lost • h.s

Chapter 1

I pulled my coat tighter around me and threw on my 1000 watt smile. I pulled open the door and the heat instantly put me at ease. I could fake it just like I did in the last town, and the one before that. The cheesy Italian music playing in the background only made it easier to keep up my façade. I approached the unhappy looking waitress manning the seating stand.

"Hi! Could I please have a table for one?"

I questioned while cocking my head and tilting the corners of my mouth higher.

The waitress simply nodded and led me to a dark booth in the corner of the room. She left without a word and I dropped my smile. I gingerly picked up the paper menu, trying not to crease it. I sighed as I scanned through the traditional Italian dishes, trying not to look at the calorie count listed on the side. Suddenly a scraping noise at the other end of my table alerted me to someone else's presence. I immediately smiled and looked up, but my mouth fell into a frown as I gazed at the stranger across from me. He wore a dark pea coat similar to mine with dark brown boots adorning his feet. His forest green gaze penetrated my eyes as he subconsciously bit his lip. The unruly mess of curls on his head and dimples on both cheeks gave him a boyish appearance, but the slight stubble on his jaw told me otherwise. I tried once again to smile, but I couldn't. Whenever I tried his eyes would just stare deeper into mine until I was at the point where I didn't know how to smile.

A tap on the shoulder brought me back to reality. I broke my gaze with the strange man to glance at the waitress raising her eyebrows. I smiled as wide as I could and inquired,

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you, could you repeat that?"

And gave her a sheepish grin.

She just motioned towards the menu

and I pointed at a random item near the top of the list. I could feel the intense stare of the stranger boring a hole into the side of my head but I tried to smile and ignore his presence.

The waitress rolled her eyes and left, swishing her hips in an over-exaggerated fashion.

I reluctantly turned back to the man sitting across from me. He saw me turn and put his hand out for me to shake. I delicately put my small, cold hand into his rather large and warm one. He smiled, exposing his dimples, and leane across the table.

"Harry Styles."

he proclaimed with authority as I shrunk back a little in my seat.

"Well, I'm Verity, and I would like to know why you interupted my party of one." I shot back rather rudely.

"Love, you looked awfully sad," he murmured almost tenderly, staring into my eyes,

A chill ran up my spine and I stiffened,

"Why in the world would you think that, you don't know me at all," I scoffed

He chuckled and grabbed my hand,

"Smiling doesn't always work, now does it sweetheart?

He exclaimed almost mockingly.

I stood up and ran.