A Moment in the Crowd

Chapter 24: Class

"Wha - Who?" My heart leaped at the mention of Harry's name. He can't possibly mean Harry Styles, he must think I'm with some other Harry, right?

"Harry Styles." Miles is glaring at me, but he is completely serious. The rest of the group bursts into a fit of laughter.

"What the fuck Miles? Harry Styles from One Direction? Ask a real question come on." Christina tells him when the laughter finally dies down. She's still smiling as the words leave her mouth.

I'm desperately hoping that he'll take the out and ask me another question, but his cold glare states otherwise.

"It is a serious question, and Lily has to answer. So?" He raises an eyebrow at me, never once faltering in his glare.

This fucker. I sigh and readjust my legs as if that'll ease the tension that's slowly building in the air. All around us people are drinking and dancing. The music is central in one of the other rooms, so it isn't as loud where we are. 

I glance at Amy, as if for support, but then I realize she doesn't know me that well and also has no clue that I even know Harry. I've been quiet long enough for the laughter to die down, and everyone in the group is staring at me with increasing curiosity. 

Fuck, fuck, fuck. 

"I - well no I'm not Harry's girl." I settle on something vague. It doesn't say I know him, but it's also not a complete lie. I sip at my beer to attempt a look of casualty. It seems to work on everyone but Miles, of course. They all look back at him as if to gage whether or not he's satisfied with my answer. 

"So you've never met him before?" He's proding. Fuck how does he even know?

"Yeah I have." I say and shrug my shoulders as if it's nothing. 

Be casual Lily, no big deal. I'm beginning to realize just how clueless I am about my relationship with Harry. I'm in no way 'his girl' since that was never specified, but I'm also not just a friend, I think. I finally accepted about a week ago that I'm not just a fan either, so what am I to him? 

"And did you go to a club with him?" Miles is leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees.

"Don't you get just one question?" I snap at him.

He puts his hands up in mock defence. 

"Hey, I'm just curious. Why so touchy? Hiding something?" He smirks before taking another sip of his beer. 

I'm really starting to dislike this guy.

"No. Fuck you read that damn article didn't you? Don't you have anything better to do with your time?" 

I'm not sure where all the sass came from but I'm feeling a little defensive on the subject of Harry. Not to mention that article. There's no other way he could have known I was at a club otherwise. 

"No, actually I was at the club." I can feel the heat rushing to my ears, and the increasing pump of blood flowing through my veins. He saw me at the club? 

"Your boy Harry punched me and then left with you in hand." He continues, and as he does my hands go to my mouth to cover the shock written all over my face.

"You were the asshole that grabbed me?" I say through my fingertips. He was the jerk on the fucking dance floor. Holy shit, how did I not recognize him? I guess I didn't really get a good look at him. 

The newly collected information on Miles causes me to recoil from him. I begin shuffling backwards as he speaks.

"Hey, don't look at me like that. I was drunk off my ass that night, I had no idea what I did. I wasn't sure it was really you when Dylan brought you over, but I had to ask. Looks like I was right." He smirks again.