Song: When We Were Young, Adele

You and Harry meet again at your college reunion six years after being high-school sweethearts before he left and broke both of your hearts to travel the world as a famous pop-star.

Harry wandered cautiously through the open doors of his old college sports hall. Being back had certainly caused a plethora of different feelings to course though him, and it was because of this that he nearly hadn't come. In some ways, coming back was good, as to be around people who didn't see him as Harry Styles the international celebrity, but just simply as Harry from sixth form, was always something he treasured. And he loved being Harry from sixth form; retelling old stories with mates and catching up with his favourite teachers had a sense of utmost normality and nowadays, Harry gladly took that with open arms.

But if he was being honest, the real reason he knew he had to come tonight, was to try and see you.

Thinking back to his few years in college, he recalled the person you were back then. You were the type to sit in the middle of the popularity food chain, a friends with everyone type of girl, careful to just focus on your studies and get on with your life with no regards for silly college dramas. But, in a way, this attempt to just cruise through and be just a presence in the background had failed.

Everyone loved you, and you never had any idea. From the way you talked to anyone, with bright eyes and a kind smile, the way you moved through the halls looking effortlessly put together in the shitty uniform you all had to wear, meant that you were highly loved and respected by your peers, but completely none the wiser. And because of this? Harry had been enamoured by you from day one.

Harry's anxious, yet hopeful, emerald eyes scanned the room as he sipped a beer with his old friends, before finally coming to rest on what he was seeking. You stood across the room with your own friendship group, laughing and grinning as you caught up with them. Harry felt as though his world stopped as he gazed at you, unable to help the small smile that played at his lips.

You didn't look a day older than when he had last seen you, at eighteen years old, but the way you held yourself and the graceful curves of your slightly fuller, womanly body had Harry's heart contracting wistfully. He was still so in awe of you, just as he had been the day you first met in your shared English Literature class, you were like a dream come true. He continued to watch as people came up to greet you, everyones eyes drawn to you and how time had made everyone realise what a wonderful person you had been and still were.

But as the happy feelings of seeing you again after all these years subsided into feelings of deep regret and sadness, he knew he had to try and get a moment alone with you. Harry loved his friends, but there was no denying that a tingling sense of loneliness was washing over him, as truthfully, you were the only person who knew him best, and he hoped with all his heart that you would still be that person he used to know and love wholeheartedly.

However, the last time you'd seen each other had been a day that still haunted Harry. Losing you was the one big regret of his life, and six years later that feeling had never lessened, but had only been confirmed. He watched your life through social media, as most of you all did, and the constant feeling of wanting to be a part of the things you had gone through - university, jobs, moments of sadness and happiness, the whole lot - had not dimmed in the slightest.

The more he watched you, the more in love with you he still felt. The animated expressions on your pretty face had him gazing devotedly, completely enraptured as if you were his favourite movie. Hearing the tinkling notes of your laughter across the room reminded Harry of how much he missed that noise; it was like listening to his favourite song that he hadn't heard in a while. The whole time he couldn't help but think back to the countless moments you'd shared when you were young; giggling kisses shared in the library as you'd swot his arm telling him you'll get caught, but still sighing contentedly when his lips would brush yours, playing competitive games of dodgeball in your free periods with all your friends, bunking last period to sneak back to his house for some alone time.

If it hadn't had looked so creepy, Harry would've taken a picture to capture this moment permanently of you in your element, surrounded by people who idolised and adored you, while you were completely unaware of the effect you had. A melancholy sense washed over him then, as he realised how similar this moment was to your time in college, but how completely different it was at the same time.

The impact of six years of your lives lived and how it had gone by in the blink of an eye made Harry sad; he'd do anything to slow time and just be able to go back to those couple years spent with you by his side. His life had been movies and songs for so long, but nothing ever came close to the feeling of loving you.

It was as though you knew someone was watching you, as when you glanced up from your conversation, you were met with a pair of eyes following you. Almost choking on your drink when you realised who those unmistakable forest green eyes that you knew all too well belonged to, your own eyes widened into saucers at the realisation that he was here. You turned away quickly, grabbing your friends arm and speaking in a hushed, concerned tone.

"Harry's here, did you know he was coming?"

Aimee's own eyes widened as she looked past you, "Shit, I had no idea Y/N...I don't think anyone expected him to be here."

