Summary: "Hey, so, I don't know who you are but I'm definitely in love you with." In other words, Harry's a famous author (and a total romantic) and Louis is a reader and middle school counsler.

Also, go watch the TV show Manifest on Netflix or I'll find you. I know where you live. :)

(Harry's books:

Standalone: Quickest Route West

Series: The Dreary Secrets
B1- Finley's Fairytale
B2- Oscar's Vacancy
B3- (new) Raven's Booklet)

If this doesn't make sense, don't be alarmed. It's not all that important, the only one that's sort of important is Quickest Route West. I just found these fun to make up haha.

Words: 2,500

-----

Louis POV

Today couldn't have been shitter.

For one, I woke up with too much of a fever and an inability to breathe to go into work which wasn't good. Two, the next novel in The Dreary Secrets series by Harry Styles came out today and the bookstore ran out of copies in ten minutes.

Shitty day indeed.

"Louis, eat," Lottie said, shoving a bowl of soup in my hands. "I can't have you dying on me. Someone's gotta help pay the bills."

I snorted but ate the soup. I lived with my two sisters Lottie and Felicite. We decided to move in together after college, for no reason once so ever. It was a decision made at the moment and no one has regretted it yet. So far so good.

I work as a middle school counselor. Basically, the one kids came to when their life was the absolute definition of stress. I hated how tired kids often were and how much work they got. Honestly, when they come I make them take a thirty-minute nap before we chat. I have a closed-off area with an air mattress for a reason. Exhaustion and being overworked is their main issue. No breaks just work work work. They don't get bad grades because they're stupid, they get bad grades because they don't have any motivation to get good grades. No one to talk to that wouldn't tell them it's that damn phone and that fucking social media.

I'm getting off-topic.

Lottie works at a daycare and Felicite does some modeling here and there. She mostly works with photography.

It was Lottie who got stuck with my unfortunate ass.

"And I don't even have a book to make it all better," I whined. Lottie rolled her eyes fondly.

"I asked Fizz to check the bookstore to see if they've got more copies of Raven's Booklet on her way home. Don't get your hopes up though," Lottie said, pushing my feet off the couch and sitting down next to me.

I pouted. "They probably don't."

"I know. But it's the only way to get you to listen to me," Lottie winked. I huffed and flipped onto my side.

For the next hour, I drifted in and out of sleep. My fever has gone down and the medicine is working. 24-hour bugs are the worst.

"I'm home!" Fizzy called out, shutting the door behind her. She dropped a bag on the table. I looked at it hopefully, slouching when she smiled apologetically. "No TDS, but I found some others I thought you might like. And got the number of a cute guy for you!"

I groaned, shoving my face into the throw pillow. "Don't play matchmaker Fizz!"

Fizzy stole the pillow just to throw it at me. "Don't be like that Lou! You've been single since high school, hooked up maybe once in college. It's obvious you need some love, maybe mystery boy can help. I found him at the bookstore and he was looking at the genre of books you've got on your shelf. Something in common."

Fizzy went to set the new books on the shelf in the living room. Then she put Mystery Boy's number in my phone. "Text him."

"Yes mom," I grumbled.

-----

I laid in bed that night, thumbs hovering over my keyboard. I hesitated. What do you say to a guy you've never met?

hey

Louis snorted after he sent it. Mystery boy responded almost immediately.

Hey? Who's this?

My sister got your number earlier in a bookstore.

This is weird, forget it.

I sighed, pressing the palm of my hand into my forehead. This was a bad idea.

No no, it's okay! I remember her. Louis?

I looked down when my phone buzzed.

the one and only. your name, mystery boy?

I quite like mystery boy for the time being. Louis, please use capitalization.

I grinned.

absolutely 

not

This would be fun.

-----

I sat in one of Liam's rolling chairs in his classroom. Since it was his planning period, I came to bother him like usual and put a sign on my office door to come here.

Liam was a well-liked teacher. I mean, he had rolling chairs, what was there not to like? But truthfully he was a good teacher and didn't overwhelm the kids, and made learning fun. Never thought I'd ever say learning is fun but Liam makes it that way.

