Forever Roses {Harry Styles AU}

Chapter 2: Andrew

Chapter 2: Andrew – September 19, 2011

Three weeks later, I'm still trying to find the nerve to ask April out. It's not working.

Since I'm at a standstill, and I would love to be closer to April in any way, I start to befriend her. Aside from my feelings from her, I was already on pretty good terms with her anyway, and we have a lot of classes together, so it isn't that hard to find time to talk to her. I'm not that shy, either; I'm just a dork. That being said, I'm not the shunned nerd whatsoever. Half the boys in high school are dorks in any case. I have plenty of friends, and in the secondary school's ridiculous popularity ranking I'm pretty far up there. It's a lot easier for guys, but April is also definitely up there just because she's perfect.

In history class we're assigned a project with partners. I was planning on asking April to be my partner, but now our teacher is telling us that she is picking the partners. Groans echo in the whole classroom like a wave is going across, but they quickly quiet when Mrs. Marley begins to announce each set of partners.

"Grayson and Alexander. Allison and Lily. Emma and Mac. Ed and Caitlin. Harry and April." Mrs. Marley continues on, but I'm lost in my own world. I'm with April!

I glance over to my new partner. She is already looking at me. My heart skips one of its beats, but then it skips like five when she grins and gives me two thumbs up. I'm acting like such a child, aren't I?

The project is supposed to be a classwork project, so Mrs. Marley gives us the rest of class to work on it. Again, April is pretty popular, but she's not goofing off and gossiping with the other girls around. She's diligently working alongside me so we can get it done. Althroughout, though, I keep sneaking peeks at her. Concentrated and serious, April still manages to stun me – even to the point where I forget that I am supposed to be working too, and then every so often I swear she catches me admiring her.

Besides me being stupid, we make a lot of progress, so a couple minutes early we decide to call it quits. April initiates a conversation that I'm more than ecstatic to be in. She wants to know more about me!

I sound like a freaking five-year-old. Get a grip, Harry.

"Really?!" April asks, shocked. "It's rare that I find someone else who likes to go bowling at this age, although I've dragged Emma into it a couple of times. Maybe us three and a couple of other people could go bowling one night; that would be so fun!"

Did April just invite me out with her?

Yes, yes she did.

"Yeah," I agree breathlessly, but she doesn't seem to notice that I was taken away by her. She never does.

"Awesome! Maybe I'll text you about that later," April tells me cheerily. "So what else do you like to do?"

Before I can answer, Andrew comes up to us. He's in my crowd, but he's not in my immediate group of friends although he is a pretty chill guy. I wonder what he wants.

Turns out, he doesn't want something from me. He wants something from April.

"Hey, April," Andrew says with a relaxed smile. "Can I have a word with you?"

April glances at me like she wants me to stay instead of leaving, but that would be rude. Instead, I shrug, pick up my bags and dump them next to my friend Kyle.

"Yo, what's up, Harry?"

"Nothing much." I kept my answer short so that I might be able to listen in on what Andrew is saying. Eavesdropping isn't right, but who has to know?

"I was thinking we could go out to eat tomorrow night if you're free, just the two of us," Andrew is saying.

I'm looking at the wall, but I really don't see it. I'm concentrating hard on listening to the people behind me.

I can picture a soft blush coming to April's cheeks and her eyes flickering away from Andrew's. She's going to say no.

Please say no.

"Like...romantically?" she double-checks. She's going to say no.

Despite what the situation could mean for me, I laugh. She is so clueless about how other people feel, all the time. I love it.

"Uh, yeah. Romantically, I guess," Andrew confirms.

"Well, um, I'm going to have to say no to that one–"

"Maybe just as friends then?" Andrew suggests. He isn't like Jacob who awkwardly shuffled away in shame. Andrew can play it off and not let much bother him.

"Yeah, that would be great!" I can hear each word of April's gain a little bit more smile every time another one comes out.

"Sweet. I'll talk to you tomorrow," Andrew says before their talking falls silent.

Soon I feel a tap on my shoulder. It's April.

"Sooo, back to what we were saying..." she tries to continue.

"You okay?" I decide to ask. Her cheeks have a pretty pink shade to them now.

She stuffs her hands in front of her face. "No! Andrew just asked me out, and I had to say no."

"Why?"

"Uh, 'cause I don't like him," April replies nervously.

"And who do you like, Miss April?" I ask with a mischievous grin, leaning my chin on my hand while my elbow is supported by the desk.

"None of your concern, Mister Harold." 

I laugh with her, taking in every second of her twinkling eyes that seem to giggle right with her. "I thought girls would be jumping up and down over being asked out."

"Not me. I mean, I don't really want to go out with a guy who I don't like because once that happened to my sister, and she totally led him on without meaning to, and it was a mess! But I hate turning anybody down."

I gulp, just imaging myself getting turned down – that is, if I actually ever ask her.

I fully intend to ask her, I do. I just don't know when. And in the meantime, I want to get to know her better in any event and be a real friend to her. Something inside me just really cares deeply for her, like I could spend my whole life thinking of April, April, April. I've liked her for a long time now, and my feelings are getting stronger by the minute. By the second.

I just don't know if at the age of 17 – although, 18 soon enough – I actually have a grip on life and could actually love her.

Then again, I don't think it could be hard to love someone like April.

~.~

A/N:

GUYS WE REACHED OUR INTERNET USAGE LIMIT FOR THE MONTH - SINCE WHEN IS THERE EVEN ONE?! - SO I'M AT THE LIBRARY TO POST AND IDK WHEN I CAN GET WIFI AGAIN AND I'M FREAKING OUT AND IDK WHAT THIS MEANS FOR UPDATE DAYS BUT I'LL LET YOU ALL KNOW SOMEHOW IDKKKK

Can anyone think of a ship name for Harry & April? I can't!! Ugh. Oh, click the external link for a picture of one of April's best friends, Emma.

Remember to COMMENT what you think because I'm SO excited about this story, and VOTE if you like it :) thanks so much for reading! -Stephanie.:)