Hastily, you tried to act natural by releasing Aimee's arm and smoothing down your hair before taking a big gulp of your drink. You had almost been close to not coming tonight, scared of what being back in your college might make you feel. Facing your fears and confronting the tainted memories that this place brought back of you and Harry was something you still weren't sure you were ready to deal with.

It had been six years since he'd left you to move overseas to follow his music career - and you were incredibly proud and supportive at the time - but when you get dumped through a phone call by the love of your life who's already on their way to the airport, those feelings are going to change.

Seeing him standing there, as inviting and handsome as ever, all those unwanted feelings of despair and remorse were still so apparent you felt a lump form in your throat. It was like no time had passed; he still had that boyish charm you'd fallen in love with, but now he was broader, more toned and had that air about him that only time and age provided.

As much as you hated to admit it, you were still hurt over what had happened all those years ago - no-one had come close to what you and Harry had together and you couldn't help but feel some level of hate towards him for ruining something that was so right. But under all those negative emotions, there was no denying the obvious spark of want that ignited in your belly at seeing him again.

You had tried to avoid following Harry's life from the day you broke up. At first your resolve was weak; you couldn't help but check in with social media just to try and soothe your aching heart, only for it to make you feel even worse. But over the years it had gotten better - he was a hard man to avoid as his fame grew that was certain - that was until you were driving to work one day and heard Sweet Creature on the radio and burst into tears, as one day when you and Harry had been having a picnic in the field behind the school, he had jokingly called you his sweet creature and then the name had always stuck. Recalling that day made your heart twist uncomfortably in your chest, you wished you could go back to those youthful days and would give anything to stop this restless feeling that had now overcome you from Harry's presence.

Unknowingly, as you both stood at opposite ends of the dingy hall, physically not that far, but emotionally separated by a great sea of unsaid words and feelings, the same thoughts were rushing through your minds of how you wished things could just go back to the way they were when you were young.

But then Harry took a leap, choosing to cross the rocky oceans that separated you to gently tap you on the shoulder. You turned in shock as he spoke, "Y/N..." his voice rolled off your lips in the most painfully beautiful way, "Can we talk?"

Every part of your brain was screaming to not follow him, to stand your ground and not go down this scary path you certainly weren't ready for, but as he stood there, all messy curls and vulnerable eyes, you knew you were done for.

No matter what he did, you were transported back to better times when he was there and yours, the memories flashing behind your eyes like your favourite movie that makes you cry every time even though you know the sad ending is coming. And it was because of these bewitching memories that you met his eyes and nodded a silent yes, just because of that small butterfly of hope tingling in your heart, because this might be your only chance to rekindle something that was so dear to you.

Harry took your hand and led the way out the doors and down the familiar corridors. Seeing him there was comforting yet utterly foreign - how was this famous man who probably had a hundred better places to be tonight dragging you back down through the halls of your past?

He slipped inside a classroom, dragging you with him and then all too soon it was quiet as you just stood and stared at each other, aware of the thousands of words crashing through your heads but being unable to voice them. That was when you realised what room you were in; your old English classroom, the desk in the far back right being where you had first met.

"English," You spoke into the deathly silence.

"What?"

"This is our old English classroom...fitting I suppose." You mused, completely baffled by the current situation.

Harry blinked at you slowly, he probably thought you'd lost your mind, but then he was taking two long strides and pulling you into his broad chest. His all too familiar scent had your brain turning to mush, but then he squeezed you closer and sighed into your hair and suddenly it was all too much and you were pushing him away.

"Harry, I can't," you said, the pain in your voice was so clear and the hurt in his eyes didn't help the tears brimming in your own eyes, "You hurt me so bad..."

"Y/N...please I know, I've regretted what I did to you for the last six years, you're in everything I do, everything I say, everything just takes me back to you -" the anguish in his voice tore at your already broken heart.

"You left me, after everything, with nothing but a shitty phone call -"

"Because I was a coward Y/N! A stupid eighteen year old boy who didn't know what to do, and I'm sorry, I will forever be sorry. But I'm not being a coward tonight, not again, cos I still care, Y/N, please tell me you still care?"

You weren't sure what to do, what to think or what to say. Harry was looking at you with so much hope in his glossy eyes, both hands outstretched as if reaching for you, "Harry..."

