Forever Roses {Harry Styles AU}

Chapter 7: Harry

Chapter 7: Harry – November 1, 2011

“But Mum, she really needs this,” I argue. My mum had caught me skipping school, and while she wasn’t happy about it, she almost seems a bit amused.

And indeed, she chuckles. “Harry, do you, say, fancy this girl?”

“Wait, Harry fancies what girl?” Gemma’s voice comes from around the corner of the kitchen doorway.

Mum waves her away, and Gemma pops back out as quickly as she came in.

I’m a deep shade of red, I’m sure. “Erm….”

“Go ahead,” my mom laughs, grinning, and almost shoves me out of the house. The way her eyes twinkle at me erases any poor thought I had about my mom while she was in the midst of embarrassing me.

“Thanks, Mum.” A small smile does appear on my face, and with that, I leave.

I ride my rusty red bicycle about a half mile to a local movie theatre. Along the way though, I pass a bunch of teenage kids walking to school, and I think I hear “April.” But then again, I’m sort of obsessed with the pretty girl, so I may just be hearing things. In spite of that, I cycle a little bit slower so that I might hear longer snippets of conversation. And hear longer snippets of conversation I do – and basically what I absorb from it is that a lot of people know about the April Game. A lot. It’s probably good that I’m taking April out – I mean, just hanging out with her – for a day. For once, I mentally give myself a pat on the back.

By the time I end up at the theatre, April is already there, so I hurriedly lock my bicycle up before heading to the ticket booth with her. I let her pick the movie that’s name I don’t even know. The male working the booth gives us an eye, probably because we’re kids out during a school day, but maybe he deems us not to be troublemakers because he doesn’t say anything.

Since I was running a tad late, the movie starts as soon as we sit down. There’s practically nobody in here anyway.

It opens with an old guy with white, but curly, hair and piercing green eyes dying. I’m wondering why April picked this, but as I miss part of the movie lost in my own thoughts, I realize maybe she just wanted to escape her own sad life into somebody else’s. It kind of makes sense, doesn’t it?

The old guy had no wife, no kids, no close relatives, so lawyers had to get involve to divvy up the inheritance since the man also left no will. And then they started questioning his death, and from there on out the movie was basically a mystery story of how the old man actually died.

I suppose the movie was okay, but does it matter? I got to sit with April for like an hour and a half. And I saw her cry because of some cheesy sad part at the end. She trusts me enough to pick a tear-worthy movie to watch with me!

That only gives me a speck more of courage. Enough to push me over the edge of the fence in my decision.

After the credits begin to roll, I lead the both of us out of the theatre. “We’re going to go to the park now,” I exclaim brightly, desperately trying to do anything to make her in a happier, lighter mood. “I left snacks in a bag on my bicycle that I can go grab, and then we can just kind of relax by the clearing over there.” I also am trying to make it seem not date-like, even if that’s what I’d like it to be. I don’t want to scare her off or anything though, but also lately I have been thinking that she might share the same feelings for me. I’m not sure. I asked Graham, although I didn’t really feel like I could take him too seriously, and he wasn’t sure either. He doesn’t spend as much time with April as I do – however, he has been hanging out with Emma lately.

“Harry,” April’s angelic voice starts as we plop down on the patch of baby grass, “I just want to say thank you so, so much. It’s been such a tough time for me. You’ve been such a good friend, and I can’t thank you enough for it.”

“Hey,” I said gently, seeing her sad face, “April, it’s okay. I’m more than happy to be your friend.”

The flicker of emotion change tells me she knows what I want. She’s realizing right now.

And I figure, why not ask now?

So I do.

“April,” I breathe out, paralyzed with fear, but excitement too – I’ve never asked out a girl before because none have ever meant this much to me. I touch her hand that’s resting on the grass, and it flinches in surprise, I suppose. “I like you, a lot. Okay? And I-I’ve wanted to ask you this forever.” I break my hand away from hers to reach over to the plastic, opaque bag, pulling out a bouquet of bright red roses. “These are for you. Will you be my girlfriend?” I ask – rather, stutter – April nervously.

My heart has never beaten faster than it is right now.

“No.”

My heart has never stopped beating like it is right now.

I’m frozen, my face is frozen, my heart is frozen, and time is frozen.

April looks like she’s about to cry.

"Harry...I just can't say yes. I'm really, really sorry. I trust you, but I don't want to say yes when there's this whole game thing, and I really don't know who's who right now, and I can't do this anymore, and I'm just sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Harry."

I’m frozen, my face is frozen, my heart is frozen, and time is frozen.

“Harry?”

I’m frozen, my face is frozen, my heart is frozen, and time is frozen.

“Harry….” This time it’s more of a beg. April’s face is cracked, broken, and so concerned for me.

I’m petrified.

She’s right, she’s right. How could I have done that to her? I was putting her in such a terrible position with what I did. I’m stupid.

I’m just like one of those other idiotic boys, aren’t I?

~.~

A/N: 

*NOT EDITED BC I SUK*

SO MUCH SYMBOLISM IF YOU COMPARE THE MUSIC VIDEO TO THE SIDE (You and Me by Lifehouse) TO THIS OMG. This story is actually really deep and like I don't think anybody will actually understand it but that's okay. Oh and speaking of which, I can be detailed...*cough cough* pay attention to the date *cough cough*

Dedication to @TheQueenIsFalling because she was the first vote on this story haha.:) which was also a reason to celebrate hence the extra update today! 

This is the end of Part 1 of the story, so Part 2 is also 7 chapters and it's after high school, and it speeds through the years. See you in Part 2 (this is so exciting)!!!! -Stephanie.:)