Eight

                                    

                                          
Eighth Call
#
                          
Ring ring. 
                          
"Hello, this is Little Talks Teen Hotline. If you happen to be named Rooney and like to call me Veggie Boy, then say 'cream cheese'. If not then pl-"

                          
"Why 'cream cheese' of all things?"
                          
 
Harry shrugged to himself. "I dunno, I like cream cheese."
                          
 
"I thought you were a vegetarian."
                          
 
"Yeah, I can still eat dairy though, you're thinking of vegans."
                          
 
"That sounds worse than a vegetarian."
                          
 
"Pretty much no product or by-product that came from animals."
                          
 
"Yeesh. They probably can't even eat tree bark."

                          
"Tree bark doesn't come from animals."
                          
 
"No shit, Sherlock."

                          
Harry huffed. "Just making sure you knew."
                          
 
"But seriously, what's with the weird secret password?"

                          
"Someone else called before you and I went on about tights and underwear, thinking it was you."
                          
 
"No freaking way."
                          
 
She laughed like a hyena, making Harry flush a bright red.
                          
 
"It's not that funny."
                          
 
"You're right," Rooney gasped for her breath. "It's hilarious."  She tried to compose herself but broke into another fit of giggles. As embarrassed as he was, Harry still found himself laughing along.
                          
 
"Okay, maybe it was a little funny."
                          
 
"You've got that right." 
                          
 
"So from now on, 'cream cheese' is the password."
                          
 
"Roger that, Veggie Boy. Although it sounds more like a safe word."
                          
 
"Safe word for what?" 
                          
 
"Y'know, for when you're doing the dance with no pants and things get too crazy. Gotta have that safe word, man."
                          
 
"Why anyone would scream 'cream cheese' during sex is beyond me."
                          
 
"Who knows? Maybe it's more of a metaphor for something else."
                          
 
"Grossss. You're head's pretty deep in the gutter today, Roon."
                          
 
"I'm a horny teenager. Sue me." 

                          
"Oh I will, I'll sue your socks off."

                          
"Mm, that's what she said."
                          
 
"Stop it."
                          
 
Rooney laughed. "Okay, okay. Whatever you say, Veg."
                          
 
Harry rolled his eyes. "Uh-huh."  
                          
 
Rooney smacked her lips in thought. "Tell me about your friends, what are they like?"
                          
 
"Well, there's Jessica, she's a cheerleader and in concert choir. She's pretty cool, bubbly and all. Then there's Yasha who almost loves Disney as much as I do, and Allison who's in color guard... They're all sweet and great."

                          
"They sound great."
                          
 
"Yeah, I don't know what I'd do without them."
                          
 
"Must be nice." She sounded wistful. 
                          
 
"Do you wish you had friends at your school?"
                          
 
"I dunno, everyone that goes there is stupid and only care about hashtags and filtering their Instagram pictures. They're all plastic dolls, y'know?"

                          
"I think I do." 

                          
"I just don't fit in, and they don't want me to fit in." 
                          
 
"Well... Jessica loves meeting new people, and although Yasha is shy she'll warm up once she gets to know you, same with Allison."
                          
 
"Wait, are you donating your friends to me?"
                          
 
"Yeah, why not? I'm sure they would love you."
                          
 
"Yeah?"
                          
 
"Mhm."

                          
"Thanks, Sherlock."
                          
 
"No problem, Watson."
                          
 
"But you know we should probably meet each other first. For all you know I might be a creepy serial killer."
                          
 
"Hm, you have a good point there. First things first."

                          
"Great! So it's a date!"
                          
 
Despite himself, Harry's heart jumped. "You wanna go on a date with me?"
                          
 
Rooney retorted too quickly, stumbling over her words. "N-no, doofus! Not in that way!"

                          
"Aw, come on, Roon. Just admit it."
                          
 
"Shut up, I shall admit nothing."
                          
 
"Uh-huh."
                          
 
"...I have to pee." 
                          
 
"You go take care of that."
                          
 
"See ya, doofus."
                          
 
"Goodnight, Roon."
                          
 
Click.

                          
It was the first time Rooney realized that she had feelings for Harry.
                          


                          
Three chapters in one day?! I'm on a roll! Please leave a vote or comment and tell me what you think!