I'm Not Your Toy, Harry

Chapter 1

When Nick told Harry that they were heading to a house party that night, Harry, for once, wasn't that excited.

"I'm exhausted, Grimmy," he said, cradling his cell phone on his neck as he made a coffee on the counter of his shiny, almost untouched kitchen in his London apartment. It was around noon on a June day, and for once, Harry had woken up late."I've been going mental this last month with interviews, gigs, partying, and shit."

"Seriously? A social slut like you? Are you kiddin'?" Nick cackled. Harry could hear the sounds of traffic behind him - Nick was on his way back from some music festival.

"Even sluts have their limits," Harry said, taking a sip of his hot coffee.

"Well, this is one I'm not missing Styles, so you can either come along or stay at home moping. And you're lucky you're coming along, I had to wheedle and beg to get you an invite."

That made Harry sit up a little straight."'M sorry? I'm not even wanted at this party?" Harry prided himself on being humble and pretty'normal' as rockstars went, but he felt a little twinge of annoyance that he would be actively banned from a social gathering.He was far too used to being accepted everywhere he went, and wooed for his attention.

"I know you haven't touched a book since primary school, but you must have seen it on Instagram? That new book, Trying To Be Jules? It's all anyone can talk about. All your skinny-bummed models have been toting it around."

Ignoring the crack, Harry said, "Yeah, I've seen it. What about?" He had seen the book's name on a friend's Snapchat - he seemed to remember the words 'New York Times bestseller' emblazoned across it. Something about food? He couldn't remember.

"It's a party at the house of the author. She's got this massive online following. The network's been trying to get her onboard for a radio show based on the book, and she's becoming YUGE," said Nick, in his best Trump impression. "if I get this deal, the network might finally give me the stock I've been asking for!"

"Why do I have to come again?" groaned Harry.

"You're my rockstar trumpcard, innit," he said. "She apparently doesn't like celebrities and all that nonsense, which is why it's so hard to get you in. But I'm guessing no one can resist your Hugh Grant's illegitimate son charms."

'Alrait, that's enough. Do you really need me there?" said Harry, taking one last swig of his coffee."

"Ya, I do," Nick yelled over a particularly loud truck horn. "I promise we can leave early and you can call Angela over and shag her senseless!"

Harry laughed. Angela was a 'friend' he'd been meeting, off and on, for the last few months. They usually met at night, and usually met naked. A few weeks ago, Grimmy had walked in on them going at it in the living room, and since then, it had become a running joke.

"Alirght, I'll see you there. Text me the address. I hope the party is fine, and normal? No weirdos?" he asked.

"I can't promise there won't be weirdos. You know how these writers are. Ok, gonna ring off, see you in a bit!" And with that, the line went dead.

***

Jules was exhausted. And she knew she shouldn't be, but alone, with her cat for company, she could admit she was.

The thing was, even being 'normal', and functioning like an adult exhausted her. For example, today, she had scrubbed the entirety of her small apartment, fed Sassy {the cat}, changed her litter, and *not* ordered a pizza. (If she was perfectly honest with herself, the not ordering a pizza was the most tiring part of her day).