Starting over

Chapter 4

Harry's POV

I take a seat next to Chloe's bed as she plants her bottom at the center of her sheets. My eyes skim the room, trying not to make it so obvious that I'd much rather be talking then looking.

"Nice room." I say, my voice coming out rougher then normal. I cough slightly while she lets her long wavy hair fall in front of her face.

"Don't lie....." She says to me. I wasn't lying but the way her eyes are so empty and sad makes me feel like I had lied and made her like that.

She was so straight forward also, she wasn't like those girls who giggle and smile at everything and want to make nice with everyone. She was cool.

Yeah I know, cool is typical guy language for 'we don't know how to express our emotions'.

But wait aren't you Harry Styles, the boy who is so sentimental and flirty and knows just what to say all the time?

One word.

Nope.

"Well, it is slightly bland looking. Why not put some art up over there." I point across the room, my arm slight touching her lap as I lean over her.

"Or put some pictures up. Like of family or something, that's what I'd do." I say while I look up at her from her lap. Her cheeks were powdered pink and she was avoiding eye contact with me it seemed.

I still was trying to figure out what color her eyes were, but it's hard.

There something else. She's something else.

She makes a short coughing sound and slightly pokes my arm signaling for me to get off her. I smile slyly and glide myself back into my sitting position in my seat.

"I used to..." My head snaps up at the sound of her voice when she pauses and looks over at the wall across from her and spreads her arms in front of her and focuses. Little wrinkles come at the bridge of her nose and I tried to contain a smile that was begging to form.

She gulps. Was it really that challenging for her to be able to speak?

"....I used to hang my poems, on that wall and hang photographs I took outside from the summer on my bedside table and on my ceiling. So, it once wasn't so bland, it just looks like this because I was sick of looking at stuff from the past, so I took it down."

Her eyes refocus on nothing and now she's blinking rapidly, was she holding tears back?

My lips form a straight line while I think of the reasons why she looked so unhappy, while she turned her head and asked me a question

"So tell me about One Direction, how famous are you guys?"

I chuckle and rest my elbows on my knees and leans forward and cross my hands together.

"We're pretty famous, known world wide. It's truly amazing how far we've come, see we started in 2009 on X Factor, and since then we've been together. Living the life of a famous person...so fun." I end, my voice wavering a bit as I bite back my real emotions willing to spill.

Why was talking about this with Chloe making me so upset? Why do I feel like I have to tell her how much I really don't want to be famous anymore?

"Why so sarcastic there?" She says while looking over at me with a smirk.

I roll my eyes and smile back "It's complicated."

"Can't be that complicated if you can understand it."

"Yeah but.."

"If you can explain it to yourself, why can't you explain it to me?" That question took me off guard, her body suddenly sitting on the edge of the bed, full intensity on me.

I feel a cold shiver run down my spine as we lock eyes and I look away with a gulp.

"Do you really want to go that deep with me?" I whisper, mildly forcing curiosity into my tone.

Her pupils grow larger, as she stares at me with a determined smile "Most definitely."

"Fine then," I say while thinking over where to go next. Then it comes to me like someone switched on a light switch. Just remember, she asked for this....

"Can I take you out? Like on a date?" The words slip out and I watch as her expression changes completely.

Her mouth hangs slightly ajar and her eyes look at me to see if I'm serious.

Oh, but I was serious.

"Okay. I mean, yes. Sure, uh when?" She stumbles on her words and I laugh to myself quietly.

She plays with the end of her hair, twirling and twisting it cautiously, as she waits for me to speak next.

I smile and sweep my curls to the side and give her a side ways glance with a smug smile "Lets say, tomorrow? I'll pick you up. How bout around 5:00?" I say as I check my brain for anything that might get in the way of our plans.

Her face concentrates and she nods slowly "Sounds..." She struggles for the right word "Perfect." She says breathlessly, almost as if she had the wind knocked out of her.

I nod and then I look at her side clock: 1:57

She jumps from her seating position at the sight, a little to quickly I might add, and then falls into me with a squeak.

"Sorry"

"Sorry."

"No no, it was my fault-"

"Don't blame yourself." I say quietly while standing her upright and then standing to my towering height over her, my hands still gripping her forearms.

She looks up at me with innocent eyes and then she blinks rapidly "So this is just a date...as friends, right?" She asks me and I nod nonchalantly.

I really do wish it was more then just that though.

"Yeah totally. Friends." We both nod and then look away from each other awkwardly and then the nurse comes barging in, making me jump and Chloe hang her head sadly.

"Chloe!!!! Come on! Say goodbye to Mr.Styles for now." She sings happily and we both walk over to the exit and walk through her doorframe.

We stand in front of each other, each about to head in a different direction.

"Bye." She breaths and I laugh quietly

"See you tomorrow, Chloe." I wink and then turn away with one last wave to the nurse and a nod at Chloe, and then begin striding down the hall with a small spring in my step.

........friends.