When I Come Around

Chapter 9

I let out a deep breath as I set the dresser down, rubbing my hands.

"How is this?" I asked Valerie, gesturing towards the dresser against the wall.

"That's perfect, thank you!" She told me with a smile. I grinned towards her, going to leave the room before she spoke. "Harry, come look at this," Valerie said, holding a photograph in her hand. I walked back in, looking down at a picture of Louis and Valerie. They must have only been nine, because they looked young.

"Look at your pig-tails!" I said, grinning as I pointed towards Valerie's hair, "you should still wear your hair like that." Valerie laughed.

"Credits of my mother," she said, chuckling. I smiled, glancing towards Valerie. I don't know if she was just in a happier mood without Andrew, or if she was excited for the baby, but we have got on so well. There wasn't a rift between us and it wasn't awkward, we were simply able to laugh and enjoy ourselves. I hate to admit it, but I liked her. She was funny and I felt like we could pursue our relationship, but then again, I felt like we were polar opposites.

I went into the kitchen, getting a water bottle. It had been a full month since she asked to move in with us, and everything was going nicely. All of her stuff was moved, so it was simply a matter of adapting to life in the apartment with three people instead of only two. Louis was working on clearing his office, which was pretty much just a couch with a table and television. Once this was cleared, it will be the baby's nursery. My thoughts were interrupted when Valerie entered the kitchen, opening the fridge door. She grabbed a water, sitting at the table. Louis was out at lunch with Eleamor, so it was only Valerie and I at the apartment.

"What do you want to do today?" I asked, looking towards her.

"I have some homework to catch up on, I'm going to be pretty busy with that," Valerie explained, glancing up towards me. I nodded gently, taking a sip of my drink. I glanced down towards my phone as the screen lit up with a text. I smiled slightly at the text, unlocking my phone to respond. "What are you smiling at?" Valerie asked, grinning teasingly toward me.

"Just a text from one of my friends," I explained, smiling towards Valerie. It was my ex-girlfriend, Riley. Riley and I were dating when I was in junior high, and we had recently gotten back in touch. I liked talking to Riley again, because it was nice having little elements of my life before I was 'Harry Styles of One Direction'.

I watched TV as Valerie worked on her homework, scrolling through some movies. Louis was still out with Eleanor. I wouldn't admit it, but I was slightly jealous of Louis and Eleanor. Not that I was attracted to El, I just wanted to be as happy as them. When we tried double-dating, it was simply awkward between Valerie and I. I just felt slightly desperate for a girlfriend, because most of my relationships just fell through. I liked Valerie, and hoped for a relationship between us, but we were too different to compromise.