1 in 7 Billion (Harry Styles)

Chapter 26

"We're here!" Eleanor sang through the phone.

"Okay, I'll be right down." I quickly hang up, and grabbed my purse. After an awkward elevator ride with the office pervert, I found Eleanor and Sophia waiting in a Mercedes with tinted windows. I greet them with a smile.

"Thank god. I was going crazy up there." I half laugh. "Where's Caroline?" I ask, remembering their stylist.

"Oh, she'll be meeting us there. Have you met her before?" Sophia leans forward to speak to me.

"No, not yet." I softly reply.

"She's super sweet. You'll like her." Sophia replies. I can't help but feel inferior being with these two girls. They are both drop dead gorgeous, and here I am looking, looking like a strong 6.

I look out the window and see we are driving down Fashion Avenue, and I can't help but feel unbelievably excited. Although, I have a love/hate relationship when it comes to shopping. I hate the actual act, but love getting new things. It's a curse really.

We pull up to a boutique, with a name I cannot pronounce, and Eleanor helped me out of the car.

"Caroline is just inside. She has some dresses already picked out for us."

I followed them inside and was immediately greeted by a short, plump, African American woman.

"Hello Girls! Hayley, I'm so glad you could make it, I'm Caroline. I had extra fun picking dresses out for you. Harry's a lucky bloke." She winked at me, and in that moment I knew I loved this woman.

As I looked through her selections, I couldn't ignore the price-tags. I finally couldn't keep silent anymore. So I subtly leaned over to Eleanor, and mentioned the extreme prices of the dresses.

She froze, and turned to me. I never thought Eleanor could be scary, yet here I am... Absolutely terrified.

"You're a right idiot."

"Excuse me?" Completely taken back by her insult.

"You actually think you'll be paying for your own dress? Harry would freak if he knew you even brought your wallet."

"Oh no," Sophia stepped in. "We didn't even tell her! Hayley, we've all been where you are. The boys absolutely hate it when we fight them on things. We know you don't want people to think you're using them for their money, but just let it happen. Let them buy you things. Let them spoil you. " She gave me a sympathetic smile, and I honestly feel like I've been smacked across the face. Not in a bad way, but a refreshing new and comforting way. They've obviously been in my position, and thank god because I'd be losing my mind without them.

They're actually girlfriends, unlike you.

"Okay then." I accept it, ignoring my conscience. But, I'm still completely shocked that Eleanor reacted the way she did. It was as funny as it was shocking.

Sophia tried on an extremely sexy, fitted, grey, strapless dress, and she looked amazing. Her curves were incredible, and Eleanor continued to express her jealousy of them, as did I. Eleanor ended up getting navy dress that really complemented her figure.

Caroline forced me into at least twelve dresses, but honestly everything was atrocious. The girls were trying to be nice, but we all knew nothing was working. Finally, Caroline grabbed a dress that she originally picked for Eleanor, that was simple yet beautiful. It was maroon, with a deep neckline, long loose sleeves, a fitted waistline, and flowed to right above my mid-thigh.

"Shit, you look incredible." Eleanor said as I walked out from the dressing room.

"Thank god, let's go." Sophia laughed, and I smiled because I knew they liked it, which means Harry would probably like it even more.

So naturally, I got that one.

••••••••••••

"How was shopping?" Harry asked as he sat next to me on the couch with a bowl of popcorn.

"Actually really fun. I got a serious talking to when I implied that I was going to pay for my own dress, though."

"You're a right idiot if you thought I wouldn't pay for your dress." He shook his head.

"Funny, that's exactly what Eleanor said. Is there like an instructions manual that I don't know about?" I laughed to myself.

Out of no where, Harry stood up from the couch, and held his hand out to me.

"C'mon. We're going to dinner."

Completely confused, I countered. "Like a date?"

"Yes. Now come. I mean.. I mean please come." He smiled at me, and I realized just how impossible it was to say no to him. Between that smile, the dimples, and his eyes, I was incapable of any rational thought. And don't even get me on his stupid accent.

I took his hand as he swiped his wallet off the counter. I couldn't stop smiling as he opened the car door for me, cameras flashing everywhere around us. When we got in the car, his spontaneous demeanor changed. He looked concerned.

"I'm sorry you have to deal with that." He finally said avoiding eye contact. "Ya know, the cameras."

I grabbed his arm sympathetically and forced him to look at me, "You don't need to apologize Harry. It's not a big deal." Little did he know, it drove me crazy. "Lets just have fun tonight, yeah?" He grabbed my hand and left a quick kiss on my cheek, that ultimately made me blush.

"Where are we going anyway?"

"It's a surprise, of course. You should know by now, I'll never tell you anything." He winked at me, and my stomach dropped.

I actually felt myself falling harder and harder for the stupidly attractive British man across from me.

Damn you Harry Styles. Damn you.