YOUNGBLOOD » HARRY STYLES

10

Harry was backstage with his band at the O2 to prepare for his second show in London, which also happened to be his last performance in Europe. After this, he'd have a little bit of time to visit family and friends before leaving to continue his tour in Australia. He stood in the middle in front of the microphone whilst adjusting his guitar strap to make sure it wouldn't unbuckle during the rehearsal. Clare, his pianist, sat behind her piano whilst tying her hair back into a bun. She tapped along on the keys a couple of times to make sure she got the chords of the opening song right. Mitch stood on the other side of Harry and was making sure his guitar was in tune.

Seeing as everybody was busy and wasn't really paying attention to him, Harry began strumming a new chord sequence, changing from chords to arpeggio every once in a while to see where this new sound was taking him. He eventually settled for the chords because he liked the more polished and round feeling it gave. He tapped his foot along to the beat on the carpeted ground of the backstage area and thought of a couple improvised lyrics in his head.

"Drove around the town with her, had me out of breath the minute she left. But it won't last and I'm okay with that; I surprise myself with every second we spend together."

He knew it didn't fully rhyme but it was only the very first draft of a song anyways. When he looked back up, he realised that both Mitch and Clare and the other musicians in his band had stopped preparing themselves and were instead listening to him play and sing.

"Harry, what you're singing is beautiful but I don't remember it being on the setlist." Clare joked as she sipped on a cup of coffee to go. "Working on a second album so soon?" She asked when she set the cup back down on the lid of the black grand piano.

Harry glanced at his personal bodyguard who stood in the corner watching his every move. Did he hear what I just sang? Of course he did, I just sang it into the microphone as part of a soundcheck. But Clyde doesn't have feelings so surely he wouldn't have been able to read inbetween the lines of the made-up lyrics that were clearly inspired by Rowan.

"Uh, no." Harry replied. "I was just checking the sound on the mic and the strings." He quickly made up a white lie. Clare smirked at him though. At least she could see straight through him.

"Sure thing, Styles." Clare laughed and then began playing the chords of Only Angel.

After the rehearsal, Harry went straight to his notebook to write down the lyrics he had been trying so desperately not to forget.

–

I was on my way to meet with a friend from my friend group named Alice. Just as got onto the train, I got a text from her.

Alice: Yo, did you and Marcel break up or something?

Alice was probably one of my favourite people to ever exist. She was the chillest, she didn't judge anyone and although she isn't one to form close bonds with people, she always has your back.

Me: No because we were never in a relationship to begin with.

Alice: So I take it you found out about Margo?

Me: Who's Margo?

Alice: He didn't tell you?

Me: Clearly not.

Alice: She's his new love interest.

Alice never bothered with the words boyfriend or girlfriend because Marcel's things never really lasted long enough for it to be considered serious.

Me: Ugh

Alice: :(

We both stopped texting for a while. My train was nearing the station where I had to get off.

Me: 'Marcel and Margo' doesn't even sound good together.

Alice: I know. Complete word vomit

And that's the Alice that always had your back.

Eventually I found her sitting on a bench outside, sipping on a Starbucks drink that I probably wouldn't like. She looked like the typical autumnal girl who was just about ready for an Instagram picture; a deep red beanie covering some of her straight brown hair where the ends were buried in a thick white knitted scarf. She was wearing a white tee that you could barely see underneath her dark green jacket. She also had ripped black jeans that were neatly stuffed into a pair of brown Ugg boots. Who knew Ugg boots were still a thing?

I sat down next to her where she handed me a drink straight away without looking at me. I frowned. It looked like a disgusting goopy brown mess but I tried it anyway. I was surprised to find I actually liked it. We started a conversation that I wasn't fully paying attention to because I could only focus on one thing. And when I felt like I couldn't keep it in anymore and I just had to tell somebody other than my dad, I just blurted it out.

"I saw Harry again."

She stopped sipping from her straw and turned to look at me with her giant blue eyes. "What?" She asked, clearly completely shocked. Alice and I had been friends since Middle School because she joined the same year Harry did. "Harry Styles from Middle School?" She asked and I nodded. "Wow, that must've been weird."

"Yeah," I looked down at my legs. Yeah, it was, especially when I walked in on him crying.

"Isn't he famous now or something? I wasn't really close with him back then so I didn't bother asking to meet up because I didn't want to seem like I was just after the fame."

I sighed. Now that I told her I met him again, I might as well dive in and tell her the whole story.

"I swear you guys would've been in a relationship if he hadn't changed schools. Then again," She tilted her head to the side. "He's only dated Victoria's Secret models so... no offence." She turned to look at me and we both laughed. "Anyways... What's your take on the whole Heather situation?"

"There's a Heather situation?"

"She dropped out of uni."

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sorry this ones short :( but I'm really proud of the first part lol let me know what you think