"I've loved you since the day we met in this very classroom and I haven't stopped loving you since. No-one has ever compared to you, my sweetest creature, part of me has always held on just incase you still loved me...I just need a chance to make this all right, please give me that chance," His husky voice was strained as he pleaded with you.

Your voice was barely audible as you spoke the only clear truth pounding in your mind, "I've not stopped loving you either, H."

At your words Harry's gorgeous face split apart into a huge, dimpled grin, his jade eyes full of tears that were once sadness now turned into happiness. You couldn't help but return the smile, a few of your own tears trickling down your cheeks.

"This doesn't mean that everything is okay -" the end of your sentence was halted by Harry crashing his lips to yours, arms hooking around your back to pick you up and press you so tightly against him, as if he was never, ever going to let you go.

The feeling of his plush lips on yours was heavenly, the spark that ignited between the pair of you was indescribable as his lips continued to move against your own, your hands coming up to wind into his silky hair.

You were flashed back to a time years ago, when you'd both shared your first kiss - you were partners on an English project, and one day when you'd stayed late to work at school he insisted on walking you home, and just before he'd left you'd reached up on tip toes to press your lips to his. That kiss had been so gentle and sweet, completely unlike this one which was passionate and desperate - it was as though you were both making up for lost time.

The kiss was completely reckless on your part, as you knew things still needed to be spoken about and figured out, but it felt exactly like you were when you were young and you hadn't felt this alive in years. Because of this, you tightened your grip on Harry just a little bit more, to make sure he was real and this wasn't a dream. And when his responding hum reverberated through his chest, you knew it was all very real.

"God, I've missed you so much," Harry's voice was low when he finally pulled away, raspberry lips glistening and swollen as he snuggled into your neck, placing soft kisses there.

"Mmm," you hummed blissfully, "Missed you too, H."

"C'mon, let's get out of here, being in this place makes me feel old."

You laughed loudly and Harry could've sworn his previously broken heart was mended purely from that sound, he couldn't believe how lucky he was to finally have you back in his arms after all these years. You were his home, his life, his heart.

A few moments later you were walking back down the corridor of your school, holding hands with Harry as he swung your joined palms between you both.

"Maybe we should go and have a snog in the library just for old times sake," you said jokingly.

Harry halted his walking then at your suggestion, his eyes glittering mischievously, one corner of his lip tugged up in a deep smirk as your comment reminded him of a teenage fantasy he'd always had, "You know...I always wanted to fuck you on one of the library desks -"

"Harry!!"

"What? Who can blame me when you always looked so good in that little navy pencil skirt with the pleat and those white knee high socks?" His eyes seemed faraway and wistful for a moment, imaging just how you'd look in said outfit as he picked you up and placed you on the desk, the skirt riding up to reveal the lacy panties you'd sometimes wear if you knew you'd be going back to 'study' at his house after school.

You shook your head at him, the giggle that escaped your lips breaking your stern facade at his antics. Truth was the idea had actually made your abdomen tighten in desire, "I suppose we could go and see if the doors unlocked..."

He whirled around to face you then, bright eyes wide at your proposal, "Really?" He looked just like he had at eighteen then, all toothy grin, hopeful eyes and mussed up hair. It reminded you of the time when he'd just asked you to be his girlfriend, and when you'd said yes, he was so shocked at you actually agreeing, the same 'really?' was his first response.

"Yes, let's go...come on we definitely would've done this when we were young."

He swooped you up in his arms then, bridal style, a yelp leaving your now parted lips as he took advantage of that and placed a hot open-mouthed kiss there, before whispering slowly, "Okay my sweet creature, let's make it a toast to when we were young."

awwww a happy ending yay

so this is my first song fic and basically the idea is that some of the lyrics that are mentioned in the song are dotted through the chapter so if you don't know the song I've attached it up top!!

also in the uk, once you finish secondary school at 16 most people go to sixth form/college for two years before going to uni, so in this harry rises to fame at the end of sixth form at 18 rather than at 16, hope that makes sense haha

anyway hope you enjoyed this one!! I've been trying to get it right for weeks so please give me some feedback cos I've got a few more ideas for other song fics :))

lots of love and huge thank yous for all the support as per <3

kait xxx