Hello everyone, sorry for the delay. I don't know what's happening inspiration wise but time has been super limited too. Also, I decided to just go an upload a part whenever it feels like it could be a chapter on its own (does that make sense?) and when that one is done of course. Anyway, thanks to everyone who read and reviewed the first part. You're the best. Here's no. 2, let me know what you think :)
x - M
The Mistletoe Mystery
PART II
When she finds him in front of her door at seven that night, her reaction is the exact opposite from the grumpy one she delivered that morning. This time she smiles, greets him and rolls her eyes at the bottle of white wine he reveals from the behind his back.
"You're putting up quite the show, mister," she teases him, taking the Chardonnay from his hands. She pushes the door further open and steps away, letting him get inside.
"Well," he shrugs off his coat and drapes it over the back of a chair as he makes his way inside the apartment. "I got myself in this game of pretend with a theatre graduate so I figured I had to step up my game."
She laughs loudly, walks passed him to the living room and places the bottle on the table next to the pizza she made them. Opening up a cabinet next, she picks out two wine glasses and fills both of them.
He eyes her move around, his gaze landing on Rachel's room and then the scene in front of him again. Remembering the reason for his presence and her outbreak this morning he can't help but ask as he drops himself down on the light blue couch. "Where's Zane?"
"Having dinner with Samantha. They usually make it late, so we have time." She turns the lid back on the bottle and places it down again, she slides to sit on the ground in front of the couch, picking up the first slice of pizza with a napkin.
He copies her move and starts on his first slice before he decides to break the tension and address why he is there. "So, you wanted to make a plan."
"That and a list of rules, yes," she replies, reaching for her glass of wine. She takes a sip and continues. "Just to make sure we can actually go back to normal after this."
He takes in her words, repeats them in his mind and lingers on the importance of them. He nods then, now more than glad she asked for them to talk this through because as usual he might come up with a plan but it's her who looks at the details and always makes sure they get out of things in one piece.
"So I guess we need to figure out a date," she continues then, playing with the stem of her glass. "For when we supposedly got together."
"Today?" His answer both a suggestion and question at the same time.
She thinks it over for a moment but shakes her head at last. "I feel like we wouldn't be telling others yet if this just happened today," she points at him with her glass. "And the telling part is why we do this."
"True," he admits. "So uhm, what… Like two weeks ago?"
"No, I had a date last Saturday."
He looks at her in surprise and gulps. Covers that up with reaching for his glass of wine and taking a large sip, he tells himself the unease that news caused him is just because he's her fake boyfriend now. "You did?"
She nods. "Kind of," she reassures him now. "Walked out before it even started actually."
"That bad?"
"Worse," she counters in a beat, picking up another slice of pizza. "You have no idea."
He laughs at the dramatics she delivers her last words but he does have an idea, it's why he even came up with this plan. "Can't believe I'm a rebound for you."
"You're not," she answers with a chuckle. "Anyway, I guess we happened last weekend."
"Happy two day anniversary, babe," he counters raising his glass.
Donna can't help but laugh, mirroring his motion. She brings her glass to cling against his and they toast on the start of their fake relationship. Bringing the glass back from her lips to the table. "Seriously though, I don't think we should do pet names."
He looks at her, momentarily thinking she's joking and wondering why that would be so bad to include in this little act of them.
She notices the confused look on his face. "You're saying you wouldn't crack up if I started calling you honey from now on."
His lips were already turned up before she even finished her sentence and he laughs a mere second later. "Okay, touché sweetheart."
"Hold your horses, stud." She slaps his knee, as quickly removing her hand as she touched him. She shifts on her spot, moving to sit on her legs. She reaches for her notebook and a pen she had placed on the coffee table prior to dinner, she writes it down. Voicing her reasoning as she scribbles. "It's just I feel like we would blow our whole cover if we did."
*contract*
Rule no.1 – No pet names
They quietly stare at the piece of the paper for a moment, her hand with the pen still hovering above the first rule she had written down before she moves it to the margin on the left, adding a second number now before she looks back up at him. One by one they come up with rules to make this easier for them until the paper is almost completely filled.
*contract*
Rule no. 1 – No pet names
Rule no. 2 – We only pretend to be together when others are around.
Rule no. 3 – The holidays are spend apart with family
Rule no. 4 - Our families are kept out of this
Rule no. 5 – No kissing
Rule no. 6 – No unnecessary touching
Rule no. 7 – Under no circumstances will we tell anyone the truth
Rule no. 8 – No sleepovers
Rule no. 9 – Under no circumstances will the three little words be used
Rule no. 10 – We will go back to being best friends no matter what
She underlines the last rule twice and adds an exclamation mark to it. Wiggling the paper between her fingers, she bites down on her bottom lip and thinks over everything they've just come up with. She realises then that they haven't discussed one of the most important things yet. The duration.
"How long are we doing this for?"
He thinks about her question for a moment eventually settling on what he suggested to her in the first place. "Around a month should do, right?"
"Plenty," she counters, clicking with her pen twice before she writes it down too. "New year, new start."
Rule no. 11 – The relationship will end at midnight December 31st
He laughs when he sees the date she added to the contract. Shakes his head, and reaches for his glass. Downing the remainder of wine in one go. "Happy New Year to you too, Paulsen."
"Ooh, shut up," she nudges his knee with her shoulder before glancing back at the last empty line on the paper. She writes down a twelve first, just to fill it up a soft chuckle escaping her when she comes up with the last rule. "And lastly. No feelings."
Rule no. 12 – No feelings.
His jaw sets and his hand balls in a fist as he reads the last two words. He unclenches his hand as soon as he realises that, tells himself it's easy. You have no feelings for Donna. He repeats it again, in his mind. Using other words out loud to joke with her and show her he's more than okay with it.
"You're afraid you'd fall for me."
She turns to look up at him, her gaze locking with his and she chuckles after a second and instantly breaks their eye contact again. "Please. If anyone is falling for anyone. It would be you for me."
