Idiosyncrasy (Harry Styles AU)

4

Bethany's POV  

Only two classes in, and I'm already completely exhausted. I got barely three hours of sleep, and now I'm just running on caffeine.

Thankfully, anatomy is just a lecture, and I don't have to do too much work besides making notes.

A few minutes into the lecture on brains, the door in the back squeaks open.

I turn in my seat, and am not too surprised to see Harry walk in. He's wearing a grey beanie, black skinny jeans (that are far too tight for any man), and a black Rolling Stones t shirt covered with a tan leather jacket.

His head is bowed, refusing to look up at anybody.

Mr. Patterson turns around upon hearing the door, and glowers at Harry.

Mr. Patterson doesn't particularly like Harry. I think it's because he's always late and disrupts class and never turns in his homework.

"Mr. Styles. Late again, huh?" he asks boredly.

Harry doesn't acknowledge him, as usual, and leans back in his seat.

In my opinion, Harry looks hung over and depressed. I sort of feel sorry for him.

I meet Sandy's eyes, and she raises her eyebrows. I raise mine back and turn my attention back to Mr. Patterson.

Just as I do, something hits me in the back of my head. I grit my teeth and turn back around, meeting the seemingly "innocent" eyes of Red Hamilton. The dick has had a crush on me since first semester.

I narrow my eyes at him, and turn back around again. This time, a wad of paper hits my desk. I open it, and sigh.

"Go out with me tonight." It says.

I inwardly groan. He's always trying to find new ways to ask me out and torture me to no end.

I glare back at him, and then try to listen to the rest of the lecture.

After anatomy, Harry disappears quickly. I'm not surprised. He always leaves right after class.

As I'm walking down the hall to my next class, Red catches up to me.

"So will you?" he prods, referring to the note in anatomy.

I sigh. "Red, no. I have to work tonight, and I have homework," I think of excuses for him to leave me alone.

His smirk doesn't go away; instead he grabs my wrist and stops me from walking. I try to pull it back, but he's much stronger than me.

"Red, let go," I say through gritted teeth.

"Go out with me," he begs.

I shake my head defiantly, and he grabs my other wrist, stepping closer and pressing me against the wall. His lips are so close to mine, it's starting to scare me.

"Red-" I warn, beginning to get nervous.

"Hey! She said let go," a low scratchy voice from around the corner shouts.

I look up and my eyes widen as they meet a pair of angry green ones.

"Harry?" I breathe.

Red tightens his grip, on my wrists and I squirm.

"This is none of your business, Styles," Red spits.

Harry doesn't even flinch; instead he walks closer, and looks down into Red's eyes.

"Let the girl go," he growls.

Red narrows his eyes, but slowly lets me go.

"She's mine, Dickhead."

Harry steps even closer. "She's nobody's, Bitchface," he retorts. I can see a bit of a twinkle in Harry's eyes as he says it, as if he's about to laugh.

Red has had enough, and swings to hit Harry's jaw, but the curly-headed boy ducks just in time. Harry retaliates faster than I can comprehend, and soon Red is on the floor, hand to his bloody nose.

Harry shakes off his hand, and grabs Red's shirt, yanking him up from the floor. "Now get out of here before I have to hit you again," he growls, throwing him in the opposite direction.

Red takes off, stumbling away to his class.

My jaw drops. "Thank yo-," I start, turning to face Harry. But to my dismay, he's not there. The door to the men's room in front of me swings shut, and I'm left to think about Harry's act of random kindness.





". . . and he walked away just like that!" I say excitedly.

I've just finished retelling my story to Sandy over the phone, and I'm left even more puzzled about Harry's sudden change in mood.

"Wow . . . That must be quite humbling for Red," Sandy laughs.

"I know right! Hopefully he won't be coming around me anymore now."

"Hopefully. Hey listen, I have to go study for that stupid quiz on Monday, and you have to get back to work," Sandy announces.

"Work? What's work?" I joke. "You go have fun studying and I'll see you later, love."

Sandy laughs, and we say out farewells, then hang up.

I lean back in my chair, bored as hell. I try to busy myself with games on my phone, but I'm still bored.

Honestly, I have no idea why they want me to work this late. Nobody's up except for the occasional girl with running makeup and tears streaming down her face.

Suddenly, the elevator dings, and my head snaps up.

Harry stumbles out, looking dazed and confused.

It doesn't take me long to figure out that he's drunk, especially after he walks past my desk and the alcohol smell he gives off hits my nose.

I watch him nearly fall, but then catch himself and open the door to outside.

He makes his way up to his car, and presumes to unlock it.

I chew my lip. He should not be driving. I know I have to do something.

So then before I can change my mind, I leave my desk and chase after him.

"Harry!" I call, placing a hand on his shoulder.

He turns to face me, his now grey eyes sunken and sad.

"You shouldn't be driving, Harry," I say quietly.

He stares silently at me, gripping the keys in his hand.

"Hand the keys to me, and I'll take you back to my place, okay?"

I don't think I can trust him to stay in his flat by himself as drunk as he is; plus I owe him for earlier today.

I stretch my hand out toward him, silently asking for the keys again.

He chews his lip, as if deciding what he's going to do. After a few seconds, he slowly and reluctantly drops the keys into my outstretched palm.

"You're taking me to your house?" he slurs, voice deep.

I nod, deciding on the lie I'll tell my boss.

Soon, we're in my car, and Harry is humming softly to himself.

He's more like a curious child when he's drunk, it's quite adorable but at the same time frightening. I barely know him, but I already know what he's capable of. I just don't know how well he controls his anger when he's intoxicated. Offering to take him to my house was a stupid move.

I warily watch him out of the corner of my eye as he doodles dirty things on the foggy window beside him.
"Don't be drawing sexual things on my window, Curly," I say jokingly.

"Can we listen to the radio?" he asks quietly, ignoring my latter statement.

I chuckle, smiling slightly as I turn it on.

A slow, sad song that I've heard somewhere before starts playing, getting rid of the awkward silence between us.

Harry begins to hum along to the song, looking lost in thought.

I can tell he's really into music by the way his face lights up at the song. Its sweet and a beautiful thing to see him so into something. He always seems so reserved, but when he's drunk he's vulnerable and doesn't hide his feelings very well.

Soon, we arrive at my flat, and I unlock the door before letting Harry in first. I flip on the lights and watch him carefully as I set my stuff down.

"You'll be sleeping on the couch, Harry. I'll get you some blankets," I say, motioning to my leather couch.

He nods silently, sitting down on it.

I disappear momentarily to grab some blankets, and when I return, he smiles slightly.

"Why are you doing this for me?" he asks suddenly, catching me off guard.

I scrunch my eyebrows together. "What do you mean?"

"You taking care of me. Why are you doing it? I've been nothing but rude to you," he whispers.

I shrug. "Well you did rescue me from Red today, and I never got a chance to thank you."

Harry nods, looking away to remove his shoes.
He ends up getting confused with the laces, so I do it for him.

He doesn't say thank you, but I wasn't really expecting him to. The look of satisfaction on his face is enough for me.