I sat in the booth of the gloomy Italian restaurant, my eyes wondering out onto the outside world, pain tugging at my heart. How did I end up like this?
Jack Frost was working his wonders on this miserable town, glazing the streets with white and turning the sky a somber gray, the people outside scurrying home, eager to avoid the night chill.
I sighed heavily, clutching the cocoa in my hands, it’s once inviting warmth becoming a undesirable lukewarm temperature. Realizing this, I set the mug back onto the table, a frown glued on my lips. My heart was as frozen and numb as the outside world, tears burning in my eyes as I blinked them away, harshly biting down on my lip.
I’ve fallen in love with my friend’s boyfriend.
I cringed at the thought itself, disgust churning in my stomach. He’s not her boyfriend anymore.
My mind instantly swarmed back to what took place a mere hour ago; I was out to dinner with my best friend and her boyfriend, being the most awkward third wheel ever. The whole time I basked in the glory of the god-like man; his dazzling green eyes, angelic dimples, curly brown locks, and that mesmerizingly deep voice that could send me into laughing fits in minutes.
Ladies and Gentleman; Harry Styles.
And to call his girlfriend; my friend, was a bit stretched.
She’s selfish, and self-centered, nothing but a snobby rich girl who leeched off her daddy’s money, and always got her way. But she was gorgeous, no avoiding that, so getting guys came with ease to her. Me? I’m the stereotypical girl-next-door, the one with ‘the nice personality’ and the ‘okay’ face. I had too much month at the end of my paycheck, and I’ve never had a boyfriend before. I think that’s why she was so drawn to me; a little reminder each day that it could be worse , using me as an example.
I blame myself for showing her my new One Direction album nearly a year ago; what really started this all. She hated the band, but loved Harry’s face. Of course, after begging ‘daddy’, she was set up on a date with my favorite member, and began dating since then.
What started out as a petty crush, drooling over magazines and complaining on Tumblr about how perfect he was, I got to actually meet him and we quickly become each other’s best friend. And thus; me falling in love with him. He never knew, of course, but my friend did; bragging about their perfect dates, but then to quickly complain about how he doesn’t takes things serious half the time, or how he constantly talked about tattoos and music, the list goes on. Quite ironically, everything she hated about him, was what made me fall for him.
But that’s beside the point.
Tonight at dinner, Harry had proposed to her in front of the entire restaurant, making a sweet speech about how he really loved her, and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. I had left by then, my heart still on my dinner plate.
So now, the statement is; I’ve fallen in love with my friend’s fiancé.
I blinked, realizing I’ve been staring at my mug for far too long, and stared back out at the window, noticing it was getting dark outside. ‘I should be getting home’ I thought. ‘Maybe then I can cry in peace’
“Why’d you leave?”
My gaze snapped from the window to see Harry making himself comfortable in the seat in front of me, signaling a waiter for a drink.
“W-why are you here?” I sputtered, ignoring his question.
“I saw you left, and went all over town trying to find you. You weren’t at the bakery you always go to, so I spent the last forty five minutes looking for you. Why’d you leave?” He asked again, just as two more mugs of hot cocoa were placed on the table. “Drink up” he added, bringing the cup up to his lips.
I shrugged halfheartedly, sipping from the mug, it’s scorching heat thawing my emotional numbness. “Why does it matter? Shouldn’t you be with your fiancé?” I muttered, attempting to put my strong front up.
He chuckled, his dimpled smile on display as he shook his head. “That’s the last place where I want to be”
A look of confusion must’ve washed over my face as his eyes met mine, because he continued, without me asking. “I don’t want to marry her. Or date. I can’t stand her”
“You’re a liar” I shot, narrowing my eyes. “You don’t propose to someone you can’t stand. Why are you even dating her then?”
“Daddy and Management, that’s why” He muttered, taking another sip. “Management was tired of me being single, and ‘Daddy’ set up a meeting, and there you have it” He fanned a hand over himself, a look of annoyance on his face. “Miserable, but engaged Harry.” He scoffed, his eyes glancing from the window and then back to me. “They treat me as if I’m some sort of prize. I bet she wouldn’t even be with me if I wasn’t famous and all”
“She wouldn’t.” I agreed. “She wouldn’t even glance twice at you.”
He nodded, rolling his eyes. “I wouldn’t doubt it for a second. Daddy practically bribed me to marry her, even bought the ring himself. Management threatened to ruin the band if I didn’t agree.” He shook his head again, realizing his voice had been raising with anger. “I hate it” he whispered.
We sat in silence, not really knowing what to say. I squeezed my eyes shut, not wanting Harry to see me break. Just let me go home. I silently pleaded. Let me go home so I can cry.
“Well, I have to admit, there is one good outcome out of all this” Harry mused.
“Which is?” I asked, not looking up yet.
“… I got to meet you”
My eyes widened and my head snapped up to his, a love-struck smile painted on his lips as his charming green eyes gazed into mine. “Getting to see you every day, making you laugh and smile, it makes all this torture worth it. The way you bite your lip when you’re lost in your own world, or how your eyes widen when you’re excited about things… I know I shouldn’t be thinking of you like this, when I’m dating your friend and all… But I think I’m in love with-“
“No.”
I cut him off, not letting him finish his sentence. How could I? He’s engaged to marry my friend, my only friend besides him. Even if I did love him too, I still couldn’t do that to my friend. I shook my head, closing my eyes so I wouldn’t have to see his face.
“Tell me you’re joking. Or just pulling a prank. Please” I begged, my voice breaking. “Tell me it isn’t true. Itcan’t be true.”
Silence fell over the table again, and my cold fingers were shaking as I looked up at his somber face. “I can’t lie to you” He said firmly, reaching across the table to grasp my hands. “I love you, and I know you love me, too. We can work something out, give us a chance.”
With as much electricity that ran through his touch, I yanked my hand away, before standing up, fetching a few dollars out of my wallet and slamming it on the table.
“I have to be somewhere.”
And with that, I left the restaurant, leaving Harry rejected and confused in the tiny red booth.