"Sounds like a challenge."
"One you're never going to get to take."
"Why not?"
She grins and shakes her head. "It's fake, Harvey."
As he watches her grin he feels his own smile fade, that thought of realisation pushed away as quickly as it came. He reminds himself of his request and her words describing all it could ever be.
Right. He shakes his head too now, quickly enough to go unnoticed to her and when she looks up and her gaze meets hers, he flashes her a matching grin. One that tells her he was joking anyway.
"I know," he answers, extending his hand towards her and he waits for her hand to fall into his. Shaking it once to seal the deal.
They're dating now.
—
Wednesday, November 28th 2018
"I'm going to miss you."
She smiles softly into the shoulder of her roommate before the two girls part their embrace. "It's only a weekend," Donna counters with a teasing grin and Rachel lets her cause she knows her friend won't vocalise it in another way.
"You sure you're going to be okay?" Rachel asks for the second time that day, signalling the apartment around them.
"Yes," the redhead reassures her friend, nodding along with her words. She moves ahead to open the apartment door and help Rachel her on her way. "I'll be fine. My dad will stop by tomorrow, so go enjoy your weekend with Mike at your parents."
Rachel bobs her head up and down, swinging the handle of her weekend bag over her shoulder she steps forward one last time to give Donna another hug. "Okay. Happy thanksgiving."
"Happy thanksgiving," Donna answers in return, waving until Rachel disappears down the stairs. She hasn't even fully made it back inside the apartment before her phone rings and she chuckles to herself once.
"Rachel you haven't even left the building yet," she calls out after blindly reaching for her phone. The object pressed between her shoulder and her ear, the redhead has to blink twice when she hears a different voice than expected on the other side of the line.
"Dad?" She asks now, brows knitting together in a frown as worries overcome her. She curls herself up on the couch before she asks her next question. "Are you okay? Is everything alright?"
"Hey honey," her father's voice responds calmly, "Yes I'm doing okay, more than okay even. That's why I'm calling, see. Business is going better than expected and this deal I've been working on for days is bound to go through, but -"
She bobs her head up and down slowly, her worries already replaced by another unfortunate familiar feeling, disappointment.
Donna doesn't have to ask further to know the reason of his call, and she doesn't ask anymore. She never does, she explains though. Pronouncing the reasoning before anyone else has to do it, never letting anyone else feel like they're letting her down. She's gotten so good at it over the years that it almost doesn't affect her. Or that's what she tells herself.
It always does though.
"It's okay if you can't make it dad."
"I'm sorry, honey."
She swallows once and her eyes fall shut, she takes a moment to breath and collect herself before she answers again. "It's okay," she reassures him. "I hadn't exactly had the time to prepare anything yet anyway. Good luck on the deal and I'll see you another time, okay."
"Okay, honey. Have a great weekend."
"Same to you, dad."
She times her sigh just so that it comes after ending the call and with the phone left in her hand she makes her way over to the kitchen. Pulling the door to the freezer open with a swing she grabs the still frosted turkey and stuffs it back into the bottom drawer. Kicking that shut, she uses her foot to close the door of the freezer again while mumbling a holiday greeting to herself.
It's stupid really, to get her hopes up and she should know better by now. It's always the same story, has been since her father lost all her family's money when she was thirteen but it has only gotten worse when she moved out of state for college. He had promised phone calls and visits, more visits but hasn't been able to deliver upon that promise in over a year.
It's then that three firm knocks on the front door wake her from her own pity party, a smile automatically turning upon her lips as she knows who's waiting for her on the other side but three steps closer to the door it has already faded again. Reminding herself of the reason to him stopping by this late on a Wednesday evening. It's been the same every year since she's known him and exactly what she just did with Rachel.
A goodbye.
Forcing herself to smile, she turns the lock and opens the door to face her best friend. "Hey."
"Hey," he greets her in a beat, still shuffling on his spot outside like all the years before. "I still need to pack so I just came by to -"
"Say goodbye and wish me a happy thanksgiving," she finishes his sentence for him.
He nods first, her knowing his every move is not a surprise to him, it's the hint of bitterness he detects that makes him double take her presence. "Everything okay?" He already knows it's not, but he gives her the courtesy of opening up to him herself.
"I'm fine."
He bobs his head to the side, not believing a word of what she's saying. He usually gives her an out of rather himself, by not pressing any further. This time, with the holiday right around the corner, he does. "You don't sound fine to me."
"Harvey."
It's a lame attempt of a warning and they both know it, but it's the manner in which she sighs and looks away from him that makes him take a step forward. Concern now filling every fibre of his being and the tremble in her voice he heard in the two syllables that are his name make him want to right whatever it is that is wrong and then it hits him.
"He isn't coming, is he?"
Years ago she would have called him out on his judgmental tone in his voice, defended her father or thought about throwing his relationship with his mother back in his face. The latter something she never did and she doesn't do so this time either. Instead, she merely turns to face him again and she shakes her head.
He swallows once at the tears she's holding back the next words leave his lips before he can even think them over. "Come to Boston with me."
"What?"
For a second he's just as surprised as she is but he doesn't regret his suggestion one bit. "Come on, dad and Marcus would love to see you again," he reasons, flashing her a smile he hopes she can't resist. It's then that he remembers the list of rules they made and how bad it would be to ignore them on their second day of actually doing this.
"I know we said we'd spend the holidays apart and keep our families out of it," he continues before she can object. "But imagine Zane finding out I let my girlfriend all alone for Thanksgiving, she'd kill me."
That brings a smile to Donna's face and she chuckles once. "She would."
"You don't want me dead now, do you?"
"Are you blackmailing me into celebrating Thanksgiving with you?"
He shakes his head and gives her a look, doesn't want to dignify her tease with an answer and decisively makes his way back to the front door. Only looking over his shoulder when he's near it and knows she followed him. "Just be ready when I pick you up at eight tomorrow morning."
