Harry Styles is picking me up

The floor of my room is cluttered with all of the clothing items I own. The mess is big but it was worth it-I think.

My head tilts as I assess my look in the mirror. My blonde hair is up in a messy knot with some escaping tendrils framing my face. I turn on my side to see how the black cotton dress drapes around me, the hem reaching just above my knees.

Sheer black thigh highs cover my legs because I don't want to freeze to death but maybe I should just endure the cold weather.

Ugh. The struggle is big.

I go on my right knee to tie the shoelace of one of my boots.

Maybe I should go for my Vans.

"You look great in this and all the other outfits you showed me. Can we go now?" Hardin demands without looking at me. He's laying down on my bed, his dirty black Converse trainers on, his face partially covered by my mum's copy of Pride and Prejudice-the guy looks as if he would've lived here all of his life.

"Yeah, you really think so?" I doubt, pursing my lips.

He rolls his eyes in reply, his eyes quickly returning to the book before him. Defeated by his attitude, I just grab my coat. God, I don't know how Tessa deals with him. I fasten the lace around my waist and I start mentally checking the things I need for the bonfire. Where's my bag? My eyes dance around the mess in my room.

Oh, there it is. I hang the strap of my black shiny bag over my shoulder.

Hardin stands up, dropping the book on my bed. "What did the poor book do to you?" he asks, referring to the state of my poor copy.

"Long story. I'll tell you about it on the drive to the bonfire."

Walking toward the door, I grab the opened book of After and look at Hardin before closing it.

"You ready?" I ask.

"Make sure to open the book on the page that we said. I need my car and some peace of mind," he states, tired.

"Yes, sure," assure him. "Wait for me outside, okay?"

He nods, and I take that as consent to close his book.

As he vanishes, I look around me to find myself alone. I think I'm in denial of how amazing this whole situation is. From the corner of my eye, I spot Lukah's burnt sweater partially tucked in my backpack.

Grabbing it, the burnt smell makes me wince. Quickly, I grab my white musk perfume and I spray it on his clothing. I stuff it inside my bag, and I happily walk away from my room.

According to my calculations, it's still early to leave. Raiden said the party would start at eight, and that he would leave at around seven-thirty. So, right now, at seven o'clock, I think I'm good. I just have to go downstairs open the book and go back home before they notice. I shouldn't waste a second anyway. Taking the elevator downstairs, and walking out to face Toronto's streets, I open the book, and soon Hardin Scott is walking next to me.

I must say that walking next to him gives my confidence a real boost. Smoothly, cold currents of air brush against my face, making my escaping tendrils fly backward as we approach the street. A group of girls giggles, whispering things to each other as they look at us. Another girl that passes by, turns back to check on us- or maybe just on Hardin. This is going to be an interesting evening.

"So, will the car just appear somewhere?" I wonder, looking at the cars parked on my street. Hardin asked me to open the book on a page in which he was driving and alone. And he said that his car would just appear. After everything I have witnessed so far, I'm a believer.

"There it is!" He points to my left.

"Okay. Great. It worked!' I cheer.

"See you in a few minutes?" I ask, turning on my combat boots.

"Wait," he commands and I stop.

He smiles at me, his emerald eyes turning kind. "Why don't you give me the book? I can leave it open on the car."

"Umm. I-, yes, I guess," I stammer, reluctantly handing him the book. Fear grips my heart for a second. It's a powerful feeling to have the story of someone in your hands and that you control when and where he appears.

"Please, take care of it," I beg, my eyes casting to the copy of After.

"It's my story, why would I mess it up? Also, you're coming back in a few minutes, right?" His hand lands on the side of my shoulder, reassuring me.

I shake my head, then I nod. "Yes, you're right. See you in a few minutes." I smile at him.

He walks backward, his lips breaking into a bright smile. "See ya!" he shouts.

I laugh, enjoying how happy he looks that he is out of his story and about to drive around the real world.

Once inside my building again, I dash to one of the elevators as I see the steel door sliding close.

"Hold it!" I shout.

A hand stretches, stopping the steel door so it bounces open again.

Gasping for air, I step to get in. "Thank you so much," I pant.

"Sunset," three people shout at me as they step out from the other elevator, that happens to be on my left.

I freeze, walking a couple of steps backward until I'm out of the elevator. Turning to my left, I see my dad, Raiden, and Lukah exiting the other elevator.

Damn. They stare at me.

"Hi?" I breathe.

"Where were you?" Raiden questions, frowning.

Dad looks at me confused. "I thought you were upstairs."

"Well..." I trail off, thinking of a good lie, my hands buried deep in the pockets of my coat. "I- I thought you were already here and I was just so excited because Harry, I mean Hardin is picking me up."

Lukah chuckles lowly. "Hardin or Harry?"

"What do you care?" I give him a sideways look. Oh my, I should be nice to him. I have his burnt sweater in my bag.

