Art | Harry Styles

14

Harry's thanking Jackie for having him for what must be the eighth time, and Sophie's tempted to tape his mouth shut. Lovingly, of course. 

"Harry," Sophie tugs on his sleeve, like a child trying to gather their parents' attention, "it's fine, we need to go."

She manages to pull him out into the hall, as laughter erupts from her mother's mouth, while Harry still tries to crane his neck around to send another statement of gratitude Jackie's way. He's laughing a little too, now, as Sophie pushes him up the stairs to get his jacket. He obliges, at last, heading upstairs to Sophie's room, as she remains downstairs, leaning back against the banister as her mother now makes her way out of the kitchen. 

"He's lovely, Soph," she nods, folding a dishtowel in her hands, as her smile grows.

"Yeah, he is," a smile mirroring her mother's grows on Sophie's lips, now, as she rolls her eyes at her mother's hopeful gaze, "not dating him."

"Why?" Jackie whines, "he's a lovely young man - very charming, very humble, sweet-"

"Mom," Sophie interrupts, groaning a little, "we're friends. That's all. You sound like a five year old." Sophie laughs, reaching for her coat from the coat-rack.

"I just think it could be good for you. You haven't dated anyone since-"

"I know," Sophie sighs, slipping her arms into her coat, "I'm just not ready."

Footsteps disrupt their conversation - footsteps on the stairs; Harry. 

"Did I interrupt?" he asks guiltily, turning to head back upstairs before Sophie shakes her head.

"No," she shoots him a reassuring smile, "you're fine. Sky?" she calls, as Harry makes his way down the stairs, coat on, and camera back around his neck. It had been absent at dinner, and Harry had felt a little empty without it. 

"Coming," Skylar surfaces from the top of the stairs as well, thundering down them, and landing on his feet at the bottom, "let's go."

"We were waiting for you, idiot," Sophie sends him another insult, as her younger brother reaches over to punch her arm, "ow! You fu-"

"Sophie, oh my God!" Jackie huffs frustratedly, messing up her daughter's hair, "you're a nightmare. Harry, run while you can."

Harry jolts a little at the sudden mention of his name, a small smile playing on his lips, now, as he's addressed, "It's not already too late?"

"Shut up, you!" Sophie exclaims, gently whacking the side of Harry's arm, "don't encourage her."

Harry only laughs, shrugging as Jackie speaks again, "Harry might be my favourite friend of yours, Soph."

"Harry can be my favourite too when we finally go bowling," Skylar speaks up, nodding towards the door as Sophie groans.

"Okay, okay, we're going." 

Bidding another goodbye to Sophie's mother, Skylar is practically shoving the older pair out of the door. As the front door shuts, the cool night air suddenly whips at their faces, and the three of them shiver.

"If you had a car, we wouldn't have this problem," Skylar sends Sophie a teasing grin, and she rolls her eyes.

"Sure, you wanna pay for it?" Sophie teases her little brother in return, before glancing over to Harry, "can you drive?"

They turn out of Sophie's street, Skylar leading the way a few metres ahead of Harry and Sophie, as he seemingly doesn't particularly want to be seen walking around the city with his older sister who all his friends think is hot. How embarrassing.