always listening | h.s.

2

HARRY'S POV

*A month ago*

I was woken up abruptly by the bright, shining sun that gleamed through my bedroom window. My phone vibrates beside me, turning itself on to remind me of today's date.

February 1st; my eighteenth birthday.

Today is the day I receive my headphones. To be completely honest, I'm excited. I feel like my whole life up to this point, I've loved people who just choose to not feel the same way. I know that these headphones don't guarantee a soulmate for me, but it's supposed to be a good match for me. I'm just hoping that this time, I won't completely waste my time and actually find someone who will love me for me. My reputation makes me appear as a jackass, but deep down, I have a big heart. At the end of the day, I just want someone who is equally in love with me as I am with them. Sadly, that's not something that comes as easy nowadays. It's like if you aren't insanely attractive and have a superior personality, you don't even stand a chance with anyone. Society's standards are way too high for anyone to handle in this generation.

I roll out of bed and slide some gray sweatpants on so I'm not half naked in front of my mother. I take a glance in the mirror in attempt to fix my long brown hair. Everyone has been telling me to get a haircut, but I kind of like the length. It sits perfectly on my broad shoulders and frames my face quite nicely.

"There he is!" My mom cheers as I reach the end of the steps. I turn my head to see her and my sister sitting on the sofa in the living room, surrounded by birthday decorations. "Happy 18th Birthday Harry!" hangs in golden letters on the wall behind the television, along with balloons held down by small weights on the ground. I peer down at the coffee table to see a small cake with the same words on it as the wall.

"Cant believe my baby brother is eighteen today, come here!" Gemma stands off the couch to run over to me, giving me a barreling hug which I was not prepared for, considering I had just woken up 5 minutes ago. I smile into her hug, wrapping my arms around her shoulders. She pulls away after a second and drags me to the couch to sit with her and my mom. In my moms hands, I notice two small wrapped presents; I could guess what's inside one of them. She holds them out towards me to take.

"As you know, one of the presents I didn't buy myself, so I had to buy you something else to make up for it." My mom speaks.

"You know you didn't have to buy me anything at all, Mom." I say. I've been grateful for all my mom has done for me up to this point in my life that gifts on special occasions are never a must in my mind. She's taught me to be more of a giver rather than a taker, but she always feels the need to go above and beyond for holidays and birthdays even when she knows I'm just simply happy with her presence.

"Honey, you say this everytime. Just open the presents."

I start to unwrap one of the boxes in my hands, both of them being similar in size. Getting all the paper off, it left a plain black box in my hand. Inside was a single car key that was attached to a golden letter 'H' keychain.

"Is this a prank?" I say, my eyes adverting to my mom's smile on her face.

"Go outside and see for yourself." I stand up and quickly pace to the back door that leads to the driveway. Swinging the door wide open, my eyes instantly met with a shiny, black Audi R8 Coupe. I stare at the vehicle in all its beauty in front of me for a moment before turning around and giving my mom a hug.