Let the record show....

Harri's POV

"Right. So I called this meeting to discuss the interest that the two parties before me have in accompanying each other to the Halloween fundraiser. Are all parties present and accounted for?"

"Harri, stop being an idiot. You know we are both here. We're sitting right in front of you!" My brother says looking to Jazz for support.

"Let the record show that both parties are present," I state for the non-existent minutes.

"Harri!" Theo exclaims in frustration at the formality.

I look across the table to the two panellists and see Jazz sitting there with a smirk, her hands folded on the table in front of her. I nod in her direction, silently acknowledging the fact that for the first time in her life Jazz has managed to not only sit still but to sit quietly.

I clear my throat, "now as you're aware, Theo Harlow has requested, my dear friend Jasmine Lee join him in the Halloween festivities. Likewise, Jasmine Lee has expressed interest in accepting this request. As the binding link in his chain, I, Harriet Harlow, would like to establish some ground rules for this pairing."

"Oh for fuc—."

"—tsk tsk, dearest brother. Your suitor does not like swearing. Thereby all cuss words must now be swapped for food-related items. May I suggest the word fructose be used on this occasion?" I ask rhetorically interrupting him before he can finish.

"Oh for fructose's sake, Harri! I can't believe I agreed to this," he says without missing a beat.

"Yes, well you did. So shut up!" I snap, before smiling sweetly at them both.

"Now as I was saying—."

"Jesus, H. You really are evil," he mutters under his breath.

He didn't really have much choice in agreeing to the matter. After I told Jazz about his admission, and after my conversation with SJ, I decided that I needed to sit down with them both to discuss their impending date. Sure, I didn't need to be so formal, but a small part of me is enjoying watching them squirm. After all, if I am going to have put up with watching them be together until one or both of them get sick of each other, then I am going to take advantage of this while I can.

Theo had originally told me in no uncertain terms what I could do to myself when I told him that I wanted to set some ground rules, but after he realized that it was the only way that Jazz, and I, would agree to the date, he reluctantly accepted his fate.

Jazz, on the other hand, had insisted that she couldn't date him, despite the fact that she quite clearly has a thing for him because it was against the rules of "the sisterhood." But after two days of watching her mope around, I had finally had enough. That, and the sugar spiral she had entered by consuming a record number of gummies since we first discussed the matter had really helped to make up my mind.

"Ok, the ground rules," I continue ignoring Theo's outburst. "Number one, I will not become the third wheel in this," I say gesturing between the two of them with my hand. To which they both nod in agreement. "This means, that all current Jazz time will remain as is, and all Theo time will remain as is."

Theo scoffs, "we don't spend any time together as it is Harri."

"Good. Then it won't be an issue will it?" I counter.

He rolls his eyes, which I notice are the same grey as mine. "I guess it won't."

"I will, however, make an exception at lunchtime. We, as a collective, may sit together, however, there will be minimal public displays of affection particularly in my presence." I look to Jazz who is still sitting there quietly, which surely must be her personal record.

I carry on, "secondly, as Jazz's best friend I will by default always take her side in any impending discussions/arguments no matter how illogical they may seem."

He grunts, "what a surprise..."

"Shh!" I instruct. "This brings me to my third point. I love you both, and I want to see you both happy. And yes, Theo that includes you," I say dryly.

"I love you too, Sis." he breathes so quietly it's almost inaudible. However, I do detect the beginnings of a smile coming across his face.

"Don't interrupt me," I order, my face unintentionally mimicking his smile. "As I was saying. I love you both and want to see you happy so don't falafel this up!"

"Aww, Harri. You big frutilooping softy," Jazz exclaims half jumping over the tablet that stands between us enveloping me into a hug.

"I take that as your consent to the agreement?" I splutter between mouthfuls of her hair.

"Yes!" She cries.

"Theo?"

"Yes, Harri. Honestly, this seems like a lot of effort for one date," he replies.

"Hey buddy, I didn't make the rules— Oh, wait! Yes, I did!" I tease.

I glance at him over the top of Jazz's shoulder and see him mouth the words "thank you" in my direction. I nod acceptance but also silently tell him that he better not fudge this up.

