You & I (Harry Styles)

3. The Break

Harry's POV

I sat down next to her. She didnt seem to notice too absorbed in her artwork. Now I felt like I had to say hi because she wasn't responding. I coughed.

Still nothing. I made sure I was still covered up and pushed my sunglasses up higher atop my nose.

"Hello." I said. She stopped what she was doing and turned to me.

"Are you talking to me?" She asked as she looked around. "Oh sorry, hi." She was really pretty. She had long almost untidy wavy hair which made some parts look a little curly and her eyes were a deep brown that seemed to pull you in. She sat up.

"It's fine," I said. "What are you drawing?" She smiled a bit embarrassed.

"I'm trying to capture Big Ben." She explained as she showed me the pad. It was really well done and looked like a sketchy photograph.

"That's Amazing! Your really good." I smiled at her. "Your not from around here are you?" I could hear her voice. American by the sound of it- probably.

She nodded. "Yeah- no wait I mean, no I'm not."

"Vacationing?" I asked.

"No um I'm on this study abroad thing. At a university so..."

"Can I guess that you attend an art university?"

"Um... Maybe." She said cautiously.

"I'm not going to stalk you okay?" I laughed. She blushed and looked really cute when she did.

"Well just being precautious now." She laughed. Something stirred inside me.

"I'm Harry." I said as I stuck out my hand.

"Gloria..." She took it and shook. "Well Everyone calls me Ria so Ria is fine. "

"Okay well Ria, nice to meet you." I smiled. She returned it and then looked at her phone in her jumper's pocket.

"Oh I should be getting back. I've been out awhile." She stood up. "Nice meeting you, Harry." She waved and swung around quickly. Suddenly her phone flew out of her pocket and landed on the pavement with a clatter.

Ria's POV

I froze as my mind registered what happened. I spun around to see my phone lying on the ground.

"Oh my gosh NO!" I bolted for it when Harry stood up too. I grabbed it and turned over to face the screen. "Ugh!" It was cracked. The fracture lines weren't big at least but they branched all over the screen. "You were practically new..." I sighed.

"Cracked badly?" Harry asked as he appeared in front of me.

"Yes and the worst part is now I have to pay to fix it and I've been saving up for supplies I need for school and I don't even know who to ask and..." I sighed again. "Sorry for complaining to you but I mean I recently got this so it really sucks."

"It's fine, let me see it." He said and held out his hand. I grabbed it a little tighter. "Gosh, you don't trust me. I won't take it I promise." I hesitantly handed it to him. "This is fixable. It still turns on at least and still works. I know someone who'll fix this for free."

"For free?" I narrowed my eyes.

"Well as a favor for me, they will." He said. "I'll arrange it for you." He clicked something on my phone and then handed it to me as something beeped and he pulled out his own phone. "I sent myself a message so I'll keep in touch with you, Ria."

"Well if you really mean it, thanks" I smiled putting my phone in my jean pocket so it had a more secure hold.

"No problem." He smiled. He turned his head and said,"I better be going my friends are coming. "

I looked and saw 2 burly men headed our way. Friends? Man, they looked scary.

"Thanks again, bye Harry." I turned and walked away.

As I walked away I shook my head. I was grateful that he said he'd help me but he was just being polite. There was no way that he had any actual intention of helping a stranger. I looked back quickly and saw him talking to his friends and then he looked my way and caught my eye and smiled. I turned back immediately. I hadn't meant for him to see me! I just wondered if he was still there. Suddenly my phone beeped. I carefully pulled it out of my pocked as to not make the break worse than it was.

It was a message. I tapped the message app and what I assumed was Harry's number came up. I saved the contact.

-Hello. ;)-

I rolled my eyes and looked back again to see him looking my way with his friends. Then he waved and walked away with them. I thought if I should reply or not.

-Hello again.- I sent. His reply came shortly.

-I just spoke to my friends. One of them can fix your problem on my behalf. But you'll have to be okay with stopping by my place sometime. Well the hotel I'm staying at actually.-

I hesitated. -Your hotel room? Are you sure?-

- Haha can you try to trust me a little? ;) I'm not a creeper okay? But yeah because his room is next to mine and he has spare supplies with him all the time, always prepared. Unless you'd rather wait in his room with him? You did see him right?;)-

I widened my eyes. No, I would rather be with Harry. Besides, he wouldn't do anything funny in a public hotel. If I needed help I'd just scream. But I trusted Harry more than his two friends.

-Okay, no I wouldn't. But when could that happen?-

-When works for you?-

-ASAP. I don't want to make it worse accidentally.-

-He said tomorrow if you want.-

-okay but after my class. It's in the morning, an orientation. I get out at noon.-

-Thats perfect! Ill send you the address.-

-Thank you so much!:)- I sent after he mailed the address.

-no Problem ;) See you tomorrow after 12 then. -

I grinned. Thank goodness this happened. And free of charge too!

Later I reached my dorm and saw Eliza was back.

"How'd it go?" I asked putting down my bag.

"Oh, Ria," she grinned. "Chad is amazing. We have so much in common. He even ordered the same coffee as me. We're going out again tomorrow after orientation!"

"Wow, romance kicked of for you quickly didn't it?" I sat in a chair.

"Chad is the best. Imagine we hadn't sat together." She smiled. "But no it happened for a reason I know it."

"What happened for your dreams of a British fellow?" I laughed.

"Forget that!" She rolled her eyes. "Am I being over dramatic?"

"A tad." I smirked. "Your in love."

"No one falls in love that quickly, Ria." She said. "But I really like him."

"Good for you. I on the other hand cracked my phones screen."

"Ouch! How?" She asked. I explained what happened including Harry.

"So tomorrow after school I'm going over there." I ended.

"Ooh what if he's your love?" She smirked.

"Seriously?" I rolled my eyes. "One, he's just helping me. Two, in not looking for that. No distractions my dad said. And three, I barely know him. I certainly didnt talk to him as much as you did with Chad. "

"But what if its love at first sight and you don't even know it?" She asked. "I was skeptical at first but I think it was like that with me and Chad. Just looking into his eyes and spark!" I stared at her thinking she'd gone crazy. She was usually so reasonable.

"...Right..." I said unsure. "Anyways, I didn't even see his eyes, he had sunglasses and a beanie on."

"Well when you do, you'll feel it." She said seriously. I shook my head.

"If that's what love does to you, no thanks." I muttered and got dressed to go to the cafeteria for dinner.