15 Years // harry styles

chapter twenty three

H

The silky fabric underneath my fingers confuses me as I start to wake up. I feel around it a little more before finally giving up and opening my eyes completely.

Bailey is pressed up against my chest, her back to me, my hand on her- well, my- shirt. I groan a little at the sight, letting my head fall back on the pillow. This girl is gonna kill me without even trying.

I ease my arm out from around her, heart stuttering a little when she grabs for me. I manage to get out of the bed without waking her and head into the living room only to find Lydia already up, bacon sizzling in the skillet.

"Morning Harry!" She smiles, moving the bacon over to a plate beside the stove.

"Morning! It smells good." I head over to the coffee pot, starting some as Lydia passes me a plate with eggs, a waffle and bacon on it already. I thank her and sit down at the counter, eyeing the 100 dollar bill laying close by.

"Where's Bailey?" Lydia asks, making a plate for herself and turning off the stove.

"Still asleep."

"Good. I need your help." Lydia's tone is serious as she pours syrup on her waffle. "Do you own a suit?"

I nod at her and she smiles, continuing. "Also good. I've got this dinner I'm cooking for tonight, it's a big production from Jacob Finch. Black tie, big ballroom, the whole nine yards, and I really want Bailey to go. I think it would be good for her to be around a lot of people she doesn't know, and it's a really big night for me, too. If all goes well, Mr. Finch is going to let me start up my own restaurant in Manhattan. I just really want her to go."

She pushes her waffle around on her plate.

"So where do I come in?" I ask, tearing a piece of bacon in half with my teeth.

"She doesn't want to go. Okay, correction, she doesn't want to spend money on a dress. But I've been saving my tips for the last month and I got $100 together that she can use to get something nice. Do you think you could take her shopping today to get one? And then bring her tonight? I think she'll be more apt to come if you're with her. You can bring more people if you want to, but you don't have to."

Lydia continues to ramble and I eventually cut her off nicely.

"I'd love to come. I'll invite her new friend Rose as well, then she'll really be excited to come. And you can keep that, I'll buy the dress." I slide the money back towards and she frowns, trying to push it back at me.

"No, no no I didn't mean it like that you don't have to pay!"

"Lydia, I want to. Please let me." I put on my best puppy dog eyes and she groans.

"Alright fine. It starts at 6. I've got to go, thank you Harry. I really appreciate it."

I nod at her, unable to respond through my mouthful of waffle, so I wave instead as she heads out the door.

I pull out my phone and text Rose.

Bailey and I are going to a nice dinner/dance thing tonight at 6. It's formal. You in?

She responds quickly.

Yeah I'll be there!! I'll ask if any of the other boys want to go.

I stow my phone, heading over to make a plate for Bailey, only to hear the soft patter of feet on the hardwood.

"You ruined my surprise," I pout down at her but she doesn't say a word as she shuffles up to me, wrapping her arms around my waist and sighing against me. I can't help but smile at the feeling, sitting her plate down before reaching to tilt her head up, kissing her softly.

"Good morning to you too. I made you coffee." She hums at that, releasing me to get a mug. "Hurry and eat, we have things to do today."

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"Please B, just try them on. It can't hurt, especially if you won't let me buy them." I plead, holding a handful of dresses over my arm. Bailey squints at me questioningly.

"You're not buying any of them."

"Okay, deal. I won't buy them." I smile, giving her a little shrug. She takes the dresses from my hand then, ducking into a dressing room. I sit in a chair on the opposite side of the platform with a sigh. Lydia was definitely right about Bailey not wanting to spend money; when she saw the first $500 price tag I had to hold her back from leaving the store. After perusing for a little while she'd finally found a few she liked, so I plucked them from the racks, hiding the price tags despite her protests.

A few minutes later she pulls the curtain back and I lose my train of thought. The dress is white at the top, with cap sleeves and intricate beading. The bottom is a seperate piece, large and poofy, the sea foam colored material scattered with white polka dots. She looks absolutely stunning as she steps up on the platform, spinning around a few times. There's a sparkle in her eye when she looks in the mirror.

"Damn," I whisper, but she hears me and rolls her eyes.

"Oh shut up. Yes, it's a pretty dress but you aren't buying it, it's way too expensive. I liked it better with the other top anyways," she gestures to the other option, which doesn't have sleeves, only a halter strap.

She looks in the mirror again once more before heading back into the dressing room. She tries on a few more dresses, but I catch her eyes wandering back to the polka dot one every time she's on the platform.

"Alright, no more dress up. We're just not gonna go," she says sternly when she reemerges in her usual clothes. "Besides, it's just a dinner anyways."

"Alrighty then, let's go get some lunch, yeah? I know a place the paps won't find us," I suggest, trying my best to discreetly take my watch off. I lay it on the chair when Bailey turns to head towards the door. I tilt my hat down and pop the collar of my pea coat as I take her hand.

We walk a few blocks before we arrive at the hole-in-the-wall place I discovered last time I was here.

"Oh shit! I left my watch back at the dress shop!" I exclaim, pretending the frantically rub my wrist. She frowns up at me, obviously concerned. "Here, you go in and order whatever you want and then orange chicken for me, I'm gonna go run back and grab it." I plant a quick kiss on her forehead, handing her a twenty before bounding off back towards the dress shop.

"Back so soon?" The woman at the front asks.

"I left my watch, and my girlfriend decided she wants that one," I nod towards the polka dot dress, grabbing it as I retrieve my watch. It doesn't nearly as good on the hanger as it did on my girl, which makes me smile.

"I was hoping she would pick that one, she looked beautiful in it!" The woman takes the dress from me, scanning it and beginning to slide it into a garment bag, snipping off the $700 tag.

"Indeed she did. Can I come pick that up in an hour?" I swipe my card, jotting down a quick signature.

"Of course! I'll see you then!"

I smile at her before heading back down the street, watch securely on my wrist and a smirk on my lips.