The Boy Is Mine

Maybe it’s me

Harry woke up to the warmth of the morning sun streaming through his window. As he stretched, his gaze instinctively fell on the sketch he had done of the stranger the day before. He couldn't help but smile, feeling a flutter in his chest as he took in the strong jawline and piercing eyes he had so carefully rendered.

Just then, his maid, Maria, entered his room, a gentle smile on her face. "Good morning, Master Harry. It's time to get ready for breakfast. Your parents are waiting."

Harry nodded, still lost in thought. Maria busied herself opening his curtains and tidying up his room, casting discreet glances at the sketch on his nightstand. She had worked for the family long enough to know that Harry was a kind and gentle soul, but also a bit of a daydreamer.

As Harry finally tore his gaze away from the sketch, Maria couldn't help but notice the faraway look in his eyes. She had seen it before, when he was lost in thought or gazing at some new crush. And speaking of crushes, Maria had heard the whispers among the staff about how every boy and girl in school had a crush on Master Harry. With his chiseled features, piercing blue eyes, and charming smile, it was no wonder. But Maria knew that Harry's heart was kind and genuine, and she hoped whoever captured it would treat it with care.

As Maria busied herself with his wardrobe, Harry couldn't help but wonder what the day might bring. Would he see the stranger again? And what would happen when their paths crossed once more?

Harry's eyes remained fixed on the sketch he had made of the stranger, his mind lost in thought. The sudden ring of his phone broke the silence, making Harry's heart skip a beat.

He slowly reached over to his nightstand, his gaze still locked on the sketch, and picked up the phone. "Hello?" he answered, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Hey, Harry! Rise and shine, buddy!" Bosco's voice boomed through the phone, shattering the tranquility of the moment. "Dr. Hanswell's got a surprise test for us today, and it's at 8:30 am sharp!"

Harry's eyes never left the sketch as he listened to Bosco's warning. Maria, sensing his tension, paused in her tidying, her eyes fixed on Harry with concern.

"Alright, alright. Thanks for the warning, Bosco. See you soon," Harry said, his voice still distant, his mind preoccupied with the stranger and the sketch that seemed to be drawing him in.

As he hung up the phone, Maria approached him, her voice soft. "Master Harry, shall I lay out your clothes for school? You don't want to be late for your test."

Harry nodded absently, his eyes finally tearing away from the sketch. "Yes, Maria. Thank you."

Maria's eyes lingered on the sketch before she turned to leave, a hint of curiosity on her face. Harry's gaze returned to the sketch, his mind still lost in thought, the stranger's eyes seeming to gaze back at him.

Harry's gaze remained fixed on the sketch, his mind a million miles away, until suddenly, he exclaimed, "Oh s**t!" and snapped back into reality. He looked up at the clock on the wall and his heart sank. It was already 7:00 am! He wasn't even close to being ready for school.

Panic set in as he leapt out of bed, his movements swift and urgent. He dashed into the bathroom, not even bothering to close the door behind him. He turned on the shower, the water blasting hot and fierce, and stepped under its refreshing cascade.

As the water poured down on him, Harry's mind raced with thoughts of the test, Dr. Hanswell's stern face, and the consequences of being late. He scrubbed his hair and body with lightning speed, his heart still racing with anxiety.

"Maria! I need my clothes, now!" he yelled out, hoping she was still in the room.

Maria's voice replied, "Coming, Master Harry!"

Harry turned off the shower and stepped out, water dripping from his hair and body. He grabbed a towel and began to dry himself, his eyes fixed on the clock. 7:05 am. He was running out of time...

Maria rushed in with his school uniform, and Harry hastily put it on, his fingers fumbling with the buttons and tie. He barely had time to brush his hair and grab his backpack before he was out the door, racing against the clock.

As he ran down the stairs, he called out to Maria, "Tell Mother and Father I'll see them at dinner! I've got to go, I'm going to be late!"

Maria's voice echoed after him, "Good luck, Master Harry! Don't worry, I'll tell them!.

Harry rushed out of the house, his car keys already in hand. He unlocked his sleek, black sports car and jumped in, starting the engine with a roar. He peeled out of the driveway, tires screeching, and sped down the road, his heart racing with the thrill of the rush.

