Pinky Promise (En)

Flashback 1

The Styles' country house, hidden in a serene corner of England, has always had a welcoming charm. The air is filled with the scent of cinnamon and fresh tea, the walls seem alive with the laughter of childhood, and the garden stretches lazily toward the distant horizon. From the very first time Harry brought me here, I felt like I belonged, as if this place had been waiting for me all along.

It was his sanctuary, and now, it had become the group's. Louis, Zayn, Liam, and Niall had started coming over recently, a bunch of boys filled with laughter and big dreams. When Harry introduced me to them, it felt like I was a piece of his world. "This is Delilah," he said with a proud smile, "she's been here as long as I can remember."

And he was right. From their auditions to this very house, I had been by their side every step of the way. Harry had made sure I was present for it all, a constant reminder that before the fame and the cameras, there was just the two of us.

Tonight, however, he seems different.

The campfire flickers gently, its golden light dancing across his features. The other boys are laughing heartily—Louis and Niall teasingly throwing marshmallows into the flames, while Liam and Zayn come up with silly lyrics to a familiar tune.

Harry, on the other hand, remains silent, sitting next to me. His gaze is fixed on the flames, a twig twisting between his fingers in a restless motion. I recognize the gesture all too well.

"You're overthinking," I say quietly, keeping my attention on the fire.
He flinches slightly, as if startled, but doesn't reply right away.

"Do you want to talk about it, or should I just guess?"

He exhales slowly, flicking the twig away. "It's just... all of this. The band, the journey. It's starting to feel so real, you know?"

I nod, feeling the weight of his words. From the moment the band idea came to life, everything has moved at an overwhelming pace. The auditions, the rehearsals, the official formation... and now they're on the brink of something so much bigger.
"It's what you've always dreamed of, isn't it?" I ask quietly.

He hesitates, then gives a small nod. "Yeah, but..."

I turn to face him, waiting for him to find the right words. With Harry, silence often speaks louder than anything he could say.

"What if it changes everything?" he finally whispers. "What if it changes... us?"

I freeze, taken aback. It's rare for Harry to open up like this, to admit his doubts so plainly.

"Are you serious?"

He meets my gaze, and in his eyes, I see a vulnerability that makes my heart tighten.

"Delilah," he says quietly, his voice full of sincerity, "I don't want to lose you. Not you."

My breath hitches. The simplicity of his words hits harder than I expected, carrying more weight than I can express.

"Harry Styles," I say with a teasing smile, "we've survived every ridiculous thing together—and trust me, there have been a lot. You really think a band is going to tear us apart?"

He lets out a quiet laugh, but I can still see the worry in his eyes.

"Listen to me," I continue, more seriously now. "You're about to go through something amazing, and I'll be right here. No matter where this takes you, I'm not going anywhere."

He stays silent for a moment, his gaze steady on mine. Then, with a soft, almost reluctant motion, he extends his pinky.

"You know the deal," he says quietly.

I smile, reaching for his pinky to lock it with mine. "Pinky promise."

When the others return with marshmallows, Harry seems to lighten up. He joins in the laughter, teasing Louis for always managing to burn his marshmallows, and even picks up a guitar to try out a few chords.

But I continue to watch him quietly.

He's still that boy I met years ago, the one who laughed the loudest and always had a wild idea in mind. Even though the world is beginning to notice him, I know deep down that he'll always be Harry—my Harry.

Because we have that promise, and if I believe in anything, it's that.