Between the Pages

eight

Playlist - My Favorite Boys by kissinq

(A)

It was much too early for me to be awake on a Saturday, and much too cold for me to be out of the house. Yet, I stood on Kitredge High's soccer field, at nine in the morning, with my jacket pulled tight against me in an attempt to protect myself from the brisk morning air. Louis, Niall, and Harry seemed completely unaffected by both the time and temperature, passing the ball back and fourth without complaint. I was standing on the sidelines with Eleanor, desperately regretting my decision to force the boys to practice. Granted I'd wanted them to do it last night, but Louis insisted on doing it this morning. So really it's his fault I'm tired and freezing. I watch as the guys take turns shooting goals, making more than missing, which gives me hope that they'll win tonight. I pay more attention to Harry, who is extremely good much to everybody's surprise. His pink tongue sticks out of his mouth as he skillfully dribbles the ball up the field towards the goal, he kicks it in and it hits in the upper corner just out of Niall's reach. Harry lazily half smiles at his goal and I nearly choke at the sight. Harry Styles had just smiled, or well nearly, for the first time since I'd met him. It wasn't the familiar, barely there upturn of his lips at the corner, it was a shy, happy, half smile that showed off some of his perfectly straight teeth. Before I knew it I found myself smiling at the sight, my grin growing as he glanced in mine and Eleanor's direction to flash a thumbs up.

"Harry's quite good I wonder why he doesn't play for a team," Eleanor frowns a little seeming genuinely bothered by her lack of understanding.

"Could you really see Harry trying out for the soccer team, going out for Ice Cream with Zayn to celebrate them winning?" I ask sarcastically, rolling my eyes at the thought.

Eleanor laughs, nudging me in my ribs lightly. "Anything is possible," I laugh with her, shaking my head. Harry could barely speak to one person, I couldn't imagine him trying to interact with an entire group of teenage boys. He'd probably pass out. "You know he's the last person I'd expect you to hang out with,"

Eleanor doesn't say it rudely but I still struggle to keep myself from getting defensive. "He's nice," I shrug.

"Yeah he is, you guys are just really different you know? He's so shy and quiet and you're all sarcastic and mysterious, breaking all the boys' hearts," I roll my eyes at Eleanor's description of me but, she wasn't wrong. Harry and I were completely and utterly different. "Not that it's a bad thing. He could probably use someone like you, maybe bring him out of shell a little bit,"

I nod in agreement. "I think he could just use a friend in general,"

Eleanor frowns again, looking towards the curly haired Cheshire boy we were discussing. "Zayn and his stupid friends should leave him alone. Harry is much better company than any of them," I smile at her defense for Harry, happy that he seemed to make the same impression on her that'd he made on me. "He's fun to be around. So what if he likes sweater vests?"

"The sweater vests are pretty terrible," I mutter and earn a glare from the brunette beside me. I shrug, "Not disagreeing with you just pointing out a fact,"

"You're completely missing the point of my heartfelt speech Andy," Eleanor gives me a dirty look but it's clear she's trying not to laugh. I shrug again and she shakes her head, smiling at me.

We turn our attention back to our practicing friends, who appear to be fighting over whether Louis' goal should count or not. Sighing, I realize how long this day was going to be.

~

By noon, I'm starving, tired, and considering popping that damn ball they refuse to stop kicking. Driving here with Louis and El was obviously a mistake since I can't leave until he does. Frustrated, I plop down on the bleachers, stretching out and closing my eyes. Maybe if I blocked out all the noise I could sleep.