As he drove, he glanced at the clock on the dashboard - 7:10 am. He was cutting it close, but he knew he could make it to school on time. He pushed the pedal to the metal, the wind whipping through his hair as he sped down the highway.

The streets were still relatively empty, and Harry took advantage of the open road, weaving in and out of lanes with ease. He finally arrived at school, pulling into his designated parking spot with mere minutes to spare.

He grabbed his backpack and jumped out of the car, slamming the door shut behind him. With a deep breath, he headed towards the school entrance. Here's the revised scene:

Harry burst through the classroom door, his eyes scanning the room for an empty seat. Dr. Hanswell was nowhere to be seen, but the other students were already seated, chatting quietly. Harry's gaze landed on Bosco, who was grinning at him from across the room. He hurried over to grab the empty seat next to his friend.

"Cutting it close, Harry!" Bosco whispered, as Harry slid into the seat.

Harry flashed a charming smile. "Just making a fashionably late entrance, Bosco."

Bosco chuckled. "Well, you're just in time. Hanswell's not here yet, but I'm sure he'll be thrilled to see you're prepared... as always."

Harry winked. "Hey, someone's got to keep the grades up in this school. And it might as well be me."

Bosco snorted. "You're not a genius, Harry. You just have a good memory and a knack for guessing what Hanswell wants to hear."

Harry shrugged, his eyes scanning the room. "Hey, whatever works, right?"

Dr. Hanswell's arrival interrupted their conversation, and the class fell silent as he began to write on the blackboard. Harry's eyes never left the board, his mind focused on the test ahead.

Dr. Hanswell wrote the final question on the blackboard and turned to face the class. "And that's all the time we have for today, class. Please put your pens down and pass your scripts to the front."

Harry sighed in relief, rubbing his tired eyes. He gathered his papers and handed them to Bosco, who stacked them neatly and passed them to the student in front.

Dr. Hanswell collected the scripts, his expression stern as always. "I'll have these graded and posted by the end of the week. Don't expect any cakewalks, class. This test was challenging, and I expect to see some... interesting results."

With that, he turned and left the classroom, leaving the students to breathe a collective sigh of relief. Harry stood up, stretching his long frame and grinning at Bosco.

"Well, that was fun. I'm starving. Let's go grab some lunch!"

Bosco chuckled, clapping Harry on the back. "You're always thinking about food, Harry. But yeah, let's get out of here. I need some fresh air after that grueling test."

The two friends walked out of the classroom, joining the throngs of students flooding the hallway. Harry and Bosco made their way to the canteen, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon filling the air. Harry's stomach growled, reminding him that he had skipped breakfast in his rush to get to school on time.

"Hey, Bosco, I'm starving! I didn't have breakfast this morning," Harry said, scanning the menu board.

Bosco raised an eyebrow. "You know, for a genius, you're not very bright sometimes. Skipping breakfast? Really?"

Harry chuckled. "Hey, I was running late, okay? And I didn't want to be late for Hanswell's test. That's just asking for trouble."

Bosco shook his head, grinning. "Well, let's get you some fuel then. What'll it be? Pancakes, eggs, or...?"

Harry's eyes landed on the breakfast specials. "Ooh, bacon and sausage sandwich, please. And a large coffee."

Bosco laughed. "You're going to turn into a coffee bean one of these days, Harry."

Harry smiled, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. "Can't help it. Caffeine is the lifeblood of the intelligent."

The canteen staff handed Harry his breakfast, and he dug in with gusto, savoring the crispy bacon and savory sausage. Ah, much better.

As Harry was sitting with his friend Bosco in the canteen, chatting and laughing over their meals. Suddenly, his eyes landed on a familiar figure walking into the canteen - Jake.

Without hesitation, Harry turned to Bosco and said, "Hey, I'm actually craving something sweet now. Think I'll go grab some pancakes."

Bosco raised an eyebrow. "Really? You just finished breakfast."

Harry shrugged. "Yeah, I know, but I can't resist the pancakes here. Be right back."

Without waiting for a response, Harry stood up and casually made his way towards the direction where Jake was heading. He tried to appear nonchalant, but his eyes were fixed on Jake's tall figure as he walked towards the food counter.

As Jake waited in line to place his order, Harry slowed his pace, pretending to examine the menu board, all the while keeping an eye on Jake. He was determined to finally get a chance to talk to him.

