A Shot of Reality [Harry Styles]

Epilogue + Playlist

April 23rd, 2015

"Harry, how do you not know how to tie a tie? It's literally named after it's purpose!"

Harry groaned at Lou's usual scolding as she fumbled with the green tie slumped around his neck, juggling Lux on her opposite hip. It was 1:05 in the afternoon on a typical spring Saturday in London; the formerly pure white blossoms on the trees now bled magenta and the rain was ever so prevalent. Only now, it was soft showers compared to the acidic downpour it was in March. It was indeed 1:05 in the afternoon, and Harry was indeed late to Louis's, his best mate's; wedding, which started in forty-six minutes in a small cobblestone church approximately an hour and seven minutes away.

"I don't know, mum," Harry retorted, moving her fidgety fingers down off his collar quickly and onto the small of Lux's back as he noticed the toddler start to slip out of her mother's grip.

With a wreath composed of lilacs and bluebells placed on her head, the blonde haired and blue eyed toddler giggled a gurgly laugh; one which Harry couldn't help but grin back. That was until, they reminded him of another pair of eyes. Then, without hesitation; his cocked smile fell into a drooping frown.

"I shouldn't even be wearing this tie to begin with. Weddings are absolutely pointless," he grumbled as he stared his suited up self down in the mirror before him.

"Harry!" Lou gasped, covering Lux's naive ears dramatically.

"What? It's true! Marriage is found upon a joke," Harry guffawed, yanking the sage colored tie that wound too tight aroung his neck loose.

"And what 'joke' is that, Harry? Love?"

Harry's body couldn't help but stiffen into a stick at the last word. Not the damn L word, Harry thought begrudgingly. With his jade eyes closing shut, he tried to remember the last time he thought of that word without animosity or even at all. That word, as far as he was concerned, no longer or even existed for him whatsoever. The last time he felt something that could've constituted for the L word was three years before and the person he felt it for didn't or maybe really ever felt the same for him.

And yet, everytime he recalled this time three years ago, he still felt that something. His stomach still burned white inferno whenever he remembered her touch, his lips still fell aghast at the sound of her laugh ringing in his head and his eyes still welled up when he recalled how it all ended. Maybe this something was all a sick, masochistic joke or perhaps it was always the pure selflessness that was the word Lou had last said. Or maybe it was both. Nonetheless, it was and had always been without reason, without merit and without hope.

With eyes reluctantly fluttering open, Harry found himself not looking at his reflection any longer. Instead, he saw a shell of what he was merely moments before. That and the impatient look of his former band's stylist.

"Look Harry," Lou started, halting her motion of juggling Lux on her hip and placing her on the ground below her feet.

Her figure maximized in the mirror as she walked forward and placed a gentle hand atop the young man's shoulder.

"Maybe it didn't work out for you; Love, that is-"

That damn word.

"-But it worked out for Louis; amazingly, in fact. He's happy, and today is the day he gets to make it forever. The last thing you should be doing is doubting it."

Also, damn Lou for being right, Harry thought to himself inwardly while sighing outwardly. Securing the knot of his tie, he turned to face Lou and pout. She merely grinned and placed her hand on the side of the young man's face.