Artifice

Black Suit

I wish I could say I've seen more of Harry after him stopping by my apartment Monday. We've texted everyday, he called me one night and we stayed up till midnight just talking. He told me he was busy with work. I forced myself to act like I didn't care, we weren't dating so what would it matter?

It was Friday and I was working tonight till 7, I've spent the day at school and now this.

Thirty minutes. Thirty more minutes and I could go home and relax finally.

My phone buzzed at my side and I slyly checked who was calling. Seeing that the store was relatively empty and there were two other employees I snuck out back to answer the call.

"Mom?" I spoke.

"Eva!" She said cheerfully on the other side of the phone call. "Darling how have you been? We haven't talked since thanksgiving."

"I'm good, I'm actually work-"

"You do know your birthday is coming up?" She interrupted. "My baby is turning twenty two."

"Yes, I am aware that I am turning a year older." I paced back and forth in the valley that was slowly dimming since the sun was falling.

"Are you planning to visit for Christmas this year?" She said and I remembered last year how I spent the holiday with Lizzy's family.

"I don't know," I haven't thought about what I was going to be doing tomorrow, let alone what I'd be doing in a week.

"You should really let me know. Your cousins are dying to see you again." My cousins were 9 and 10 year olds that latched on me like their lives depended on it.

"I'll think about it." I lied. "I'll talk to you later alright? I have to get back to work." We exchanged our goodbyes and the call was ended.

I swatted my hands against my apron then rubbed my temples as I walked inside again.

Turning a corner, my gaze was met with two green eyes.

"Evangeline," he stood at the counter. He was wearing a black suit, why is he wearing a suit?

"You're a bit overdressed, don't you think?" I took my place behind the counter.

"I didn't come for coffee, I came for you." I noticed how impeccable he looked in front of me, his hair down, the suit and that damn smirk of his face.

"I still have," I checked the clock. "Twenty five minutes till I can leave."

"Oh you can go, Natalie and I are pretty much set here." My boss Jim said, he was obviously listening to our conversation.

"So," Harry and I exchanged looks. "Let's go." He shook his head towards the door.

I collected my things and followed him out. We walked into the winter weather and I grabbed my arms.

Harry's car was parked just in front of the shop and I urged him to turn on the seat heaters once we got inside.

"Why are you dressed up?" I said between my teeth chattering.

"We're going to a party."

"What kind of party?" I asked.

"It's like a ball or some shit." He cursed.

"A ball?" What are we in Cinderella?

"Yes."

"I don't have a dress Harry. Couldn't you have texted me like three days ago to warn me instead of just showing up and dragging me with you." It seemed like that was the only way Harry worked.

Harry reached to the back seat, picking up a giant box. He set it on my lap and I looked at him like he was crazy.

"Are you being serious?" He nodded and I proceeded to opening the box. Once revealing what was inside I audibly gasped.

On my lap was a lilac dress that was covered in small crystals. It was folded but I could see that the top was lace with intricate designs.

"I'm being pranked aren't I?" I looked at him amazed. "You're pranking me." I insisted, touching the soft fabric of the dress.

"Nope, now you're probably going to have to get dressed in the back seat or something cause we're late." I obliged without a thought. Sliding from between the two seats.

"Harry!" I yelled feeling his hand slap my bottom as I was crawling over.

"It was in my face what did you expect!"

When I made it safely into the back I began to undress myself, making sure Harry couldn't see me as he drove.

I picked up the dress and examined it with my eyes, it was simply beautiful. I slid it on, finding out that my bra had to go since it was very noticeable. My eyes concentrated on the mirror, making sure Harry didn't witness me taking off my bra.

"No peeking." I announced.

My hair. Shit.

My locks were in no condition to show off, I picked it up and put it in a decent ponytail.

"You couldn't of gave me a heads up." I mumbled to myself feeling agitated by how fast I was getting ready.

Thank god that I applied some makeup on before going to work today.

Shortly after I finished, Harry stopped and a door was being opened for me.

Harry extended out his hand for me and I took it.

"You," he started. "You look incredible." His eyes took in every part of my body and I uncomfortably stood watching him. "You're shoes." He noticed looking down at my converse. He stopped a valet that was ready to take away the car and went inside retrieving two shoes in his hands. They were a pair of golden heels that matched very well with the dress. He threw my shoes into the back seat and closed the door.

"Harry." I said as he leaned down to help me put the shoes on. "Harry," I repeated seeing that people were staring now.

We were in the middle of a sidewalk, a large building with people walking in just beside us.

"Who's ball is this?" I added emphasis on the word 'ball' since I still couldn't really process that this was really happening. He stood up straight when the shoes were on.

"It's this event my uncle hosts every year, it's basically just this over the top early Christmas party." He extended his arm out and I wrapped my arm around it.

"Why did you decided to bring me along?" I asked. By now his car was taken away and we were walking closer to the building that looked out of place between the modern architecture around us.

"Well this party is probably the most bore-some event I go to once a year, jus' thought it would be a little less of a drag if you came. Plus I haven't seen you in days, this was an excuse to take you out."

"The clothes?" I asked.

"I had one of my fathers secretaries pick them out. They cost a fortune but it was worth it." His face was almost impossible to read right now, he kept his eyes on the path we were walking.

"You didn't have to." I felt guilty for him spending money on me.

"Well I did." His tone was harsh.

We walked up a few stairs and were greeted by two men guarding the door.

"Styles." He said to one that had a list. "Harry Styles."

We were easily let through. I was taken back when we entered the room, it was large and had what looked like hundreds of people talking, some even dancing along to the soft music being played by a orchestra. It was a dream. This is a dream.

"This is amazing." From the corner of my eyes I could see Harry's eyes set on me.

"Evangeline, you look exquisite in this dress." He murmured in my ear. All of a sudden nothing around us mattered, I wasn't in this ball room anymore, all I could think about was Harry's lips slowly making their way to mine.

"Harry Edward Styles, is that you?" A grown mans voice stopped him.