That One Thing (A One Direction Story)

The Coffee Shop

        Evie breathed in the smell of crushed coffee beans and sweet pastries from her seat in the corner of the Barnes and Noble café. From where she sat, she could see all the other customers completely immersed in their MacBooks and iPads. She let out a sigh and went back to the book she was reading. Her heartbeat was finally beginning to get back to normal.

        The table jostled in front of her, meaning someone had sat down in the once vacant seat. She had been going there for years and was use to the guys who would sit down and try to flirt with her. Only one guy had ever been successful, but she wasn't in the mood for the pain that would accompany the thought of him. She pushed it away.

        A polite cough from the person across from Evie brought her out of her memories and back into reality. She caught a glimpse of a familiar purple hat before lowering her book to confirm her worst suspicion.

        She was greeted by the camera ready smile of Harry Styles. His curls were beginning to escape the purple hat she had given him just a few minutes ago. He looked completely oblivious to the eye daggers she was shooting him, and to the fact that his pack of fangirls/hunters were still on the look out for him. They were going to be pretty peeved when they didn't find Harry in Starbucks. Evie got straight to the point.

        "What are you doing here? You should have left as soon as you got out of my car." She could smell the expensive cologne Harry wore from across the worn, dark table. It was very strong, making her wrinkle her nose. Evie took advantage of sitting across from the millionaire and really looked at him. He did have the good looks that she had seen in magazines, but being this close offered something the magazines didn't share; his flaws. His skin was not perfectly smooth, but marked with little bumps and discoloration, and facial hair trailing his chin. The collar of his shirt peeked out from around his neck, mostly hidden by his peacoat. It had no doubt cost more than Evie had in her bank account at the moment.

        But even with all the flaws, Harry was still more handsome than any guy you would just find on the street. Evie found his faults interesting. It proved that the illusions magazines and TVs stuff down your throat were wrong. Celebrities were never as perfect as you expected them to be. Except, maybe Jennifer Lawrence. But Evie decided to keep that thought, along with the rest of them, to herself.

        "I wanted to return your hat," Harry said, his smile growing larger. He reached up and pulled the beanie off his head and laid it down in front of her. His curls were out of control until he ran his hands through it a few times; it quickly returned to rockstar status.

        Evie looked around the café. She and Harry quickly became the center of attention, and were surrounded by whispers and stares. The customers were beginning to notice that he didn't quite belong. Why, Evie thought, must he be so dim-witted.

        Snatching the beanie off the table in front of her, she stretches and pulls it back over his head. A look of shock replaced the smile on his face.

        "What did you do that for?" His voice was gruff. He still wasn't use to her abrasive ways.

        Evie was too busy dealing with damage control to answer. A few tables away, a small group of preteen girls were eyeing the pair, whispering excitedly amongst themselves. His cover was about to be blown.

        "What are you looking at?" she said, loud enough for the girls to hear. "Can't my cousin visit me without getting gawked at?" The preteen crowd instantly got up and scurried away. Evie sighed. Why was she saving him again? Looking back at the pop star, she saw that he couldn't believe it either. The quizzical look he had on his face earlier was replaced by a cheeky grin. Evie had to stop herself from laughing at his hair sticking out of the hat. She hadn't done the greatest job putting it back on his head, but she wasn't going to say anything.