Held Back

CHAPTER 2

"My name's Harry, Harry Styles." 

I shook his hand, "what's yours?" He held a firm grip.

Are my palms sweating? Ew I think they are.

He tilted his head slightly to one side and furrowed his eyebrows.

"Wait, do you speak English? You're not one of those exchange students are you?'"

Oh my gosh, this is ridiculous, say something!

"Ah, no, I'm, Liana." I hear the slight tremble in my voice. Mine sounds so different compared to his thick British accent, how is it that an accent can make someone more attractive, you can't see an accent.

An amused, dimpled smile grew across his beautiful face; he begun playing with his two lip rings. My body was frozen except for my heart, which was beating faster than ever.

Oh my god, lip rings!

He glanced down and I realized we were still holding hands. I pulled my hand away quickly and then feel extremely awkward because I nearly ripped his arm out of the socket. "Ahh." Harry forced an extremely fake smile before he turned and walked off down the hall.

Smooth, Liana. Smooth. If he didn't think you were a creep already, he sure does now.

I groaned and walked off in the opposite direction I couldn't wait to get out of here.

*

That night I attempt to start my math homework but my phone kept vibrating and flashing. So after nearly three hours of mindlessly reorganizing my desk and avoiding my homework I told myself I will do it tomorrow and picked up my phone. It was one of those annoying messenger group chats where every time someone replies, you got a notification.

There were at least 30 people on this chat and I don't even know half of them. They're all college kids. The chat is about an up and coming party at Conor's brother, Charlie's frat. I didn't usually go to them but the boys did and Abby has started going more often with Bub. The parties were usually quite big and this one was scheduled for a Saturday two weeks from now.

Ok, I'm bored with this.

There were 500+ messages and no way was I going to read them, they were mostly about what brand of alcohol to buy. So I picked up my lap top and decide to surf youtube.

I wake up tangled in my headphones and still fully dressed. The sun has already set and I'm a little offended none of my siblings or either of my parents woke me up for dinner but I'm too tired. I just untangled myself and hopped back into bed in my tack pants and a plain white tee.

*

The next morning I was up bright and early to get the bathroom first then I sprinted out of the door to catch the good not-so-full bus. I was actually happy with todays timetable because I enjoyed most of my classes especially English which I'm starting off with.

Just as I sat down the bell rung signifying the starting of the day. Mrs. Stenson walked into the class and looked surprised when she saw me. I smiled and innocent smile and raised both eyebrows, silently asking her why she was staring. She turns and begun the class. About 10 minutes into the lesson in walked a tall guy with a mop of curls and a side grin that makes most of the girl's jaws drop.

You've got to be kidding me.

"And you are?" Mrs. Stenson inquired. She didn't look super angry like she would if I were late. Honestly, this boy can even make teachers tongue-tied. "Sorry Ms. I'm Harry Styles." I can almost visualize the girls pulling mussels as their eyes nearly popped out of their heads. I looked back at the subject's outline for the year and kept reading.

"Right, well take a seat, Harry. I am Miss Stenson."

This is going to be a long year.

I didn't look back at Harry the whole lesson. When the bell rung I slung my bag over my shoulder and was the first to leave the class. The rest of the day was pretty all right I could already feel the pressure of college being stacked on my shoulders so it was a relief when I go to meet the group at morning tea.

They- as well as Kristy: a girl who lives next door to Gabe- were all sitting in our usual spot. When Abby saw me approaching she jumped up and quite literally nearly bowled me over. "Oh my gosh, Liana! You meet the new boy! What was he like? Did you talk to him? Does he have a Facebook account?"

"Have you been eating chocolate for breakfast, again?"

"Okay. That was one time. And I wish you would stop living in the past. I'm talking about Harry Styles of course. The only guy in the school with tattoos."

"Oh, yeah. Him."

"What did you do, tell me everything." She gave me an epithetic motherly look.

"What?!" I didn't do anything! I saw him in detention, kind of stared at him for a little too long, bumped into him in the hall way and then nearly dislocated his arm."

"What? Haha well that sounds about right. But, no offense, that's boring. Even I know more about him."

"Haha, ghee, thanks for the support. What do you know about him?"

"Well Olivia told me that she heard that he is supposed to be in his first year of college but has to repeat senior year and his old school wouldn't keep him so he had to come here at the start of this semester. Oh and also that Sophia Days has got her eye on him."

"Yeah, him and ever other guy in the school." I bluntly stated. Abby and I laughed as we walked over to the group. And all the while I was slowly piecing together the puzzle that is Harry Styles.