Gardens Of Eden (A Harry Styles Story)

5: The Offer

'Is that necessary?' I yelled, finally raising a hand to block the light in my eyes. They took a minute to adjust, before I finally saw the car was filled with North end guys, none of which I recognized.

"Hey gorgeous, what are you doing out here?" The guy in the passenger seat called out.

"Come for a ride, we got one seat left!" Another yelled

"No, thanks I'm not far from home." I lied, smiling a little in hopes of convincing them.

"Aww, common, you look like you had good night, we don't live far either, come for a little night cap." The confidant boy in the passenger seat raked his eyes up and down me slowly, half hanging out the window in his effort to change my mind. A car pulled up behind them, obviously not thrilled to have been stopped, but I saw it as an opportunity.

"I really appreciate the other," I said sarcastically, "but this is my ride." I doubled back to the passenger side window of the black town car, hoping beyond hope that the person inside it could be cool for like two minutes. The guys ahead were booing and yelling at me to come back.

"Excuse me, I'm so sorry to be bothering you, but would you mind if I sat in your vehicle for a minute, I'm trying to lose these assholes." The driver looked at me like he had much better things to do, but a voice from the back seat spoke up, scaring me, as they were completely hidden in the shadows.

"Let her in, Raf." It was a deep voice, and suddenly I felt scared that maybe I'd made a poor decision. But Raf, as he'd been called, was quick to put the car in park and come around, opening not the front seat door, but the back seat door, to join whomever was there.

I gulped, giving him a small smile as I got in. The mystery person had moved, so he now sat facing the rear, facing me, about 4 feet away. By now the boys ahead of us were screeching their tires, making all kinds of noise as they spun their vehicle around and dashed off in the other direction. I breathed a quick sigh of relief when they were out of sight.

"Sorry to have disturbed you." I said quietly, reaching for the handle.

"Stop. Where are you going." I glanced up at him, and could make out dark features hidden by shadows. He had a jacket on, and unruly hair... It couldn't be.

"Just a few blocks ahead... They're gone though, I'll be fine." I quipped, reaching again for the door handle. The car was moving now, albeit rather slowly, causing the doors to lock automatically. I shifted my gaze, trying to make out his face, the closest I got was another glint as his eyes looked suddenly back at mine. It had to be the guy from the staircase.

"You don't live around here." He said simply. "Where are you really going?"

"The bus stop down the street. It'll take me home."

"There are no more buses, it's 3:30am, you realize that don't you?"

"But, Dawson said it went all night." I thought, mostly to myself. Well fuck. "Just... The closest taxi stop then please. I can make my way from there." The man leaned forward and whispered something to Raf, who immediately began to turn around.

I didn't know what to say. The tension back here was palpable and I was sure I was hindering this guy from going home.

"So, what did you say your name was?" The deep voiced asked me. I really didn't feel like forcing small talk but he began to take his jacket off and it instantly confirmed that this was Mr. Green Shirt himself. The smell that filled the car when he did was the same as before. Rich and sultry and demanding attention. He had mine.

"It's you. From the party." I stated stupidly. "I mean... The guy who just about ran me down on the stairs." I shook my head, realizing that it had been the other way around.