She smiles then, right hand catching the door as he leaves and makes his way to the staircase. "Harvey," she says then, watching him stop at the first step and turn to look at her. "Thank you."
"Anytime, Debs."
—
Thursday, November 29th 2018
"He's bringing Donna."
Gordon's words make Marcus nearly choke on his hot chocolate. "He," the twenty-one-year-old pauses to cough twice, placing the cup down. "He's what now?"
"Harvey is bringing Donna," Gordon repeats as he answers the text message his oldest son had just send him.
"I know you mean Harvey," Marcus rebuts in a beat, shrugging when his father gives him a disapproving look. "I just meant I didn't think dick face would ever have the balls to ask her out."
Gordon sighs and places his phone on the counter, he turns to look at his youngest son with an even more disapproving look on his face than before. "Don't talk about your brother like that."
Marcus rolls his eyes and moves the mug of hot chocolate around in his hand. "So are they together now or what? Only took them three whole years."
"I don't know, Marcus," Gordon answers truthfully, reaching for his phone once more as it vibrates over the kitchen island. He reads the newest message Harvey sent him. "He didn't say and you're not about to ask him. They'll tell us themselves. Now get ready, they're a block away."
"Fine," Marcus sighs, downing the remainder of his drink before he hops off the barstool. "I'll go and help them with their bags."
"Marcus Cornelius."
The youngest Specter looks at his father, fakes disappointment at the warning that included his middle name. "I won't say anything."
.
"And here we are."
She glances out of the window and back at him. "You know I've been here before right."
"I was talking to the cab driver."
She rolls her eyes and shakes her head, holds back her remarks and follows him move by getting out of the cab in front of the familiar house instead.
"Can you go ahead and ring the bell," Harvey suggests, pointing at the door with one hand as he lifts his bag from the trunk. "And I'll get our bags."
She wants to tell him she's more than capable of carrying her own and she knows he knows, but she lets it slide for once. Knows there must be a reason for his request and she can't object now as he's the one doing her a favour. She mumbles an 'okay' and opens the wooden gate in the fence, taking the last five steps to the red painted door with Harvey right behind her. Her hand already in the air to do as asked, the door swings open in a beat and she greeted by a familiar set of eyes and signature grin. Just on the youngest Specter's face this time.
"Donna."
Two arms wrap around her in an embrace before she even gets the chance to return a greeting. The movement ending just as quickly as it came, it still causes Harvey to narrow his gaze in on his younger brother. "Marcus."
"Loser."
The older brother rolls his eyes. "Good to see you too."
"Yes," Donna chirps in at that moment, trying to break the playful but tension between the two brothers none the less. "It's good to see you too, RC3."
"You told her."
"Ooh please," Donna scoffs, turning Marcus around with her arm and guiding him back inside the house, Harvey following them both into the hallway. "You think Reggie over here has any secrets for me."
Marcus glances back at his brother and the redhead then, the words slipping from his lips before he can remind himself of the promise he made to his father. "Did you two finally get together?"
Harvey's confirmation comes at the exact same moment as Donna's denial.
"What?" Marcus laughs once at the two completely different answers he got and the panicked looks that are exchanged mere seconds after.
"Yes we are," Donna blurts out now, but she bites her tongue and curses herself when she hears Harvey's answer change in that exact moment.
"I mean no."
The frown on Marcus' face only increases and he stares at the pair dumbfounded. "I don't understand, are you or aren't you together?"
Harvey lets out a deep breath, his gaze finding Donna's at that moment and he knows it's a rule but it's the only way to explain the situation they've gotten themselves into.
"We are fake dating."
"Fake dating?!" Marcus fires back in a second, a throaty laugh escaping him now at the most absurd words he's ever heard his brother say and he's said a lot over the years.
"Why would you fake – "
He swallows in the rest of his sentence when Harvey's gaze narrows in even further and he just laughs again now. "I'm sorry but that's just… stupid."
"What is stupid?"
The sudden appearance of Gordon's voice makes the three college students turn around but it's the youngest of the three who finally breaks the silence.
"They are fake dating." The words come with a hand signalling up and down between the two in the back of the hall.
Gordon's mouth drops for a moment and he wants to shake his head but he doesn't. "I'm not even going to ask," he answers then. Taking a step forward, he greets Donna first and his son next. Inviting the two of them inside and ordering his youngest son to drop the subject with a mere look.
To his surprise Marcus actually does and while the subject isn't mentioned again he can't help but think about it every now and then as he watches his oldest son and Donna interact with one another that Thanksgiving day. The ease those interactions come with, the laughter that follows on both parts and the glances he catches his son stealing in the redhead's direction not just now during dinner but all afternoon and he can't help but think about what his son told him years ago.
December 2nd, 2015
Taking two steps at a time, the young law students rushes his way down the stairs and he comes to a rather abrupt halt when he nearly trips over a few cardboard boxes on the landing. "Fu –" he swallows in his curse when a glimpse of red hair catches his eye, it's nothing more than a young woman disappearing into a familiar apartment on the second floor but it sparks his interest all the same.
He's in a hurry and he knows it's creepy to stop and wait for her to return, but the way he walks around the landing to the top of the next flight of stairs is significantly slower than before. His change in movements works though as he catches a glimpse of her face now, only for a second before she disappears into the apartment again with another bag.
"What the hell man?"
"Huh," he wakes from his thoughts, immediately pretending the way his heart had jumped upon her return hadn't happened. He turns to look up at his two roommates, Mike and Tanner. Both standing right behind him on the stairs and clearly urging him to move.
"Who was that?" Harvey inquires, bobbing his head in the direction of the apartment of the Zane sisters as the three of them make their way down.
"Red?" Tanner asks, having seen the redheaded woman too and he glances back and forth between their classmate's apartment and his own roommate. Mike merely shrugs.
Harvey frowns at the blond, gives him a confused look. "You don't know who's moving into your girlfriend's apartment?"
