Forever Roses {Harry Styles AU}

Chapter 12: Promotion

Chapter 12: Promotion – August 28, 2019

“So,” I begin, leaning back on my couch, “you’re telling me he’s not interested?”

“Yeah,” April confirms dejectedly. “I asked him if he wanted to do it another time – you know, get dinner or something – and he was like, ‘uh, well, you aren’t exactly my type.’”

Adrian and April apparently had forgotten about their date before. The procrastinator slash sleeps-with-most-girls put it off for what, like a year? It was just one of those cases that it wasn’t a big deal, and it never happened. Until they ran into each other again just the other day and arranged as well as actually followed through on a date, which, apparently, was not a success.

“That sucks,” I say, although for me it doesn’t suck. “Actually,” I speak up, straightening my back and trying to calm my rapid heartbeat, “maybe you’d like to go to dinner with me?”

“Well we do that all of the time,” April replies, clueless. Then, before I can squeeze in a word, realization shadows her face. “Oh.”

I inhale and forget to exhale.

“Harry…how about you ask me another time, when I didn’t just come back from a failed date? I really enjoyed being with Adrian, so the fact that the feeling was mutual is slightly hurtful. I’d like just a little while to recover, you know?” April is so calm while she says all of this.

I have really screwed up timing.

“Er, right,” I agree quite awkwardly.

There’s only about two seconds of silence before I catch April narrowing her eyes at me.

“Harry, you haven’t liked me since secondary school, right?”

“What? No, that’s ridiculous,” I fib. I think I’m successful too.

“Good. That would have been a bit scary. For you. I mean, I didn’t really think that – it’s just it seemed – well, I guess that I–” April stammers, completely unsure how to word it.

“April, it’s fine,” I half-laugh.

She shines a smile at me, practically blinding me.

I guess I’ll wait a while until she’s over Adrian, and then poof – I’ll swoop in and take April completely away.

~.~

“Harry! Harry!” April calls to me excitedly, almost running through the hall, high heels and all.

I turn around. I wasn’t expecting her.

“What’s up?”

“I JUST GOT PROMOTED!” April exclaims, jumping into my arms for a hug.

“That’s fantastic!” I congratulate her. “So the next floor, huh? How does it feel?”

April grins. “Great. I’ve already been shown to my new office. It’s a tad bit bigger.”

“I’m going to have to come visit you some time,” I say happily.

“Not for long – I heard that they’re going to promote you soon, too.”

My eyebrows shoot up. “Really?”

“Really.” Her face is so warm and happy.

“I hope so. That’d be awesome. So, want to get some celebratory sweets from across the street after work?”

“Of course,” April says and smiles again. She’s quite bubbly. “I hope they have those miniature chocolate layer cakes. But even if they don’t, I’m having a fabulous day. I dunno,” she starts, looking thoughtful and bubbly, “I just feel really content right now. Like everything seems to be working out. I’ve got a promotion from an already well-paying job, I’m back in the dating business because I’ve gotten past that Adrian, and I’ve been going out a lot with a group of girls that I really like.”

“Over Adrian?” That’s the only thing going through my mind.

“Yup,” April confirms, smiling brightly at me.

I could ask her out again. But there always seems to be some excuse. “There’s the April Game.” “I’m not over Adrian.” I get the April Game one, but Adrian? Really? It was one date. Unless they were made for each other, I don’t see her being emotionally devastated over him not being interested. And I don’t think they’re meant to be together because I believe April is The One for me and I’m The One for her.

But maybe those were signs, that I shouldn’t instigate it. Maybe April should make the first move.

Plus, this all came so fast. I wasn’t prepared, and I don’t have the guts to be rejected again. Not today. My day hasn’t been quite as perfect as April’s.

Well, it turns out I should’ve found the courage. Because three weeks later, after Adrian and April got to spend some more time together on the floor above, Adrian apparently found out he had more in common with April than he’d originally thought. So they went on another date.

And another, and another, and another.

 ~.~ 

 A/N: 

*NOT EDITED* I'm just not going to edit until about September, most likely.:)

Okay so now that I finished writing the story I just want to post, post, post it all but I like my schedules...but I have stuff going on Sat. 7/26 (the last day of posting) and I might be busy that Tuesday too, so I MAY do extra updates :)

Dedication to @TheQueenIsFalling because she's tryin' to do anything for that extra update man haha -Stephanie.