harpersutton-blog

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as long as i have YOU by my side it will be  o k a y. no matter what, at least we have each other.

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“Well then I can teach you how to make it fun! C’mon, I promise it’ll be cool and you’ll get cake out of it so who really loses here?” Harper smiled innocently over at the man.

Noah blushed heavily at that, “Well, I mean we just … there was never much time? We always just bought stuff like that.” he admitted. And since he had had time to do it on his own … well, cooking wasn’t exactly an activity he enjoyed. 

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“It can only be a Bulldog actually because they’re they cutest.” Harper laughed as she searched around for ingredients. She was so used to looking for things in his cabinets they felt almost like her own. Her cheeks turned pink as he spoke, but luckily her reaction was easily hidden by her search through the fridge. “Fine, I guess we’re just two really hot friends who hang out a lot then?” she finally laughed as she turned to him with a handful of spices. “Um, I haven’t really thought about it but I’d kind of like somewhere quieter than Chicago.” she shrugged. “Wouldn’t it be cool to live in some foreign country like Spain or Japan or something? I could learn how to make kick ass sushi. But really I’d just want to be where ever you as my theoretical husband wants to live.” she beamed excitedly. “What about you? Where do you want to live, hm?”

“Can it be a bulldog? We can teach it to skateboard. I don’t think I can do any bigger than a bulldog though. Big dogs scare me.” He rolled his eyes in return. “Are you kidding me? The DUFF? That’s just…that’s a straight up lie. You are unbelievably beautiful, Harp. There is no way you are the DUFF, neither of us are. That’s the beauty of it.” He shook her hand and smiled brightly, feeling actually a bit happy for the first time in weeks. “Well damn, tell me how you really feel. Mr. and Mrs. Wickham. I can deal with that.” He sat on the counter as he watched her work. “Would we live in the suburbs or the city? We can move anywhere you want in the world.”

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“We are totally getting a dog, and we’re naming it something really cool that I haven’t thought of yet.” Harper gave Aaron an amused glance before rolling her eyes. “Thanks but, we all know I’m the DUFF in this relationship. But okay- ten dollars says I don’t get married before you, deal?” she stuck out her hand to playfully shake on the bet. Who knew if they’d even be around to see it through, but it was nice to think about. “Ew, get rid of my last name all together. I’ve had it for thirty years at this point, that’s long enough. Mr. and Mrs. Wickham.” she echoed slightly quieter as she walked into the kitchen.

“Does this mean we get a dog because if so then I am totally down.” He laughed as he opened his door so they could go to the kitchen. “Ms. Sutton, are you calling me hot?” He wiggled his eyebrows, “But come on, like you’re not a total babe. You’re smart, you’re funny, you can cook, you can keep up conversation and you’re gorgeous which doesn’t hurt. You’re totally getting married before me. I’m willing to put money on it. And if not, then you’re stuck with me. Mr. and Mrs. Wickham. Or would it be Sutton-Wickham? These are important things to think about.” 

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Harper couldn’t help the grin that spread from ear to ear. “I guess I could deal with being married to you as a last resort. Hey, we basically act like a married couple now. All we need to do is start arguing about taxes or who takes the dog out. That’s the kind of adults do, right?” Harper laughed at the ridiculousness of the thought as she pulled on her shoes. “But I don’t think we’ll ever need that. I mean, come on A, look at you! If you’re not married by thirty the whole world is probably blind.”

“Hey now, you’re also here to give me great hugs because you my friend…are the best hugger.” He smiled as he grabbed a hoodie and pulled it on, nodding at her question. He nudged her lightly, smiling. “Hey, how about we make a deal, huh? If neither of us are with anyone by the age of 30, we get married. I mean come on, we’d be the coolest married couple, right?”

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Pausing for a split second as he kissed her cheek, another smile appeared as she sighed and scooted away from him. “That’s what I’m here for I guess,” Harper shrugged and stood up. “Just think, in like five years you’re gonna think about this week like... I don’t know, it was just old times.” After another moment where she reflected on the conversation, she nodded as she tried to shake off the thought that she wasn’t sure she’d be in the same place with Aaron in five years. “Still want barbecue?”

He laughed softly and wiped at his face. “Sorry I’m such a baby.” He shook his head. “It’s just been a long week.” He sighed and took a deep breath before he leaned up and kissed her cheek softly. “Thanks for always being there, Harp. You really are the greatest.” He pulled back and took another long breath. “So…food?”

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Harper watched his eyes glisten, feeling a twinge of empathy. Instead of responding instantly, she pulled him into her embrace. “Everything will work out. I don’t know what happened with Maia or Reagan or whoever really but do know that even if you set fire to everything I have I’d still be here. Because I need you.” the remnants of a smile returned as she pulled away from him. “Maybe not more than you need me, but close enough.” Harper joked, trying to lighten his mood.

“More people than you’d think,” he said softly as he met her eyes, tears forming in his own. “I-I got into a big thing with Lila before I left for Chicago. She wants nothing to do with me anymore. And I almost lost Maia and Reagan is mad even though she won’t admit it.” He sighed and rested his head on her chest again. “I just…I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you too. That’d be the worst of them all. It’d be like..losing an actual limb.” He laughed sadly, “Dramatic, I know. But it’s true.”

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She tried not to admit to herself she loved the feeling of being close to him lest it get in the way of her concern. “Aaron,” Harper cooed, her voice still soft as his words rang through her head like an echo she’d never asked to hear. Her face turned to look at him. “I would never leave you. And I don’t think that anyone would leave you if they had a choice. What person in their right mind would want to get rid of someone as smart and fun as you?”

For the first time in weeks he felt calm, just lying there with her, feeling her fingers in his hair. She had always managed to keep him at peace, ever since they were kids. “No, no it wasn’t. Everything happened so fast.” He tightened his hold on her, pulling her closer as he let his eyes close. “I know we’ve been friends for nine years but…you won’t leave me right? I just feel like I’m losing everyone lately. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.”

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“It’s alright, most people just know me from the Diner instead of class anyways- I don’t talk much in classes.” the girl nonchalantly shrugged as she thought nothing more of it. “I like it a lot, but college is hard so- I’m guessing you know the struggle.” Her crystal blue eyes widened as her offered half the carton. “Thank you so much! I’ll make you a cake with these. What kind of cakes do you like?”

“I may have been if it was about a year and a half ago. I was abroad all of last year. Shame on me for never noticing you,” he said with a small smile. “Junior. American Studies. Got it. How do you like it?” He grabbed his pack of eggs and put them on the counter. He took a knife and cute the case in half, careful not to crack any eggs. He held out half of the eggs. “Here you go. Consider it my investment in your baking endeavors.”

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Harper continued to look perplexed until Mimi clarified. “Oh! Okay, that makes sense. I do that kinda stuff all the time. Not nip slips, just the word kind.”

“Like a Freudian slip,” Mimi explained, but then, realising that she still wasn’t getting the point across, offered, “–like a nip slip with words.”

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“Yes please! God knows I need it. I can’t fail again.” the short female sighed. “Whoa. Stop right there-” her held a single palm up in disbelief. “You’ve never baked at all? Not even a boxed cake?”

Noah laughed a little, “Well, I’m picking up more tutoring hours, so maybe I can help with that?” he suggested before pausing for a moment, “Well, um, I’ve never really baked before but … I can try to help?”