"I don't," Mike lies, shaking his head. "She must be a new law student."
"Right, "Harvey mumbles. "Except that no one starts in the middle of a semester, Mike."
Mike looks at Tanner, grins at the nod the latter gives him and the blond decides to push his roommate's buttons some more. "I'll go and ask Rachel right now."
That has Harvey halt in the middle of the stairs yet again. "Don't."
Mike and Tanner both laugh now, the latter's hand falling on Harvey's shoulder. "God that was easy," he teases his friend. High fiving Mike in the process.
"Fuck off."
"Mike can tell you all about her," Tanner continues now. "Red is a friend of Rachel."
"She is."
"I don't even want to know."
Tanner rolls his eyes. "Liar," he mumbles as the three of them make their way out of the apartment building. "Move," he hisses now, spotting Louis Litt powerwalking into their direction from the corner of his eye, but his warning not quick enough.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen," Louis greets his fellow law students, increasing his pace to end up walking next to Harvey. "Have you heard about professor Gerard's –"
"What?" Harvey asks, turning to look at Louis.
"You haven't heard?" Louis fires back in a beat.
"Don't blame him, Litt," Tanner jumps in. "His mind is otherwise occupied."
Harvey shakes his head, doesn't even bother answering this time around.
"Not that he has a chance," Tanner continues, adding more fuel to the fire. "Red's dating Stephen. The British guy from litigation class. Heard him brag about it few weeks back."
"Good for her."
Louis looks back and forth between the other three men. "Donna?" he asks then, gaze landing on Mike who nods then. He might not know the redhead himself, it is indeed the name he had heard his girlfriend mention from time to time.
Harvey slowly repeats the name in his mind, doesn't want for it to happen but his attention is on Louis all the same at the next words that leave the law student's lips.
"She broke up with him."
Harvey gulps, his stomach twisting and he wills himself to keep his face neutral. The way he feels far too embarrassing and unnatural for him. He tells himself he doesn't care.
"How would you know?" Tanner asks.
"Because," Louis reasons, smiling proudly at the three guys he wishes he could call his friends but aren't. For the first time having information that interests them and he has to gloat in it for a moment. "Donna told me. We work at the same small theatre company just off Broadway."
Donna.
A friend of Zane.
Theatre.
Single.
He doesn't care.
—
December 21st, 2015
He does care.
It's the only excuse that fits his pathetic behaviour and he groans at the realisation as he saunters from one stall to the next on the campus' Wiehnachtsmarkt. He'd seen the flyers in the hallway of their apartment building earlier that week and he had instantly scoffed at the idea but all the one night stands from the last three weeks couldn't stop him from changing his mind about the event the second he heard form Mike, who heard from Rachel, that a certain redhead and her theatre group would go.
And thus he finds himself staring at a bunch of badly knitted scarves, shivering in the cold cause, of course, it had to start snowing as well all the while he waits for an opportunity to run into her. That is if she actually shows up.
So far he hasn't seen her.
He shuffles on his spot, brings his hands back in the pockets of his coat and he looks around the market in search for her ginger manes. There should be easier ways to meet your roommate's girlfriend's friend he knows that, it's just that he really doesn't want either to know he still hasn't forgotten about that three-second glimpse he got of her.
His phone vibrates in the inside pocket of his jacket and he reluctantly moves his scarf aside to reach for the object. Unlocking it he checks the messages from Mike. Get your ass out of the library and join us. The second message a picture of their group of friends drinking beer, including Rachel who's sitting next to Mike.
Shaking his head, he doesn't text back but decides it may be for the best to leave the "library" indeed, get out of the cold and drink a beer with his friends. The chances of running into her there probably higher than here in this weather.
His plan was stupid anyway and the fact that she didn't show maybe enough for him to finally let it go altogether. He places his phone back, fixes his scarf and brings his bare hands to his mouth. Blowing warmth on them, he starts making his way to the exit only to detour towards the second to last stall when he reads the sign.
Glühwein.
He's never had it before but he's heard about it, the warm alcoholic beverage sounding very appealing to him at the moment. One to warm him up on his way over to the bar, second to forget about this failure.
Rolling his shoulders against the cold, he takes a couple of firm strides to the stall. Ready to remove his hands from the confined warmth of his coat and reach for the spoon when someone else swoops in and grabs it before him. He would be annoyed if it wasn't for the giggle that fills the space around him, and he steps aside to watch the woman that cut him in line struggle with the kitchen utensil.
"Do you need help?"
She laughs at the stranger's voice, accidentally spilling half of the alcoholic beverage back into the pot instead of her paper cup. "Now I might be a tad tipsy but this isn't my first rodeo, mister," she counters, reaching in with the spoon again. This time precisely filling her cup to the brim, placing it down on the table in front of the pot. She already reaches for another paper cup before she asks. "Want one?"
He grins at the witty comeback. "Yes, please."
"One Glühwein coming up," she chirps, dramatically moving the spoon back in and lifting it high enough to make a show out of pouring a cup of alcohol. Anything to show this stranger she's more than capable of handling her own.
"There," she extends her hand with the cup to the guy standing next to her, finally turning around to face him as well.
"Thank you –" He falls silent the second he sees her face, framed by ginger bangs and only then he spots the rest of her long locks tucked away under her hat and scarf. Her name dying on the tip of his tongue.
She smiles at his silence, figures it to be his way of asking for her name and she extends her hand to him. "Donna."
"Donna," he repeats, pronouncing the name he's thought about for weeks for the first time out loud. "I'm Harvey," he tells her, accepting her hand in his own and every single thought he's pushed away about her in the last couple of weeks come rushing back in an instant. "Nice to meet you."
She smiles brightly and shakes his hand one last time, accidentally hitting his other one holding onto the cup of Gühwein when she pulls back. The content of the paper cup spills over his coat and shoes and her eyes widen in shock as she looks down at the mess she made.
"Ooh my god," she exclaims, bringing her hand to her mouth.