I stop short of making them sign the agreement but leave as they start discussion couples costumes. "What have I got myself into?" I mutter as I leave the room.

A short time later Jazz joins me in the lounge. "So he's going to be the Danny to my Sandy," she says plonking down next to me, referencing her Grease inspired costume.

"Of course he is," I answer only half listening.

She sighs loudly, grabbing my cheek forcing me to look at her, "you know H, no matter what happens I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me!"

"Okay, but just let me say this now. If he breaks your heart I'm sorry and I warned you." I say, solemnly.

"H, it's one date. Plus, I'm still hanging on hope that Jax will come find me." She smiles wickedly at me.

"You hussy!" I tease.

She wiggles her brows. "You know it!"

"Maybe I should be telling you not to break his heart?"

She winks at me, "probably the safer bet."

Later that night I lay awake staring at the ceiling thinking about what I've done. I can't believe I've just agreed to let my best friend, my only friend, date my brother. My brother! The one who can't even offer me a lift home in the rain.

The one who thinks it's acceptable to eat mouldy cheese, "as long as you cut around the mouldy bit".

The one who insists that Stranger Things was overhyped.

I mean he is basically a barbarian.

Then again he did he did ask me for permission before he asked Jazz out, and he did agree to my rules so he can't be all bad. Can he?

It is at this point I decide that trying to sleep is pointless, so I sneak downstairs to curl up in the darkness of the couch with my phone in hand.

"Well, I did it. I gave Jazz and Theo my blessing. I hope you're right about this." I text.

Almost as quickly as I press send I get a reply, "I'm always right."

"Woah, you're there! I thought I'd have to wait hours for a reply."

"Nah, just finishing up work."

"Isn't it like early morning there?"

"Where?"

"Where ever you are?"

"And where is that?"

"I don't know, but I figured that you're a few hours in front of me and since it's 2 am here...."

"So you've been stalking me?"

"Tried too, but I don't know anything about you."

"What do you want to know?"

"Everything...."

"Ok, I'll give you three questions and I'll answer them as honestly as I can."

"Only three?"

"For now.... we've got keep something to talk about for years to come."

"Years?"

"Just ask your questions, H ;)"

"Wait... let me call you," he texts.

A second later he is FaceTiming me. I am reluctant to answer because I am not wearing any makeup and my eyes are swollen due to lack of sleep. Then again it's dark in here so hopefully, he can't see much, and I really do enjoy our chats.

"Hey," he says as I accept the call.

I reply with a smile as I struggle once again to see anything other than his distorted outline.  "Hey. Long time, no see," I joke.

"You've never seen me?"

'I know that why it's funny." I say trying not to laugh too loud so as not to wake my parents.

"Okay so ask your questions, H," he instructs as his fuzzy figure rubs his hand over the back of his neck.

I go in hard. "Ok. What do you do? As in, why are you away from home?"

"Ahhh... Let's just say I'm in the entertainment industry."

"You're a stripper?!?" I question.

He bursts into laughter so hard that I hear him start to hear him wheeze, "lol. No! Why would you think that?"

"You said entertainment..." I answer with a snort.

"Are your brain went there?"

"Well.... yeah," I tell him, not sure exactly what it says about me. "If not that, then what?" I ask cheekily.

"I'm in the music industry," he answers still catching his breath.

"Oh... that's cool. Are you like a DJ?"

I watch as the figure on the screen smirks. If I stare hard enough I can almost see his dimple. "Is that question number two?"

"No. Still question number one.

"Nope, that as much as you're getting on that one," he says putting his foot down.

"Boo!" I pout hoping that he will change his mind.

"That's not going to work on me. Now, what's question number two?"

"So you're away from home. Who do you miss the most?"

"My Dad," he replies quietly.

"You haven't mentioned him before," I ask curiously.

"He passed away when I was young. Cancer."

"Oh, Shittake." I throw my hand over my mouth, and mumble my apologies, "I am so sorry. I didn't mean to push."

"No, it's ok. It was a long time ago, but I still miss him, you know?"

