What Are You So Afraid Of? [Harry Styles]

Chapter 8

“Haz, I can’t do this,” Jez mumbled into the couch she was lying on in her dressing room.

"Yes, you can,” Haz said and though Jez didn’t look up, she pictured her friend standing over her with her hands on her hips.

Jez groaned, “No, I can’t! They’re gonna hate me.”

“They couldn’t hate you if they tried,” Candice said from somewhere in the room.

“Exactly,” Haz said. “You’re too amazing to hate.”

Jez mumbled something into the couch and Haz sighed, “Candice, how much time until the show?”

“Almost three hours,” Candice said, checking her watch. “You know, Jez, if you want me to be done in time then I need to start now.”

Haz went to her friend and pulled her into a sitting position, “Listen to me, Jessica Whyte, they will not hate you. This has been your dream for too long, and you didn’t win that competition by chance.”

Jez closed her eyes and nodded, “Okay, okay, I can do this.”

“Good,” Haz smirked. “Now let Candice do your hair and make-up.”

Jez took a deep breath, “Haz,” she said without opening her eyes.

“Yes?” Haz asked.

“I’m too nervous to move.” Jez said and opened her eyes, looking panicked.

Haz rolled her eyes and shook her head, “We can play that game we used to play at Dylan’s?”

Jez nodded and suddenly someone burst into the room, “And this is Jessica’s dressing room.” Louis was saying from behind his phone, obviously recording the whole experience. He stopped in front of Jez and waved, “And this is Jessica, everyone say hi to Jessica!”

“You know, you should really knock before you come in. I could’ve been naked or something,” Jez said disapprovingly.

“And what a sight that would have been,” Harry said, smirking as he walked in and plopped himself next to Jez on the couch.

“Hello, Harry,” Jez said and rolled her eyes.

Harry was about to respond when he was interrupted by Niall walking in, “Hey, shouldn’t you be getting ready?”

Jez heard Haz take in a breath and she turned to see her friend with a shocked expression on her face. Ah, the power of the Irish accent.

“Haz, are you alright?” Jez asked.

“I’m fine,” Haz replied quickly.

“What?” Harry replied at the same time.

Jez turned to Harry, “What?”

Harry furrowed his eyebrows together in confusion and Jez finally understood, “No, you’re Harry, she’s Haz.” Jez said and grinned.

“Are we gonna play or not?” Haz asked suddenly.

“Play what?” Zayn asked as he and Liam walked into the room.

“Wow, it’s getting crowded in here,” Candice said from her corner of the room.

“Can we play?” Louis asked excitedly, quickly putting his phone away.

“Wait, what exactly are we playing?” Zayn asked and squished himself onto the couch, which was now full.

Haz rolled her eyes, “Back when we used to do gigs at the bar, we would play this game where we would quote song lyrics and then one person had to finish them. It would take our minds off the fact that we actually had to perform, so we stopped being nervous. If the person guesses the lyric right then they get to choose who has to guess next, and if they don’t know the lyric then they have to go again. By the time the game’s over, the person who got the most questions right wins and if you win then everyone else has to do whatever you say for the entire day the next day,” Haz shrugged.