The Things You Mean to Me // Harry Styles Series #1 - Holmes Chapel

We're Not Who We Used To Be

After

I never thought I'd add to my story, but here I am, taking it out of Emma's scrapbook a decade after I first wrote about Holmes Chapel. Along with the scrapbook, I still have my corsage and the White Eskimo shirt, as well as a few other mementos, in a box in my closet. I pull it out now and then, when I'm feeling nostalgic or need a good cry.

~

I was at Emma's apartment in London in May, enjoying our first post pandemic visit. For nine years I spent two weeks in May with her and she spent two weeks in October with me, until we missed 2020. Finally we were back together and enjoying every minute.

I'd been there five days when the call came in.

"Hello? Yes, it's Emma."

"Oh my goodness, how wonderful to hear from you." Her eyes were huge.

"I can definitely help. You're not going to believe this, but she's here." Brief pause. "Yes, actually standing in front of me, in my apartment. Let me give her the phone."

"This is Olivia."

"Hello Olivia."

I started to shake.

"Harry?"

~

He'd been thinking about me, he said, and figured Emma might know how to reach me. Anne got Emma's number from Mrs. Hayes. He was in London for a few days, leaving day after tomorrow. Would I like to have dinner? We'd eat in, just the two of us.

Of course I would.

He thought I might plan to stay the night; we'd probably have a lot to catch up on.

Of course I would.

He'd send a car at six o'clock.

Keeping ourselves to ourselves, I thought. Some things don't change.

~

"What if he doesn't recognize me? What if he thinks I'm completely boring? Why, after all these years, is he thinking about me?"

Emma rolled her eyes.

"He'll recognize you. You look just like yourself. You're not boring. You're successful and interesting. And I bet it's after all these years because of the other Olivia. How could he say her name every day and not think of you from time to time?"

Everything she said made sense, but still...

I tucked pyjamas and my toothbrush in a big shoulder bag, as well as a fresh shirt for the morning. I still wear my hair back, out of the way, most of the time, but that night I left it down. It's not quite as long these days, just brushing my shoulders.

I had a moment of panic in the car, then reminded myself that it was just Harry... just Harry who I had loved and who had loved me. Just Harry who was now Harry freaking Styles. I did some deep breathing and got myself under control.

A gate opened in a high white wall and we drove into the courtyard of a Georgian mansion. And there, on the front steps, he was waiting for me.

He was a man. Taller, and lean, features more sharply chiseled, looking a little worse for the wear. He was a man, but the boy I knew was still there.

He pinched his lower lip before speaking. He was nervous too.

"Olivia."

"Harry. Thank you for having me. What a surprise."