Mixed Up // Harry Styles

Fourteen

                                          CHAPTER FOURTEEN

     “Holly, office now, follow up story!” Kerry announces the moment I walk in through the office door.

     I throw my stuff under my desk and walk towards her office, my head down the whole time to avoid anyone’s eyes.

     “Sit, sit! This story is getting interesting,” Kerry claps her hands and takes a seat the same time I do.

     “The Harry story?” I quiz cautiously.

     “Bingo!” She cheers, pushing another folder in my direction.

     I open it to see pictures of Harry entering and leaving the flat and then pictures of me and Aaron down on Brighton beach and in his car. A sickening feeling begins to build on me and I shake my head, pushing the folder from me.

     “I can’t bring Aaron into this,” I whisper and look down at my lap. “It’s not fair.”

     “What?” Kerry asks, stunned at the situation.

     “Harry’s mystery girl…it’s me,” I tell her, looking back up at her confused face. “Nothing’s going on!”

     “You and Harry Styles?” Her eyes bulge out of their sockets as she begins to register it.

     “We’re childhood best friends.”

     “Oh my god,” She lets out a small laugh, yet not fully recovered from the shock. “All those negative stories I got you to write about him.”

     I nod my head and look back down at my lap.

     “But he’s known worldwide and their fans are crazy, they know about everything. How have you kept so low profile? How do they not know who you are?”

     “Because Harry only wants to know me when things like this happen in his life, when he needs help the most,” I mumble.

     “Holly,” She sighs. “Holly, look at me,” She demands.

     I do as she says and look up at her.

     “Maybe it’s time to let everyone know you’re friends, or next you’ll have photographers outside your flat to catch a picture of your face, maybe even fans swarming the place.”

     She takes back the folder and puts it back in the draw, “Forget the story, we’ll discontinue it. For now, go home and get some rest, you look shattered.”

     I nod my head a little and stand up, making my way to the door and just as I put my hand on the handle to open it, her voice stops me.

     “Holly? Is there something wrong?” Kerry questions, her voice ringing with concern.

     “Nothing,” I tell her without turning to look at her.

     I swing the door open and walk out, walking straight to my desk and collecting my things.

     “Holly?” Felicity calls out as I head for the direction of the door, but I completely ignore her calls and continue walking, just wanting to clear my head.

                                                               *

     “Hey, you alright?” Aaron asks, pecking my cheek swiftly before taking a seat opposite me at the table in the small café.

     “I’m fine,” I answer with a weak smile.

     “Don’t lie,” He warns and steals a sip of my drink, grinning back at me when I fake a gasp.

     I shake my head and return serious. “Would you be angry if I forgot one tiny detail to tell you?”

     “No, why?”

     “Harry Styles is my best friend,” I blurt out in a hushed whisper and he stares back at me a little stunned.

     “Well…that was unexpected,” He finally says after a short space of silence.

     “I had to tell you. There have been press stories lately and I didn’t want you to find out through my face being on a magazine and they’re trying to get you involved, I’m sorry.” I explain and avoid his eyes.

     “Is there anything going on between you and him?”

     “No,” I shake my head and roll my bottom lip into my mouth, meeting his eyes again.

     “That’s good then,” He smiles widely.

     “Why?”

     “Holly, do you want to be my girlfriend?”