Chapter 9 ~ Harry

“So what are your plans, young Harry?” Ed asks me when I walk into his flat that night. “Something to drink?”

“Tea is fine. I’m driving,” I answer and he nods as he walks over to the kitchen. “But I’m not here to talk about my plans. I mean, not only for that. You see, I’ve found out something very interesting today and it concerns you,” I tell him in a very secretive tone and I see him tensing up. Yup, he knows why I’m here. “And it also concerns a mischievous brunette I know quite well,” I add only to make him more uncomfortable.

“What do you mean?” He asks and I roll my eyes. As if I was that stupid.

“So, you and Moni, uh? I didn’t think you were the dragon type,” I mock him and he turns around immediately looking at me severely.

“She’s not a dragon!” He defends her and I raise my eyebrows in surprise. “Don’t say that about her, she’s not a monster nor mean, she’s just not the fragile lady in distress you’re used to,” he explains and my surprise grows even more.

Ed met Moni because Zayn and I asked him to help us to get to Moni, so we could convince her to let Zayn talk to Mila when things were so difficult between them. As Moni is a huge fan of his, having my friend there with us helped us defeat the dragon, as we used to call her during those days because she didn’t let anyone get near Mila. At the beginning Ed was kind of scared of her but then he found her amusing and funny and asked me a lot about her. I guess I should have known he was interested in her since the very beginning.

“She’s not like anyone else,” he whispers turning around so I’m looking at the back of his neck.

“I agree on that. She’s a special one,” I say because yes, Moni is very special and different from anyone else and she knows it as well and I think she uses that as a shield to protect herself. I noticed that today when we were talking. “And it seems like you really fancy her, am I wrong?” I venture and Ed goes still, thinking of what I’ve just said.

“I think I do. Am I crazy for that? I mean, she’s so different and she doesn’t seem the type who appreciates these romantic gestures and I’m not sure how to get closer to her,” he speaks up about his fears and I walk over towards him, putting my hand on his shoulder.

“You know, she’s more fragile than what it seems. I think you need patience if you really want something with her, because something tells me that it won’t be easy to convince her you really care about her,” I tell him and he looks a bit confused. “You’ll see that, my friend. If you want to, I can talk to Mila so she can help you a tad bit, mate,” I offer and he smiles gratefully.

“Thanks, mate. Now tell me how things are going with your girl,” he asks the moment the water is ready and he prepares two mugs with tea.

I tell him quickly what Mila and Moni told me to do and what happened today at Starbucks. By the way, my phone was still on the couch where I sat and nothing wrong came out of that incident. I have to be more careful, next time I may not be that lucky.

Ed laughs at me and how boldly she rejected me; I don’t get a bit discouraged, though. On the contrary, it only makes it more interesting to me because I really want to know why she fights so hard to keep me away from her world. She doesn’t even give me a chance to get to know me, she just assumes from the very beginning I’m the worst kind and I don’t think it’s because of all the rumours in the tabloids. She barely knows who I am, anyways. Plus, I remember Sheila’s words that Hannah wasn’t like this before, which means something happened that changed her and I’m determined to know what. I think I can help her, something inside of me tells me she needs me. I’m not sure why I get this feeling, but I do. I can’t ignore it.

“You sure you’re not confusing physical attraction with curiosity?” Ed asks me and I shake my head. “I mean, she rejects you every time you try something. Maybe it’s your wounded ego that keeps you going back to her or maybe it’s because you don’t understand her.”

“It’s more than that,” I answer because it’s true what Ed says, there are all those things but there are other things, as well. It is true that she’s like a puzzle to me that I want to sort out, but she’s also very beautiful and she just drags me towards her like gravity.

“Then you need to hear Mila and Moni and step aside for a wee bit,” he tells me and I nod. All of them are right; I can’t go to her again and chase her like a stalker would. “Maybe later you can invite her to one of my gigs and I can give you VIP passes or something,” he adds and I arch my eyebrows in surprise. That is actually a really good idea, considering that she is a fan of his it is highly possible that she would accept to go out with me if I offer her that.

“That’s a good idea. Thank you, Ed.” He only smiles and I can’t wait for the moment when I’ll see her again to ask her out.

A little voice in my head tells me it’s not going to be as easy as it seems now.

