Evie | H.S |

74. Hot chips

A/N: you know the songs. You'll know when to play 'em 😜

I'd stood back by the bar waiting for my drinks while Harry finished out the song that had weighed heaviest on me so far tonight. I knew it had only been written a few days after we had left things in Melbourne. There was no doubt I was partially responsible for it and it just provided another reminder that I wasn't the only one left empty and hurt by my actions.

So, when Harry announced: "alright, alright I'll let you dance to something a bit cheerier now", I knew it was time for me to return, drinks in hand, to my position at the front of the gathered crowd. A stage tech emerged from the wings to hand him his rosewood Gibson guitar (though not the original, because that one was safely stored at my parents house). He shrugged the strap over his head and across his lean body, strumming all strings a few times to make sure it was amplified. Even stood before a crowd who weren't necessarily fans, his every move was met with applause. With his guitar pick gripped between his perfect set of teeth, he ran his fingers back through his hair and the lights from above hit every angle of the abundance of jewellery that adorned them.

"Eve, this is Tom" Jeff spoke to my ear as he accepted the drink I'd fetched for him. He jut his head in the direction of the blonde guy who had introduced Harry earlier.

"Ah, producer extraordinaire" I smiled, talking over the hun of the crowd as I tucked my phone under my arm to greet him.

Tom extended his arms and pulled me in for a hug, forgoing the handshake I'd expected. Pulling back, he grabbed my shoulders and I was met with a wide grin. "It's so nice to put a face to some of this music".

I laughed in a wide-eyed daze, trying to mask my panic. "God, that's so fucking embarrassing" I groaned. Maybe this is how Tommy felt all those years. But then again, he had no shame.

There was nothing more infectious than the boyish smirk that would play at Harry's lips as he spoke at times. That curled knowingness was very much evident as he introduced the next song. "This one I sort of started writing while we were in New Zealand or Australia I think. I sort of parked it but came back to it to finish it off in Japan and I quite like it now, I hope you do to. This is 'Complicated freak'".

Tom lightly punched my shoulder and threw a knowing smirk my way, not dissimilar to Harry's. I watched on with baited breath as he held his mic on the stand, angling it forward as he ran his gaze through narrowed eyes around at the crowd in a way that asserted dominance. He was saying 'this is my stage and you're going to eat this up' without needing to actually say a word.

Twangy Stones-esque guitars sounded before Sarahs kick drum announced the rollicking entrance of the rhythm section.

She got wrapped up in somebody else
I'm wrapped up stuck in love with myself
I never saw this coming around
But I miss her skin on me now

Oh my.

Harry's guitar now joined with Mitch's as the second section of the verse deepened. The shape of his beige suit jacket were enhanced as he stepped behind the light, providing a strong silhouette before he stepped back into the overhead lights. 

Tip of my tongue, she's pulling my hair
I do what she wants anywhere
Back seat of the car and up in the air
But I miss how she kissed everywhere