He catches her eyes flicker back up to his own and in them, he already sees the apology that makes him want to say it's fine.
"I'm so sorry," she adds now before he gets a chance to respond. Her slightly drunken mind running on overdrive she looks around and takes two steps towards him when she spots the roll of paper towels. Sweeping it from the table, she rips two pieces from the roll and hastily brings it to his coat. The entire ordeal having made the pair move down the other end of the stall.
"It's fine," he counters, looking down at his dark coat. Her bare hands a stark contrast against the fabric and he finds himself fixated on the way her fingers dab against a stain he isn't even able to see, his gaze eventually travelling up to her face. Her eyes, her hair and back to her lips, he swallows once at her proximity. "Don't worry about it."
She hears him dismiss her actions but she's a fixer and she can't let it go. Moving her hands over his chest, the lapels of his coat and his after shave is having an intoxicating effect on her. Her motions slow down but continue despite her not having a clue as to whether she's actually dabbing the place she spilt his drink on or not.
Her gaze trails from her hands to his scarf, his chin next. She can't help but smile when she spots the small shaving cut there, her breath hitching and heart fluttering because of it. It's when she eyes him wetting his lips that she feels it everywhere else too. Her body mimicking his actions on its own volition.
Donna tilts her head ever so slowly, her gaze searching for his but when she notices he's looking up she mirrors that motion too. Spotting the small piece of greenery hanging right above their heads, her stomach flipping once more as excitement courses through her veins.
He grins at the cheesiest holiday tradition in existence when he notices her movements have come to a halt yet her hands are still resting on his chest. His breathing heavier, he drops his gaze from the mistletoe to the redhead standing right in front of him. The smiles she's sporting while she's looking at him taking him by surprise but not as much as her next movement.
She tells herself it's merely a tradition and not desire and she figures by the way he was looking at it too that he doesn't mind when she lifts herself on her toes and closes the already limited distance between them. Her lips slowly gliding against those of the guy she just met, it's when he answers her kiss that she realises tradition has nothing to do with how it's making her feel.
His hands are about to reach for her waist when she pulls back from their kiss, taking a step back as well. He slowly opens his eyes to find her staring up at him and it's the smile she flashes him that makes him forget about the absurdity of the moment altogether. He can't help but grin too, finally allowing himself to really look at the girl he's been wondering about for weeks now.
A snowflake drops down on his nose then, the cold breaking their moment for a few seconds as they both glance up at the sky. It's her infectious laugh that makes him look at her again, his eyes scanning her face once more. "God you're beautiful," he blurts out taking a step towards her this time and he can't help but wipe a few of the frozen droplets that have found their place on her face from her cheek.
She feels a warmth creep up her cheeks and she tells herself it's due to the snow but it's this strangers words, his presence and that kiss. A kiss too good to be so short, to be shared only once and she usually isn't so forward but she does it again.
The second kiss surprises him as much as the first one did, only this time around his mind and body are catching up even quicker. His lips moving against hers like they've been doing this for years, his right-hand finds her waist and holds her firmly to his frame but it's still not enough. Tilting his head ever so slightly to the right, he tugs on her bottom lip silently asking her for permission.
Her lips part willingly and when his tongue slides against her own she's completely gone. Never in her twenty-one years on this planet has a kiss turned her world upside down as much as he's doing to her now. Making her let go in a way she has never done before and the control freak inside of her would be on high alert if it didn't feel so good. Or maybe it should be because it feels so good, she doesn't know anymore. Can't think straight anymore, only being able to let her desire translate into her actions.
It doesn't take long for both of them to become out of breath, pulling apart with a gulp. He has to take several deep breaths before he's able to find his voice again. "We weren't standing under the mistletoe anymore."
She grins once, bobs her head to the side. Both to check and challenge his answer. "Does it matter?" she asks, but she already knows by the way he kissed her back that it didn't.
"No," he admits, lips tugging up in a Cheshire cat-like smile.
"Good," she whispers, briefly glancing down. She brings her hands to his scarf, playing with the fabric she slides it through her hands and uses it to bring him closer again. Her face only an inch away from his, she notices he's about to lean in this time around and she giggles then. Moving her own head aside, she brings her lips to his ear.
"Let's get out of here."
Her words leave him more flabbergasted than either kiss had done before and he isn't sure what to answer but he doesn't object either. Not against her words and not against the way she hooks her arm around his own, guiding him with her.
He watches her grab her cup of cooled down Glühwein and down it in one go. The laugh that follows again and the way she shifts from left to right on her feet makes him wonder if her actions might just be because of the alcohol.
She tells him it's the slippery snow.
He follows her though, letting her guide him back to her place. Their pace slow, his arm wrapped around her for stability. The conversation light, their flirtation heavy. He realises it's definitely the alcohol when she stands on the second floor and is staring back and forth between two apartments, taking more than a few seconds to figure out she needs to go to number 206. Something he already knew but he can't let that slide.
She untangles herself from his grasp, reaches for her key and plays around with it for a moment. He had to give her credit for the swift movement in which she opens the door, but his attention is soon on her again when she turns around and brings her hands to his chest.
Fingers playing with his scarf and the top button of his coat, she bites down on her bottom lip and looks up to him from under her eyelashes.
"Want to come inside?"
He swallows thickly, his body saying one thing his mind telling him to be sensible. "I would," he admits, hoping it's enough to not blow all his chances. "But you're drunk and I don't want you to do anything you might regret in the morning."
"Who says I will."
He smiles at her stubbornness and her witty repartee even when drunk, but he knows he can't give in. "You can tell me tomorrow," he tells her next, taking one step closer. "I should go." The words barely above a whisper but the kiss he places on her cheek is a goodbye. He takes a step back then, smiles softly at her once more and turns around. Waiting near the stairs to see if she gets inside okay.
She stalls, hand on the doorknob but the lack of footsteps have her look over her shoulder again. She watches him standing there, her lips curling up into a grin. "Weren't you going home?"
