Public Privacy (Harry Styles)

Chapter 3

And pretends she knows the words
To a song she's never heard.
                                ~ Goldrush,  Ed Sheeran

"So, where were you going anyway?" I ask. By now the rain had eased off a little, Harry's hair slightly damp and shiny in the streetlights.

"I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?" I ask. Surely he was heading somewhere.

"I was meant to ride to some hotel with Louis but we got mobbed and I kind of ran away..." He trails off and blushes at his stupidity.

"Do you have someone you can call?" I ask with a hand on my hip.

"I uh, I don't know anyone's numbers..." I sigh with a smile on my face. This is the dumbo that a billion people are crushing over.

Can't blame 'em.

We arrive at my house and I bring him down the path, digging for my keys.

 I can see Harry staring at me from the corner of my eye.

"Stop looking at me like I'm a science experiment." I mutter with a small smile. No matter how much I try, I can't help smiling. It's Harry Styles for God's sake!

"It's weird." He says, moving his gaze to the street.

"What's weird?" I ask, my keychains clinking as I unlock the door.

"I don't know what exactly, but our whole exchange is different. I don't feel as attacked." He smiles a very short, lopsided smile. I blush, knowing he feels comfortable, or at least less uncomfortable around me, is flattering.

The door unlocks and I chuck my keys back in my pocket. Harry instantly beelines for the lounge which is straight ahead with the door wide open. He's seen my giant speaker and CD folder. I've been meaning to get a CD rack...

He looks at me and wiggles his brows.

"What are you even doing?" I ask.

"Just looking.." He mumbles and fumbles around in the family CD file. He finds the section marked Bluebell's and flicks through my CD's. Harry's smile turns to a smug one as he pulls out the FOUR CD.

"I swear it was a birthday present. My friend got it." I defend. He pulls the little booklet from it's case and reads what he wrote not two months ago.

"Then why does it say" he coughs dramatically and goes on, "To Blue, Nice name btw, Happy Birthday, love Harry x"

Harry looks at me in a mock sassy way and I chuckle nervously.

"As I said it was a birthday present." I hesitate before continuing, dumping my handbag and peeling my coat off. "Do you remember being chased down the corridor and into the elevator?" I ask, embarrassed.

"That's happened a few times, you'll have to specify." He smiles humorously.

I blush as I remember what my friend told me after her crazy ambush on Harry. "She made you sign.. her boobs.." I mumble. "I mean, They're pretty big... hard to forget..." I'm sure I'm tomato red by now. When I look over, Harry has a huge smile across his face.

"You know big boob Betty?!" He exclaims, obviously amused by my embarrassment.

"She's my friend... and why the hell do you call her Betty?" I laugh. He laughs along and I see him watching me from the corner of his eye as I take a blanket from a cupboard. The sound of his laugh is so great; it's the kind that makes you want to join him. He shakes his head with a smile, making his curls fall forward slightly before he pushes them out of the way.

"No idea. Louis saw her leaving the building and he shouted at her saying-"

"I like your jelly tots, Betty!" I cut him off in excitement. "Oh my gosh, I can't believe that was directed at her! She told me he said it but she wasn't sure who he was talking to!" I laugh and bury my face in a pillow.

Harry continues to look through my CD's as I make his bed and eventually finds Ed's Multiply album.

"I never would have guessed." He teases.

"I'm a woman of class." I shrug. He places the CD in the radio and skips to number 10 - The Man. He tries to sing along but obviously doesn't know half of the words, which makes me laugh. He tries to pretend he doesn't understand why I'm giggling to myself and tries his best to sing along.

"This is my favourite," I admit.

"I love the piano in uhm, Even My Dad Does Sometimes." He says. He has a constant smile showing off his dimples and I can't help but want to poke them.

"I bet I love it more." I challenge, my tongue between my teeth.

He glares playfully at me. "Doubt that."

"Oh trust me. I love it so much it's pathetic." I purse my lips.

"Oh really?" He provokes.

"Yeah. Drawings of albums and piano's. I even play. I know every song on the old album. Don't start with me Styles, you won't win." I smirk. He raises his eyebrows in shock, though there's a tiny hint of a smile.

"You're right." He says and I snap my head to him with a quizzed eyebrow. "You are pathetic." He winks. I collapse onto the sofa, bring my foot underneath my bum and sit on the side with my face squished against the head rest.

"Ugh." I groan laughing. "You're annoying." He walks over and stands right in front of me.

"And you're cute."

I blush.

"Even more so when you do that."

He kisses my cheek before ripping his wet hoodie over his head and leaves to the bathroom, I open the door and call after him, "Can you cut down on the cheese?! Not complaining, just asking."