Forever Roses {Harry Styles AU}

[Part 1] Chapter 1: Jacob

Chapter 1: Jacob – September 1, 2011

I watch from afar as Jacob approaches her. She is standing by her open locker labeled "Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School" with a wide smile spread across her face while she talks to another girl, Emma Hughes. Jacob taps her shoulder nervously, and I wonder what he wants from April.

April's long, dark brown – almost black – hair swooshes when she turns to face Jacob, her smile still ever-present. "Hi," she warmly greets him like she does everybody. Literally everytime I speak to her, she's practically smiling from ear to ear. But that's not because she's a naturally friendly girl. Sometimes I swear she is an angel.

Her kind attitude automatically relaxes Jacob, erasing his stuttering. "Hey, April. I was wondering if maybe...you wanted to go out with me."

Because her smile is still there, my heart tears. Half of it is happy for her, but the other half is devastated because I like her a lot. I feel idiotic, too, since I didn't ask her out before. My chances are gone now.

But then her smile wavers. It still exists, but it's more of a sad smile. "I'm sorry, Jacob. I'm not interested. Maybe we could get together as friends for a group thing sometime."

You would think I would be happy, but I'm still not. Okay, I'm a little happy. Just think, though: if April said no to Jacob, one of the most popular guys not only in our grade but our school, I highly doubt she would ever say yes to me. I'm just Harry, a geek who likes to read, bake desserts, spend time with his mum and sister, sing in a small band, and volunteer with little kids.

"Oh, okay. Well, um, bye," Jacob now stutters.

"I'll text you," she offers smiling kindly again.

The blush on Jacob's face is apparent as he walks away towards his group of friends who all pat his back sympathetically.

April faces her friend Emma again and frowns. I hear her smooth voice from across the hall at my own locker saying, "That was horrible. I felt so bad doing that."

"April, you are like, perfect," Emma tells her voicing my thoughts. "You're going to have to do that again and again before high school ends. I mean, the only reason you weren't asked out before was because the boys were too scared, but now that Jacob was the first one they'll probably come knocking at your door like crazy."

April glares at her. I feel like a creep when I say this, but she's so cute when she's frustrated or even angry.

"I just don't want to turn anyone down again though," April says. She shuts her locker. That's the last snippet of their conversation that I hear because they start to walk to class.

I stand there for a moment, pondering April. She's so nice and smiley. She's funny. She's smart. She's beautiful. And most of all, she's April. I don't doubt that all of the guys will be knocking at her door, as Emma put it.

"Harry!" Graham's voice is loud in my ear as it takes me by surprise, also snapping me out of my trance. His hard hand pounds my back in a friendly manner as we start to walk away from the scene where it all started. "What's up?"

If only I knew what was to come. If I had, I would've asked April out right away to save both of us the pain, so much pain. I don't know what April could've possibly done to have this happen to her. Karma is just really unfair. Nobody deserves to be treated the way she was about to be treated.

She was about to suffer from the April Game, in which she had to endure too much gossip, sympathy, confusion, and loneliness.

And there was nothing I could do after that.

~.~
A/N:

And that's chapter 1! Yeah it's kind of short, but the whole story will be that way. Please leave feedback because I like comments even more than Harry likes April, no joke.
Speaking of April, you can see what she looks like by clicking on the EXTERNAL LINK because I can't figure out how to put a picture from my computer on the side haha.

Keep in mind, this is like a fetus story (so I'll post younger pictures of him to the side every chapter hehe). It's an AU, yeah, but I'm not like creating a dark Harry. He's still in school – it's 2011.

DO YOU REALIZE HOW EXCITED I AM FOR THIS STORY -Stephanie.:)