𝕳arry opens the door leading to the back exit all while his heart thumps against his chest.

Fear courses through his body, his hands shaking as he pushes the door open and steps out into the cold of the night.

He breathes heavily — not because he's out of breath, no but because the fear of being caught by one of them dominates his mind.

He rubs his clammy hands against the material of his pant, glancing around to search for the familiar blonde hair.

A minute passes by and with no sign of her, Harry's heart begins beating even faster.

What if she lied?

What if she's left me to deal with this alone?

He doesn't even know her middle name and yet he trusted her to help him escape the paps.

Stupid stupid Harry.

The sound of footsteps alerts him, his head immediately turning to the right to find her casually walking up to him with her hands in her jacket pockets.

"Congratulations, you are now officially a part of my 'smart people' list".

Harry sighs in relief.

"Did they see you?".

She frowns, "No. I told you I knew what I was doing. Wait, did you doubt me?".

"Well, considering the fact that I met you like fifteen minutes ago and I have absolutely no clue as to what kind of a person you are, I'd say yes", Harry looks at her in a matter-of-factly way.

She chuckles quietly.

"Fair enough. At least you have your wits. Anyway, let me book a cab for you, yeah? Where are you staying?".

When he doesn't respond, Darlene looks up at him.

She sighs dramatically.

"Now what?".

"You're not gonna come with me?", he slowly bites his lip.

Darlene smiles lightly.

"I'm meeting a friend later".

"Oh", Harry nods disappointed.

He tells her his address and she books the cab ushering for him to follow her up to the front entrance of the bar.

They wait there, scores of people milling about rarely paying attention to the duo since most of them are too drunk to remember their own names.

"Hey, why don't you come to my show tomorrow? You know, as a thank you", Harry glances down at her.

Darlene purses her lips, "Can't. I'm going back to London tomorrow".

"Oh, alright", disappointment again.

He can't help but think maybe she's rejecting his offers on purpose?

Maybe she doesn't wanna hang out with him at all?

Maybe she helped him out of pity and his brain started giving him false signals?

He is such a fool.

Come on, Harry. Not everyone can like you.

"Hey, I have an idea. When are you in London next?".

His eyes meet hers, surprise being the only thing reflecting behind his emerald irises.

"Uhh, around next week? Tour ends tomorrow so probably sooner than I think".

"We'll meet up then", she smiles up at him.

Okay so I am clearly very stupid.

"Yeah, that.....that sounds great. Can I have your number?".

She happily exchanges numbers with him, the cab arriving soon after and Harry internally curses at the driver's timing.

He gets seated on the backseat, Darlene leaning against the car door as he does so.

"Alright, Curly. Have a good night".

"You too", he grins earning a smile.

The door shuts and the car begins driving, her words suddenly hitting him.

Wait, Curly?

( 𝗁𝗈𝗇𝖾𝗒 𝗀𝗂𝗋𝗅 🍯 , 𝖻𝗅𝗈𝗇𝖽𝗂𝖾 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀 )

𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴
ur gonna freak tf
out when i tell u who
i just met

𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹 🍯
omg who

𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹 🍯
wait lemme guess

𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹 🍯
taylor swift?? liam
hemsworth?? oh my
fuck JOHNNY DEPP??

𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴
ok firstly, ur wrong
secondly, language ma'am
and thirdly, he's a brit
and ur obsessed w him

𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹 🍯
WAIT

𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹 🍯
YOU DID NOT

𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹 🍯
HARRY FUCKING
STYLES??

𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴
again, language or else i'm
ss and sending it to mum
and

𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴
well, yes i did

𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴
even helped him escape
the paps

𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹 🍯
SVDJFJGHVV

𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹 🍯
DARLENE OH MYDGGH

𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹 🍯
I'M DYINF

𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴
what's dyinf

𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹 🍯
ihu🖕

𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴
mother dearest here i
come

𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹 🍯
BO PLS DONY

𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹 🍯
I'M SORRT

𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴
now that's more like
it 😘

𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹 🍯
DID YOU MAKE OUT

𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴
ew no why would i do
that

𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹 🍯
bc he's harry styles.

𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴
no stfu

𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹 🍯
lost your opportunity,
okay then 🤷🏻‍♀️

𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴
ur annoying

𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴
anyways i gtg now

𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴
see you tomorrow
wanker

𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹 🍯
bye weirdo

***
in case it wasn't clear already 'honey girl' is mia as in mia honey threapleton, darlene's sister✋️

also also !! look at this pretty little gif stef made for this fic AS SOON AS IT WAS PUBLISHED

^ i love it sm omg 😩💞