"Well, where's Harry, Hardin, whatever his name is?"Raiden demands as we start walking outside the building.

"He's waiting for me in his car." I pretend to be calm but I'm scared to death that Hardin may have run away with his book.

I look up, praying to the literature gods to make Hardin a good person and show up here, otherwise, my family will assume I have an imaginary date.

"Let's see." Raiden grins at me and I notice Dad walking with us as well.

"Dad, just go away. I'm going to be okay." I suddenly feel self-conscious about this whole situation.

"But I want to meet Harry," he claims, as we open the glass doors that lead outside our building.

"It's Hardin, by the way." I roll my eyes, dreading this moment.

"Where did you meet him?" Lukah asks.

I scoff. Like, what the hell? I'm not hot enough to tempt him but now he's asking all of these questions.

Raiden crosses his arms. "If he's real you should know how to answer that," he challenges me.

I huff a puff of air. "Raiden, you're so annoying-All of you are. Just let me be. Har- Hardin is a friend from my job at the library." Technically, I'm not lying. I look to one side and the other, trying to find any signs of Hardin.

Turning around, I find my dad is looking in the same direction as I was, craning his neck, looking for my date.

"Dad, please. He's gonna be late. Just go back home," I beg him but he shakes his head.

"Well, if he's late, I'll be here to make sure he's not late again," he insists and I give up, my palms covering my face.

"How old is he?" Raiden asks.

"Does he go to our University too?" Lukah frowns, trying to understand where exactly I met him.

I snort a bit too loudly.

"Yeah. No. I am so not doing this with you." I gesture my hand toward the three of them. "You, all of you, wanted me to be happy and for me to avoid dating all of your damn friends." I poke my brother's shoulder bone. "So, watch me..." I flash Raiden a short, fake smile.

A vintage, black Ford Capri drives in, parking parallel to the line of parked cars, which causes a concert of horns, mingling in the air. My heart bumps against my ribcage as Hardin gets out of the car, unbothered by the angry drivers. Never mind that it's nearly eight o'clock, Hardin always looks good wearing sunglasses.

Flowers. He brought flowers-a beautiful piece of golden cellophane paper wraps a bunch of white roses together as he holds them in his fits.

Praised be the literature gods, God, and anyone who had ever had to do with Hardin Scott picking me up.

I know I'm smiling because my cheeks hurt and because Raiden and Lukah look as if they had seen a ghost.

"It was about time!" I scold Hardin.

He leans toward me, kissing my cheek. "Sorry, love." A blush creeps up my cheeks.

Lukah clears his throat and shares an odd look with my brother.

"Hey, nice to meet you, I'm Harry," Hardin says and I elbow him.

"Harry or Hardin?" Lukah asks, puzzled.

"Hardin, he said Hardin," I clarify as he sneaks an arm around my waist. "And you are...? Sorry, I've never heard your name before," he quizzes Lukah.

I swear I'm gonna die tonight. Hardin is such an amazing book boyfriend. Who would have thought so?

"I'm Lukah," he replies, hardening his features.

Hardin nods his head at him and then shifts his attention to my dad. "And you must be Sunset's father. I heard so much about you," he adds, extending his hand to shake.

My dad is quick to meet his hand and shake it. "Pleased to meet you. Are you from England?"

"I was born there, yes," Hardin comments. "But now I live here."

"Okay. Do you all believe me now?" I ask, beaming.

Raiden snorts. "Not really, maybe I'm dreaming."

"Hey!" I complain. Why can't he just be happy for me?

"For real, though. And he looks kind of familiar to me," Raiden adds.

My blood drains from my face at that comment. Thank God they've never read the series or watched the movies.

"Yeah?" My nose crinkles. "Not really. Now, if you excuse us..." I grab Hardin's hand and aim for his car.

I walk around his car to get in as he opens the door to his seat.

"Sunset!" someone shouts, forcing me to stop.

I look up and I see Dawn, my little sister.

"You forgot your phone!" She waves it in the air as she comes closer and closer to the car.

Heading back to her, I make a few steps and she's already there handing me my phone, but her gaze is locked on Hardin.

"Oh my Gosh!" she screams, startling us all. "You look like Harry Styles!" Her eyes go big as they flicker between him and me.

Hardin looks at me with panicked eyes. "Um, thank you?" He furrows his brows.

"You're right, Dawn. He does look like him, except for all the things on his face," my dad adds.

"Okay, you all. Bye. You're embarrassing me." I jog my way back to his car.

Dawn and Dad look at each other, amazed. And I finally climb inside the car. Hardin turns the key on, the engine roaring to life.

Hardin's hand is heavy with rings as he turns the volume up. Beat-up music cheerfully fills the space between us. The red light shows, and when I look at the car next to us, I see Raiden and Lukah.

"See you at the bonfire, losers!" I shout, raising my voice.

Their reaction is bliss to me.