Remembering Harry Styles

Chapter 2: Idiot

   Harry

   The front door slams shut as Louis bursts through with happiness. I furrow my eyebrows together curiously. Grocery bags are dangling on his arms, but his left hand is tightly clutched together. Louis sets the bags down, running over to my side of the couch, and grabs out his iPhone from his pocket. I peer over his shoulders, and see a white strip of paper with a number on it. I slap his iPhone away from his hand.

    “What are you doing? Are you cheating on Eleanor, Lou?” Louis smacks my arm roughly, and picks up his iPhone. He shakes his head.

    “I'm not cheating on her! I just found this paper outside your door steps. It wasn't here last night.” Louis dials the number and puts it on speaker. It rings for a couple of seconds when all of a sudden a girl’s voice is being heard. Louis grins mischievously as he hands me the phone.

    “Say something to her!” he whispers. I crack up a smile.

    “Hello? Anyone there?” she says with a tone of confusion.

    “Um...” I say nervously.

    “Oh give me that dang thing if you’re just going to go 'Um, so basically...’ shit!” Louis snatches the phone away from me and runs across the kitchen. I run after him terrified of what he's going to say to that poor girl on the other line.

    “Your voice sounds so familiar,” she says.

    “Take a guess!” Louis yells excited.

    “Louis Tomlinson?”

    “Yes! Who is this?”

    “Rosie.”

    The sound of her name brings back so many memories. Two years ago, I dated a celebrity named Rosie Evans. Everything was going great until management told me to break it off. I didn't want to leave her, trust me. It was either Rosie or my career. But we were both young then. We were teenagers falling love too fast.

    “R-Rosie? As in, Rosie Evans?” Louis whispers. Louis looks over at me shocked. I stare at him blankly. I feared one day this would all come back. As soon as all the reporters stop asking me about Rosie, it all starts to come back with a stupid phone call. I told myself that the best way to forget everything that happened two years ago was to stop thinking about her.

    “Yeah, that's me! Hey, how did you get my number? Is Harry there with you?” Louis hands me the phone, but I shake my head refusing, “Hello?”

    “Yeah, Harry's right here next to me actually. And um, I found a piece of paper in front of his porch so I decided to call it. Small world isn't it, Row-row?” I could hear Rosie giggle in the other line. My lips curve upwards as soon as I hear that giggle. It's all coming back now.

    “I'm assuming he's standing right next to you?” Louis rolls his eyes and shoves the phone in my hand.

    “You miss her. Don't deny it, Styles.” Louis mouths out. I sigh, rolling my eyes and head to my bedroom.

    “Hey,” I say.

    “Long time no talk, hmm? How's everything going?”

    I sit on the edge of my bed, rubbing the temples of my cheeks, “Great. Everything is great.”

    “Talk to me. I still remember the tone of your voice when something is wrong.” I smile. Rosie will always be the girl who can know when something is wrong with me.

    “I really want to tell you, but I can't.” I reply.

    “Harry,” she starts out, “It's like breaking up with me all over again. You can tell me. We aren't dating anymore.”

    “I know we're not. I want to tell you the truth about everything. But I can't. How are you doing?”

    She sighs. “I've gotten my act together after taking a long hiatus. I seriously can't believe my piece of paper flew all the way to your house.”

    “Crazy isn't it? It's been exactly two years.”

    “Exactly two years,” she repeats, “I saw your interview. The one when you’re alone with Ellen DeGeneres? Is it true?” I close my eyes trying to block her voice. I don't know what came up in my mind spilling everything out on a live filmed TV show. Ellen asked me a few questions about my love life. Asking if I still remembered Rosie, and other personal questions. Surprisingly, I told her I missed her. Told her how much I hurt her. How I missed being with her. How I still love her. But now that Rosie knows, I can't let her back in my life that easily. Certainly, I know she doesn't want me in her life.

    “Actually, no all of that was an act. I'm really sorry,” I whisper.

    “Oh. Then someday when your singing career isn't going too well, you should be actress. To me it looked like everything was real.” I fiddle around with my fingers and fake laugh.

    “Management. You know, have to keep my publicity going on. Um, I have to go. Maybe we can meet up and catch up on things? How about tomorrow?”

    “Yeah! Harry? Can I ask you something?”

    “Anything.”

    “I'm watching the interview right now and you’re shedding a tear. Did your management tell you to do that? Just tell me everything tomorrow. You’re already lying to me two years later,” Rosie ends the call as I sit there staring down at Louis's phone.

    Louis busts through the door and sits next to me, “You’re an idiot for lying. You told Ellen the whole damn truth, yet you don't have the bloody guts to tell the girl. You’re an idiot!” Louis grabs his phone and disappears somewhere in the house.

    I'm a complete idiot.