continues, turning to look at him. "You are my best friend. Now, are you going to pass the popcorn or what?"
He bites down on the inside of his cheek. He doesn't comment on the way she changed the subject but he leans forward and reaches for the bowl on the middle of the bed. Pulling it down to the spot in between them.
.
Popping three pieces of popcorn into her mouth, she licks the salt from her fingers and draws her bottom lip between her teeth when another crave for the salty snack overcomes her again. When she notices her hand having subconsciously moved to the bowl yet again, she lifts it up and drops it on his lap. "Keep this away from me."
He flinches a little, hands automatically falling around the bowl as he looks at her. Pressing his lips into a thin line he nods once and redirects his gaze back to the television and focuses on their favourite movie.
A few minutes later he spots her arm move again from the corner of his eye, seemingly frozen in place he observes the way her hand moves closer, reaches inside for the salty snack. His breath hitching in the exact moment she grabs another hand of popcorn from the bowl on his lap.
Unable to speak, move or look away he watches her. The way her gaze is on the screen now, how her hand seemingly repeats the move once more without much thought while his heartrate is rapidly increasing.
The cracking sound of the redhead eating the popcorn is what breaks him out of his daze a few seconds later, he swallows thickly and shifts over the duvet to adjust his seating. This time he keeps his stare firmly locked on her and when he spots the way her hand lifts again he picks up the bowl. Moving it out of her reach, he blocks her hand with his left elbow.
"What?" she fires back in a beat, her head tilting to the right.
"You said keep it away." He narrows his gaze in on her.
She crooks her head to the other side, challenging her own words he recited right back to her.
"Your rule not mine," he replied, lifting the bowl and stretching his arm out to the right.
She pouts now, giving him a pleading look but it still results in him shaking his head. "Harvey."
His lips twitch into a smile at the way she says his name. "Donna," he parrots with the same teasing, near singing tone.
She sighs then, fakes annoyance but keeps her gaze locked with his. Neither able to not smile.
"I thought you didn't want it," he states again, keeping the bowl out of her grasp when she already stretches her own arm.
"But I do," she reasons, moving closer. His gaze meeting hers again, both challenging but neither backing down. She stretches her arm just a bit further, a laugh escaping him when she still comes up short.
"Okay," she breathes, shifting a bit on her spot. She drops her right hand on his chest for support, lifting her frame a little from the duvet. Her body now half leaning over his as she tries to reach for the popcorn.
Swallowing thickly at the sudden pressure and accompanied warmth radiating from her hand, his breath hitches as she leans half over him. It's a miracle he's still breathing let alone being able to continue to hold up on his end of the task she gave him. Keeping the bowl of popcorn away from her, he pronounces another rejection along with a shake of his head.
"Geez," she sighs, letting herself fall back on her bed but closer to him this time around. Her shoulder bumping into his when she crosses her arms in front of her chest in defence. "You're no fun."
He exhales deeply but the fluttering feeling in the pit of his stomach remains at her close proximity. Biting down on his bottom lip he briefly considers his options and a possible witty comeback but when he comes up short on either, he merely gives in to what she wanted all along. Bringing the big plastic bowl back to the middle, he now places it on her lap. A small smile spread over his face when she turns to look at him again. "There you go."
With a big smile, she mouths a thank you in return and redirects her gaze on the movie once more as she starts eating again.
Harvey chuckles softly to himself, still more than flustered from the earlier moment. The hug from that afternoon not forgotten either. Both things making him lost in thought once more until he feels a weight slowly and softly land on his shoulder.
Keeping in place, he tilts his head ever so slightly to the left. He looks at the way her head leans on his shoulder as her attention is still directed on the movie. He watches her watch the movie, noticing her eyes drifting shut after a minute and small smile tugs on his lips.
.
.
She stirs a little in her sleep, a warm presence preventing her from rolling over and even in her sleepy state a look of confusion washes over her face. It's a familiar, yet foreign for her surroundings, smell that rouses her from her sleep and she groans softly when her mind connects it to her best friend.
A content smile curls on her lips at that thought but when her mind catches up on the events from last night her eyes flicker open in a beat. Her room is dark but with the curtains left open she can just make out the silhouettes in her room, the clock on the wall near the window reading six over three and with that the contour of him.
She lies frozen in place, suddenly overwhelmed and hyperaware of her every move. How her head is still on his shoulder and how her left arm has found its way to his chest. She swallows thickly, an apology on the tip of her tongue. She swallows it in when she hears his breathing. Slow and steady, indicating he's clearly still asleep and its rhythm has an oddly calming effect on her.
Still unsure of what to do, how after everything, after telling herself over and over again that there was nothing going on between them, she got herself in this situation. She can already feel the tears starting to well into her eyes at the realisation that it's just her who's curled up to him when she feels the gentlest of squeezes on her hand.
Lifting her head from his chest by an inch she then sees it. The way his hand is folded around hers, holding the arm she had draped across him close to his chest. A content smile gracing her lips, she isn't sure why but for once she doesn't think about the consequences or what will happen net.
Tired of being the planner, the responsible one and mostly just tired in general but when another yawn escapes her, she gives in and lays her head back on its previous spot on his shoulder. Her eyes drifting shut once more, she falls back into a peaceful sleep.
.
He yawns once, the slightest shift of his face causing a ticklish feeling over his cheek. His nose twitching twice but the source remains and all that comes to his senses now is the familiar smell of vanilla.
A soft smile tugging on his lips when the scent alone makes the last seconds of his dream about the redhead before his waking mind starts connecting the dots. Quickly prying one eye open, the first thing he sees with the sunlight just starting to peek through the windows is a flash of orange.
The colour bringing him a sense of warmth so strong he can feel it and it near instantly makes him close his eyes again, wanting to fall back asleep until he senses it. The warm body wrapped against his own and both of his eyes widen this time around. Now clearly seeing that the flash of orange wasn't just the sunlight but her hair.
Her hair so close, the sight of it filling his entire view. Swallowing thickly he remains on his spot, mind already running a hundred miles an hour at dawn as he goes over his options. The first being really taking in his surroundings and he notices then that the warmth he felt wrapped around him was actually him holding on to her.
His nose buried in the back of her hair. His arm wrapped around her in his dark blue sweater-clad stomach and there's no other way to describe it as his brain keeps screaming the same thing at him over and over again. He had been spooning his best friend in his sleep.
He.
All by himself.
The arm wrapped around her not held in place or locked by hers and he swallows at the realisation.
That being so overwhelming the only solution that crosses his mind is to flight. Trying not to wake her, he quickly tries to lift his arm from around her waist. His movement just not careful enough as it causes her to stir in her sleep. Her feet brushing past his, her frame pressing against his front as she stretches.
A current runs down his spine and his eyes widen in a beat as his breathing falters. Turning to the right, he rolls over his back until he sits down on the edge of the bed. Elbows leaning on his knees, his head hanging low he scolds himself for getting into this situation. Because one isn't supposed to fall asleep in the arms of your best friend and one certainly isn't supposed to wake up like this if you're just friends.
He lets out a deep sigh. "Ooh shit."