Lockdown | Harry Styles | AU

Chapter 27

4 Years Ago...

"He's staring right at you." Sofia smirked in a hushed tone before turning her attention back to Aubrey. Her eyes just catching the piercing gaze from the guy across the bar as they lingered over her friend.

"So?" Aubrey responded, moving her focus from Sofia to sneak a look at the guy she was referring to, her hand casually bringing her glass of gin and tonic to her lips.

"So... why don't you go over?" Sofia pursed her mouth, the corners lifting mischievously. Her slightly hazy stare, which was caused by the amount of whiskey in her blood, flickering giddily over Aubrey's face.

"Because I don't want to." Aubrey answered casually with a shrug.

"Oh, c'mon. He's fucking cute." Sofia's voice dragged out with a cheeky smile, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip as she glanced to look at the guy again.

A cocky half grin playing on his mouth when he could clearly see that the girls were talking about him. Sofia's none subtle approach to anything in life knowing no bounds."Go and have a little flirt. He's practically drooling over you."

"No, way." Aubrey shook her head and puckered her lips. But Sofia could see the way Aubrey's eyes ever so fleetingly looked towards the guy in question.

"Why, not?"

"Because I'm not going over to some random guy just to attempt an awkward conversation." Aubrey deadpanned, dipping her chin and locking her eyes with Sofia's.

"But, we're in Paris, Aubs." Sofia's face beamed as her tone fell a little exaggerated, "it's the city of love." She emphasized the word 'love', her expression filled with the hope of a fun night ahead. Her natural need for spontaneity and the alcohol inside of her only fueling it, her body humming with excitement.

Sofia loved 'let loose' Aubrey, no matter how hard it was to get her to come out.

"So what does that mean? Am I supposed to fall in love with some stranger in a bar?" Aubrey replied sarcastically.

"Maybe." Sofia joked with a half smile, her teeth gleaming.

"I'm here for work, remember?" Aubrey said matter-of-factly as she watched Sofia neck the rest of her Old Fashioned.

"That doesn't mean you can't get fucked in the meantime." Sofia quipped after placing her glass down, her voice a little breathy from downing her drink.

"For fuck sake," Aubrey rolled her eyes, amusement twitching at her lips. "Do you always have to..."

"—Hello." A deep voice suddenly resounded making Aubrey's words die in her mouth.

Her and Sofia both snapped their focus towards the sound only to discover the guy that had been checking Aubrey out was now standing by their table. The girls obviously not even noticing his approach as they stared at him in surprise for a moment. A silence filling the air as his soft green eyes flickered between the girls, his lean frame towering above them.

However before the moment became awkward, Sofia parted her lips to speak. But it was at the same time that Aubrey's hand landed on hers, her voice also jumping in before Sofia could even make a sound.