Repetition || Harry Styles

Chapter 1: repetition

Chapter 1

9 months later.

"Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne!" Maia's voice rang out like a spell, each name she listed casting an invisible thread that pulled back to that night. The mention of Harry sent a shiver down my spine as if his name itself held a strange, magnetic magic. Memories I'd tried to bury were suddenly stirred, surfacing like a shadow.

It had already been months since I'd crossed paths with Harry and I had no idea back then who he really was. A rising star, a famous artist in a band that everyone seemed to adore. To keep him from haunting my thoughts, I'd always told myself he was just some guy, a fleeting encounter, someone who'd casually offered me a night of sex and a hit of weed. But knowing who he really was now, that image felt flimsy, like a memory I couldn't quite let fade.

"They were so cute! Oh my god? What's with Zayn and his perfect face?" Maia gushed, eyes glued to her phone. It seemed like every teenager around was obsessed with this rising boy band. Out of curiosity, I'd listen to a few of their songs, and honestly, they were good. Plus, they were all ridiculously attractive. I could understand the hype.

"Lower your voice, Maia," I told her, trying to keep my tone light but firm.

She looked up at me, her eyes widened and playful, then pouted slightly. It was hard not to smile, she was in a fangirl mode, and I was just the unfortunate bystander who happened to be working with her.

"You're brewing a coffee," I whispered, nudging her with my elbow to remind her of her duties.

We were at the café, a small local spot that was usually buzzing with customers. The last thing I wanted was to hear her high-pitched giggles while I was busy taking orders from customers.

"Sorry!" Maia said, trying to suppress her laughter as she turned her attention back to the coffee machine. "You know, if Zayn were here, he'd totally be ordering a caramel macchiato."

"Yeah, right. He'd probably get something simple like a black coffee. No time for all that extra sugar when you're a busy superstar!"

She rolled her eyes dramatically but eventually turned back to the task at hand, pouring milk into a steaming cup. I could see the faintest smile creeping back onto her lips as she pretended to channel her inner barista, complete with exaggerated movements and an over-the-top accent.

"Are you pretending that Zayn's here and you're doing his coffee?" I asked, leaning against the counter and watching as Maia carefully crafted the drink. She had the same dreamy expression on her face that she always did when talking about him, and I couldn't help but tease her a little more.

She giggled, turning back to this espresso machine with a flourish, her hands moving dramatically as she pretended to perfect the drink. "If Zayn were really here, I'd make him the best caramel macchiato ever! It would have extra foam, just how he likes it!"

"Extra foam? You sound like you've read his entire fan page. Are you sure you're not trying to win him over with your barista skills?"

She spun to face me again, her grin infectious. "Hey, it's a solid plan! If he walked in right now, he'd definitely be impressed by my coffee-making prowess. I mean, who wouldn't want a cute barista making their drink?"

I laughed at her enthusiasm. "Okay, I think we should stick to making drinks for now. Zayn can wait."

The door swung open, and a group of customers entered, breaking the spell of our playful banter. I quickly shifted into work mode, greeting them with a smile as they approached the counter.