A Single Daffodil [Harry Styles]

Challenge Accepted

After Harry deemed us, pals, we ate our food and talked about how much he loved touring in Tokyo and Australia. He went on and on about it, talking animatedly with his hands. I pretended to listen, nodding along at the right moments, but all I could really do was stare at his beautiful features. Watching him talk so passionately about his career was easily appeasing, especially when his eyes got so bright, I was sure the sun lent him a couple of rays. At those moments, I almost forgot that he wasn't mine anymore, but someone else's. Someone else got to enjoy his laughter, his eyes, his lips.

The thought was sobering, indeed.

At some point, the owner of the restaurant came to our table to inform us there was a crowd of photographers waiting outside the restaurant. Harry didn't seem pleased, obviously upset that someone tipped off the paparazzi that we were here (and I hoped that that was the only reason, and not also because he didn't want to be photographed with me). Before Harry could call in his bodyguards (because oh, by the way, he had three of them now), I held up my hands and offered to walk out the back and make my own way home. He protested immediately, as I presumed he would, but I assured him I wanted to walk around the city myself before heading back. He didn't look happy about it, but he didn't exactly fight me on it either.

"Are you sure you'll be alright?" Harry asked as we both stopped right outside the two front doors of the restaurant. His Range Rover was parked outside, and I could already see the cluster of people and cameras waiting outside for him. I definitely didn't miss that. "Because I can easily drive around the block a couple of times and pick you up. I don't want you to get lost."

"Oh my God, Harry. Seriously. I'm good." I rolled my eyes and joking punched his shoulder. Isn't that the kinda thing friends do these days? "I'm not entirely unprepared for London city, you know. I got this cool thing called the iPhone that basically does all the thinking and GPSing for me."

"Right." Harry narrowed his eyes at me, quirking a smile before shaking his head. "See you later, then?"

"Sure." I nodded. "Later."

I gave him a wave as he backed away and turned to the doors. I watched his brilliant figure advance towards the crowd outside, shining like a true rockstar as he politely smiled at all the flashing cameras. His walk towards the paparazzi was more confident now; he's probably gotten enough practice of approaching them over the year. The paparazzi engulfed him entirely, and after a couple of more seconds, he completely disappeared.

I leisurely walked back to the hotel, mulling over everything. Harry was so excited about the idea of us being friends, and I couldn't understand why. It hurt so much being in his presence and not being able to act how we used to. It was painful, especially to think how easy it was for him to write off what we had last summer. I gripped onto my favorite memories of us like they were the only reason I kept breathing. They were the only reason I kept breathing. They were the motives behind my every breath, every heartbeat, every blink, every day we were apart. How was it all so easy for him, when it was him who originally wanted us to stay together when he left? Wasn't he the one who said 'I love you' first? Weren't we both torn by saying goodbye to each other?

I stopped walking when I got to the corner of the street. I checked both the street both ways before crossing. I only had a couple of more blocks to go before I was back at the hotel.

Harry and I were friends now. "Officially", according to him. Should I have been more resistant? What was the point, anyway? He gave up so quickly on us, maybe I should just give up too. I didn't come to London to start something with Harry. I was here for a breather and to support the team at the Olympics.

By the time I walked into the main foyer of the hotel, I was exhausted, both emotionally and physically. I underestimated how far away the hotel was from where we ate. My feet were really feeling it when I got up to my floor. It couldn't hurt to have a little nap before I catch up with the team at practice in an hour.

When I walked up to the door of my hotel room, I had every intention of diving straight into bed and forgetting the world with slumber. However, that clearly wasn't going to be the case because when I walked in, I couldn't even see my bed. It was completely covered with bodies.

One Direction bodies.

"VITA!" The four of them shouted the second I walked in. Before I could even register what was happening, I was tackled to the floor by the four giggling boys.

"Vita sandwich!" I heard Niall exclaim excitedly.

"More like, Vita Sub!" Louis yelled, rolling around on top of us. "More ingredients, better type of sandwich."

"Can't breathe!" I yelled back. "Lungs collapsing!"

"Sorry Vita, they wouldn't leave until they saw you." I heard Sophia's less-than-apologetic voice from across the room.

"We just missed you so much!" Liam cried as they all eventually decided to get off me and pull me up. "I couldn't bear another second without seeing your face!"

"It's so great to see ya, Vita." Zayn pulled me into a real hug. Ah, Zayn, always the sensible and lovely one. "Couldn't believe the news when I heard you were in town."

"It's good to see you too!" I meant it.

"Where've you been, then?" Louis asked as the rest of the boys went back to lounge on the beds. I noticed Jayden immediately put Liam in a headlock and they both started laughing. The bromance is back.

"Lunching it up in London," I answered as I dropped my bag on a nearby table. I didn't feel like telling them the Harry part, not just yet. I was still trying to wrap my head around it.

"What the hell! And you didn't think to call up yer favorite Irish prince?" Niall feigned a hurt expression. "For shame, Vita Spoelstra, for shame!"

"I didn't even know y'all were in town!" I answered honestly, dropping into the empty spot between Liam and Zayn. "What the hell are you guys doing here, anyhow? Shouldn't you be, I don't know, doing rockstar things in a different country or something? Signing boobies? Kissing baby foreheads? Knocking champagne bottles against ships?"

"We're off for the summer," Zayn replied with a grin. "Our Fall American tour doesn't start until August!"

"So you're stuck with us for the remainder of your stay," Louis added. Niall and Liam nodded.

"How fabulous." I rolled my eyes. Harry's prediction was true.

"We're actually here to invite you to a party tomorrow!" Niall said excitedly.

"My party, actually." Liam butted in. "Pool party at my house!"

"A pool party!" Sophia shouted, immediately standing up. She went over to her suitcases and started rummaging through her stuff. "Ay dios mio! I hope I brought my bikini!"

"A pool party?" I asked, instantly wary. "I don't know..."

"You have to come." Louis insisted. "We want you to meet all our friends! And there will be plenty of booze and hotdogs."

"HOTDOGS?" Jayden practically fell off the bed with delight. "I'm sold. Oh my God, I'm so fucking sold."

"Go on, Vita. We'll have a right laugh tomorrow!" Zayn added. "It's been yonks since we've caught up! We've missed you, pal."