Begin Again [A Haylor Fanfic]

Chapter 9

There were management, hair and fashion stylists and assistants running around the penthouse, trying to get the five boys looking perfect for tonight. All their girlfriends were here as well; excluding Liam and Niall who didn’t have one. And I was kind of feeling left out; I wasn’t used to all this and felt like I wanted to get ready on my own. I had locked myself in Harry’s room so I could get ready in there. It wasn’t that I was anti-social; I was just… awkward. I didn’t need someone to get me ready. Harry had insisted they pick a dress for me though, which I accepted. I had actually run out of clothes to wear anyway so it worked out well.

 It didn’t take me long to do my hair and make-up. I opted for simple, I didn’t want to go over the top and draw attention to myself. This left me with a lot of time to spare. I could have gone out and included myself, but I felt like tonight was going to be full on enough that I needed some quiet time to prepare myself. Taylor, it’s just an awards show. Not a big deal. I kept telling myself, but it still felt like a huge deal to me.

I flopped myself down onto the bed, grabbing my phone so I could call Sophie. I had sent her a few texts here and there, but I hadn’t really filled her in on the whole story. I dialled her number and waited for an answer, sighing to myself when it went to voice mail.

“Hey Soph, it’s Taylor. I’ll give you a call tomorrow but I’m about to go to the Brit awards… long story. I’ll fill you in on the deets tomorrow. I miss you!”

That message would do. I threw the phone down on the bed next to me and closed my eyes; I felt so tired but I had a long night ahead of me. I heard the door creak open, but I was super lazy and didn’t even look up. Instead, I waited until the figure was lying down next to me, and I turned to find Harry grinning at me.

“What are you smiling at?” I asked rolling over a little so I was facing him.

“You look beautiful.” He replied, and I sighed.

“I really don’t, but thank you. You look quite handsome yourself.” Harry was already in his suit, it looked like he was totally ready which was a sign we would be leaving soon.

“You okay?”

“Yeah… just thinking about things.”

“Good things I hope.”

“Well, mostly good things.”

Harry pulled me closer to him so I was lying in his arms. I felt content, and didn’t move away. Instead, I let him wrap his arms around me. I felt safe; it made me feel that maybe this could work out. Whatever this was, anyway. But I still wasn’t about to fully let my guard down. I trusted people too easily and then I would get hurt. If this whole relationship thing with Harry was going somewhere, we needed to take it slow.

We laid there in silence for a couple of minutes, just taking in each other’s company. “I want to play you something.” It was a bit of a spur of the moment thing, I had played for Ed today and I had surprised myself. I was pretty protective of my writing and music, but I had been writing something and I really wanted Harry to hear it. It had been quite surreal; I had honestly changed my opinion of Harry so fast. When I got here I wasn’t expecting anything at all to happen between us, and now I knew I wanted to try and be with him, but did I want to deal with being in the spotlight?

“Really? I… I would love to hear it.” He sounded surprised, like he didn’t expect me to want to play something for him. I didn’t blame him.

I moved out of his arms and grabbed the guitar in the corner, sitting back down on the bed as I faced Harry, taking a deep breath. “It’s not finished but I’m working on it.”

“Drop everything now

Meet me in the pouring rain

Kiss me on the sidewalk

Take away the pain

'cause I see sparks fly whenever you smile.”

I looked up from my guitar to see Harry looking at me in absolute awe. I smiled nervously as I bit my lip and continued.

“The way you move is like a full on rainstorm

And I'm a house of cards

You're the kind of reckless

That should send me runnin'

But I kinda know that I won't get far

And you stood there in front of me

Just close enough to touch

Close enough to hope you couldn't see

What I was thinking of.

I'm captivated by you, baby, like a firework show.”

I stopped playing and felt relieved. Relieved that by the look on Harry’s face, he had really liked it, and that apparently I could actually write songs.

“Taylor, that was amazing. Was… was that about me?”

The truth was, it was totally about him. I had started writing the song a day or two after I had arrived in the UK. It had started off about how Harry was someone I should run from, but ended up as a love song. It was funny to think that I had been here a week and that’s all it had taken for me to fall for Harry Styles. I wasn’t in love or anything yet, but I felt like I could be.

“Yeah, I mean… it kind of is. I guess.” I set the guitar down and stood awkwardly in front of Harry, who was still sitting on the bed. He grabbed my hands and pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around my waist. I looked down at him, smiling.

“I can’t wait to hear more of your music Taylor.”

“I’m glad someone wants to hear it.”

“Who wouldn’t want to hear it, Tay? It’s amazing.”

I shrugged a little. The truth was, for years when I was younger I would try and try to get my music out there. I would take piles of CD’s with my music on them to record labels everywhere, hoping someone would like it and give me a chance. But it never happened.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Agreeing with him was a lot easier than explaining right now why I was so afraid of putting my music out there.

I pulled away from Harry and turned around to pick up my dress that was hanging on the rack in the corner of the room.

“You ready for tonight?” Harry asked me.

I took a deep breath. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”