Crazy Little Thing Called Love

Tattoos Or You Do You

Hi everyone, I am amazing (just kidding just keen on telling this story), so here is the third chapter of the day (definitely the last one for today though). I hope you like it! :) All the love, Summer xxx

My eyes were watching Harry getting his eagle tattoo, but my mind was in a completely different place. However, I was paying enough attention to admire his toned body and his flexing biceps which he had on full display. No one who found men somewhat attractive should even try to think about a serious issue when a half-naked Harry Styles is in the room. It just was not going to work. He was having an animated conversation with Derek, widely gesturing with his right arm, and a part of me was fascinated by how little the whole process of getting a tattoo seemed to bother him. 

As if he was suddenly aware of my presence again, he turned his head and shot me a concerned look. "Hey, are you okay? You've been awfully quiet during the past few minutes." My eyes snapped up and I gave him a weak smile. "I'm fine, Harry. Just... thinking." He nodded, but kept studying my face, looking for something. "I'll be done in a few minutes and then we can go out for lunch if you are still up for that. Or just get some takeaway and eat at my place." he offered and I shrugged. "I'm not that hungry anymore, so whatever suits you best." I admitted quietly and an expression of concern passed over his face, before he could cover it up with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"We'll talk about it when we're in the car, alright?" I nodded and pulled my legs up to my chest, continuing to watch Derek work. The two men continued their chat until the tattoo was finished, while I starred into the distance. "Claire?" Harry's voice pulled me back into reality. I looked up and saw him standing in front of me, in all of his shirtless glory. "Would you like to have a look?" he asked and I nodded, suddenly excited. He held out his arm and I carefully took it in my hands and pulled it closer to me, examining his freshly inked skin. "It looks great, Harry." I told him and gave him a wide smile, this time a real one. "Amazing job, Derek!" I said a bit louder and got a 'thank-you' from Derek who was packing up his equipment for his lunch break.

Suddenly very much aware of the close proximity of Harry's naked chest, I quickly let go off his arm and leaned a bit back in my chair. "I'll, uh, I'll go and get it patched up and then we can pay and get out of here." Harry stuttered and quickly walked back over to Derek, returning to me about a minute later, this time with his jumper on. "Ready to go?" he asked and offered me his hand to pull me up, which I hesitantly took. He pulled me to my feet, but kept his fingers on my wrists for a bit longer than necessary, until Derek cleared his throat.

We followed him out of his room and back to the counter where Dee was already waiting for us. "Hey, guys, how did it go?" she asked us excitedly and Harry rolled up his sleeve and showed off his new tattoo. "That looks sick. Good job Derek!" she gushed and Harry and Derek looked equally happy at her words. Then she turned to me. "Anything you could show me?" I shook my head. "Not in public at least." I said with a grin and she giggled. "Not what you think; it's on my back between my shoulder blades and that's a bit difficult to show now. But Derek took a photo, I'm sure he's happy to show it to you." She nodded and then turned to Derek and gave him puppy eyes. "I'll show it to you later, Dee. I only have half an hour before my next customer comes in."

I got out my wallet to pay for my anchor, but Harry gently pushed me to the side and held out his credit card. "No, no, no, no, Harry! No way. You are NOT paying for my tattoo!" I protested, but he completely ignored me. "Harry Edward Styles!" Derek and Dee watched the scene that unfolding in front of them with mild amusement. "Uh oh, you're in trouble, mate." Derek mumbled in Harry's direction. "Claire, please let me pay for your tattoo. It was my idea and I have tons of money with no real use for it and I don't know anyone else I would rather invest it in, alright?" I huffed and crossed my arms in front of my chest. "I just don't want to use you." I explained and he nodded and bend down a little so that we were on eye level. "Claire, I would never, ever think that of you, alright? You are one of the least selfish people I know and everyone knows that. If it makes you really happy you can pay the tip." he offered and I agreed to the compromise. 

After we had both payed our parts, Derek gave us both a hug and Harry turned to walk out the shop, but I stopped him with my hand. "Dee?" She looked up from the computer and smiled at me. "Yes?" I grinned and chuckled to myself before I asked her. "Without wanting to sound super weird, are you by any chance from New Zealand?" Her eyes lit up and she nodded. "Born and bread there. 100% kiwi." she joked and I laughed. "Why are you asking?" she asked and I shrugged. "I lived there for a while and loved it and your accent sounded familiar." She grinned and flipped her hair over her shoulder. "That sounds awesome, where did you stay?" I let go off Harry's arm and took a step back towards the counter, very much aware of Harry's curious gaze on me.

"I lived in Wellington, but I spent a lot of time in Hawke's Bay because we have some family friends there. Where did you grow up?" She send me a smile of approval. "Whakatane, which is at the coast of the Bay of Plenty. It's pretty small. About an hour away from Rotorua or Tauranga if that helps." She added with a laugh when she saw my blank face. "I've been to Rotorua, so I have kind of an idea where Whakatane is." I chuckled. "Anyway, it was nice to meet you, Dee." She walked around the counter and gave me a short hug." It was really nice to meet you, too, Claire. Treat her well, Styles." She jokingly threatened Harry who nodded and did a mock bow. "Always at your service."

Laughing, we exited the shop an walked over to Harry's car where he opened the door for me again. When he was seated in the driver's seat he sent me a questioning look. "Food?" I nodded. "I'm really not in the mood to be seen by the paps today, could we just get some takeaway somewhere?" I asked and he immediately nodded. "No problem, anything in particular?" he asked and I shook my head. "As long as it's vegetarian, I'm fine." He hummed and pulled out of the parking lot. After a few seconds of silence, Harry spoke up again. 

"You never mentioned that you spent some time in New Zealand." I looked over to him in surprise. "It just never came up, I guess? There are still a lot of things you don't know about me." I smiled a bit and he chuckled dryly and then shifted his focus back to the road in front of him. "I don't want things to be awkward between us, Claire." I sighed and looked out of the window, unable to look at him. "Harry, this whole thing was awkward from the start. It's not your fault, I mean I can't exactly blame you for looking." I told him. "I probably would have done the same thing if the roles had been reversed." I admitted quietly and dared a quick glance in his direction. 

Our eyes met and I hastily averted my gaze. "Then what is it, Claire?" I took a deep breath and watched the cars which were passing by the window. "Claire?" Harry's deep voice made me look up. "I have never, I mean, I've never..." I gulped, before I finally admitted it. "I've never slept with someone, alright? No one has ever seen me naked before, well not at least until you came along, just down to bra and panties or a bikini, you know?" I kept my eyes fixed on the cars outside, my fingers nervously playing with the hem of my coat. The car stopped and I saw that Harry had pulled into a parking lot in front of a small park.

"Claire?" I looked up and saw his green eyes intensely looking down at me. "Being a virgin is NOTHING to be ashamed of, alright? I am so sorry, that I kind of took something special from you because I know that this is is a big deal to you. I'm sorry." He reached out and took my hands into his. "But I'm twenty-two for fuck's sake." I groaned and he chuckled. "Still nothing to be ashamed off. You do you, okay? Don't let society tell you what to do, alright?" I nodded and he pressed a kiss to my hands, before he let go off me. 

"Just please don't tell Louis about this." I requested quietly and I saw something change in his eyes, but couldn't really tell what it was, before he replied. "Of course not." I smiled gratefully and he turned back around to face the wheel. "Now, how about some Indian takeaway, just to uphold our tradition?" he asked teasingly and I nodded with a grin, the awkward tension between us suddenly a little less. "Indian sounds great." We smiled at each other before bursting out laughing and I felt like a big weight had been lifted from my chest. "Indian it is, then."