Different (25) (Patreon)

Author's note: hello everyone, I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend. Here is a new chapter of Different. I am currently working in a few pieces that I hope to post later today and tomorrow. I hope you enjoy this chapter. I don't know what I have with camping lately, but I realized that I've now written about it twice. I guess I just want to go camping!

“What do you mean?” Y/N asked Harry the next morning, as she emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered and dressed, ready to head north and pick up the camping tents. Her voice carried a hint of frustration, a feeling that had been simmering since the previous afternoon.

“She says she’s having a tough time and needs some help,” Harry replied, zipping up his jeans. They had spent the entire day before holed up in the apartment, relishing the rare opportunity to enjoy each other's company without interruption.

“What’s she having a tough time with?” Y/N pressed, irritation evident in her tone. She was upset because Ivy, had called Harry, claiming she was going through a rough patch and needed his support. Without hesitation, Harry had agreed to visit her dorm, which only fueled Y/N's annoyance.

Y/N hated when plans changed abruptly, especially when people didn’t follow through on their promises. She had been looking forward to their small trip to her family house to pick up the camping things.

“I’m not sure!” Harry admitted defensively. “But she’s my friend and has been there for me when I’ve needed her.”

“But I’m your girlfriend, and you promised me,” Y/N said, trailing after Harry into the foyer as he prepared to put on his shoes. Her voice was a mixture of hurt and frustration, echoing through the small apartment.

Harry glanced at her briefly, the tension in the air palpable. “I’m sure you can manage,” he said as he bent down to tie his laces. His tone was casual, almost dismissive, which only intensified her anger.

Y/N crossed her arms, leaning against the wall as she watched him. “We were supposed to go together. You promised”.

Harry paused, looking up at her with a sigh. “I know, but Ivy really needs me right now. It won’t take long.”

Y/N shook her head, feeling a knot of disappointment in her chest. “You always do this. You prioritize others”

Harry stopped tying his laces, his eyes flashing with irritation. “You’re always saying that, but it feels like you’re the one who’s breaking promises,” he snapped, his tone sharper than before.

Y/N looked at him, stunned by his sudden anger. “What are you talking about? I just want you to keep your word.”

Harry stood up, glaring at her. “You’re the one who changes plans all the time, Y/N. Every time something comes up with your friends, you drop everything and expect me to be fine with it. But when I do the same, suddenly it’s a problem?”

“That’s not fair, Harry,” Y/N replied, trying to keep her voice steady. “I’m not the one who’s leaving right now after my ex-girlfriend called”.

Harry shook his head, his frustration evident. “You act like you’re perfect, like you never mess up. But I’ve seen you bail on things we’ve planned more times than I can count.”

Y/N’s cheeks flushed with anger. “I can’t believe you’re turning this around on me. You promised we’d go together. And now you’re calling me a liar?”

Harry sighed, running a hand through his hair, his anger momentarily giving way to exasperation. “Maybe I am. I’m just tired of feeling like I’m the bad guy every time something like this happens.”

Y/N felt her heart sink, realizing how deep his resentment ran. “I didn’t know you felt this way. But this isn’t how we solve things, Harry.”

Harry picked up his jacket, grabbed his keys, and left in silence, the door closing with a definitive click behind him.

Harry stormed out of the apartment, his mind swirling with frustration and guilt. As he walked to the car that he had requested, he replayed the argument with Y/N in his mind, trying to justify his decision to help Ivy. She was a friend in need, after all, and he couldn’t just abandon her.

The drive to Ivy’s dorm was a blur. Harry’s mind kept shifting between Y/N’s disappointed expression and the uncertainty of what awaited him at Ivy’s. The driver parked the car and Harry took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering tension before heading inside.

Ivy greeted him at the door, her face lighting up as soon as she saw him. “Harry! I’m so glad you came,” she said, ushering him into her room.

“Of course. You said you needed help,” Harry replied, scanning her face for any signs of distress. “What’s going on? What do you need? and that it was urgent”

Ivy hesitated, casting her eyes downward as if searching for the right words. “I’ve just been feeling really down lately,” she said softly. “Everything’s been overwhelming, and I didn’t know who else to call.”

Harry watched her closely, noticing how her demeanor seemed off. “I’m sorry. Is it school? Family?” he pressed gently, trying to get a clearer picture.