* * *

When I wake up my head throbs and I groan in pain as I throw away my phone and its bloody alarm. Man, I shouldn’t have drunk that much last night, now the hangover is killing me and I don’t live with Louis anymore, so no one is going to be here taking care of me when just opening my eyes hurts. It’s great to have my own place, but sometimes it gets too lonely.

Almost creeping like a sneak, I get out of bed and go to the bathroom where I have some pills that will help me with this bloody hangover. I know I had fun last night but I always regret drinking too much the next morning. But I never learn. I guess this is what I deserve for being irresponsible.

I swallow the pills with a lot of water. Mila told me that hangovers are due to dehydration so water is my best friend now. And coffee, yes, I need coffee if I want to survive the day. We have a long day in the studio. I decide to take a shower before going to the kitchen so I can wake up. Plus, I still smell like alcohol and cigarette smoke.

By the time I’m in the kitchen I feel a tad better, but I still have the telly very low otherwise it will kill me. The recording session today is going to kill me, I know that for sure. I shouldn’t go partying when I have to work the next day, that’s never a good decision. Oh no, Liam is going to yell at me and it’s going to hurt even more.

Ugh, the perks of being Harry Styles.

I’m switching through the channels when I see myself in the background whilst a young woman is talking. What now? I think. What sort of new gossip are they spreading about me? I sigh as I turn up the volume so I know what I’ll have to deal this week. It seems like I can never get a rest from this. The lads also have to deal with this, but never at same level as me. For some reason, the media and paparazzi are so fond of me and making up crazy things just to sell. I’m apparently their favourite target and every day it gets harder and harder to cope with all this without losing it.

“And this week we have for you the latest gossip about heartthrob Harry Styles. Hold on to your chair, ladies, because this young man does not stop creating controversy,” the woman says and I furrow my eyebrows. What did I do now? “Last night the One Direction member Harry Styles went clubbing with his friend Nick Grimshaw.” So far that’s true. Grimmy and I went clubbing last night but I don’t remember doing anything wrong. “Our sources tell us that during the night Harry Styles was spotted with seven different girls. All of them in just one night!” She carries on scandalised.

Seven? Man, I’m good. Not even I knew that.

“And by the end of the party he left the club accompanied not only by his friend, the radio host of BBC one, but also with other five young ladies. Apparently, there is no way to stop Harry Styles. What do you all think at home?”

“I think that’s bullshit,” I reply even though she can’t hear me.

Yes, we left with some girls, but not five and it was because Grimmy offered to drive them home. There were only three uni students and they were too drunk to be left alone in that club. So we were being gentlemen and thoughtful and what do I get? More gossip for my already bad reputation as a womaniser. It seems that it doesn’t matter what I do, they will find a way to charge me with something that did not actually happen. I’m sure if I try to become a priest they would come out with something to ruin my reputation even more.

I can’t get a break and, honestly, I’m getting so fed up of this situation.

Why can’t they just leave me alone for a little while? There are loads of other celebrities and for sure there is tons of more important news, things that really matter, not things about who’s dating whom. When I decided to pursue my dream it was because I wanted to share my talent with the world, not because I wanted to sell my personal life. For that I’d get a reality show.

But that’s the price I have to pay and no matter how much I want to tell them to fuck off and leave me the hell alone, I can’t.

I turn off the telly angry for the things I have to bear just because I’m in the band, because I love singing and I wanted to make a living out of this passion. Twitter is probably going crazy again and I’ve lost already thousands of followers that believe those rumours and get disappointed in me for something I haven’t done. Not that the number matters, but it’s something that happens. One of the many effects this gossip brings.

I groan when I think that maybe this time Hannah saw this stupid thing and most certainly it won’t help to improve her opinion about me. If she sees this it’s going to be even more difficult getting her to like me and accept to go out with me. Damn it, and I was thinking of going to see her one of these days. I haven’t bothered her in a week already but I don’t think I can get near her after this. Maybe she’ll throw a car at me if I try. Now I’ll have to wait even more to see her and I already feel that it has passed too long.

That if another rumours doesn’t appear to ruin this all over again.

Man, this is a shitty way to start the day.

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Dedication goes to @snehaloveg because it's her birthday. Happy birthday, love!

Have a good day,
Bel, xx