"Eve got a 98 on her quiz," Liam smiled, setting papers aside once he finished them. I looked up from my book.

"And Levi?" The two were twins, in nearly all the same classes, and extremely competitive.

Liam calculated the boy's score. "96."

"Fuck yeah!" I cheered. The past two times Levi had beaten Eve, she deserved a win. "He's gonna be pissed."

Liam laughed, leaning back in his chair as he glanced at the clock. "Stick around to see their reactions? Fifth period is almost over."

I agreed. I sat in on Liam's classes often, unless I was with some other teachers. Liam was my favorite, though I'd never admit it. I will admit that his sixth period is my favorite. The kids in there are amazing and well-behaved. They joke around with me because I'm a complete child and poke fun at their teacher but respectful and attentive. Truly great kids.

As the bell rang and eighth-graders wandered in, I sent a quick text to mystery boy, responding to his question about Lottie and Felicite. Today's topic was family, yesterday's was work, the day before was books.

It's been one and a half months since mystery boy and I started talking. Every so often we play a game titled Off Topic.

Point of Off Topic: Stay on topic.

It's self-explanatory, really.

We create a topic at the beginning of the day and only talk about something relating to it the whole day. If you lose, you have to reveal something about your looks. So far I've lost twice and revealed I've got blue eyes and wear vans more often than not. He's lost once (unfortunately, I don't even know his name!) and revealed his hair color. Brown.

Thanks, mystery boy. Very helpful.

"Hi, Mr. T," a sweet girl named Allison said. She usually came in with her best friend Darcy but she's been out sick.

"Hi, sweetheart, Darcy doing okay?" I asked. She nodded.

"Have you read Raven's Booklet?" I groaned, shaking my head. That book was going to be the death of me.

"No, can't get any copies," I admitted. She said she would have offered to lend me hers but said her mom would kill her if she ruined the book, as it was expensive. 

"There's supposed to be a delivery overnight. Maybe you can get one if you're there early tomorrow?" The whole reason Allison got a book was because her mom worked at the bookstore. She was there when they were unloading the boxes. I grinned at her.

"Thanks, Al." 

"No problem Mr. T!" Allison bounded off to her seat while I set an alarm for seven am. A new Harry Styles book is the only reason I'm willing to wake up earlier on a Saturday.

See, what made Styles so popular is his ability to stay anonymous. No photos of him anywhere, just the name. In other words, no one knows what he looks like. I often thought about this. I mean, what if I've met him before and didn't know it? 

He has social media where he'll post about his books, dog, family, etc, but nothing in relation to his appearance. I think it's actually pretty smart, if you don't want to be a big-shot with paparazzi hunting you down every twenty minutes.

I slid my phone in my pocket, watching Liam teach his class. I took my phone back out when it buzzed, seeing a message from Allison's mom.

Allison's mom Avery is Lottie's best friend and a good friend of mine too. She's a single mom and works harder than she should have to to provide for her daughter.

Hey Lou, I know Lotts is working late today, and I've got to take another shift. Do you think you could take Allison to your place for a while? I'm so sorry to ask so last minute but her grandmother is out of town.

I immediately send her a reply: Of course Ave, don't worry about it. She's a great kid, always here to help.

We talked for a bit longer before I put my phone away when Liam gave the kids work and sat back at his desk. Drumming my fingers on the desk, I watched as the kids shuffled their desks around to work together. Allison worked by herself since Darcy was her best friend, and she didn't have other friends in this class.

I stood up and walked over to her, sitting in Darcy's empty seat. "Hey Al, your mom's working late today. Sleepover with me, Lotts, and Fizz? Then we can go check the store for Raven's Booklet in the morning."

Allison grinned widely. "Awesome! Thanks Mr. T."

I smiled and ruffled her hair (she hated it, it's why I did it), going back to Liam while she worked.

"Avery still working?" He frowned. I nodded.

