Love in Photographs

14. Don't Go Breaking My Heart

As I predicted, it took Harry 10 seconds to get ready. We both got into the colossal Range Rover and pulled out of his driveway, where as he had predicted, there were three commercial vans ready to follow us out.

Harry seemed to pay them no attention, so I tried not to, either. But, it was a bit hard not to. They stayed right behind us as Harry zig-zagged in and out of the LA traffic.

"So, where are we going?" I ask him.

"Well, I thought we might go to this little bistro on a more quiet side of town... Maybe go in a few shops if you're up for it." He looks over at me and smiles.

"Sounds good." I agree, silently wondering what kind of "shops" Mr. Millionaire goes to.

We park a couple shops down the street from the bistro Harry mentioned before, while the paparazzi vans park on the opposite side of the street quickly, men with cameras climbing out and making their way over.

Harry and I both exit the vehicle, and I stand by the door, waiting for a cue from him. He walks over to me and looks down at my fidgeting hands.

I silently wonder if he'll want to take my hand when there's cameras around. I'd completely understand if he didn't. It would definitely make things a lot less dramatic. I could already imagine the headlines.

"Babe?" He asks, pulling my attention back to him.

He stands beside me, his hand held out. I take it, and with a deep breath, we both begin to walk down the street to the bistro.

All too soon, we hear the clicking of the cameras and men shouting Harry's name. We make it inside before they get too close, thankfully. I watch behind my sunglasses as they stand outside the glass windows of the shop, not bothering to walk inside.

"What would you like?" Harry asks me.

I look up at the menu, noticing a few whispers and stares coming from all around the room.

"Um," I stutter, heart beating rapidly. "I'll try that pomegranate peach tea."

"Nothing to eat?" He asks warily, and I shake my head rapidly, already feeling my stomach twisting in knots.

He acts as if he's going to protest my answer, but the lady at the counter asks him what he wants, so he doesn't get the chance to. As he gives his order, my attention drifts to the different conversations around us.

Is that Harry Styles?

The guy looks familiar. I think he's famous.

Who's that girl with him?

Is that his girlfriend?

Maybe for this month.

I take a deep breath and follow Harry like a lost puppy to a table near the back, not bothering to remove my sunglasses until we're as out of sight as we can get.

"You ok?" He asks with a sympathetic smile.

"Yeah, yeah," I lie. "I'm good."

"At everything except lying," He retorts, raising an eyebrow at me. "Why didn't you get something to eat?"

"I don't know if my stomach and food would get along right now." I answer truthfully.

I look up from his face for a mere second, seeing people looking in our general direction and quickly look away.

"Rhiannon," Harry scolds, and I look up at him. "Don't pay attention to them, please. They're just people. We're just people. It's okay."

He puts his hand on mine across the table, and I feel an ease spread through me. I breathe in deeply and offer a reassuring smile. The waitress walks over, handing Harry and I our drinks, my tea and Harry's coffee. Harry leaves his hand on mine, his other one pushing my drink toward me. The waitress remains apathetic as she sits a salad down in front of Harry and a big sugar cookie of some sort with a big red heart drawn in icing and then walks away.