Fall (Harry Styles Fanfic)

Chapter 7- Breathe Me

Autumn

I sipped coffee watching Will read the morning paper across from me. His ice blue gaze glided down the black ink with purpose. He did everything like that. He met my eyes and smiled knowingly every so often like we were sharing a secret. We sat next to the glass wall at the bakery. Katherine was taking Arya to school. Harry was at the register. He was ignoring me.

Will put the newspaper down on the table and looked at his watch.

"I have to go or I'll be late for class." He announced.

"Finish your croissant." I ordered. He grabbed it taking a mouthful.

"Remember I'm taking you out tonight to celebrate." He said pausing at the door.

"I haven't even gotten the role yet!" I replied.

"It's an early celebration." He shrugged. I noticed a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips before the door closed behind him. I stared after Will with a silly smile on my face; he made me warm inside. I knew what his idea of celebrating tonight would be...going to watch a play, a book reading or visiting a museum. It's not the way most people celebrate, but I didn't mind.

Harry who'd been silent all this time tripped over his own big feet knocking down everything around him. I thought about getting up to help him, but decided against it.

A couple school girls came in. They were dressed in fancy white and navy uniforms. Rich private school 15 year olds. Harry dragged himself up to the cash register to take their orders.

"What can I get for you ladies?" He asked them unconsciously sweeping his messy curls back. Georgia would've found this habit of his irresistible; I took a mental note to tell him to gather his greasy hair in a ponytail or hairnet. He was being unhygienic. Ugh. The girls had become paralyzed under his gaze. Harry shifted uncomfortably in front of them. One of the girls' gold iPhone slid of her palm and crashed on the wooden floor. I met Harry's eyes as the wheels turned in our heads.  They recognized him. There was a flash of panic in his gray-green gaze as he looked back at them.

"Uh..have you girls decided yet?" Was he trying an American accent?

"Erm...a pumpkin spice coffee for me and a latte for Emma please." One of them managed to speak. The other one, Emma, collected herself and her phone from the ground. Harry nodded and started to make their drinks.

 "I'll finish them off." I whispered taking the hot cups from him.

"That'll be $5.25." I handed them each their orders.

Emma paid with a 100 dollar bill while the one who'd spoken before murmured something in her ear. They both giggled.

I counted their change and placed it in front of them with the receipt.

"We don't want it. Tell Harry it's his tip for being so damn sexy." The outspoken one jested.

They skittered out giggling. The door shut with a bang making Harry and I jump.

"I don't know what I was thinking. I can't run away from myself." Harry muttered so low I wasn't sure I heard the last part correctly. He had sunken to the floor.

I crouched next to him. "That wasn't bad. They tipped you generously. You can't be scared of your own fans...." I alleged.

"They know I'm here now. They'll come for me soon." He buried his face in his knees.

"Those girls? They're harmless."

He peered up at me. "They'll come..." He breathed. I noticed he was shuddering and tiny beads of perspiration had formed on his skin. His curls were flopping over his forehead creating a brown curtain over his eyes. Writhed like he was he looked small. I remembered last night when I'd been so intoxicated with my own happiness that I had found him agreeable...and maybe a bit attractive.