"I am."
"God, that's cheesy."
He laughs, shakes his head once before bobbing it in the direction of the staircase. "I live on the fifth floor."
Donna's mouth drops and albeit the alcohol she can feel the redness creeping up over her cheeks at her wrong assumptions. She looks down then, biting her tongues and forcing herself to take a deep breath before she wills herself to face him again. This time with her poker face on.
"Right," she mumbles, pointing to her own apartment to indicate she's going inside. "Goodnight … " the pause that follows too long, his name has slipped her mind in the awkwardness. She eventually covers it by calling him, neighbour.
"Harvey," he whispers then. Filling in what she couldn't, but what she can't hear anymore anyway as he watches the redhead disappear inside the apartment, much like the first time he saw her. Only this time around he still stands there when the sight of her is replaced by that of a dark door and three brass numbers. "Goodnight Donna."
He exhales slowly, letting the events of the evening sink in as he watches the door. His body still on a high, his mind slowly coming down from the spiralling thoughts. It's then, as he stares at her closed door, that he remembers the text Mike had send him. Letting his hand tap against the wooden railing of the stairs, he contemplates his options. Eventually deciding that a glass of beer is more appealing than sitting at home alone.
.
Mike throws back the remainder of his beer, a throaty but satisfying sigh escaping his lips. He eyes the door at the end of the bar for the umpteenth time that night, his attention soon back on the group around him. His girlfriend sitting right next to him in particular.
"Can't believe of all nights, tonight has to be the one that dickhead discovers what a book is."
Rachel, Katrina, Sean and Tanner laugh loudly, much to Mike's agreement. The latter however just shrugs and continues his slightly drunken rant.
"He's usually the one to drag us all here."
Rachel smiles softly, running her hand over her boyfriend's arm and patting it softly. "Just be glad he isn't asking for notes for once."
Mike frowns then, glancing up at his girlfriend. "I don't take notes."
"I meant mine," she laughs, her hand now on his head, she runs it through his hair. "Not all of us have a photographic memory, babe." She smiles, but then just like Mike she looks around the bar in search for their friend, her eye landing on another brunette instead.
She presses her lips together in a thin smile and waves once, signalling for their fellow classmate to come over. They're not exactly friends since the breakup with her sister but they're amicable, and she admires the other woman's fierce.
"Dana."
"Rachel," the petite brunette chirps in return.
"You're late."
"Yeah, sorry. Got held up in the library."
While the exchange between the two girls wasn't exactly his centre of attention, Mike does overhear the last sentence and his mind connects the dots pretty easily. He's never been a fan of his sister-in-law's ex, even less when the woman started hooking up with his roommate, but he understands now where his roommate had been and why he hadn't explained the specifics.
It takes one look from him to Rachel for her to think the same and while it isn't discussed in public at all, they know they're right when the man in question walks into the bar a strategic few minutes later than the brunette. The shit eating grin on his face, and the round of beers he gets for the group all the confirmation they need.
—
December 22nd, 2015
A deep groan rolls of off her tongue, eyes still closed as every limb in her body aches but not even close to the throbbing pain she feels in her head. Everything about her state right now questioning why she let herself go this far the night before, but having just turned twenty-one, it's not like she has much experience with these types of mornings either.
She doesn't know it yet, but of all the hangovers to still come, this will always be the worst one.
She tries her might to open her eyes, the light peeking through the curtains she forgot to close the night before blinding her and she cringes in pain. A hand automatically falling to her head covering her eyes.
The movement so minor yet already too much for her to handle in this state, a wave of nausea crashing over her and she doesn't know how quickly she has to get out of bed. The extra movement only adding to the problem as she rushes to the bathroom, hugging the toilet for dear life.
An empty stomach, a shower and an attempt at looking decent later, the now moody redhead resurfaces into the communal living area. Her gaze automatically falling on a glass of water, aspirin and some toast on the coffee table. She looks up from the objects to her friend, a grateful smile spreading over her lips.
"I see you had a great night," Rachel answers, a light chuckle to her tone as she watches the redhead drag her feet to the couch and drop herself down onto it.
"The best," Donna agrees, nodding along for effect. She reaches for the medicine and water, finishing that first before taking a bite of the dry toast. "At least… I think I did." She sighs then. "Fuck," she exclaims now. "I promised to meet you at the bar, didn't I."
Rachel smiles and nods.
The redhead's face falls."I'm so sorry."
"It's okay," Rachel reassures her, her reason for asking Donna to join them having been ruined anyway. She's not about to tell her friend that. "So tell me, what were you up to."
Donna's brows knit together in a frown when she realises the answer doesn't come straight away and she has to actually think it over. Eventually starting with where she was. " I went to the uhm.. the what's it called, the German Christmas market."
"Weihnachtsmarkt," Rachel fills in, shrugging once when she sees the confused look on her friends face. "What I read it on the flyers."
Donna groans and rolls her eyes at the smirk that got delivered with. "Yes that one, Mrs Ross. Anyway, I was there with my theatre group, but the rest of the night is kinda …"
The pause and gasp that follow have Rachel's interest peaked. "Kinda what?" she asks, sitting down on the armrest of the couch as her gaze narrows in on her friend.
"I think I kissed someone."
"What," Rachel exclaims in surprise.
"I kissed someone," Donna repeats the words not sure if she's doing so for Rachel or for herself to make up her mind.
Rachel lets herself slide down from the armrest to the couch itself, sitting next to Donna now. "You think you did or you did."
"I… did? I guess," Donna answers at first, glancing up to Rachel with a somewhat worried smile before she closes her eyes and nods once. "No, did. I did," she confirms now, sudden flashes of the night before returning to her memory. "Shit. Shit. Ooh god."
"That bad?"
She shakes her head, biting down on her lip to stop the grin from spreading over her face but she can't hide it. Instead, she looks down, a dead giveaway for her roommate.
