Spotlight |h.s|

Forty Four

Aubrey Hart

Christmas was three days ago, and I've heard nothing but pure silence on Harry's end.

No calls, no texts, no unannounced visits, nothing.

I definitely fucked up by telling him I care about him. He isn't the type to take any positive feelings well, being very closed off and only expressive of feelings toward his family. That meaning just Niall and Ruby.

Speaking of Ruby, I'm seeing her today. She wanted to meet up at a cute cafe, giving me one of my twice a week pap sightings. Since she's related to Harry, this counts. Me being seen with his family will confirm that we're "serious".

It feels a bit too serious in real life if I'm being honest, especially since we're not actually doing this for the paps at all. Ruby likes me and genuinely wants to get to know me. I'm honored, of course, it just makes Harry and I feel way more buddy-buddy than we are.

I'm on FaceTime with Jade as I get ready since she's with Zayn right now, meaning she can't physically hang out with me. They're definitely moving past the whole friends with benefits thing, hanging out casually at this point without a need for sex. I'm happy for her since I really like him.

I also don't mind him listening to our "girl talk".

"Does this look good?" I bring my clothed body into the frame, showing off my outfit.

I'm wearing an orange and white striped sweater with a collar and a couple black buttons on the top. I thrifted it. It's very 90s. It looks just like a collared shirt, but it's warmer and knitted like a sweater. I paired it with some baggy blue jeans and black Doc Martens, my hair being a slightly wavy mess. I brushed it, but that's all. I also threw on some light mascara and nothing else.

"It's cute," she nods in approval, "Where are you going?"

"Lunch with my friend." I shrug.

"I'm your only friend." She narrows her brows at me, making me laugh and shake my head.

"I have other friends." I defend myself even though she's kind of right. I really just don't know how she's going to react to me befriending Harry's sister. I'm dragging out my confession a bit.

"So I have competition now? What's their name?" She gets protective.

"Breathe," I chuckle, "It's Harry's sister, Ruby."

"Oh?" Her brows slightly raise.

"I met her when I ran into them at the store the other day buying stuff for cookies. She's super nice. She insisted on going somewhere while she's visiting, and that means one less day I have to deal with him since we'll get papped."

"You're letting another Styles into your life?" She doesn't seem to like this.

"She's a nice one. Since she's his favorite person on the planet, she makes him more tolerable, too. She makes jewelry from crystals and likes astrology." I defend.

"That sounds a lot like—"

"I know." I nod, cutting her off before she can say her name. I know exactly what she means, and I thought the same thing.

"How do you even know that stuff if you just met?"

"I commented on the rings. Harry told me about the astrology thing." I shrug, holding my phone above my face while I lay back on my comforter.

"He told you?" Her brows furrow.

"You know, with the amount of time I have to be around him, we have conversations." I laugh, trying to make it seem like we aren't very close.