Numb (Harry Styles AU)

One

(If you are on the app and cannot see the photo, I picture Delilah as Barbara Palvin, but picture her however you would like)

*Ten years earlier*

"Delilah Manson," the principal announced. I grinned the widest I had in years and went to receive my diploma. I looked out over the crowd triumphantly even though no one was here to support me or even snap a photo to look back at in the years to come. But that was alright. I had the one thing that was stopping me from leaving this wretched town any sooner, and when I walked off that stage, I didn't look back.

High school was officially over.

Dealing with everything and everyone was finished with.

I was starting a new life, and no one would be able to stop me.

After the ceremony was finished, I said my farewells to a few people that had been kind to me over the years. It didn't take long, and soon enough I was in my beat up 2002 Corolla with all of my few belongings in the back seat. It was going to be a long drive, and I was anxious to get to my destination: Boston University. By working my ass off in high school by volenteering, getting A's, and staying out of trouble as best as I could (or at least not getting caught), I managed to get a fully paid 4-year college scholorship in the Communications major. The first semester wasn't starting until fall, but I was working in a record shop in the city that said I could stay in the room above it at a low price. This was going to be a complete 360 from the past years, and I was ready for it.

The whole drive was a blur. I vaguely could remember stopping at a gas station once or twice, a burger in my hand, or a song I liked playing on the radio. But mainly, my mind was swirling with the thought of change. Would my future be as planned? To go, make some money in the records shop and then become a successful radio show broadcaster? I knew it would. Nothing, I repeat nothing, could stop me now.

After four hours, three cups of cheap coffee, two McDoubles. and one never ending The Killers station on i-heart-radio, I pulled into the Boston city limits and began navigating through the streets. There were people everywhere, and I began to panic. A group of boys ran across the road out of no where, and I ended up slamming on my brakes and almost hit one of them. He looked up at me and caught my eye. His eyes were a deep green, like the ocean after a hurricane. His brown curls were flopped carelessly across his forehead as he mouthed 'sorry' to me before sprinting after his friends. I let out an exasperated sigh and made a quick wish that I would not run into more people like that.

When I looked over to see if the boy with the green eyes was across, I also noticed the sign on the store beside the corner. "Music Madness" it read. I made it. I went and found a place to park (luckily I found someone pulling out about a block away). My heart was beating so fast it was absolutely insane. The door of the shop chimed when I walked in, and I saw the madness it in that moment as well. There were CDs thrown everywhere, stacks and stacks of them. Shelves lined the walls, and where they weren't there an old poster or two or five was in it's place. It was a little dark, and had a Nirvana song playing in the background. The air lingered with the scent of vanilla.

I liked it. I really, really liked it. It was organized chaos, which is the best kind of mess there is.

"Ah. You must be Delilah. Hi, I'm Dan," a man that came out of the back room said. He was tall, with a full beard going on. I was guessing he was around the age of 34.

"Um, yes. I think I talked to you on the phone about the summer job and apartment?"

"Of course. I love helping out the college students around here that don't have a place to go, even if I only have about four small apartments. My wife, Mary, and our two small sons live on the second floor, while the other two floors have two each. Is that alright? Oh, and this is where you will be working. I think you had the shifts of 12-4 everyday except Saturday? Did that seem right? Here, let me check. Yes, it was. Do you want to bring up your stuff and get settled in? I have your key. And you can park in the small lot behind here. Ok?" Dan slung at me. I took a minute to process all of his words, knowing I would have to get use to this because it seemed as if this is how he always talked.

"Um... alright. Can I have my key and then go get my car? And thank you so much for this opportunity; here is my first rent," I told hi, and handed him the check. He smiled like he appreciated the responsibility and tossed me a key. 

"Third floor on the left. You don't talk very much do you? That's alright. We need someone to be the silent one around here. Hopefully we won't drive you bonkers. If you need any help with your stuff I will either be at the register or in the back room handling some goddamn taxes." I laughed and excused myself out of the shop and back into the hot summer air. I wish I hadn't worn what I did, which was full length jeans, a hoodie that I'd had for years, and some Vans. It was smoldering out.

I walked by the group of boys that I almost ran over earlier. They looked like college kids as well, maybe a mix of Freshman/ Sophomores/ Juniors. The curly one was over there as well, and he seemed to be the only one to not bare his eyes in me as I walked pass. They were apparently the intimidating little 'womanizer' jerk group, with their whistles and crude comments that were whispered to me. All except that weird green eyed one- maybe he just recognized me from the car. But either way, I was going to make sure to keep my eyes out for this stupid group from now on.

"Baby where you going? Don't you wanna hang with the cool kids?" one shouted towards me as I continued my walk, still silent.

"Mikey, leave her alone. No one wants to give you any," a girl that was on a bench up ahead called to them.

"Shut up, Margret!"

As I walked by her, almost to my car, I said, "Thanks," because she seemed nice enough. She was sitting in front of the café reading what looked like "The Notebook" By Nicholas Sparks and she had those large frame glasses and brown choppy bangs and a kind face (A/N think Zooey Deschanel with glasses). She looked up at me and smiled and I walked on to my car. If you can't already tell, I am pretty shit at socializing.

Back safely at the shop, I got my duffle bag and suitcase packed with the only things I can truly call mine. I didn't want to go inside and not be able to find the stairs and accidently end up in the middle of Dan's living room, so I took a risk and headed up the rusty metal stairway to the third floor. There was not a door, but I really didn't feel like going back down. He said I had the one on the left, and if I was standing correctly this was technically my apartment. So, I opened up the window and tossed in my keys. Splash.

I was entering my home for the first time through a bathroom and just dropped my keys into the toilet.

Sighing, I looked in and gently set my bags on the floor before climbing up and flopping in myself. There didn't seem to be anything personal in the bathroom, so I confirmed that I was in the correct apartment. The bathroom itself was alright- small and painted a light blue with sea green décor. There was a shower- no bath- and a small sink along with the toilet. A mirror hung above the sink and then there was a full length one on the door. So far so good... except for my keys, which I ended up getting out with the toilet paper stand and then left them to soak in the sink. At least then seemed a lot cleaner than where I'd come from.

Outside the bathroom, I found myself in a short, lavender hallway. At one end it lead to a small yellow bedroom that was furnished with a full bed, two small dressers, a nightstand, and a small closet. I set my bags down in there before continuing.

The other end of the hallway lead to a cute little living room that was attached to a small kitchenette. This place was going to be heaven for the summer.

Who knows, maybe something good would happen here. Something that would take me away from my memories, something that would make me a better person, one that wasn't so bitter at the world.

Maybe I would finally find out who I am.

(A/N I know this is kind of short, but just so you know the next few chapters will be summarizing each week of the summer, and then when school starts it will really begin. This is to have kind of a background and introduction to the rest of it. I hope you enjoy ^_^)