Before One Direction

Just a boy.

He was so known for his curly hair.

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                                                           Harry 

                                                    A street in Cheshire, 5 pm - 2009.

The curly haired boy glanced down at the small photograph, a small chuckle falling from between his lips as the wind blew. It was a cold day in Cheshire, one of those days where it wasn't exactly raining, but very close to it. After another glance at his picture, he slowly slipped it into his wallet, adjusting his sweater and began walking home. His hands found their way to his pockets, a habit he had seemed to pick up from his mother, enjoying the breeze and the scenery of his small hometown.

He was never one for walking or just randomly going out for a jog though his friends and lads back in his morning hour classes seem to think so. But he was never rushing either. He preferred to take his time, who didn't right? It's just how he was, how he always has been.

His eyes drifted over to a young lady crossing the street pushing a stroller, and he smiled. He had always had sort of a soft spot when it came to kids. It was something about how innocent they were, how they seemed to only either laugh or cry during the day which in his mind was a lot easier than doing homework and chores.

He chuckled again to himself, shaking his head as he approached his street. The lady noticed him and gave a polite nod to acknowledge his presence and he bowed back respectively, getting her to let out a slight giggle as they crossed paths momentarily. Harry grinned, strolling forward at ease. 

Girls. 

That was one thing that had always come easy to him. Whether it was a girl at school who caught his young eye or some girl he had seen from wherever he was, they were always so drawn to him. And he wasn't bothered by it one bit.

Of course he chose the girls he wanted to spend time with wisely, if she meant anything to him. If she was just a girl he couldn't see himself being with, then he could easily let her know without a backward glance. He wasn't mean about it, but merely truthful just to tell her how he felt. 

His mother had always been the reason why he was such a ladies man he told everyone and anyone who asked. She was the one there for him and his sister Gemma, as their father wasn't in the picture, and when he was...he didn't stay for long. But Harry was alright with that too. He adored his mother, she never once led him to false hope, only encouraged him to strive for whatever he wanted and that was why she would always be his favorite person in the world.

However today he probably wouldn't be her favorite. His eyes widened at the thought then he was racing down the block to his house where his sister Gemma was carrying out small packages to their mothers car. She shot him that you are so dead look as she passed him, loading the tiny boxes into the back seat quietly. 

He braced himself, striding inside the warm filled house, throwing off his winter coat in one movement, and sliding on his bakery clothing in the next right as his mother appeared at the top of the staircase. She sighed in relief at her son, shaking her head as she descended the stairs handing him three boxes stacked on top of one another.

"You're late Harry, again." she eyed her son warily.

He could only offer her a nervous smile, hoping she wouldn't be too hard on him. "Sorry Mum, got caught up back at school. Don't worry I've got it all under control alright? There's really no need to stress." he tried to tell her. Luckily, she bought it with another slow nod, raising her eyebrows in the process.

"Well..good then. Off to the car love, we've got a big order to fill this evening." she kissed his forehead with a gentle smile, moving past him into the kitchen, mumbling things to herself as she went. He rolled his eyes and carried the boxes outside glad that none of his peers could see how much his mother babied him....or how much he enjoyed being babied by her. 

"What's got you so smiley today?" his sister packed the boxes with the others then glanced at him.

"Gemma honestly? I can't just be happy for a day?" he laughed a little, climbing into the car. His sister was quick to follow, stealing the front seat instead of the seat beside her brother in the back so she could control the radio.

"Well yes, you can. It's just usually something that's happened to you or you're just stuck in those mindless daydreams again. So which is it?" she asked him.

He sighed, "It's a nice day out today, even with the clouds. It just...I don't know, it feels like a good day."

Before Gemma could say something smart, their mother closed the trunk and got into the car. And for that, Harry was glad. "Have we got everything?" she wondered more to herself than the kids.

"Yes mum." the kids chorused.

"The cupcakes? The cake? The -

"Yes mum." the kids laughed in repetition again. 

"Oh good good." their mother laughed, turning on the engine and driving off. "So Harry, how was school today?" she looked back at him through the rear view mirror. 

Harry smiled, his gaze slowly returning to the window up in the gray clouds. "It was good."

Gemma frowned. "Harry won't explain why he says it's just a good day. There's always a reason with him."

And then began the back and forth arguing in the car followed by some jokes about how the curly haired boy loved to spend his time daydreaming instead of paying attention as a child. Normally, Harry would have been involved to defend himself, but today however with the air so crisp, he couldn't bring himself too. He was too enticed by the beauty outside. 

Something was pulling at him, telling him things were about to change. The funny thing was that the boy never knew when, what, or even why. But he didn't mind, that was another thing about him, he didn't mind change.