Never Give Up: Harry Styles/One Direction Fan Fiction

6

Chapter 6

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 I was shocked when Harry openly called me his girlfriend. Was I really so captivating to get an international popstar in one day? Usually, I would've said no, but now I wasn't so sure. I'm not sure where I got the confidence to act like I did, but regardless, everything they say about confidence being key is true. 

I always told myself that I was good enough, even though I only half believed it. But when I met Harry, my view of myself changed. Suddenly, being good enough, wasn't good enough anymore; it didn't satisfy me to know I was only half trying. I was only half living. I decided that being bold was the best route with Harry, and he seemed to agree.

As Louis came to round up the boys, I noticed how much it pained Harry to try to walk away. It was hard for me to see the look in his eyes; like a puppy hit with a crossbow. I couldn't stand there and do nothing about it! What kind of girlfriend would that make me? Harry picked me up in a big hug, almost unwilling to separate. As he set me back down, I acted upon my twenty seconds of insane courage before I had a chance to think about it. I pulled away just enough that I could reach his face, and gave him a soft kiss.

"Encouragement," I whispered, my lips still brushing his. "Now go kill it out there." I could feel a certain kind of electricity flowing between us. I don't know what it was; the way he held me close to him, and didn't let me go left me feeling dizzy. It was like someone had kept air from me for so long, and now I could breathe again. This feeling was refreshing and real. Harry didn't say anything in response, he just breathed in deeply and pushed his forehead against mine before slowly separating from me.

"What was that?" Eleanor asked with excitement as soon as Harry was gone. A smile grew on her face, as she exchanged a glance with the other girls. They all looked at me with wide eyes.

"I, uh, like him a lot," I stuttered out the words to form a choppy sentence still feeling a bit short of breath. I could feel my cheeks growing hot with embarrassment. 

"I have honestly never seen Harry act like that," Perrie spoke up, the smile gone from her face. "In all the time I've known him, you're the first girl I've ever seen Harry look at the way he looks at you." My mouth dropped to the ground as a new wave of disbelief washed over me. Danielle and Eleanor could only nod in agreement.

"The emotion and passion I see when he looks at you reminds me of the way Lou used to look at me when we first met," Eleanor said, sounding rather melancholy. "I see a lot of Lou in Harry. I guess Harry's been taking pointers." She cracked a weak smile as she glanced up from the floor.

"It almost doesn't surprise me," Danielle added, exchanging a knowing look with Eleanor and Perrie. "For them, bringing a girl to a concert is like taking her to meet their family because the boys are all so close. If Harry brought you here, you must be special." I could feel myself smiling like an idiot at the girls' speculation. So many thoughts started racing through my mind as I struggled to wrap my head around what they were saying. Before I had a chance to focus on it for too long, I felt a vibration in my pocket. I glanced down to see a text from my mom as I pulled the phone free of my pocket.

From: Mom

Rae, where are you?! It's almost eleven o'clock at night!

I could tell my mom was freaking out. I suddenly realized that I was supposed to have been back home by 2 o'clock after the meet and greet, but I'd gone out with Harry without telling my mom what was going on. She must've been worried sick, I thought to myself. 

To Mom:

I'm at the One Direction concert, and it's almost over. I'll be home soon! I have a lot to tell you :) x

I quickly replied to the message. When I looked back up at the other girls, they were all giving me worried looks.

"Is everything alright? You look like you're upset about something," Eleanor spoke for the group. I realized I must've had a concerned look on my face as I texted my mom back. 

"Oh, yeah," I responded, reassuring them. "I just realized I forgot to tell my mom that I was coming to the concert, so she was kind of freaking out on me." They visibly relaxed as I explained the situation. My phone buzzed again in my hand.

From Mom:

Alright, but hurry home. Remember you have to play for your dance class tomorrow pretty early. 

"Shit," I mumbled. I'd entirely forgotten that I had to work tomorrow at the studio. I needed to get home soon, or I would be too tired to play the music for the class. I looked up from my phone again at the other girls, now genuinely concerned. "I have to leave. I forgot that I have to work early tomorrow."

"Ah," Perrie said. "I hear ya." She nodded her head in agreement.

"What do you do?" Eleanor asked, interested.

"Oh, I'm a pianist," I replied nonchalantly wrapping up the conversation. "I have to play some of the rehearsal music for this dance class tomorrow up at this really big dance studio called the Los Angeles Conservatory, which I totally forgot about."

"Oh yeah, I've heard of them!" Danielle's face lit up when she realized what I was talking about. "I've been there actually, it's a really cool place. It must be amazing to get to work there."

"It really is," I replied. "Unless you have to work so early in the morning! Anyway, would you mind telling Harry goodbye for me when the show is over?" The others immediately agreed and I quickly grabbed my things and headed for the door.

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 The show wrapped up about an hour after the intermission. I was bone tired, all I wanted to do was sleep for the rest of my life. The only thing keeping me awake was the opportunity to see Rae again before the night was over. I headed off the stage and back to where I'd last seen the group of girls talking, but when I arrived she was gone. I immediately started to panic.

"Where is she?" I demanded of the group of girls. I must've scared them, as Eleanor and Perrie, who's backs had been to me, jumped at the sound of my voice. 

"She left," Danielle said, turning to face me. "She said she had to work early tomorrow, and she needed to get home. Then she left." 

"Yeah," Perrie echoed. "She asked us to tell you goodbye for her, though." I was a little bit stung to find out that Rae had left early. I had been looking forward to seeing her again.

"Oh," I replied quietly, feeling a bit abandoned.

"I'll give you a heads up though," Eleanor said, a little mischievous smirk showing on her face. "She told me she's a pianist at a major dance school here in town." I cocked my head to the side, only half understanding the idea that Eleanor was trying to convey.

"Okay?" I asked, utterly confused. "How does that help me?" Danielle and Perrie gave me incredulous looks.

"You should go surprise her at work tomorrow," Perrie explained the idea that I missed. "She won't expect it, and it'll be really adorable." A large smile was growing on her face, and it was spreading to the other two girls as well. 

"Ah," I said, finally understanding. "Do you really think I should? Wouldn't that be a bit stalkerish?" I didn't know if Rae would really like the idea of me showing up at her job uninvited.

"She'll love it," Eleanor said. "Didn't you see the way she looked at you when you showed up at intermission unexpected? It'll be fabulous." I was slowly but surely starting to warm up to the idea of surprising Rae tomorrow. 

"Sounds like I've got my work cut out for me," I responded, a warm smile starting to creep up on my face. I'd have quite a bit of Internet searching to do in order to figure out exactly where to go tomorrow. I bid the girls goodnight and headed to the bus for some much needed sleep, where the thought occurred to me that I must really be in love if I'm getting up early on a Saturday for a girl. It's only been one day, and Rae's already got me whipped, I thought, sleepily. I slowly started to drift off to sleep as the rest of the guys climbed on the bus to sleep as well.