Harry Styles: Instant Attraction

12. Apart

Day 1 – Monday: Harry in Seattle

Getting on the plane to Seattle was one of the hardest things Harry had found he'd ever had to do. The second he'd sent the text to Charley, he'd switched his phone off and slipped it into his checked baggage so he wouldn't be tempted to check it or call her. But it didn't stop his mind from whirling. Had she already listened to it? Was she awake? If she had listened to it, what did she think? Was she freaking out? Was she already pulling away from him? It made him almost frantic, and he was glad he wasn't flying private this time – despite being in First Class, the hum of passengers and constant movement helped to distract him.

By the time he stepped into the car waiting for him in Seattle, he knew she would have listened to the song. He couldn't think of anything else, and he was starting to regret his rash idea. How was he supposed to focus on writing songs and finishing his album, when his heart and mind were all back in LA with a feisty latino beauty.

"So you want to head right to the house?" Mitch had met him at the gate and was in the back seat with him. Harry smiled, trying to switch his attention to his friend.

"Yeah, let's go right there and get into it," he smiled, hoping that if he could focus on his work as soon as possible, he would be able to stop thinking about Charley.

The drive out of the city to the house where the studio was set up was an hour long, and he chatted with Mitch comfortably about his wife and new child. Harry was grateful that all Mitch seemed to want to do is talk about his daughter Maisie – parents could always seem to find a million things to discuss. He encouraged him to tell him everything, asking to see photos and being genuinely happy for his friend.

The rest of the team was already at the house, and when he arrived, Harry was jovially greeted, pulled into the house for an early lunch and drinks. The property itself was beautiful – very secluded, huge gardens, no neighbours for miles. When his manager had suggested it, he'd leapt at it, feeling like it was a place he could write, sing, play, walk and relax. Now, though, it just felt like the furthest place away from the woman he loved that he could get.

***

Day 6 – Saturday: Harry in Seattle

The first few days went by slowly as they all settled into the routine of polishing songs, producing the tracks, replacing lines and sometimes whole verses. Harry threw himself into it, trying to distract himself from thinking about Charley. He'd been tempted the first night to just call her, breaking the pact of being unplugged, but as soon as he'd switched his phone on, he realised they hadn't had any service out here anyway. The overwhelming feeling of disappointment after the initial rush of excitement had just given him more reason to dive wholly into his music.

It was day six when Harry's manager arrived unexpectedly at the house.

"Jeff," Harry said, frowning as he came to greet his friend. "Everything okay?"

"Everything's fine, sorry for worrying you, I know I shouldn't be here," Jeff replied, shaking Harry's hand with a smile. "I'm actually here because an opportunity has come up that I don't think you should turn down, and it requires you to take a meeting in Seattle tomorrow night."

Harry frowned more deeply. "But the whole reason of me being out here is so we're not interrupted. Heading into Seattle for the night would completely negate that," he said slowly. This must be a big deal, if Jeff is out here, trying to get me to meet with someone.

"I know, I know," his manager said, brushing the comment off. "But I think you'll want to meet with this person. It's Stevie Nicks. She wants to meet you."

Harry was blown away. His idol. "Stevie Nicks wants to meet me?"

"Yes, she's here in Seattle and I don't know how she found out you were here, but she asked if you would meet her for dinner. I know how much you love her, so I thought you wouldn't mind if I came out here to disturb you," Jeff said in a rush, a touch triumphantly. He looked very pleased with himself.