"Sure is, lover boy," I winked. Liam flushed, muttering something with the keywords 'nonsense' and 'I don't like Ave like that'. I hummed, sending him a sly look.

He threw a pen at my face.

He loves me really.

------

After dismissal, I walked to the parking lot with Liam and Allison. We waved goodbye and got in my car.

When we got home, she went to do her homework at the dinning room table. I sat on the couch, putting on a TV show and pulling out my phone to text mystery boy.

hi mystery boy

Hey Lou, everything okay?

everything's alright. are you ever going to tell me your name?

I'll think about it

You're getting off topic

try again, mb. it's after three pm. only on topic from 8-3, thank you.

You're annoying.

You love me.

Hmm.

------

"Allie! Ready to go?"

It was terribly early, nearly eight am, but the bookstore opens at eight so Allison and I are going to see if we can get a copy of Raven's Booklet.

"Yep," the girl grinned. We got in my car, getting to the bookstore two minutes to opening. I frowned at the line outside.

"What's that about?" I asked. Allie's face lit up.

"Oh! I think Harry is doing a meet and greet tonight, he posted about it just now," Allie said, looking at her phone. "Either everyone is getting copies of his books for him to sign or camping out in front till five pm."

"Great," I sighed. No chance of getting Raven's booklet. Might as well stick around for the meet and greet.

-----

Harry's POV

"Nervous?"

I glanced at Niall who stood behind me the mirror. "Very. I mean, they've never been able to match a face to the name. Now they can."

Niall pursed his lips. "Why don't you just get Louis to meet you? That's the only reason you're doing this, to see if he'll be here. Don't deny it, bitch."

I grinned a little, sheepishly. "Caught me. But why is because I think my fans deserve it at this point. If I'm gonna show one I might as well show all. Besides, when Lou and I were talking, he said he'd hate to have a closeted relationship. That's what it would be if I didn't show myself. If he wants to date me, that is."

Niall nodded slowly, clapping me on the shoulder. "Good luck mate. You'll be great."

-----

Louis' POV

Allie and I left and came back for the meet and greet. We went by her house so she could get her Raven's Booklet copy, then drove to the bookstore. Allison made a friend in the line, a boy named Gavin who was probably about a year older than her at fifteen, so she happily chatted to him while I texted mystery boy.

waiting in line for the hs meet and greet. no book to get signed though :(

Poor Loubear. Guess I'll seen you soon, though. x

I blinked.

what???

you can't just leave with that

are you here????

ugh

you're going to make me go gray

I'm too young to go gray

I

Shutting off my phone and rubbing my lips together, I peered around Allie and her friend. One by one, people went in then left, staring at their books and phones and squealing over them. I checked the time, half past five.

Allison's mum was here and would take her home once her shift was over in thirty minutes. We were practically last by the time we got to the door, Allison's friend Gavin's family in front of us then a few groups of teenagers behind us.

I watched fondly as Allison and Gavin ran up to Harry. He was truly stunning, long curls falling to his shoulders and bright green eyes. Google says he's twenty four, four years younger than me, but who trusts google anymore.

"Hey," he smiled. Shit his voice is hot. "What's your names?"

I shoved my hands in my pockets, standing a little behind Allison. After she and Gavin finished up, she waved bye to me and took off for her mum that was watching from the side.

"Hey," Harry said. I looked at him, flushing when I noticed he was talking to me.

"Hi," I said, smiling a little. He flashed a grin and asked for my name, leaning back in his chair and tapping the sharpie on the table.

"Louis," I said. He froze momentarily before snapping out of it and asking a few more questions.

After a decent conversation that I just barely made it through without freaking out like the stupid fan I am, he asked me to stay till the end. I agreed (you can't just say no to Harry Styles), thoroughly confused, but sat in a folding chair next to him.

After he talked to the groups of teenagers he turned to me while his crew and the store owners closed up.

"This might sound strange but I think I know you and I've been practically confessing my love for roughly two months."

-----

Am I evil for leaving this on a cliffhanger?

Probably.

Pt 2 tomorrow (;