Trip to New York; h.s.

4| Heart Attack

 "So, Diana," Niall started as we stood on the ferry, going to the Statue Of Liberty. 

 "So, Niall," I replied, using the same tone. 

 "What's the deal between you and Harry?" he asked as the wind blew our hair around.

 I chuckled, grabbing my long brown hair and pulling it up into a messy bun. "There is no deal, Niall. I mean, we're friends, just like we always have been. Nothing's changed." 

 "Right, Mrs. Pants-On-Fire," Niall laughed. "There's definitely something between you two. I see it in the way he casually looks over at you or walks next to you. He's happier with you."

 I smiled, looking at the Hudson River below us. "That's sweet, Niall. Are you sure you're not saying that because you want Harry and I to be together or something?" 

 "Pfft, no," Niall scoffed, shaking his head. I looked at him, my eyebrows raised. "Okay, is it so bad that I do? I mean, he suggested your name to Louis when he was writing 'Diana'."

 "That's not true. Louis said that he changed it from his mom's name to Diana. If my name wasn't Diana, then the song would still be called 'Diana'," I defended. 

 Niall rolled his eyes, sliding his sunglasses on as we approached the docking area of the island where the surprisingly small statue stood. 

 "I can tell you, it wouldn't," Niall replied.

 I opened my mouth to reply, but Harry interrupted, standing on the other side of me at the rail of the ferry boat. 

 "Diana, can you tell me some facts about the Statue Of Liberty?" he asked. 

 I glanced over at Niall, who raised his eyebrows before turning and talking to Zayn and Liam. 

 "Well, it was sent over to the U.S. by France, as a gift, and it was originally copper but all of the salt from the ocean and the overall ocean air and whatnot, it turned green and has stayed like that," I said, using the information that I remembered. 

 "Interesting," Harry nodded.

 "Why did you ask me to tell you facts?" 

 "I wanted to hear you talk about something random."

 "Nice."

 "So would you like to walk around the island with me when we get there?" Harry asked when the ferry stopped. 

 "Sounds good," I beamed. 

 We got off the ferry five minutes later, all of us breaking away from Mr. Cloud and rushing through the entrance area and starting to walk around the island. Harry walked next to me, his hand touching mine every once in a while.

 I thought about what Niall had told me on the ferry, about how Harry acted different around me. It was the standard thing you say to someone when a person likes them, so I didn't read that far into it. 

 "Harry, can I ask you something?" I asked, looking up at him. 

 "You just did," Harry chuckled. 

 I rolled my eyes, giving him a light shove. "Something else." 

 "Go ahead," Harry nodded. 

 "Do you notice that you change your attitude with me or something like that? Niall was talking to me about it on the ferry boat and I just... thought about it," I said, trying to shrug it off and play it casual. 

 Harry let out a long breath. "Well-"

 "Oh my God, are you Harry Styles?" a girl's voice asked. I looked over and saw a group of girls standing excitedly by us. 

 Harry shyly smiled, putting his hands in his pockets. "Yeah." 

 "Oh my God, can we get pictures with you?" they all asked at different times. 

 Harry looked over at me. "It's fine. I'll be waiting over there," I said, shooing him off and pointing at where a plaque was. "Just come over when you're done."

 I smiled and walked away, going to the plaque and looking at it, tracing my fingers over the metal writing. 

 "You like the plaque? I made it," a guy's voice said. 

 I looked over, seeing a tall brunette boy with blue eyes and a pair of glasses. He was cute. I stifled a laugh as he walked over to stand by me. 

 "Did you really?" I laughed. 

 "No. I wish I did though. Do you know how many people stop and look at this thing?" he asked, a smile on his face. 

 Goodness, he was attractive. "But wouldn't you be dead? This plaque was put here when the statue was finished. Which was around a hundred and thirty years ago," I said, looking at him with my arms crossed over my chest.

 He looked at me, a smirk on his face. "I think that's the first time a girl has responded like that. Most of them just laugh like an idiot and say something flirtatious," he said. 

 I laughed, covering my mouth. "That sounds... I don't know how it sounds."

 He smiled more. "I'm Damien." He stuck his hand out.

 "Diana." I shook his hand. 

 "Nice to meet you, Diana," Damien said, letting go of my hand. 

 "You too, Damien," I said. "Do you live in New York? It sounds like you have a slight accent."

 "I do. I was born in Manhattan and I've been living here, obviously, ever since," he said. "And you're from?"

 "Los Angeles, California. Hang loose, dude," I said, using a surfer tone for the last part.

 He laughed at me, making me laugh as well. "I would love to go to California some day. It looks amazing." 

 "It is. But I would love to live here. I mean, it's New York. What else can you say about it?" I asked. Damien opened his mouth to say something but I held up my pointer finger at him. "Don't answer that and ruin New York for me, please." 

 "Alright, alright," he said as his name was called by another guy about ten feet away. "I have to go. But here's my number. Text me or call me sometime, okay?" 

 "Okay," I nodded, taking the small card from him and smiling. "Bye Damien."

 "Bye, Diana," he said, walking backwards then turning and heading towards his friend. 

 "Who was that?" Harry asked, walking over to me. 

 "Oh, just some guy I met. His name's Damien and I got his number," I sang, showing Harry the card. When he didn't react, I cleared my throat and changed the subject. "How were the fans?"

 "They were great," he replied with a slight monotone. 

 "Harry, what's wrong?" I asked, pulling my eyebrows together in concern.

 "Nothing," he said, shaking his head. "Let's just get back to the group. I think we're about to leave."

 He walked away first, and I stood there for a moment before following behind him. 

Written July 19, 2016