My best friend... h.s

17

The View From The Afternoon - Arctic Monkeys

***

Harry took my sweaty hand as we walked out of the house and onto the street. Moments later, two heavy body guards walked with us, helping us to form a path through the already thick crowd of paparazzi. I squeezed Harry's hand as we picked up our walking speed. He squeezed it back, his face still as emotionless as a rock. We reached the short distance to the car, which confused me as Harry said that we would be walking. I kept hearing the paparazzi's questions floating around my head.

"Harry, is this your girlfriend?"

"Harry, what's her name?"

"How long have you two been together?"

"Harry, are you cheating on her with Caroline?"

The car door slammed shut, the flashes of the cameras fading slightly due to the heavily blacked out windows. I let out a sigh, as did Harry, who looked upset and annoyed. He was still holding my hand over the middle seat.

"I'm sorry, Florence. I didn't know there would be this many of them. We're driving to a bit of London a bit closer to Simmons office and then we will walk from there. Then there should only be long distance paparazzi as we will have Mike and Paul with us. I'm sorry." He looked so upset, and broken. It broke my heart to see him like this.

"Harry, please don't apologise. It's not your fault. At the end of the day I agreed to do this for you and I think deep down I wasn't quite sure what I was getting myself into." I laughed a bit, trying to lighten the mood. He smiled up at me.

"It's only for this week that you will be in the cameras eye, Florence. I don't think they will come to Holmes Chapel to follow you, they are more likely to stick with me and try to find out if I'm cheating on you. And, I'll just have to keep making sure I can drop the fact I've got a girlfriend in interviews and stuff, but other than that you shouldn't be mentioned much." He gave me a weak smile. I wasn't really sure how I felt about this, it was weird, I'd never been in this situation before I guess. I just nodded before the car stopped and we piled out. Harry took my hand and gave me a kiss on the forehead. I closed my eyes momentarily before seeing a camera flash go off. He smiled at me, but I could see it in his eyes that it was fake. I smiled at him and walked with him in the direction of Simon's office. He held my hand and we talked quietly about normal things. I kept seeing small flashes in the corner of my eyes, and I could see that Harry noticed all of the ones I did because every time one went off he squeezed my hand a little tighter.

"Florence, were going to stop in about ten seconds and kiss, Okay? I know this is weird, it's weird for me too. I just hope you know how much I appreciate you doing this." He said, slowing down and turning to face me.

"Harry, it's okay. Of course I know, I like helping you out. We're best mates, you would do the same for me." I said, earnestly, hoping he would stop feeling so guilty about the arrangement. He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.

"Of course, Florence." He said, glancing between my  eyes and my lips. He leant down to me, gently placing his lips on mine. My eyes closed, and I kissed him back. Through my eyelids, I could see many more flashes going off. His lips moved gently against mine and his hand crept onto my waist, while the other one stayed interlocked with my hand. He smiled and pulled away, even though I really didn't want him to. He turned and started to walk again.

"That's it until we get to Simon's office, love. Then I will have to kiss you again." He smiled down at me, this one slightly more genuine than the last one. "I can't say I'm complaining though." His smile turned to a smirk.