Everything's Changed. Harry Styles.

04

September 2006
Holmes Chapel

Harper

"Hi."

I looked up, confused as to why someone was talking to me. I didn't know anyone here yet and nobody had tried to get to know me either. I'd been sitting alone at lunch for a week now.

I found a tall, lanky boy smiling down at me. He had fluffy curly hair and cute dimples. I gave a shy smile back, "Hi."

"Are you eating alone?" He looked around with furrowed eyebrows, seeing the five empty seats around me.  I looked around too, putting down my juice I was about to drink. I nodded my head, my ears heating up from embarrassment. "Can I sit with you?"

I looked at him a little shocked. Why would this seemingly nice boy want to sit with me? I'm sure he has friends around here he can sit with. If he playing a prank on me? Like in the movies? Where the nice boy pretends to be nice to the lonely girl just to mess with her in the end. I don't know.

But it can't hurt to see, right?

"Uh, sure." I tucked my hands under the table, playing with my fingers in my lap.

"Cool." He gave another dimpled smile before sitting across from me, setting down his lunch and starting to dig in. "I'm Harry."

"Harper."

"So, where are you from?" He spoke through a mouthful of food, looking at me with big green eyes.

"Uhm, I just moved here from Kentucky."

"That's in the states, right?" I nodded my head. "That's cool, I've never traveled outside of the UK. I want to though." He took another bite of his lunch before asking me another question, "Have you traveled anywhere else?"

I starting picking at my food, a little uncomfortable with all the questions.

"Mhm, I've traveled all over."

"How come?"

"My dad's in the military. We move around a lot because of it." He nodded his head, seemingly thinking. This went on for a few more minutes, him asking questions and me picking at my food until we had to part ways for class.

"I'll see you later?" I nodded my head even though I wasn't sure if I would see him later and went about my day.

But boy was I wrong, he sat with me everyday at lunch for the next two weeks and eventually we started walking home together. We realized that we lived just a street over. But he still talked more than me. I don't think I mind him talking so much anymore.

I think I finally have a friend.

***

December 2006

"So, what are you doing for Christmas." Harry asked me as we swing back and forth on the swings. It was cold, but I preferred being outside. It was better than being alone inside.

Harry started to pick up on the fact that I loved being outside. He didn't question it too much, only when the weather got really cold and then he would try and get me to hangout inside. Sometimes it worked.

"I think my dad is working, so probably nothing." I shrugged my shoulders. We were never a big holiday family. Being an only child to a dad who worked too much didn't leave much room to celebrate.

"You can't do nothing! You can come over to my house! My mom won't mind." He gave me a big smile, not realizing that not having a Christmas was normal for me. Usually my dad would either give me a gift early in the morning or he'd leave one on my bedside table at the end of the night when he finally got home.

"Oh, it's okay."

"C'mon, it'll be fun!"

"Harry..."

"Please? We can play games and eat all the sweets." He gave me his best puppy dog eyes and I felt myself starting to say okay.

"Fine, but only for a couple hours."

"Deal." He held out his hand and I laughed softly as I shook his hand.

It wasn't a couple hours. I was there for most of the day. And he was right, it was fun. And his mom didn't mind.

***

April 2006

"Wait up!"

"Why don't you speed up!" I laughed as my hair flew behind me. Harry and I were riding out bikes to my favorite place. This was a habit we formed now that the weather isn't terrible. It's still kinda cold and still not sunny, but nice enough to wear a jacket and go for a bike ride.

Once we arrived I skidded to a stop, letting my bike fall to the ground while I waited for Harry. He was always slower than me. When I saw him getting close I turned on my heel and started walking through the field. The path well worn from my feet. My fingers grazed by flowers as I walked to the clearing in the middle. I fell to the ground once I got there, laying on my back with my eyes closed. I had picked a flower on my way and I was twirling the stem in the hand as I waited for Harry.

"You could have waited for me."

"You can always speed up." I turned my head so I was facing him. I gave him a cheesy grin and he rolled his eyes, twirling his own flower.

We talked about anything and everything as we laid there. School, friends, our family. Well I spoke a little bit about my family. I still haven't told him everything. But he doesn't need to know, I've been getting by on my way.

We were silent for a while, listening to the wind and birds around us.

"You seen a lot happier now." I opened my eyes, turning to face him again.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know, you're smiling more now. Talking more. Just... happy." He shrugged, looking at his flower with furrowed eyebrows.

"Yeah, I guess so. I think I just like springtime a lot." I mimicked him, shrugging my shoulders and looking at my flower.

"Like a flower..." He spoke under his breath and I barely heard him.

"What?"

"Like a flower." He turned to me and smiled, his big cheesy dimpled smile. "You're like a flower."