Gardens Of Eden (A Harry Styles Story)

8. Judgement and Justification

He approached me slowly.

The night was getting pretty chilly, though I couldn't feel it right at this moment, and I wondered what was going through his mind as he subtly took in my appearance. He stopped a few feet away, lit only by a few lights in the trees behind me.

"You got another one of those hidden away?" He asked me. For a second I thought I was in trouble, but the tiniest glint in his eye told me he was enjoying seeing me squirm.

I slowly lifted my wine glass out of hiding, and, giving him a sly look, reached over to my tray to pick up another.

"As a matter of fact." I handed it to him, silently thanking him for his discretion with what I hoped was a grateful look.

"You worked hard tonight." He stated. "Helga told me."

"It wasn't too hard... balancing a tray." I brushed off his near compliment.

"Balancing a tray isn't the hard part." Harry looked out at the people who remained. "Most of the people who are still here are using this event as a chance to meet and be met by as many people as they can. It's just good marketing really, anywhere there might be a camera or two." He shrugged, long since accepting the fact. "Not to say they aren't good people, just that they aren't always the... easiest to serve."

"You can say that again." I mumbled, looking around. Even as I said it, one girl noticed us standing here and threw me a suspicious glance. "I don't understand them at all."

Harry was looking at me now, his unwavering eye contact making me nervous.

"Can I ask you something?" His voice was softer. I hesitated. It was the first time he had asked before hitting me with a personal question.

"Depends. I'm not great with answers."

"What's your real name?"

Ugh. I thought we'd gotten over this last night.

"My name is Eve. Like I told you." I smiled, trying to sound like I'd taken the question with humor.

"Mmm, okay." He just nodded and smiled. "Well, what's your last name? We'll need it anyways, to pay you."

I told him, unfazed. He just looked at me in that way that told me he knew the difference between the truth and the lie. I shook it off, unwilling and unready to share my real name. I couldn't even remember the last time I'd said it out loud.

"Ashbury. I've heard of a few Ashbury's I think." He tapped his cheek. I didn't think much of this fact, I knew there was probably tons of other people with my last name in the world.

"You really aren't much of a talker are you." Harry asked.

"Not so much. Especially when I'm the topic of conversation." I gave a little side smile, relieved to have an easy out for this little Q and A.

"Okay, point made. But just let me ask you one more thing." He ignored my soft sigh. "What happens to you when you leave... that place." He didn't want to call it what it was. He tried to seem casual but I could tell this was the information he was most interested to know. His furrowed brow became deeper, narrowing as he prepared for my answer.

I didn't understand his concern. "Probably, work for a few years. Save as much as I can. Figure it out from there."

"And you're going to work, like, for them?"

"I'll work for whoever is paying me, I guess. I don't mind though." The more I thought about it the more I figured it would be for the best to finally be on my own. "It's not like I have any better options." I shrugged, imagining waiting tables or cleaning hotel rooms or some other lame menial job. At least I would be free of that place.

"You definitely have better options." Harry was looking borderline mortified. "Those people, they'll use you. They'll-"

"They're helping me." I corrected, "it's just a job, no different from this one, except that the guests will be a lot less wealthy."

"I wouldn't say that." He mumbled, ruffling his hair to hide his unfair judgements. I was getting annoyed with his attitude. How could he possibly understand, living the life he had, what it was like to fend for himself?

"Look, just, nevermind. I don't have to justify myself to you and I shouldn't have mentioned it." I turned, eager to be away from his scrutiny. In a flash he reached out a hand and took my wrist, directing me back towards him. He dropped my arm just as quickly.

"Give me your phone." He demanded somewhat nicely. I just shook my head as I faced him straight on.

'I... don't have one. What do you think I'm working to save up for?" It was his turn to be stunned.

"Who doesn't? ...Uhm, sorry... well here." He reached into his pocket for his wallet. "I'm giving you my business card. Just in case you find yourself... needing someone to call." He scratched his neck, a bit flustered. It was so charming I actually hated him for it a little.

"Okay..." I took the fancy card. "Thanks?"

He nodded. "Let's get you home, yeah?" He started towards the party and I followed, breathing a sigh of relief.

I tucked the card away and kept my head high as people watched us make our way across the yard and through the house. There, he said goodnight, promised I would see a cheque within a couple days, and left me with Helga. I helped her with a few last things and then made my way upstairs to change.

I felt better once I was in my own clothes. It was just after midnight and I still had the long drive back to think about the night. Raf put some music on and I watched the streetlights sail by. Something about Harry's reaction tonight wasn't sitting well. He'd looked at me so strangely after we'd spoken, like I was crazy for accepting a real job. Was he that shallow-minded? Not everyone had resources like he did. But the way he said those people. What people? What did he even know? God, the rich could be so arrogant.

I was too tired to think on it anymore, so I closed my eyes and did my best to dwell on anything but the events of today. It wasn't too long before I was home in bed, fully prepared for a tumultuous nights' rest.