in the ring / harry styles

4- Where Worlds Meet

"What time is it?" Lynn muttered, sitting up and rubbing her eyes.

"Almost one," I answered, glancing at my phone. It was just us. Emelia, of course, is at the gym, as she usually is around this time.

"Ugh," Lynn groaned again before her expression suddenly brightened. "So, you know how Eric just joined the frat, right?" she started, glancing over at me.

I nodded, knowing exactly where this was going.

"Well, they're throwing a party for him tonight, like a whole celebration because he's officially in. Jake's the one organizing it—he's, you know, the frat leader and all..." Her voice trailed off as she bit her lip, probably thinking about how awkward it could be for me.

She rushed to add, "But listen, if you don't feel comfortable going, it's totally fine. I get it, because, you know... Jake. If anything I'll just go for an hour to support my brother," she says.

Of course, I didn't want to see Jake, not after the way things ended between us. But Lynn was my best friend, and this was for her brother. I couldn't just leave her to go alone, especially when she was so excited about it.

"No, I'll go," I said, forcing a smile. "It's for Eric. I want to support him. And you, of course."

Lynn's face lit up with relief. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "It'll be fine."

She grinned, pulling me into a quick hug. "You're the best."

As I pulled away, my phone buzzed. I glanced down and felt my heart skip a beat.

Harry: I want to see you tonight. I'll pick you up after my match. Be ready by 8:30.

His words were direct, leaving no room for discussion. A strange thrill ran through me as I bit my lip, staring at the screen. Match? I quickly typed back.

His response came immediately. 

Harry: Yeah. I'm a boxer.

I blinked at the message, processing it. A boxer. In a way, it made perfect sense—the controlled intensity in his eyes, the solid, poised way he carried himself, every movement deliberate. It explained the aura he had, the quiet confidence that bordered on something darker. I was about to respond, but Lynn's voice broke through my thoughts as she flopped back onto her bed, her excitement still buzzing around her.

I paused, fingers hovering over the screen, debating. A part of me wanted to go see him, to find out more about this magnetic stranger who seemed to walk through life with an intensity that pulled me in despite myself. But tonight was for Lynn and her brother, and I couldn't back out now.

After a moment, I typed back: I can't tonight. My friends want to go to a frat party.

His reply came immediately, as if he hadn't expected me to say no.

Harry: A frat party?

I felt the weight of his words through the screen. The message was short, but something about it felt loaded, almost like he was challenging me. I stared at my phone, feeling the silent tension of the conversation as I typed a simple response: Yeah.

The familiar three dots appeared, holding me in suspense for what felt like an eternity before his reply finally came through.

Harry: What's the address?

I froze, my heart picking up speed as I reread his message. My pulse raced with an odd mix of excitement and caution. I could practically feel his insistence through the phone, a push to stay connected to me even while I was with my friends. Instead of answering, I bit my lip and locked my phone, letting it drop to the nightstand where it landed beside the scattered clutter of books and papers, the screen darkening as the message lingered unanswered.

Across the room, Lynn lay back on her bed, her face lit with an excited smile as she stared at the ceiling, probably envisioning tonight's party and the people she'd see. The dorm felt peaceful, in its own way—a small haven filled with the echoes of late-night conversations and endless shared secrets. My side of the room was comfortably messy, the quilt rumpled where I had been sitting, papers and notebooks piled around in semi-organized chaos. Lynn's corner was much the same, her blankets spilling over the edge of her bed, while her nightstand held a few scattered hair ties, perfume bottles, and a half-full coffee cup.

But even in this familiar setting, my thoughts drifted to Harry. There was something about him that didn't fit neatly into my world, a part of him that seemed to push against the comfort of my routine. His possessive tone, his immediate demand for the address—everything about him felt so bold, so direct, and a small part of me found it thrilling, though I couldn't entirely shake the hint of caution that lingered.

I lay back on my own bed, staring up at the ceiling, my mind torn between the safety of my friendship with Lynn and the intrigue Harry stirred within me. Tonight was supposed to be about celebrating Eric, supporting Lynn, but Harry's words echoed in my thoughts, filling me with a nervous anticipation that I couldn't fully explain.

My phone buzzed again, but I didn't reach for it, choosing instead to let the night unfold without Harry's influence, even if only for now. I needed to keep some distance, some sense of control, to make sure that tonight—no matter how complicated—was about my friends. And yet, as I lay there in the stillness of our dorm, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning, that Harry's presence would linger even as I tried to focus on everything else.

I glanced over at Lynn, who was now flipping through her phone, oblivious to the quiet storm stirring inside me. Tonight, I would follow through with my promise to her. Later, though—I might just let myself answer Harry's text.