I looked at myself in the full length mirror in the hotel bathroom. My blue dress looked perfect, I had to say. I wondered if Harry and Vanessa were out waltzing on the dance floor. I pictured him asking her to go outside with him, where they'd sit by a beautiful fountain and he'd ask her to be his girlfriend. Meanwhile, I'd probably be stuck getting thirds at the punch bowl.

  Tiff had curled my hair only an hour ago, and it hung gracefully in bouncy curls that were coated in hairspray so that my hair wouldn't go back to it's natural stage. I knew absolutely nothing about makeup, and Tiff admitted she wasn't the best in that department as well, and we both took turns applying something to our faces and giggling about it afterwards as we scrubbed whatever it was off of our face.

  "I'm sorry, but I cannot handle heels. They'd kill me." Tiff said, throwing the black heels that someone handed to her to try on into the waste bin. I laughed as I slipped into my shiny black flats that were given to me by Tiff. I was smaller than her, so all of her hand me downs were hand-me-downed to me.

  We were already a solid ten minutes late. The party had started just a few minutes ago, and I could tell by the people entering the red carpet. Tiff and I were supposed to wait in here until Niall got us, and then we were going to be escorted down the carpet. Only, the thought of me walking down a bright red carpet with a stranger didn't seem to appealing. And what were they going to do, make Harry do it? Never.

  "You've got to tell him soon. For his own good. I mean, look at Vanessa. Nobody really is that cheery. It isn't humanly possible." Tiff growled. "And it was like she actually knew that she was messing with you last night. I swear I could see her smirking."

  "Or she was just being her smiley self?" I guessed. She rolled her eyes as she fixed the zipper on the green dress she wore. It was a bit longer than mine, but it didn't look like a full on maxi dress. Niall had told her that he wanted to see it, but she said it would be a surprise.

  I heard a door squeak open, and standing in the doorway were Niall and Harry. I was having one of those moments where you're not supposed to smile, but yet you can't help but stand there grinning like an idiot. I tried to picture dead puppies or something to get me to stop, but it was useless.

  Niall was wearing a grey tuxedo with a green tie. Tiff had only told him that her dress was green, and so I either assumed that he was trying to match with her or support the Irish. Either way, he looked fabulous.

  But Harry, that was another thing. There really wasn't much changed about him, and he was the same boy from the park two years ago, but he was incredibly handsome just the same. He was wearing the classical black tux, white undershirt, and black tie. He was grinning at me and I guess he finally saw me looking and gave a little wave.

  "Tiff, that's so pretty. You're so adorable." Niall said before planting a fat kiss on her cheek. I rolled my eyes at them before excusing myself to go off and talk to Harry before I'd go out on the carpet. I wasn't exactly sure where Vanessa was or why Harry was here, but it honestly didn't matter to me. Nothing would ruin this moment. Nothing.

  "You look beautiful." Harry complimented me casually. I reminded myself not to take it in any serious way, and that Harry was just being a gentlemen. At the same time, though, I found myself squealing inside. If he wasn't standing right here I'd probably get up and dance. It was funny, because he didn't even know how I felt and how much that small little sentence meant to me.

  "You don't look too bad yourself." I laughed. "Where's Vanessa?" Okay, I couldn't help it. I was so curious as to where she was, because maybe if I found out she wasn't here than I could actually have a good time at this party tonight.

  "She's not coming. We're sort of... I don't know. It's complicated. She's staying in a different hotel than you guys, just until she catches a plane home." Harry said, his eyebrows furrowing. I knew it would be wrong of me to be happy at this sudden news, but I couldn't control my emotions. I couldn't, because I was absolutely undeniably in love with Harry Edward Styles.

  "I'm sorry." I muttered, looking down at my shoes and wondering if my feet smelled and realizing that it was too late now, anyways. My stomach churned inside me, but I pretended not to be nervous as Niall and Harry laughed about some inside joke while me and Tiff just stared at them and giggled. Hers came out as an actual giggle, but really I was just trying to get over nerves and sounded like a stupid walrus.

  "It's okay, Darcy. All you do is stand next to me and smile for the cameras. Liam's girlfriend, Eleanor, is going too be beside us. She's used to this sort of thing so she'll help you out." Harry promised me. I nodded, my eyes focusing on the crowd and flashing of lights outside. He held out his hand and I took it willingly as we stepped outside into the brisk air.

  I didn't say anything as the four of us walked down the long drive that led toward the building where the massive carpet awaited. I felt stronger holding Harry's hand, and I wondered what Vanessa would think if she saw us right now. Come to think of it, she'd probably see us on a cover of some magazine which I did not want to happen. Again, it was too late now anyways.

  We got closer to the crowd on either sides of the red velvet ropes that trapped them from mobbing us and probably attacking us. I heard some shrieks from a few teenagers when we came into view. I had to squint before my eyes adjusted to the blinding lights on either side of me.

  "Harry!"

  "Turn over here! Harry, lets get a shot of you and Darcy!"

  "Niall! Did you plan on matching with Tiff?"

  "Eleanor! Eleanor, over here! Smile, gorgeous!"

  I turned to see a girl with curly hair that had to be natural, waving to a camera and smiling as she stood next to Liam. He whispered something to her that made her laugh, and she was about to respond when she caught sight of me and ran up to me, leaving Liam standing there and awkwardly waving to a few paparazzi before going off for what I assumed to be a quick interview.

  "So I meet the infamous Darcy Monroe. You look so pretty!" Eleanor said. She had a strong Irish accent and sort of resembled her cousin Niall in the face. I saw that she was wearing cheetah print heels, which I had to admire her for. Wearing heels down a carpet where everyone's eyes were glued to you took some guts.

  "That's me. You're Eleanor?" I said, even though I already knew. She nodded and was about to say something before Liam called her over. She apologized quickly and gave me a nice hug before casually walking back to Liam, who slung his arm around her calmly. I had completely forgotten about Harry, and I turned to see him waiting for me.

  "I'm sorry. She stopped to talk to me." I apologized. We had formed a line where the carpet started, and a few paparazzi were being ushered away from us to give us some space. I was sweating a little bit under the bright lights, and I was suddenly glad for Tiff's small amount of makeup. If Nikki Minaj was here, her makeup would practically be dripping off of her face.

  Before I knew it we were walking down the carpet and people were flashing their cameras at us repeatedly. Harry was definitely photogenic, while I wondered how the picture of me turned out. I guess it didn't really matter, because there was always photo shop that they used on celebrities to make them look better than they really did.

  "Darcy! Are you an Harry just friends?" An interviewer shouted. It was hard to hear him over the buzz of voices even though he was talking through a microphone, and I cupped my hands over my mouth and shouted yes. My eyes lingered to Harry, who was next to me and could hear, but he just kept staying frozen and smiling as always. I shook my head and laughed at him. There was no place that I would rather be.

  I stood on my tiptoes and peered down the carpet, and out of the corner of my eye I could see a figure dressed in all black. I dismissed any worried thoughts for once, thinking it was a bodyguard, and jumped in a picture with Niall, Harry, and Tiff.

  This party was going to be great.

  Oh my gosh, this is a looong chapter. Haha, but you all deserve it! Thank you so much for almost 300,000 reads, over 1,000 votes and comments! I seriously love all of you guys.

  ~Delilah c: