Lanky (harry styles au)

one

It's cold outside and the snow outside the University is mostly slush. Emerson's boots squeak against the ground of the English hall. She's running late, well in her book she's late (she prefers to be there fifteen minutes earlier so she can be physically and mentally prepared).

As she enters the massive lecture hall, her heart drops because all the seats in the front and lower middle are taken. Deep breaths, she wills herself. She walks down the ramped path, plopping down next to some random guy. She didn't really pay any attention to anyone around her, mainly focused on taking out her laptop and papers and opening up a fresh new Word Document.

"Excuse me?" A voice asked. She turned her head. "Hi."

Emerson smiled. "Hello."

"I'm Niall-Niall Horan, and you are?" He asked, his Irish accent thick. He had a baby face, one that made him hard to ignore.

Emerson nodded politely. "My name's Emerson Burke. Um, how are you?"

Niall looked taken aback. "I'm good. Wow, do people still ask that?"

They both laughed. "Well they should, maybe you're just hanging out with mean people, Niall."

"I suppose-" Niall began, but was cut off by the clearing of a throat. Both looked up to see a tall boy wearing a big peacoat and scarf wrapped snugly around his neck. There was snow sprinkled about his semi-long, unruly hair.

"Hey, mate," Niall said cheerfully, meanwhile Harry was staring at Emerson. He thought she was average, pretty even, if she didn't look so cute in her beanie.

"Did we agree on not sitting together?" He joked, plopping down on Emerson's right side. Emerson was confused, but she smiled back when he grinned at her.

He had a nice smile, she noted, appreciating his dimples. But he also kinda reminded her of a well-dressed hippie.

"This is Emerson Burke, my new friend," Niall explained as Harry pulled out a notebook. Emerson was slightly flattered and slightly confused at Niall's declaration of their friendship (they had just met two minutes prior, but Emerson caught on quick that this is just how Niall Horan is), but nonetheless she smiled. If you know Emerson, you know she smiles. A lot. "This is Harry Styles."

"Hello, nice to meet you," she greeted, Harry only nodding. He was starting to get cuter.

Meanwhile Harry was thinking of a charming line to pull. "You should come to the party at our apartment tonight" is all he could come up with. Smooth.

She furrowed her perfect eyebrows. "Um," she began, but the looks on the two boys' faces made it hard for her to straight up deny. "Maybe?"

"She said yes!" Harry exclaimed, gaining tons of glances their ways and glares. Emerson blushed and sank in her chair.

"Oh my go-" she began, but Harry was taking off his coat and his knee (which was way taller than hers) pushed up against her own, making it hard to concentrate. Emerson is a quiet person, so these two outgoing boys were sort of both scaring/entertaining her.

When he took his coat off she noticed all the tattoos. There were dozens of them, littered down his arm. They were small and not as intimidating as a sleeve, similar to a friend of hers. "Nice tattoos." She commented, earning a grin that could literally only be described as cheeky.

"Thank you, Emerson," he smirked, a tone that made Niall shake his head for some reason. "Someone over here thinks I'm going to regret them."

"I just think that having a hanger on your chest is just weird," Niall said, making her giggle.

The professor finally entered the room, immediately starting the lecture. Emerson's last lecture of the day, thank God. About fifteen minutes in she felt Harry poke her. She finished typing her sentence and looked at him, his hand holding out a piece of gum.

"No, thank you," she whispered nicely, eyes back on the PowerPoint. About five minutes later there was another poke, except this time Harry pointed towards the corner of his notebook.

come to the party... and i'll leave u alone x

Harry's handwriting was slightly sloppy, very block-styled she noticed. It looked like he hurriedly wrote.

ok Was all Emerson said because she needed this to end so she could focus. Another tap.

but only for this class period :D x

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a/n: hope you enjoyed! how cute is harry?! im trying to write him as a lowkey jerk/highkey sweetheart (also trying to depict the real harry styles idk)

pic of harry above and u may imagine emerson as whoever

also vote if you enjoyed!!!!

all the love (ha)