Everything's Changed. Harry Styles.

07

Now

Harper

The next couple days went by without too many issues. The morning after Mari and I saw Harry she tried to get more information out of me but I just told her the same thing, that it was a long time ago and not worth bringing up again.

I don't think she was satisfied with my answer.

David came home Sunday night and when he asked how my weekend was I left out the whole Harry situation.

He doesn't need to know.

That leads me to now, back in a quiet house by myself. David had to go into the office today and Mari is working so I'm alone all day, thankfully.

I used to be so used to being alone before Harry came around, and when he left I had to learn to be alone again. Now, it's my safe haven. Currently I was moving around the kitchen, cooking breakfast and cleaning up at the same time, music playing softly on the speaker. Well, it was more brunch than anything else at this point. I let myself sleep in today, which was much needed. Normally with school I'm up around 5:30 in the morning.

I was just about done with my food when my phone dinged over the speaker. I decided to ignore it and started to eat my breakfast. But after a couple minutes it dinged again, and then again, and at that point I couldn't ignore it. I finished chewing my food and wiped my hands off on a paper towel before getting up to find my phone. I finally found it sitting in the living room and when I opened it up to see what was going on I saw three texts from an unknown number

unknown: Hi

unknown: I need to see you again

unknown: I hope this is still your number

I looked at it in confusion, contemplating if I should respond or not. I decided to respond.

Harper: Who is this?

unknown: is this Harper?

Harper: Who is this?

unknown: It's me flower

I slowly lowered myself onto the couch behind me, staring at my phone with shaky hands. Minutes went by where I just stared at the screen, those three words staring back at me. I couldn't respond, I wouldn't respond.

I can't believe he still has my number.

I shook my head and locked my phone, setting it down, deciding I would ignore it. Then it dinged again.

unknown: I can't get you out of my head

unknown: ever since Friday you've been all I could think about

unknown: Please, talk to me

I threw my phone down on the couch, angry tears welling up in my eyes.

It dinged again and instead of looking at it I turned the sound off and pivoted on my heel, walking away from my phone all together.

***

The next day I still hadn't looked at my messages again. I don't even know if he texted again.

I don't care.

Today I'm looking at wedding dresses, he won't ruin that for me.

I stepped out of the car with Mari alongside David's mom and sister's car, Ruth and Lucy. I took a deep breath as I looked at the bridal salon in front of me. Mari came up next to me and nudged me with her shoulder.

"You ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." She gave me a smile but it didn't quite reach her eyes. I didn't tell her about Harry texting me but she knew Friday night had upset me and she was being gentle with me these past couple days. I smiled back and we headed to the front door.

Luny and Ruth were already bouncing in the door, more excited than I am honestly. The second I was inside one of the workers was in front of me, asking for me name.

"Harper Jackson."

"Perfect!" She turned around to look at her computer and clicked a few buttons before turning back with an overly cheery smile. "Got you all checked in! My name is Sage and I'll be helping you find a dress today. I'm going to bring you all to where you'll be sitting, can I grab you any beverages on the way? Champagne, water, soda?"

"Champagne please, for all of us." Ruth spoke for everyone, giving Sage a nice smile. She nodded her head and told us to follow her. She took us to a private area with a dressing room, couches, and an area with a pedestal in front of three mirrors.

"I will be right back with those drinks, please make yourself comfortable." She disappeared in a second and I set my purse down, looking around at all the white dresses surrounding me. Everything was white, pink, and green. Flowers and fake candles throughout the room. It was pretty, and definitely very bridal. Once Sage was back she handed us all our drinks and asked what kind of dress I'm looking for.

"I honestly don't have a specific style in mind, so I'm willing to try everything." She nodded while listening to me. "I would just prefer white, not off white or cream."

"We can do that, are you comfortable with lace or floral dresses? Sleeves? Any sort of neckline you don't like?"

"Uhm, I hadn't really thought about it. I don't have any issues with anything right now though."

"Sounds good. I'll just pull a few different styles and we can narrow it down from there, okay?" I nodded and as she went to get up Lucy spoke up.

"We all want to see her in a ball gown style." She was giddy as she said it. Sage nodded and disappeared to grab some dresses. She came back a few minutes later with an arm full of white fabric. She placed them all in the dressing room and then invited me to join her.

It felt like I tried on a thousand dresses when I slipped on a ball gown and every gasped at it.

"Oh Harper." Ruth looked like she was ready to cry.

"You like it?" I looked down at it, picking up the heavy fabric and adjusting it.

"It's beautiful." I looked at myself in the mirror while they all stood to get closer to it. It was a silk white ball gown. It was off the shoulder and tight through the bodice before it puffed out. It made my waist look tiny and it was classically beautiful.

"This is the one, Harper!" Lucy was bouncing, gushing over the dress and running a delicate finger along the fabric.

"David will love it, honey."

"Yeah." I whispered, still looking at myself in the mirror.

"I'm going to go look for a veil."

"I'll come with you!" Both Lucy and Ruth ran off and Mari came to stand in front of me.

"Do you love it?"

"It's beautiful." I gave her a closed lip smile, my hands fisting the fabric gently.

"That's not what I asked."

"Yes Mari, I love it. Plus David will love it. He always said he loved classic simple dresses." I gave her another smile before Lucy came running over with a veil, cutting her off from saying anything else.