Poppy/H.S

Chapter 4

After saying goodbye to Poppy's father, I end the call and put my phone back into my bag. I make sure to check twice if my sound is on, just in case Harry would call to let us know he's on his way or something. I think I have finally stomached the fact that I've been playing with Harry Styles' child on the playground as I hadn't been even aware he had a child before.

I guess he's just trying to keep his life private, which I understand. If I were in his shoes, I would do the same thing. I can't even imagine what he has to deal with as a celebrity every day. It must be so tiring. It's not like you can simply quit your job and move on when you're in the public eye. Once you're famous, you can't make yourself a normal civilian in the blink of an eye.

It must so hard living dual lives, one of which is always judged by the society. I guess this is what keeps Harry so grounded, having a family, I mean. I can't get over how nice and chilled he was on the phone. He's thanked me so many times, it was adorable. I didn't really think I deserved some kind of special credit, everyone with some basic human decency would have done it. I can't even imagine just walking past the playground and ignoring the crying of a little child.

This actually makes me wonder how many people walked past the playground and ignored Poppy. She must have been there for a long time, I remember how shaken up she was when I came up to talk to her, the poor girl. However, I can't even express how happy I am that my evening has turned nothing like I'd planned. This little girl has changed my way of thinking, she's truly remarkable. She's so polite and mature for her age.

"C'mon, bug, you've heard what daddy said. We should get going otherwise you'll have the whole orchestra in your belly," I poke Poppy's tummy, waiting for her smiley reaction.

However, when she looks up to meet my eyes, hers are shiny with tears.

"Is everything alright, Poppy?" I question the sudden sadness in her eyes.

"I don't wanna."

"You don't wanna what?"

"I don't wanna go to that diner," she murmurs under her breath.

"I thought you were hungry, bug. Aren't you hungry anymore?"

"I am. Daddy and uncle Mitch are playing the guitar in my tummy."

"What is it, then?" I question her again, not understanding why the little girl doesn't want to go eat something when she's hardly eaten anything since lunch.

"I think I'm cold," she says, wrapping her little hands around her body.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Here, you can have my cardigan," I don't hesitate and take my warm cardigan off, being met with the gentle September breeze.

Wind tickles me under my beige blouse, leaving a trail of shivers behind. Poppy takes the brown cardigan from my hand, wrapping it around her willowy body.

"It's really comfy, isn't it?" I smile at Poppy who is wearing my favourite cardigan.

"Yeah, it's just a little too big," she says, waving her hands in the air and letting the sleeves of the brown cardigan dance freely in the wind.

"Let me help," I offer, rolling the sleeves to make it a little more comfortable for her. "All better now?"

"Yup," she pops the p.

"Okay, I'm happy to hear that. Ready to go now?"

"I don't wanna go," she says sadly, making puppy eyes at me.

"What's the matter now, Poppy?" I wonder, getting a little impatient, "Aren't you excited to see daddy?"

"I am, I love my daddy. I haven't seen him since the morning and I miss him already."