Everything's Changed. Harry Styles.

03

Now

It was our last day of class before break and I couldn't be happier. I love my kids but I'm always relieved when I have a break.

This has also been a hard week for me. On top of work being busy and trying to complete wedding plans, I've been seeing Harry everywhere.

He's finishing up his tour now and his final stops are in LA. So of course he's all over my social media feed, I have friends from college going to his concerts and his music is constantly playing.

This past couple years I've been able to keep the thoughts of him at bay, especially with the lockdowns. Nobody was doing anything so I was able to stay away from anything revolving him. But then he released an album that did exceptionally well and now he's doing a huge tour.

I think David knows something is up, but he's not questioning it.

He knows very little about Harry and I. All he knows is I lost someone really close to me and I had a hard time adjusting to life without that person. He doesn't even know he's famous. Mari knows a little more, but I still kept the famous parts of the story a secret.

I don't think either of them would treat me any different but I just can't tell them. I was able to remain mostly anonymous throughout the years of him and I being close. Any photos of me were either from the back or my face was covered. Plus, all the fans just thought I was a good friend of the band. Which isn't completely a lie.

There's too much hurt surrounding that time of my life. It's easier to keep it all a secret.

So here I am, finishing up school and planning to go home and have a self care night. David is out of town on business for the next couple days and I have the house to myself. And I intend to use to my full advantage.

Once all of my kids have left and I've finished up my last minute things I lock up my classroom before hurrying out of the building. I don't want to risk getting pulled into a conversation when all I want to do is go home.

I sigh when I get to my car without getting stopped. But then I groan when I see the time, traffic is going to be terrible. After thinking for a minute, I decide to take the scenic route and avoid the highway altogether. It might take me just as long to get home but at least I won't be stuck in bumper to bumper LA traffic on a Friday.

I start coasting down the side streets, enjoying to cool breeze coming through my windows, the music playing just loud enough for me to hear it but not too loud that I can't hear anything outside.

After an hour I make it home and drag myself inside. I drop my bags at the front door and kick off my shoes, moving to the bathroom and starting the bath. While it runs I go to the kitchen to pour a glass of wine and have a small snack. I set my wine, book, and phone on the little side table next to the tub once it's full and pop a bath bomb in. After I strip down I ease into the bath, enjoying the hot water.

I make it through a couple chapters and my glass of wine before I'm interrupted by my phone ringing. I groan but choose to ignore it, letting the call go to voicemail. I attempt to start reading where I left off until my phone rings again. I throw my head back and put my book down, making sure to mark the page I left off at. I look at my phone screen to see Mari's name.

"This better be good."

"Hello to you too."

"You interrupted my bath, I was having a self care night." I took another sip of my wine.