I couldn't believe he was here. What were the chances, honestly?
Jared immediately steps towards Harry, extending his large hand forward with a killer smile plastered on his face. "Hey there, nice to meet you. I'm Jared."
"Harry," His deep voice vibrates as he speaks. He extends his arm out as well and shakes Jared's hand. His emerald eyes bore into mine the entire time and I feel a small blush creep up the back of my neck and my body burn up under his gaze.
"Oh yeah, you're in that one music group." A hint of recognition goes across Jared's face as he does a once over on Harry but Harry doesn't seem to take notice. He's too busy looking at me for some damn reason.
"What can I do for you today?"
His eyes leave mine for a split second. "I'm thinking of getting a new one." I watch as he extends out his left arm and am stunned by the artwork that's been imprinted into his skin. There are so many tattoos drawn onto his skin that I can't pick just one to look at. It makes me want to ask him what each one stands for.
"Yeah, of course. Where were you thinking?"
Harry's brows furrow as he looks at an open spot on the inside of his forearm. It's right beneath the bend in his elbow and it's only big enough to fit a small phrase or quirky symbol.
"I think," he pauses, biting his lip and glancing up at me. "I wanna get a lemon slice put there."
I look at him in confusion. What does a lemon have to do with anything and why would he want to permanently put such an odd design onto his bronzed skin?
"Interesting," Jared inquires. "Any reason behind it?"
I find myself holding my breath as those green eyes lock with mine once again.
"Well," He starts out with a small smirk plastered across his rosy lips. "I had the best electric lemonade the other night and I wanted to remember everything about that night."
I feel my breath get caught in my throat, knowing full well that this tattoo is meant for me. But why? I'm not anything special and anyone with eyes could see that. I'm not the model type by any means and I don't wear designer clothes out on the streets. So why would Harry Styles of all people want to remember me?
"Huh, that's a very different reason," Jared jokes glancing back at me. "Never heard something like that before. Have you Len?"
I feel my stomach flip over in my stomach as a nervous ball forms in my throat. I try to swallow.
"Um-no."
Jared looks at me with narrowed eyes, trying to figure out why I'm acting like a scared child. I try not to give away anything in my eyes and it must work because Jared turns back towards Harry and ignores me.
"I'll just pop into the backroom to grab my tools and then I'll be right out to get started on it," He tells him before turning back to me. "Are you going to head out?"
I nod silently, not trusting my voice.
"Alright, well thanks for being amazing again." Jared reaches out and wraps his arms around the small of my waist, but I don't reach out to hug him back. I'm still frozen in shock that Harry is even here and my body stills even more when I feel cold lips press against my forehead. "See you."
I stand immobile as Jared releases me and walks away towards the backroom, Harry's eyes following his every movement. It's only when I hear the door slam behind me that I know we're completely alone in this tattoo shop.
"Your boyfriend seems nice."
"He's not my boyfriend," I immediately blurt out, finding the need to defend myself.
Harry shrugs. "Sure seems like it."
"Well he's not."
A silence comes over the both of us and I find myself aching to ask him so many questions. Why did he reserve another table at our restaurant? Why the hell would he get a tattoo of a lemon slice on the inside of his arm? Why was he even here?
"I'm sorry," Harry suddenly says with an odd tone. It's almost like the words have never come out of his mouth before and he's just now tasting the words coming out of his lips. "I shouldn't have assumed he was your boyfriend."
My mouth falls open slightly, not knowing what to say. So I avoid his eyes and simply nod my head, silently accepting his apology. I feel the questions built up inside of me wanting to come out and before I can stop them, they do.
"Why are you getting this tattoo?" I look straight into his eyes, not wanting to seem weak under their intensity.
"'Cos I want to remember that night."
"Why?" I can't help but question further.
Harry bites on the corner of his lip, capturing my gaze right to that area. Damn, he has nice lips. He must have girls swooning right and left trying to even get close to them.
"It was the first time I've smiled since being in LA. It was worth remembering, and so are you."
The words coming out of his mouth do not seem real and I find myself completely lost as to what to say back. It's not the fact that Harry Styles is saying he wants to remember me, it's the fact that his words seem so genuine that a soft spot in my heart opens up.
"I thought you were leaving," Jared's voice suddenly appears behind me as he places his hand on my shoulder, almost possessively. I find myself wanting to shrug it off but am too weak from Harry's words to say anything.
"I am," I find the strength to whisper and start walking towards the front door of the shop, not daring to look behind me as I open the door and keep on walking.
Authors Note:
Hello, everyone! I'm not the happiest with this chapter and I'll probably go back and change it but I just wanted to get something written for you guys. This is not my best writing by any means and I'm not really happy with it or how the story line went in this part, but it's something! Hope you enjoy it regardless.
