Switching Roles ll Harry Styles

chapter two

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I yell, causing Harry to flinch a little. "Did you mistake cocaine for sugar this morning when you put it into your coffee? I'm not dating Harry Styles. I already tried that, and he ruined it."

"Lauren, I swear I didn't have aything to do with this. I swear," Harry says, but I shut him up with one glare.

"Listen, don't worry, you don't actually have to date him," Jacob says.

"So, you want me to do the thing Harry did to me the last time we dated?" I ask, trying to comprehend how stupid a person must be to suggest this to me.

"Listen, you are as popular as ever, but you need to appeal to more people. If people think you are dating Harry, they will watch your shows. And Harry needs all the good publicity he can get." Clyde interjects. I run my fingers through my hair in agitation.

This isn't actually happening. I'm still in the car. I fell asleep and I'm dreaming and I'm going to wake up and nothing will be wrong. I close my eyes briefly, but when they open, I'm still in the office.

"Guys, can I have a moment to talk to Lauren?" Harry asks, opening the door. Jacob gets up first while Clyde is more reluctant. One urging glance from Harry is all it takes.

"Harry, if you think I'm doing this you are out of your mi-" I start, but he interrupts me. He pulls me against him and attatches my lips to his. I don't react but soon, I'm kissing him back.

He adds tongue and we make out for half a minute before he pulls away. A smirk is clear as day on his lips and he leans into me. "See just like last time," he whispers in my ear.

I take a deep breath and smirk back at him. I copy him, leaning in and whispering, "Except this time, I'm smart enough to know you are a twisted prick."

A sound of confusion escapes him before I drive my knee into his crotch. He lets out a light yell-slash-groan of pain and I smirk. I walk to the door and pause with my hand on the handle. "Kiss me again," I say, "and that will be the least painful thing I do to you."

I turn the doorknob and swing it open, leaving Harry in full view of everyone in the office. I walk past a mad Jacob and a confused Clyde and head back to the elevator. I push the down arrow and ride to the hair and makeup floor. I have to shoot today, and I can't deal with all this crap.

~

"Cut! That's a wrap! Hey, great job today Ren. I'll see you on Tuesday." The director, John, calls.

I flash him a bright smile and head to my dressing room. I'm at the door when my best friend, who isn't famous by the way, Katie exits. I squeal and wrap my arms around her.

"Oh my God! What are you doing here?!" I yell hugging her tightly.

"The Muscle called me," she explains, mentioning Frank by her nickname for him. Ever since he became my body gaurd she hasn't called him Frank once. "We're going to a party. Very glamorous, very Hollywood. I was told your boyfriend is coming?"

She says it like a question because I don't have a boyfriend. "Long story, I'll explain it in the car. Is my outfit laid out?" I ask, noticing her fancy dress and hair. She nods and I hold up a finger to indicate "one minute" before entering my dressing room.

A floor length nude dress is hanging on my clothes rack. It's sleeves are just thick straps and it has a line of sequins just under my bust. You know those dresses that have the deep v neck and go down to your stomach? Well this dress has that part covered in sequins and sparkles but it stops at the line of sequins.

My stylist left some nude, leather booties with circles cut out so it's like mesh. I love these shoes and I've worn them before, even though re-wearing shoes is a big "no no" in my community. Next comes the jewelry, my favorite part. A thick baby pink bangle paired with thin gold ones adorn my wrist and they jangle a little.

A gold ring with a baby pink rose to match my bangle goes on my right ring finger along with a plain gold band. A gold ring with a bow with diamonds goes on my middle finger along with a diamond gold band. And a kitty ring goes on my pointer finger. It's basically a thick band of gold with a kitty face and ears. It's my favorite ring by far.

Some lipstick, eyeshadow, and blush are applied to my face by a new worker, and my hair is curled to perfection and I'm ready to go. A boxy clutch with different patterns of sequins is waiting for me on my table and I slip my money, keys, and phone into it.

When I'm finally ready, Katie spins me and give a low wolf whistle.

"Well if I could whistle, I would whistle, but we all know I can't do that." I reply, causing her to laugh

We link arms and laugh about people we pass. Her hair is sticking up. His short has a stain on it. This is my favorite thing about Katie. I don't have to pretend with her, I can just be my weird, immature self. We are at the door when someone yanks me back by my arm.

"Woah!" I say loudly. "Watch who you're grabbing."

"Listen to me, and listen carefully," Clyde says in a hurried tone. "Harry is waiting outside. You are going to look so in love with him people are going to think you're married. If you don't, you're fired. Understood?"

"What? How am I supposed to do that?" I ask angrily.

"You're the youngest actress to win an Oscar," he says impatiently, "you figure it out."

"Harry's here?" Is all Katie can say when I rejoin her.

I nod and swallow trying my best to stop the bile from rising in my throat. I take some deep calming breaths before I turn to Katie. "Ignore everything I'm about to do."

Katie nods and I push open the door. I bite my bottom lip and look around as if searching for something. The cameras' flash blind me, but I continue searching for something I wish I didn't have to find with a hopeful-but fake-look in my eyes.

When I see Harry, I break into a full smile, gather up my dress and run as fast as my heels will let me. The cameras follow and Harry's smile looks so real, I almost believe it. But I know better. When I get to him, I jump and he spins me around happily.

When he sets me down, the paparazzi are so close, I know they can hear us talking. "I've missed you so much," I say, putting fake emotion into my words. "It's been too long since I've seen you."

"I know, love, it was unbearable," Harry says, I roll my eyes internally. "But I'm here now." His voice softens a great deal. "And I'm not going to leave you ever again."

My smile drops just an inch, imperceptible to the cameras. He strokes my cheek lightly, and I close my eyes. He cups my cheek and kisses me softly, not like earlier. It feels like the way we used to kiss. Like we needed each other but we didn't want to rush it because we just had to savor the moment. How pathetic?

We are broken apart when the paps start screaming. They always seem to do that. Harry takes my hand and leads me to the black stretch limousine, where I peck his cheek, climb in, and wait until he's in the car and the door is shut to stop smiling.

"Jesus, Harry, think you slobbered in my mouth enough?" I ask, gagging a little. Katie hands me a bottle of water and a cup, which I use to swish through my mouth and spit it out.

"Well, you deserved it for tackling me," he says unenthusiastically.

"Good to see the lovebirds are back together," Katie says, raising a glass of champagne to her personal toast. I take it out of her hand and gulp it down, the bubbly feeling calming my nerves down just a tad.