15 Years // harry styles

chapter five

B

I can feel Jerry's eyes on me as Harry holds the taxi door open and I slip inside, the soaking wet boy following in behind me. With the intenseness of his glare, I'm surprised there isn't a smoldering hole in the rear view mirror.

"Hello Bailey. And hello....?" Jerry questions in the most dad-like tone he can muster.

"Harry. Harry Styles, sir," Harry smiles at him, automatically reaching to shake hands, his long, ring-clad fingers running into the plastic divider. He blushes rose-pink and lowers his hand quickly.

"Where to?"

"My place, then if you could drop him off at his hotel that'd be great. I'll bring you some of Lydia's lemon bars next trip if you do," I clench my teeth, leaning forward as far as I can. Jerry rolls his eyes, but I know he can't resist Lydia's baking, so he shakes his head but starts to drive.

As I lean back in my seat, I look over at Harry. He leans down slightly, catchy all his wet, wavy hair in between his fingers before brushing it back out of his eyes.

If I was standing, I'm pretty sure I would have fallen over. He catches me watching him in the dark.

"What?" He giggles, his accent thick.

"Nothing," I shrug, pulling out my phone and pretending to be uninterested. I swipe over on a text from Kelsey.

how's today been for you? doing okay?

I chuckle again.

you wouldn't believe me if I told you. I'll fill you in soon.

In my phone light, I can see Harry inching closer to my screen, his white smile quite mischievous.

I turn to him, and our faces are close enough to give me butterflies, but I press my palm on his forehead and push him away.

"Back up, nosey."

I know he can tell I'm joking, but he huffs at me anyways, resting his elbow on the car door with the most pitiful of fake pouts on his lips as he stares out the window, the very first lights of the suburbs beginning to pass by in the downpour.

I do the same at my own window, but we both glance over to look at each other at the same time, making us break out into giggles yet again.

We're quiet the rest of the ride, but it's comfortable, as the few porch lights transform into skyscrapers and billboards, blurred by the rivers running down the glass.

In what seems like a few minutes, we arrive at my apartment.

I turn to Harry, words sticking in my throat. I hadn't thought about this part. I know the chances of me ever getting to see him are slim to none, and it hurts. I realize very quickly that I'm not ready to let him go just yet.

The silence is jarred with Jerry's voice.

"Uh, kids. We've got a problem. I only have enough gas to get back to the garage, and I'm not supposed to be driving anymore. So I can't exactly take him back to his hotel."

Harry frowns a little.

"That's alright. I can walk, it's not too far."

"You are not walking in this weather. Especially not without security."

My own words surprise me, but I don't regret them. He looks at me closely, eyes narrowing a little in confusion.

"Then where do you suspect he goes?" Jerry asks.

"I mean, he can crash at my place for the night. If he wants."

If looks could kill, Jerry would have buried me then and there.

"That actually sounds really nice. Are you sure?" Harry responds, his voice soft, and I'm taken aback. I'd expected him to come up with an excuse to skip out on me. I stop myself, realizing I have no reason to think that he would do something of that nature, but it doesn't make my surprise lessen.

"Of course I'm sure."

"It's settled then. Thank you for the ride Jerry. It was nice to meet you."

He smiles, reaching for his door handle and stepping out into the pouring rain, running around to open my door, but not before he gives a $50 to Jerry. As soon as he's out of the car, Jerry turns to me.

"Hey. You owe me a ton of lemon bars for letting this slide, you hear me?" Jer says, but I know it's all bark and no bite.

"You got it bud," I grin, jumping out onto the sidewalk as Harry opens the door, scurrying up the stairs and into the lobby of the building.