She shrugged, offering a vague response about feeling lonely and stressed. But as she spoke, something in Harry’s gut told him that this wasn’t the full story.

He took a moment to look around her room, noticing how everything seemed in order, not like someone in the midst of a crisis. Ivy wasn’t her usual self, but there was an air of contrivance in her words and actions. Slowly, he began to piece things together.

Harry realized that Ivy’s call for help was not entirely genuine. The timing, the way she had phrased her distress, and her lack of specific details started to paint a different picture. It dawned on him that her intention might have been more about getting his attention than actually needing his assistance.

“Ivy,” he said cautiously, “are you sure this is about needing help? Or is there something else going on?”

She looked at him, her expression shifting slightly, as if she knew he was onto her. “I just thought it’d be nice to see you,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “You’ve been so busy with Y/N lately.”

Harry sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and understanding. “Ivy, I’m always here for you, but this isn’t fair to me or Y/N.”

She nodded, a look of remorse crossing her face. “I’m sorry, Harry. I didn’t mean to cause any trouble.”

Harry felt like a fool. He had argued with Y/N for no good reason, and now she was heading to the North Shore, likely cursing his name. He spent a few awkward minutes with Ivy before deciding to leave.

On his way back to his dorm, he called Y/N multiple times, hoping she would pick up, but his calls went unanswered, just as he had expected.

It wasn’t until he received a text from Y/N that he realized she was still upset.

“Say hi to Ivy for me,” the message read. He could sense the jealousy in every word.

Harry stared at the text, feeling a pang of guilt. He knew he had let Y/N down, and the thought of her being angry and hurt made his chest tighten with regret. He sat on the edge of his bed, running a hand through his hair as he contemplated his next move.

Taking a deep breath, Harry decided to send her another message.

“I’m really sorry, Y/N. I should have handled things differently. Can we talk later?”

He hit send, hoping she would see his sincerity and be open to a conversation. He understood that it might take some time for her to cool down, but he was determined to make things right.

“I need some space right now. We can talk when I get back.”

Though her response was brief, Harry felt a glimmer of hope. At least she was willing to talk, even if it would take some time. He knew he had to be patient and give her the space she needed.

Determined to make it up to her, Harry began thinking of ways to show Y/N how much he cared. He wanted to prove that he valued their relationship and was committed to making things work.

“Where the hell are they?” James asked, setting down his empty coffee cup at the diner where they had planned to meet. Harry and Ivy were still nowhere to be seen, and the rest of the group—Sarah, Mitch, James, Sebastian, and Y/N—were growing impatient.

Y/N didn’t say anything, but anxiety gnawed at her, a knot tightening in her throat. She desperately hoped that Harry and Ivy hadn’t spent the night together. As she finished her fruit bowl and coffee, countless unsettling scenarios raced through her mind.

“Do you know anything?” Sarah whispered to Y/N, noticing her unease while James texted the group chat they had created for the trip. Sarah could see the worry etched on Y/N’s face. She also understood how manipulative Ivy could be, so it didn’t surprise her that Ivy might have already ensnared Harry. Despite loving Harry like a brother, she knew he could be too trusting for his own good.

Feeling overwhelmed, Y/N excused herself from the table. "I'm going to grab something from the car," she mumbled, avoiding eye contact as she slipped out of the diner. The cool morning air hit her face, offering a brief moment of clarity as she walked across the parking lot.

As she approached her car, Y/N suddenly spotted Harry and Ivy coming around the corner. Her heart dropped when she saw them together—Harry was holding Ivy's hand. The sight felt like a punch to the gut.

Y/N froze, her mind racing. She had hoped that her worst fears were just that—fears. But now, seeing them like this, the betrayal felt real and raw.

Harry caught sight of Y/N, his eyes widening in surprise and guilt. He quickly dropped Ivy’s hand, but the damage was already done. Ivy seemed unbothered, a faint smirk playing on her lips.

She didn’t want to hear his excuses or explanations. The image of him holding Ivy’s hand was enough to make her doubt everything.

Inside the diner, Y/N took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. She knew the rest of the group would have questions, but right now, she needed a moment to gather her thoughts.

Sarah glanced up as Y/N reentered, immediately sensing something was wrong. “Are you okay?” she asked softly, concern etched in her features.

Y/N shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just need a minute.”

