Mislead.

1

Tendrils of smoke escape my mouth, curling, fading into the velvet night. Each drag of the toxin driving me into a state of relaxation, each exhalation followed by a soft hum of satisfaction. My eyelids flutter closed as I gratefully embrace the tranquil silence with a sigh as I flick the cigarette end into the frosted blades of grass. Sitting here in the early hours of morning in the feral cold, in this park was pleasurable - the sky still dark and no other soul than my own present. Bliss. My safe haven. My escape from reality. Just me, myself and I. Looking into the dimly lit sky, I smile, my head shaking. No worries nor doubts linger in my mind in this moment. Only the buzz from surrounding street lamps is audible alongside my breathing. My eyes close once more and my head tilts back. Peace. Of which is soon disrupted when my phone begins to ring, startling me. Glancing at the name on my screen, I can't help but roll my eyes. Christy.
"Can I help you?"
Huffing impatiently at my tone, she replies "What time are you planning on getting back? You know I hate being here alone."
"You're alone? That's a first..." I hear her breath catch on the end of the line and continue before she begins to whine (which she does frequently and it is very, very annoying). "Christy, you're in a college dorm room. What could possibly happen, really?"
"Just get back soon Erin, please?"
I sigh and hang up, rising from my position on the bench, my bum numb from its hard surface.
I walk back towards the dorms and wrap my arms around my body. God it's cold!
When I enter the building, I am engulfed by its warmth. Avoiding the stairs, that I have no effort to climb, I walk towards the elevator and press the button and wait. I unlock my phone as a group of drunken adolescents pile through the doors of the building, paying no mind to their stumbles and slurs as I glance at the time. 1am? Jesus... My attention is drawn away from my screen when I hear a lone person enter the building. Another one? His tall, muscular frame was one to acknowledge, but it is when my gaze rests upon his face that my breath catches in my throat. A pair of piercing, emerald eyes meet my own and I quickly divert my stare to the floor as a slanted smirk settles upon his face, exposing the dimple that indents his left cheek. Inevitably, I look again and he is moving towards me. Where is this damn elevator?
"Erm hi, this elevator has been out of order for the past year, so you'll be waiting here a while." He chuckles. His voice his deep, gruff and that little laugh rumbled. It's given me goosebumps.
"Oh." I simply reply, worrying that I'd come off as rude to the stranger with kind yet intimidating eyes. Yet he just smiles, flashing his perfect teeth.
"Are you new here?" It's almost as though I forget he's talking to me when I look around the empty lobby.
"Erm yeah, I started about two weeks ago." I timidly returned his smile.
"Ah a freshman... Well, welcome." He exaggerates his welcome by raising his arms up to his sides. "This is my second year here and I love it."
"Cool." I come across as awkward and rude when meeting new people, and I'm afraid he'll call me out on it when he squints his eyes a little but his smile still remains. I smile back but awkwardly begin to move towards the stair case, brushing past him as I do so. He follows when he realises I'm moving away.
"I didn't see you at that frat party, so why are you out so late?"
"Oh, I just went for a walk." Keep the conversation going for the life of God. "You went to a party? You don't seem drunk like those other kids," I say pointing upwards to signal the people who'd arrived before he did "but if you are, you're hiding it well." I smile. Despite my earlier discomfort I was finding it easier to talk to him, his smile was sweet, genuine.
"Oh, I'm their ride as I don't drink." He shrugs. His shoulders are so defined, sculpted you can see the carved muscle through his black t-shirt.
"Fair enough." We walk slowly in sync, in an awkward silence until it is broken, by him of course. I have no idea what to say to this boy.
"I didn't catch your name?" He bows his head and leans down a little to meet my height while sliding his hands into his front pockets as he tries to reach my gaze that had since lowered to the floor. My eyes meet his once again and I am struck with awe.
"Erin Hickman." He laughs at this and confusion sets upon me. Why is he laughing? He asked for my name...
"We're on a second name basis huh?" My cheeks flush and I bite my lip and laugh nervously as I realise he was laughing at my formal introduction, his eyes weren't condescending though, they only glitter with kind amusement. "In that case, I'm Harry Styles." I look down as his right hand reaches towards me. I slide my palm into his own and he squeezes gently. His touch electrifies my body, leaving goosebumps to trail up my arms.
"Nice to meet you, Harry Styles." The eye contact was intense but durable and his smile still covered his face.
"Likewise Erin Hickman."
No reply was necessary, his warm smile was enough to overcast any possible awkwardness that could arise. He suddenly stops at the second floor landing that broke off into two corridors filled with dorm rooms and drunken adolescents (that were either sleeping on the floor or leaning onto the walls to keep themselves up in their drunken slumber). I silently hope this isn't the point in which the boy, who now has a name, would leave me.
"Well Hickman," he turned to me, "it was nice speaking with you however this is my floor." His hand raising to his head in a salute.
"Likewise Styles." I giggle, returning his gesture.
He laughs once more, warming me as he does so. "I'll see you around." His gaze holds my own for a few seconds and I blush. And with that, he turns around and walks away. I stand there for a moment and replay our encounter.
Harry Styles.
And with his mesmerising eyes still in mind, I ascend the final flight of stairs that lead me to my own dorm, biting my lip and giggling to the ground.

•••••••••••

AN: Hey guys,
If you're reading this thank you sooo much!!! This is my first EVER story that I will be writing to publish on Wattpad and I am soooo excited!! I have some interesting things planned that might not be expected from this first chapter ;) ( not a lot to go off from I know but hey ho I'm excited 😭)
Also, I know that the cover is a bit plain but maybe one of you all can help me out a bit and give me some advice ;)
Please let me know your first impressions of this story and ask any questions that come to mind!! If you enjoy this please recommend to other people (not to be a beg lolums) but I just really would like my first story to be a hit (kinda). Like, vote, follow, do your sh*t babies!!! If you think it's worthy of course (:(
I will try and update as often as I can but it may be a bit slow as my exams are comin up and stress stress stress soooo please be patient and don't give up on me yet!!!
Anyway, thank you sooooo much and please keep reading!! (That's if you acc want me to keep writing, yall might just think ha no thnx ho xo. I HOPE NOT BUT IF YOU DO IM SORRY
Taryn xx