Artifice

New Years

"I love this dress." Harry announced, his hands wandering up my thigh dreadfully slow.

"There's people outside." I tried pushed him away.

"It's my apartment." He retorted, his hands still roaming around.

"But I do, plus I didn't just get my face caked up to ruin it over sex." I pushed again, finally getting him off of me.

In a few hours we would be in an entirely different year, something I didn't think I would be spending with a boy-friend, whatever Harry was, by my side. It's been a week since we went to Niagara and any conversation regarding us and our relationship was virtually ignored. The week we've spent completely together was going by so smoothly I didn't want to alter it.

A large wooden desk was set behind a large window overlooking the city outside. Empty papers, a journal and pens were scattered on the top of it and his chair was pulled out as if he used it not too long ago.

"What are you doing?" Harry suddenly said making me jump. He slid his hand across the desk and took the journal.

"Sorry." I proceeded getting ready without another thought.

I was touching up the curls in my hair in the bathroom while Harry changed inside his closet. I've only ever been into Harry's room twice since we've known one another, not for any particular reason I knew we just only ever hung out at my place.

The amount of people crowded inside the apartment was overwhelming, I almost didn't want to leave his room. Harry grabbed my hand and led me forward.

"Who are these people?" I asked into his ear. The music wasn't as loud as a regular party, people stood around mingling and drinking from wine glasses.

"Who knows. Liam usually sets up the invitation list."

Usually? I didn't know they ever did these type of events in their own apartment. Though it was a perfect place, just the living room area that connected to the kitchen was large enough to fit a hundred people.

"You don't mind so many people being here?"

"Not at all, the whole world practically already knows where I live and the place is pretty strict. You can't get in the building unless you are a resident or have been invited." He shrugged.

We were met with stares from the guest, they were not welcoming. I noticed their eyes directing towards our linked hands, making me almost want to let go.

The night was already making me feel nauseas.

Harry didn't let go of my hand as we walked around, him greeting most of the people around with handshakes or casual 'hello's.

"This is my friend Eva." His words came out slowly, feeling like a knife cutting straight inside me.

There being dozens of people around us, I didn't have time or the energy to react.

We met Liam who was having a conversation with a woman who wore a pen skirt and a polka dot blouse, as if she was getting ready to go to work. Harry stopped in his tracks ready to walk the other way before she noticed him.

"Harry Styles." The woman's face lit up at his arrival. "Liam and I were just discussing your writing, the way you-" Liam's face paled.

"Rebecca," he stopped her. "There's this painting I bought recently I thought you would find fascinating." With that he led her away from us.