"You've finally met your match," Rachel states simply, her assumption based on the redhead's reaction just now and the numerous of stories she's heard over the last couple of months. The law student watches her friend think over the answer, a grin showing first but fading just as quickly as it came. "What's wrong about that?"
Donna exhales deeply, biting down on her lower lip she takes a moment before she answers. "Nothing but I feel like I invited him over…"
"And."
"And I woke up alone, didn't I?"
"You did," Rachel simply answers. Having checked on her friend when she came home, the other girl had been sound asleep in her clothes from the night before.
And while she already knew that, hearing it being confirmed by her friend makes the reality of it all so much harsher. She swallows then, thickly. Eyes falling shut and she shakes her head at her own actions. "I fucking threw myself at a guy and he… God. You can't tell anyone about this okay."
Rachel agrees instantly on the latter part of the statement, placing her hand on Donna's wrist for a moment. Squeezing it as a sign of comfort she waits for the redhead to look up at her again. "So who's the bastard that I now got to beat up," she jokes, but in reality, she's pleased that whoever her friend kissed that night, didn't take advantage of her.
Donna laughs now, the words so far from what her friend's personality is, let alone her small physique, she does appreciate the sentiment. Expect that from what she remembers, he wasn't a bastard at all. The kiss too good for him to be that. She closes her eyes again, thinking about Rachel's question and the moment in particular. She remembers the action, the sensations it brought along but she can't remember him. "I…" she mutters then. "I can't remember."
It's the wrong place and time but Rachel can't help but chuckle, a sorry leaving her lips when Donna glares at her in return. "It's kinda ironic isn't it."
"What?"
"That you, of all people, don't know who you kissed."
Donna nods. "I know."
Rachel chuckles once more. "See."
"Shut up," she mutters, playfully pushing her roommate's shoulder. "What if it was my soulmate?"
Rachel laughs now. "You don't believe in soulmates."
"I might now."
Rachel shakes her head and pushes herself to stand. "Clearly you're still drunk."
Donna wants to protest, but in all seriousness, she might still be. "Rach," she calls after the brunette. "Please don't tell anyone about this. Even Mike."
"I promise," Rachel answers again, extending her hand to her friend. Not to shake it, but to pull the redhead from her seated position. "Now let's make sure we get your drunken ass to Hartford for the holidays."
.
Taking two steps at a time, Harvey descends the central staircase of the apartment building. His spirits still high from the events of the night before, it's when he wraps his scarf around his neck that it hits him again. The woman who pulled on that very piece of fabric, and maybe even his heart, still at the forefront of his mind.
His pace slows down when he nears the second floor and his gaze automatically lands on the door on the right. He contemplates stopping by, knocking on her door and talking to her even if he has no clue what to say or how to handle this post kiss morning. His nerves getting the better of him, he tells himself it's not wanting to run into Rachel that he doesn't stop by.
In the end, it doesn't matter anyway.
Peeking through the front door he spots her then. Her flaming red hair catching his attention like the first time he saw her. "Donna," her name leaving his lips on its own volition, he's taken aback and pleased at his actions all the same. Both turning into disappointment when she doesn't hear him, a response lacks and like the first time he saw her disappear into her apartment, this time he watches her leave in a cab. Her red hair makes place for the yellow car, the colour soon fading into the distance until the two taillights are the last thing he sees before the car turns left.
"Hey."
The second part of his greeting finally leaving his lips in a sigh as he stands on the doorstep now. The cold December air greeting him and he stuffs his hands in the pocket of his coat, already forgotten why he went outside all he can think about is how he didn't get the chance to talk to her. Another minute spent out in the cold he gives up on trying to remember his plans and instead makes his way back inside, deciding then he might as well do what he thinks the redhead did too.
Go home for the holidays.
.
"Okay" Gordon laughs with a shake of his head when yet another question to his oldest goes unanswered. He places his glass of scotch down just loud enough to get his boy's attention. "Who's it?"
Harvey frowns at that. "Who's what?"
"The girl that got my boy daydreaming like a kid."
The law student nearly chokes on his glass of alcohol at his father's words. Coughing twice, he too places the glass down before he looks at his father again. The frown still there, not in confusion this time per se, but as a poker face. "No –" he pauses for a split second, changing his sentence. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Gordon watches his son turn the glass tumbler around in his hand, letting the auburn liquid swivel around before he brings it to his lips again. Downing it in one go. It's the way his son can't look at him that he knows.
"Harvey."
He sighs but matches his father's tone. "Dad." It's one look at the familiar eyes in front of him, the memory of all the lies shared in this family that he caves. "It's… It's new okay. I just met her."
Gordon smiles then, his instinct had proved him right. "What's her name?"
"Donna," Harvey answers softly. His frown returning when his father laughs right after. "What?"
"You might not remember," Gordon starts, "but as a kid, you used to stop by at the studio while we were recording this song, 'Bobbing with Donna'. It used to be your favourite for a long time."
Harvey bites down on the corner of his mouth, remembering the days his father is referring to. "You're not going to tell me it's fate now, are you?"
Gordon chuckles and shakes his head. "I'm not," he admits. "But I do believe that if she's the one, you'll know."
"Oooh." A loud fake squeal echoes through the room and both men turn to face the youngest Specter. The shit eating grin on the latter's face already telling Harvey his brother has it in for him. "Harvey is in love."
The student scoffs at the eighteen-year-old. "Shut up."
"You are," Marcus chirps, sitting down on one of the barstools next to his father. He reaches for Gordon's class of scotch but it immediately gets pulled back. "You so are."
"I'm so not."
"Marcus," Gordon warns.
"What?" the youngest objects with a shrug and he points at his brother. "Just look at his face."
—
January 5th, 2016
Harvey lets out a deep breath as he closes the front door behind him, exchanging the snow outside for the warmth inside the building. Crossing the hallway his gaze drifts off to the common area, a place he rarely if ever visits but it's a flash of red that catches his eye and has him halt in his step. He takes a moment to look, make sure and he hates how easily he's affected but by the way he feels his lips curl up he knows it's her.