Harry finally entered the diner, looking sheepish and uncertain. He glanced around the table, meeting Y/N’s eyes briefly before looking away, clearly aware of the storm he had walked into.

The atmosphere was tense, the air thick with unspoken questions and emotions. Y/N knew that a confrontation was inevitable, but right now, she needed time to process everything that had happened.

As Harry stood awkwardly by the table, James leaned back in his chair, eyebrows raised in irritation. “We’ve been waiting here for ages,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of impatience. “What took you so long?”

Harry hesitated, glancing at Y/N, who was staring at him with a mixture of hurt and expectation. Her intense gaze bore into him, silently demanding an explanation.

Clearing his throat, Harry tried to keep his tone steady. “We ran into an issue,” he began, casting a quick glance at Ivy, who remained unbothered by the attention. “Ivy needed my help with something.”

“What kind of issue?” Mitch asked, eyeing Harry suspiciously.

Harry shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny of his friends. “Uh, just some personal stuff she needed help sorting out,” he replied vaguely, avoiding Y/N’s eyes.

Y/N felt a surge of frustration at Harry’s evasiveness. His explanation was flimsy at best, and it did little to alleviate her suspicions about his and Ivy’s behavior.

Sarah, sensing the tension, leaned closer to Y/N, whispering, “Do you want to step outside and talk?”

Y/N shook her head, her mind racing. She didn’t want to leave without getting the truth. She knew that she couldn’t ignore this situation, not if she wanted to address the growing rift between her and Harry.

James, noticing the unease in the group, decided to speak up. “Look, Harry, if there’s something going on, just be straight with us. We’re all friends here.”

Harry sighed, feeling the weight of his friends’ expectations pressing down on him. He knew he owed them—and especially Y/N—an honest explanation, but he wasn’t sure how to balance his loyalty to Ivy with the need to be truthful.

“I just... Ivy’s been having a rough time, and she called me for support,” Harry said, trying to maintain his composure. “I didn’t mean to keep everyone waiting.”

James remained somewhat skeptical. The way Y/N was staring at Harry made it clear to him that something was going on between them, and it seemed to be more about their relationship than anything else.

After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, he decided to break the tension. “Alright, let’s hit the road,” he said, hoping to move things along.

The group gathered their things and headed to the parking lot, the tension still lingering in the air. Y/N walked ahead, keeping her distance from Harry as they made their way to the cars. She needed time to process everything that had happened, and the long drive ahead would give her space to think.

Harry, on the other hand, felt the weight of his mistakes. He knew he had to find a way to mend things with Y/N, but for now, all he could do was hope she would give him the chance to explain.

As they loaded their bags into the cars, Sarah approached Y/N, offering a reassuring smile. “I am guessing he fucked up, huh?” she asked softly, her eyes full of concern.

Y/N nodded, though she didn’t entirely feel okay. “I’ll be fine” she replied, appreciating Sarah’s support. “I just need some time to think.”

Sarah nodded in understanding, giving Y/N’s arm a gentle squeeze. “If you need to talk, I’m here.”

“Thanks,” Y/N said, managing a small smile.

The group split into two cars, with Y/N, Sarah, and Mitch in one, and Harry, Ivy, James, and Sebastian in the other. As they hit the road, Y/N stared out the window, her mind racing with thoughts of Harry and Ivy.

In the other car, Harry sat in the back seat, lost in thought. He wished he could rewind the past few hours and make different choices, but he knew he could only move forward from here.

Ivy, sitting next to him, seemed unfazed by the morning’s events. She chatted with James and Sebastian, acting as if nothing unusual had happened. Harry couldn’t help but feel frustrated by her behavior, realizing how much trouble her actions had caused.

Meanwhile, James glanced at Harry through the rearview mirror. Despite his earlier skepticism, he hoped the trip would provide an opportunity for everyone to clear the air and enjoy their time together.

As they drove north, the scenery gradually changed, and the tension in the cars began to ease. The friends made small talk, trying to lift the mood and focus on the adventure ahead. Y/N, though still distracted by her thoughts, gradually began to relax, determined to make the most of the trip despite the rocky start.

As they reached the North Shore, the group admired the stunning landscape and breathed in the fresh air, momentarily setting aside their worries. Y/N knew that the real conversation with Harry would have to wait, but for now, she was content to enjoy the beauty of the moment and the company of her friends.