I can't be certain because all I can see is his the blurred outline but I think I see a glisten of a tear form in his green eyes. "I can't even imagine," I say in an effort to console him.

"I hope you don't have too."

I look into the screen again without saying a word. I see an indefinable smile form on his face as if he is reassuring me that he is okay.

'Ok, ok. Enough of this sappy shiitake. What's question number three?" he asks breaking the tension.

"Tell me something that no one else knows about you."

"Wow! You're going all in..." he mumbles.

I let out a quiet chuckle. "I have to take advantage of this while I can." I tease.

"Okay, so something no one else knows about me. Um.... Okay. Here it goes. I am fortunate enough to be doing what I've always wanted to do--"

"Stripping?" I interject with a laugh.

He bursts out into laughter again, "haha, no. Not stripping."

"Sorry, please continue."

"So I'm doing what I've always wanted to do, but I am worried that this is as good as it gets and at some point, I am going to have to pay for all the good fortune that I've had..." he says trailing off.

"Phew...that's deep. So, ergh... ummm... do you want my opinion?" I ask tentatively.

He smiles on the one side of his mouth, 'sure."

"It's all about perspective. You can't really appreciate how good things are until you've experienced how bad they can be. And from what you just told me you've had some pretty bad times in your life.

Plus good things come to good people, SJ. And I firmly believe that everything you have is because you worked hard for it and you earned it. Yeah, so maybe this is as good as it gets, but maybe it isn't AND isn't that all the more reason to enjoy it while you can, instead of dreading the future?"

He looks at me through the screen. "Wow! Have you considered a career as a motivational speaker."

"I'm serious, SJ. It's all about perspective."

"Of course, you're right and sometimes it never hurts to hear that. You're okay, you know that Harri?"

"So I've been told," I reply with a grin.

Although I can't really see them, I feel his eyes giving me the once-over. "Now, I'll give you one more question. Let's call it a bonus question. Make it a good one."

I think for a little bit, I wasn't prepared for this, I say to myself as I breathe in deep and avert my gaze from the screen. 'Here goes.... why do you like me?"

"Oh." he sighs with surprise.

"You don't have to answer that SJ," I reply in an attempt to immediately take back the question.

"No. I'd like to."

I force myself to look back at the screen when I see the shadowy figure looking down and to their left. "Basically, I feel like I can be myself around you. There is no pretending to be someone that I not, or pretending to be someone that I've been told to be.

I feel comfortable with you. You make me laugh. You're awkward just like I am, and that's okay.

You have these really pretty grey eyes that I can't help but stare at and.... you're real."

I can feel my face blushing harder than I think it ever has before. Luckily it's dark in the lounge and from my position on the couch I am hopeful that SJ can't see it. "Thank you, SJ. I feel the same." I mutter embarrassedly.

We talk like this for a few more hours crossing between intensely deep conversations about his dad, to the time he lost his swimming shorts diving into a river. Eventually, though I feel my eye closing as I fall asleep my phone still in my hand, SJ still on the other end of the screen.

I wake a few hours later as the sun streams through a gap in the curtains of the front window. As I roll off the couch I look at my phone as see that SJ must have ended the call sometime after I fell asleep. I text him a heart emoji, because we do that now, and get ready to face another day.

----

Authors note (feel free to skip).

Hey everyone,

What did you think of Harri's conference with Theo and Jazz (aka Jeo)?

Also when I started writing this chapter I didn't mean for the second half to be as deep as it is but I thought it was important to show how much trust SJ has in Harri. After all, everyone is always trying to find out his secrets, it must be nice for him to have someone to talk too outside the band. What do you think?

You probably noticed that I've been in a writing /publishing frenzy, well this is the last of the chapters I have written atm. I am hoping to write some more in the next day or two but tomorrow I am FINALLY  graduating from University (Australian College) after 4  years of part-time study and full-time work (hence why I now have time to write). So I'll not have much time to write. But I'll be back the day after.

Anyway, something big is coming.... we're only a few chapters away. And YES I am talking about Harri and Senna (aka Serri - name provided by the wonderful  @hufflepuffy_Disney) meeting. Any guesses where/how it will happen?

- Trudz