Change My Mind

Chapter 17 (Page 13)

Mari ended up spending her birthday alone, her friends and family members called to wish her a happy birthday and Andrea from next door brought her a small cake just before she had to run to work. That’s about all that happened and a couple days later when Mari was sitting by her table eating and working on some final homework the news popped up mentioning a new One Direction story. She stopped writing to listen in as the lady on the screen spoke.

“The boys are still in the states promoting their book and new tour to come, but that’s now what we are here to cover. We all know the charming member Harry Styles has a girlfriend right?” she said asking no one in particular.

Mari put her notebook down on the couch, now more interested than ever.

“Well it seems it is not the same girlfriend as before. Harry styles was spotted with a new blonde pretty girl a couple days ago having laughs over lunch. Who could this mystery girl be? And what ever happened to, what was her name? Maritza? We don’t know, but we do know Harry seemed pretty happy.” As soon as she finished speaking pictures were shown on screen of Harry sitting across the table from Allyson laughing and enjoying themselves. Before Mari turned off the tv, she heard the commentator say the date they were spotted and it so happened to be on her birthday.

“What the heck Harry!” Mari said out loud tossing the control to the opposite couch. She actually picked up her phone and put it down a couple of times before finally deciding to call someone. She couldn’t call Harry, or Jade so she decided to call Lou. They talked over the phone for a good hour. She looked up the news report on the internet and assured Mari that nothing was going on, Harry had gone out to lunch with her because according to him “we ran into each other on the street.” The Harry & Allyson talk soon moved into how Mari was now 11 weeks and dayssoon 3 months pregnant, until finally Lou was called upon some mommy duties and they had to hang up.

Around 2 hrs later while Mari was in the middle of a bath her phone started ringing. She leaned over to see the screen and Harry’s face was showing. She took a deep breath, and reach out to grab to answer it.

“Hello?” she answered.

“Hi baby, how are you?” Harry said.

“fine.” Mari answered a little dry.

“Just fine?”

“Look Harry I’m in the middle of something right now, do you think we can talk later?” Mari said.

“In the middle of what?” Harry answered rapidly.

“A bath Harry, now call me later ok.” She said thinking he was going to give up.

“A bath? Without me? How I wish I was there. I miss you so much.” Harry said taking a breath.

“ Yeah, I can tell.” She said with a sarcastic tone.

“Stop being so grouchy baby. You know, you’re the only girl for me. So the paparazzi got a few snaps of me and Allyson together, no big deal. I was actually out shopping for your birthday present and I ran into her, well more specifically she ran into me. She asked if I wanted to have a quick lunch together and I felt bad and couldn’t say no. We were laughing because we were remembering the past. But you know I love you and I do wish I was with you every single day I wish you would believe that. I know it wasn’t cool of me to not tell you but I thought I didn’t need to because honestly Mari she means nothing to me. Now will you please stop being mean.”

Mari breathed out and smiled into the phone.

“I love you.” She said

“I love you more my little grouchy pants.”

“Shut up.” Mari said.

“So babe, are you really taking a bath or..”

“Yes, Harry. I really am taking a bath.” Mari answered.

“Oh how I wish I was in there with you.” Harry said.

“Oh god.” Mari said giggling. “So when do you guys plan to leave the states? Lou was telling me that you guys were given some studio space in NY so you guys might stay for a little over a month?”

“That’s what it’s looking like. Are you sure you can’t come down? I know you’re in your last weeks of school right? You can come down here. Paul told us it might be up to 2 months. And we are pretty booked only have random days off and it’s too far to travel I would spend the one day off on the plane.” Harry said.

“Um, yeah I finish next week. I have my finals next week. My boss actually offered me a part-time job after school is over and well I need it right now. With Jade being gone for more then she said she would, I have to pay for rent alone this upcoming month. I just don’t think right now is the right time for a vacation.” Mari.

“I could always pay for you.” Harry said but Mari didn’t let him say more because she interrupted saying

“Are you serious? No. Never. I don’t want to depend on you for everything or anything. I love you Harry but this is all on me. I gotta do this alone ok?”

“Okay. I love it when you get all defensive.”

“Calm down. Okay now for real this time I’m going to let you go okay?”

“No. Nooo, don’t go.” Harry said like a baby into the phone.

Mari giggling before saying “Bye Harry, Love you.” and he answered. “Me more.” And they hung up.

Okay so Mari had bent the truth a little with the whole Jade not paying for rent next month because she had left money for rent but not for anything else. She had to tell Harry that because what was she going to do flying all the way to USA, pregnant and in the middle of all the media. Of course she wasn’t even showing yet, but whenever she did go in two months she was going to be nearly half way done with her pregnancy and could have a belly. Harry had to be the one to come, she had to tell him, but she couldn’t over the phone. What would he think of her?

...

.......

...................

They spoke over the phone almost every day for the little over a month and a half that followed. She passed her finals and was finally done with school, her morning sickness had faded and she was now a near 5 months. Paul had decided to stay in the states, believing the boys would get better publicity. Mari was working at her Library and Harry had planned a day out to see her in about two weeks, she was showing now. And every time she went to see the doctor she decided against knowing the sex of the baby. But she had beautiful ultrasound pictures. She had found a way to cover up her belly with dresses and loose clothing but her parents new and her boss, but everyone else was clueless. One day at work while she was replacing old magazines with new ones she picked the last one up and took a glimpse at the front cover before dropping it on the floor.

“What the?” She breathe out before careful bending down to pick it up again. There on the front cover was Harry kissing another girl. It was dark around them and the girl happened to be blonde.

“Allyson” Mari breathed out and she took the magazine with her back to her desk. Her phone was on her purse all morning inside her locker and that’s the first place she went. Finding a couple calls from Lou, Harry and surprisingly Jade. She hit delete on the phone. She only had 20minuts left at work but decided to ask if she could leave early blaming it on stomach pain. Her boss agreed and gave her the next day off, considering she only worked for 4 hrs.

When she got home she took the magazine out of her purse and sat on her bed while opening to the page number next to the picture of Harry and the “blonde" kissing with the phrase. ”Harry loves them blonde, for more on this story turn to page 13.”

When she got to page 13 her mouth dropped.