Harry approached Jake, who was now sitting down with his food, and cleared his throat to get his attention.

"Hey, mind if I join you?" Harry asked, already knowing the answer.

Jake looked up, slightly surprised, and nodded curtly.

Harry sat down and introduced himself. "I'm Harry. We met before, actually. At Dr. Thompson's office. It was brief, but I remembered you."

Jake's expression turned from neutral to curious, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Oh? I don't recall."

Harry smiled. "Yeah, it was quick. I was leaving as you were arriving. But I noticed you and thought you seemed...really cool."

Jake raised an eyebrow, amused by Harry's confidence. "Really cool?"

Harry nodded, his eyes shining with enthusiasm. "Yeah! And I wanted to get to know you better. What's your name?"

Jake's expression softened slightly, and he replied, "I'm Jake."

Harry grinned. "Nice to meet you, Jake. So, what's your major?"

Jake's response was brief, his tone polite but distant. "Literature."

Harry nodded, undeterred. "Cool! I'm a junior, studying business. Maybe we can grab coffee sometime and talk more?"

Jake's expression turned polite but firm. "I don't think so, Harry. I'm a senior, and I'm pretty busy with my studies."

Harry's face fell, but he tried to hide his disappointment. "Oh, okay! No worries, Jake. Maybe I'll see you around campus then?"

Jake nodded, his eyes already drifting back to his food, signaling the end of the conversation.

Harry walked back to the table where Bosco was sitting, his footsteps echoing through the canteen. He tried to appear nonchalant, but his mind was still replaying the conversation with Jake.

As he approached the table, Bosco looked up from his phone, a hint of confusion on his face. "Hey, where are the pancakes? You said you were going to get some."

Harry's face turned bright red as he realized his mistake. "Oh, uh, I...I forgot."

Bosco raised an eyebrow. "Forgot? You were so excited about getting pancakes, and now you just forgot?"

Harry laughed nervously. "Yeah, I guess I just got distracted. Sorry about that."

Bosco shook his head, chuckling. "Well, I guess I'll just have to get my own pancakes next time. Nice try, Harry."

Harry grinned, relieved that Bosco didn't suspect anything. "Yeah, sorry again. I'll make it up to you next time."

Harry sat back down at the table, trying to shake off the conversation with Jake. But Jake's words kept echoing in his mind: "I don't think so, Harry. I'm a senior, and I'm pretty busy with my studies."

Harry's face grew hot with frustration and embarrassment. He felt like he had been rejected, and it stung.

Bosco, oblivious to Harry's inner turmoil, continued to chat and laugh, enjoying his meal.

But Harry's appetite had vanished. He pushed his food around his plate, feeling a knot in his stomach.

Suddenly, he slammed his fist on the table, making Bosco jump in surprise.

"I don't want to eat anymore," Harry growled, his voice low and tense.

Bosco's expression turned concerned. "Hey, what's wrong? You were really looking forward to this meal."

Harry shook his head, feeling a mix of anger and disappointment. "I just feel bad, okay? I don't want to talk about it."

Bosco nodded, sensing that something was wrong. "Alright, no worries. Let's just ditch the food and get out of here, yeah?"

Harry nodded curtly, already standing up and preparing to leave. Bosco followed, casting worried glances at his friend as they walked out of the canteen.

As Harry and Bosco walked out of the canteen, they passed by Jake's seat, where he was still eating his meal. Harry's heart skipped a beat as their eyes met, but Jake's expression remained neutral, almost disinterested.

Harry, feeling a bit self-conscious, tried to catch Jake's attention, but Jake's gaze simply slid past him, like he was invisible. It was as if Harry's presence didn't even register on Jake's radar.

Bosco, engrossed in his phone, didn't notice the exchange. He was scrolling through social media, oblivious to the tension between Harry and Jake.

Harry nodded to himself, trying to shake off the feeling of rejection. He quickened his pace, leaving Jake and the canteen behind. Bosco followed closely, still absorbed in his phone, unaware of the subtle drama that had just unfolded.

As they exited the canteen, Harry let out a quiet sigh, trying to put the encounter out of his mind. Bosco remained engrossed in his phone, completely clueless about the brief, awkward moment between Harry and Jake.