Chapter 5 — A Warm House

By the time Harry finally left Abby’s house that evening, the sky above Greenfield Town had already turned dark blue.

Cold wind moved gently through the quiet streets while soft yellow lights glowed from nearby houses. Harry walked slowly beside Abby toward the front door, still holding his chemistry notebook against his chest.

For some reason, he didn’t want the evening to end.

It felt strange.

Usually, Harry rushed home after school to escape people.

But today had been different.

Today had actually been… nice.

Abby opened the front door for him and leaned casually against the frame.

“You survived meeting my parents,” she teased.

Harry gave a nervous smile. “Barely.”

Abby laughed softly.

“You were so tense when you came inside. I thought you might faint.”

“I’m not used to people being that nice to me.”

The words slipped out before Harry could stop them.

For a brief moment, Abby’s smile faded slightly.

Not out of pity.

Out of sadness.

Because she realized he meant it.

“You should get used to it,” she said quietly.

Harry looked at her, confused.

“You deserve kindness too.”

His chest tightened unexpectedly.

Nobody had ever said something like that to him before.

Harry quickly looked away before Abby could notice the emotion in his eyes.

“Well… thanks for inviting me.”

“Anytime, partner.”

Harry shook his head with a quiet laugh.

“You really like calling me that.”

“Of course,” Abby grinned. “We’re officially chemistry survivors now.”

Harry smiled again.

A real one.

The kind that appeared naturally around her.

As he turned to leave, Abby suddenly called out again.

“Harry?”

He looked back.

“I’m glad we met.”

For a second, Harry completely forgot how to breathe.

He stared at her silently before managing a soft reply.

“Me too.”

Then he walked home with a strange warmth inside his chest.

The moment Harry entered his house, Sophia noticed the expression on his face immediately.

“Well,” she said while crossing her arms playfully, “someone looks happy.”

Harry froze.

“I always look like this.”

Daniel raised an eyebrow from the couch. “No, usually you look like school personally offended you.”

Harry sighed in embarrassment.

“It was just a normal day.”

Sophia smiled knowingly. “Did you make a new friend?”

Harry hesitated.

Then slowly nodded.

“A girl?”

Harry nearly tripped over his own shoes.

“Mom!”

Sophia laughed while Daniel smirked behind his coffee mug.

Harry quickly escaped toward his room before they could continue teasing him.

Inside his bedroom, he placed his bag near the desk and collapsed onto the bed.

But unlike most nights, his mind wasn’t full of painful memories or loneliness.

Instead, he kept remembering Abby’s laughter.

Her smile.

The way she spoke to him like he actually mattered.

Harry stared at the ceiling quietly.

Then, without realizing it…

He smiled again.

The next morning arrived with bright sunlight shining through Harry’s bedroom window.

For the first time in years, he woke up before his alarm.

And for the first time in years…

He didn’t hate the idea of going to school.

After getting ready, Harry hurried downstairs where his parents were eating breakfast.

Sophia immediately noticed his improved mood again.

“There’s definitely a girl involved.”

Harry groaned dramatically. “Can we not do this every morning?”

Daniel chuckled softly.

Harry quickly finished eating before grabbing his bag and rushing outside.

Abby was already waiting near the sidewalk.

The moment she saw him, she smiled brightly.

“Morning, Harry.”

“Morning.”

“You’re early today.”

“So are you.”

Abby shrugged casually. “I got bored.”

As they walked toward the bus stop together, Harry noticed how natural things had become between them already.

A few days ago, silence between them felt awkward.

Now it felt comfortable.

Abby suddenly glanced toward him.

“You know, you talk more when it’s just us.”

Harry looked slightly embarrassed. “I guess.”

“That’s good.”

“Why?”

“Because your voice deserves to be heard too.”

Harry stared at her quietly.

Again.

Again she said things nobody had ever told him before.

The bus soon arrived, and as expected, students immediately began whispering once Harry and Abby entered together.

Ethan Cole watched them carefully from the back.

But this time, Harry noticed something different.

The comments still bothered him…

Just not as much.

Because Abby was beside him.

And somehow, that made things easier.

Inside chemistry class, Mr. Raymond walked toward the board while students settled into their seats.

“Your projects are due in two weeks,” he announced. “I expect serious effort from all of you.”

Abby leaned toward Harry and whispered dramatically, “We’re doomed.”

Harry quietly laughed.

Mr. Raymond immediately looked toward them.

“Something funny, Miss Rogers?”

Abby smiled innocently. “No, sir.”

Harry tried hiding his smile while Abby grinned proudly beside him.

Throughout class, they worked together on notes and project ideas. Occasionally their hands brushed while reaching for papers, causing Harry to awkwardly pull away every single time.

Abby clearly noticed.

But instead of teasing him, she simply smiled softly.

At lunch break, they walked toward the courtyard together again.

However, before they could sit beneath their usual tree, a voice stopped them.

“Abby!”

A tall boy from the soccer team approached confidently with a charming smile.

Harry instantly recognized him.

Ryan Turner.

Popular.

Athletic.

Exactly the kind of person Abby should probably be friends with instead of him.

“Hey,” Abby greeted politely.

Ryan glanced briefly toward Harry before focusing back on Abby.

“A few of us are hanging out this weekend. You should come.”

Harry quietly looked away.

Of course people wanted Abby around.

She fit perfectly with students like Ryan.

Not with someone like him.

Abby smiled politely. “Maybe.”

Ryan nodded confidently. “Cool. I’ll text you.”

After he walked away, Harry forced himself to sound casual.

“He seems nice.”

Abby looked toward him carefully.

“You got quiet suddenly.”

“I’m fine.”

“Harry.”

He sighed softly.

“You should probably spend time with people like him.”

Abby frowned slightly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I mean…” Harry hesitated. “You’re popular already. You don’t really need to keep hanging around me.”

Abby stared at him in disbelief.

“Do you seriously think I’m only talking to you because I have nobody else?”

Harry immediately regretted saying it.

“No, I just—”

“I spend time with you because I want to.”

Her voice sounded firmer now.

Harry lowered his eyes quietly.

“I’m sorry.”

Abby’s expression softened again after a moment.

“Harry… stop acting like you’re difficult to care about.”

Those words hit him harder than she probably realized.

Because deep inside, Harry had spent years believing exactly that.

That caring about him was a burden.

That eventually everyone would leave.

But Abby kept proving him wrong.

Again and again.

The rest of lunch passed more quietly.

But before returning to class, Abby gently nudged his shoulder.

“You’re stuck with me now anyway.”

Harry looked at her.

And despite everything…

He smiled.

Because for the first time in his life, the idea of someone staying beside him didn’t feel impossible anymore.

And little by little, the lonely boy everyone ignored was beginning to believe he mattered to someone after all.

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