Vulnerable (Harry Styles Fanfic)

Ch. 3

August 1965

"So, what else do you plan on doing for the rest of the day?" My friend Veronica, or as I call her Ronnie, asked as we had our regular conversation on the phone.

"Library, I guess." I answer twirling the cord of the phone around my finger as I lay on my bed looking at the stack of books on my desk.

"Wow, you really know how to have fun Amelia." I felt the strong sarcastic tone of her voice come through the phone.

She spoke again

"It's Friday Em! Come on we have two more weeks until we go back to school, so you shouldn't even be worrying about books!" I know she's being serious but I can tell she was still smiling

"They're overdue." Was my excuse, yet I knew with Ronnie it wouldn't do any good

"They're overdue" she says mocking me. "My friend, you always use to love going out, heck you didn't even like being home at all! Remember how we would always go to the Plaza every Friday and most Saturdays?" She continues. "The librarians can wait one more day. I'll be there in 20 and you better be ready!" With that she hung up.

I decided to get ready anyways. Today was Friday so everyone would always go to the Plaza, Main Street Plaza. The only place all of us around my age can hang out because it stretched out for a good mile or more. It was filled with restaurants, boutiques, hobby shops, and a super market. The real teen magnets were places like the drive-ins for movies, and a bowling alley.

If you weren't inside, you were hanging by your car along with others in the parking lot, either getting drink or getting into or watching fights.

The Plaza was always alive with people and lights beaming through the shops in all different neon colors. It was all fun and games until the police came. Sometimes due to someone reporting others selling drugs or the scared little innocent old people who couldn't stop fights that were too serious and couldn't be controlled without back up.

Suddenly my thoughts are conquered by images of Ashton. Memories of driving down in his old Ford pickup, his smile, his hand reaching over to grab mine, or how I would scoot over next to him. His bright eyes looking towards me, sparkling, light dancing through them from the sunlight. His short golden wavy hair bouncing as the truck moved through the cracked beaten road.

Then I hit with the memory of the day he decided to leave. Something inside me, anger, I no longer cry at the thought of him. I simply replace the feeling with dislike and bitterness. I'm usually not like this, but he was the only one that I truly trusted and counted on yet he left me. The he still had the nerve to asks me to leave with him.

Angry again I reach for the library books and throw them across, to the wall, above my bed. Only four books, but before I have the chance to grab something else, I hear a knock on my door.

"Amelia," says my sister Julia, she opens the door gently. "Veronica's here. You headin' out?" Her hazel eyes grow soft and her light brown, almost blondish hair is up in a loose ponytail with strands holding loosely around her face.

I think of how she's worked real hard for us to stay together after our father died. I couldn't stand her most of the time but I still respect her for everything she does. She's like my parent, acts like one too, which irritates me because she's not. She's my sister, but she's always working and busy with her two jobs so she's usually not home. Since she's 22 she's still able to attend community college.

"Yeah we're going to the Plaza." I say quickly grabbing money from the desk.

Since the Plaza has been around for a long time, Julia knows about everything that goes on there since it wasn't long ago since she was like me hanging there. She trust me enough to let me go, especially when she knows I'm not going alone.

I leave my bedroom and stepping in the hallway, I notice she has her waiters uniform on. She's going to work as usual at Bart and Betty's Diner.

"What time will you be out?" I ask

"Well it's Friday, so eleven thirty maybe?" She follows down the stairs "I expect to see you here when I get back."

I nod quickly, then greet Veronica

"I'll be back later," I exclaim "and besides, it's only four in the afternoon.." I reassure my sister

We say bye and I follow Veronica out the door.

"Ronnie, ain't it too early to go to the Plaza even if we want to look for action?" I ask

"We're going to my place first. The gangs all there."

I smile at the thought of my other friends, and Veronica's brothers. I've known the since I've met her six years ago.

I looked over at Veronica, her dark brown hair bouncing and flowing through the war wind. She's around my size but that's pretty much it on appearance. I have lighter hair and my eyes are a mix of green and gray. Hers are a dark mix of blue and dark green.

We have been friends for all these years yet I feel like I'm still a closes book with her and the feelings and thoughts I usually have are closes off and she doesn't know much. Although she's a great listener and when you're feeling low she can help cheer you up immediately.

I'm cut off from my thoughts by her sentence.

"So apparently, there was this guy looking for James earlier today," she looks over at me and continues "Came over to our house with bags and I was home but I didn't come out, Riley answered the door and he let the kid come in, said he was from the U.K," she smiles "Had the accent and everything."

I raise an eyebrow, "What does a British guy want from James?"

"That's your first question? I thought you would've asked if he was hot or something." She laughs looking down

"Well I was thinking that too," I nod " Is he?"

"No clue, I only came out when I heard the truck ignition start, Riley took him somewhere to find another friend that the guy knew."

"So he already knows people down here?"

She nods " Yeah I guess,"

I'll have to admit, I am a little curious as to who this stranger is, "Do you know his name?"

"Yeah, I think Riley said.." She thinks trying to remember the name "Styles? I don't know, I think that might be the last name, I just wanted to know if he was hot."

"Oh god Ronnie," I chuckle

"So, gonna scope out for any cute guys tonight?" She asks nudging my arm slightly with her elbow

I shrug my shoulders as a response.

"Come on Amelia, I know Ashton left, but that was months ago. You should be having fun, moving on, you can't let that weigh you down. You should be that fun wild child that you use to be. And if you don't then might as well set you up with that Styles guy!" She found her way in front of me lifting her arms up for emphasis.

"Use to be?" I ask lifting an eyebrow.

She nods slightly.

" I still am the same person my dear friend," lifting my shoulders a bit. "And I'll show you I can have fun like I use to."

I look over to her and immediately run forward.

"What the hell Em!" I hear her shout but then I hear quick steps hitting the pavement behind me.

I make it to the front of her house and she comes after, reaching her arm out to grab me for support and catching her breath.

"Running might be fun for you but God damn it, its not my type of 'fun'" she says in between breaths "You never warn me anyways."

I pat her shoulder but she quickly climbs her porch and opens the door