Donna.
Eating lunch by herself.
He contemplates his actions for a moment, wonders if he should go to her or not. It's been over two weeks already and he hasn't spoken let alone seen her face since their kiss. He knows he was the one to give her an out but that hasn't stopped him from thinking about her. His mind running a hundred miles an hour now, coming up with reasons for him to move.
You, just like her, left for the holidays the day after, it's not like there was actually time for you two to meet again.
You didn't exchange numbers, so you couldn't call her.
Neither could she call you.
You have been thinking about her.
A lot.
Maybe she has been thinking about you too.
He lets out a deep breath then. Fuck it. He wills himself forward, making a quick stop at the coffee machine in the corner. He gets himself a black one and adds two sugars, giving himself an excuse for running into her like this as he sits himself down on the chair next to her.
"Hey."
Donna looks up from her salad, fork still in hand as she watches the man sitting next to her. But instead of a smile, it's a confused frown that spreads across her face. "I'm sorry," she mumbles then. "Do we know each other?"
His mouth drops slightly but he's quick to recover and for a moment he thinks she might just be messing with him but when her face still reads confusion a few moments later he realises she isn't joking at all.
His confidence wavering and he swallows thickly once, it wasn't like he knew what he was going to say to her before but telling her they kissed isn't an option at all now. So he shakes his head, forces a small smile on his lips and he extends his hand, introducing himself. "Harvey."
"Well, Harvey," she repeats his name, taking his hand in hers for a second. "I'm Donna."
He swallows in an I know, just looks at her instead.
She takes her hand back, glances at him again and then back to her salad. She takes a moment to think over her answer but ends up saying it anyway. "I'm sorry," she whispers. "I don't want to be rude but I - I'm not really looking to date anyone right now."
He's surprised by her directness, shakes his head but then realises it's exactly what his motives were. "How did you know I –"
She laughs softly then, shifting on her chair to face the stranger in front of her. "I'm Donna.. I read, I analyse," She chimes up her signature tricks. Ending them with a shrug. "I just do."
"Right," he mutters, can't help but smile at the way she saw right through him even though it was just as much her doing that when they actually met. "I was hitting on you."
"I can't blame you though," she counters, proudly grinning and pointing at herself. It's the laugh on his part that has her silent for a moment and she doesn't know why she's breaking the promise she had Rachel keep, but she ends up telling this stranger anyway.
"It's just…. I already made a fool out of myself before the holidays with one of the tenants in the building," she whispers. Pressing her lips together in an apologetic smile, she continues before he can ask. "I drank too much and basically jumped this guy and I guess I scared him off."
He can't help but grin now. She might not remember him, but she remembers what happened. Or maybe just maybe she was playing with him after all. "That would be me."
Donna laughs loudly this time, her hand tapping his bicep in a playful manner. "Smooth," she counters, shaking her head. Not realising he's telling her the truth.
He sighs again and swallows thickly as his overbearing thoughts of the last couple of weeks come crashing down right in front of him. He bites down on his tongue, thinks over his options. Ways to tell her he is telling the truth, but before he gets the chance to do so she kills any hope he might have had left.
"It can't work anyway."
"Why not?"
"Because he lives in the same building."
Her answer not what he expected it to be and he can't help but ask. Even if she thinks it's purely hypothetical. "Why would that be a problem?"
"My ex," she answers. "We lived in the same building and when things ended it got ugly, he got me kicked out and I just moved here and I can't have something like that happen again. It's a rule."
Harvey swallows and nods.
"Right," Donna mumbles as she turns to look up at him. "Enough about me, where do you live."
"Here," he answers truthfully, signalling the building with a bob of his head.
She chuckles again, looks down even to hide her blush. "You sure know how to keep up the 'I'm him' act, I'll give you that."
He doesn't smile anymore, simply asks instead. "What if I'm not?"
"But you are."
He watches her quietly, the way she grins and seems so un-phased by his presence that she returns her attention to her lunch. It's then that he realises he'll never be able to tell her it's actually him and even if he could, that it won't matter. She has her rule.
"Yeah I am," he tells her now. Hands tapping against the table in defeat, he pushes himself to stand. "It was nice meeting you, Donna."
Friday, November 30th 2018
Gordon leans against the doorframe of the kitchen, head tilting to the side as he lets his gaze drift from his oldest son to the digital display on the microwave. The latter telling him it's one in the morning and even though he's used to his oldest son's quirks, the sight of Harvey thoughtlessly staring at a glass of scotch concerns him.
"Pour me one too, will you?"
Harvey wakes from his thoughts, automatically looking over his shoulder in his father's direction. The voice already giving away who found him sitting here, he can't help but feel relieved that out of the three other people in the house, it's his father.
He reaches for another glass then, filling that and refilling his own with two fingers worth of the auburn liquid. He quietly moves the tumbler over the kitchen island to his father and it takes one look for the younger man to know what's on his father's mind. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Harvey," Gordon replies. Pausing for a moment as he takes a hold of the glass. "I just want to know if you think it's a good idea for you two to do this, that's all."
Harvey exhales deeply, his gaze returning to his own glass and he stares at the content of it for a moment. It might have been him who asked her to do this, and the reasons he told her sound so trivial compared to what's really going on.
"It's never going to be her," he answers, the only reason he ends up spilling the truth now, just like all those years ago, is because it's his father asking. "She doesn't –" He pauses, unable to finish the sentence. He takes the glass from the counter and takes a large sip, can't help but think about the rules she made him agree to. The last one in particular. One he already broke before it even started. "And yet people always think that we – So… So if I, ever, want to move on… This is the only way.."
Gordon watches his son, thinks about everything he's seen over the years and today again but it isn't his place to tell him or possibly give his son false hope. So he does the only thing there's left to do, support him.
"I hope you're right."