Love Me Harder (Harry Styles)

Chapter 2

Recap:
"Harry Styles: Drunk and at it again."
And the memories of last night come flashing back in an instant.

HARRY'S POV:
Swarming by brain like a colony of bees were the events from last night. Soon after Paul threw all of the magazines at my chest, the images of a blurry last night came back into view. Great way to start a Sunday huh?
Last night:
The car that was currently taking me to a club in a certain part of Los Angeles has finally come to a stop, indicating that we had arrived. I braced myself for what was to come next. I took a slow, deep breath as I pushed on the door handle and stepped out of the car. As soon as one of my feet was planted onto the ground bright, flashing lights were the only thing in my line of vision.
Flashing lights coming from every which way and angle, all pointed towards me, encapsulating me in a sea of bright lights and I was drowning.

My name being screamed at me from not only our fans, but the paparazzi as well. The fans, I could most definitely tolerate, I loved them all with my whole heart, but the paparazzi was something that I could never get used to no matter how hard I ever tried to. I absolutely hated every aspect of that part of the fame, the constant hounding. The constant in your face. The constant cameras and the people who were behind them trying to grasp my entire life story from just one measly picture of me. I didn't get it, what was so interesting for them, and I don't think I ever will.

Dragging my heels, I made my way into the club without anymore trouble, though I did feel like a proper dick. I walked right into the club, not even stopping once to take a picture with one fan or signing any autographs for anybody. Though, in my defense I've had a shit day and I'm dead tired, I just wanted to come out and get a drink without any problems.

As I walked into the club I was immediately greeted by a familiar smell, the smell of whiskey and cigarette smoke. I'm not one to like the habit of smoking but the smell relaxed me in a way. Call me crazy, but it does. I went to the bar and found my usual seat, where I always sit every time I come here looking for a cheap way to get drunk. The bartender easily recognized me as I was one of his regulars and with the nod of my head he was off starting to pour my drink. What a lad. The guy placed my drink in front of me and walked off. I knew this wasn't the ideal way to deal with stress and emotions but it was the only way I knew how to cope, just like the smell of the bar, it was familiar. And just like that I took my first long, gulp of whiskey and savored the sting it caused my throat to feel, knowing that this is how the rest of my night would be.

Back to reality:
"Ah my young boy, is it all coming back now?" Paul questioned me from the opposite side of the table.
"I suppose." I quietly murmured as I gently massaged my temples due to the crippling headache I was now enduring.
"You were shit faced last night Harry, totally plastered. I was called to come get you by the bartender because he said you were whining that your fingers were to 'funny' feeling to type my number in to call me to come get you, so he had to." His talking came to a brief pause.
"Do you understand how bad that looks for you? To constantly go out and get totally pissed at a public bar and then have to get escorted out of the bar because you can barley walk in a straight line? It looks fucking bad. I love you Har, but get your shit together it's not hurting anybody except for yourself. So, just a friendly reminder and please just get yourself together, okay?"
With that Paul stood up and made his way to the front door.
"Oh and say hi to Lou for me. See you."
And on his way Paul went.
Man, I guess I should really get my shit together. For fucks sake. I really just need some fresh air right now. I went to my bedroom to throw on some decent clothes, came back downstairs, grabbed by keys, and was out the door. I unlocked the door and hopped inside my black Range Rover and off I went.

I drove into the quiet and cozy part of town that was home to small, family owned shops and cafes that warmed your heart. They were honestly the best, they made you feel at home and content. I pulled into a small parking space in front of an overly crowded cafe and began my walk towards the entrance.

When I walked in I took a good look at my surroundings and all I could think of was, how much this reminded me of home. It was what I needed, what I craved in this moment; the feeling of home. I was starving and in dire need of something to eat. I ordered myself a turkey sandwich along with some macaroni and found myself a table to sit at while I waited for my food to be made. While I was sitting I eyed the people around me seeing if they were looking at me, to my relief they weren't. The cafe was filled with mostly older people or the average hipster, who wouldn't have one clue to who I was. Thank goodness.
Almost as if on cue, my name was called out loud.

"#35 Harry Styles, your food is ready."
Shit. shit. shit. Why did they have to announce my name out loud ? I heard a few gasps and eyes starring right into me after my name was announced, though they quickly returned to what they were previously doing before. I slowly peered up through my Raybans that I had purposely kept on to see a petite, brown haired girl, who was currently peering up at me from her laptop, looking at me quizzically with her chocolate brown eyes, almost waiting for me to say something or move, but I didn't. She was undeniably beautiful. No doubt about it. She sat with her legs crossed a flat expression on her face. Where had she come from?

There was no way to accurately describe her beauty, it was beyond me.
Almost as soon as I looked at her, I looked down at my hands and made my way to the counter to get my tray of food. On my way over to the counter, I walked past the enchantress, who still peering up at me from her laptop, only to completely trip over my own feet right in front of her table and almost fall straight on my face.

I was now utterly embarrassed and extremely flustered that I had done that right in front of her. Of course I would. I recomposed myself as I heard a slight chuckle come from behind me. I turned my head partially to the right, only to be greeting by my worst fear; the doe eyed girl was laughing at me. Once I found her eyes, her laughing immediately stopped at she covered her mouth with her hand and a blush crepted onto her cheeks. She was absolutely stunning even when she was blatantly laughing at me. I gave her a small smile and she returned it. As I was about to proceed to the counter, my name was called again.
"Uh- um. Harry?" The short brunette questioned.
"Yes, that's me." I turned so I was directly facing her.
"I um I'm not normally this forward about anything, but would you maybe like to have lunch with me? I'm here all by myself and you seem to be too, and I'm all alone and your all alone and maybe we could uh eat together. We can keep each other company, yeah? I think it would just be a um, a nice idea. So we wouldn't have to eat by ourselves, alone. So what do you say?" I had to admit the little ramble she went on was cute to say the least, and I would not deny myself the opportunity to be in the presence of a beautiful girl. She questioned with a bit of uncertainty in her voice. She spoke again before I could.
"Actually, you don't have to if you have somewhere getting, I was just asking, just curious." She blushed again and she started to turn away.
"No, no. I would love to have lunch with you. It would be my pleasure." With that she gave me a smile and with the nod of her head, led the way over to her table.

We sat down and she went on to tell me that her name, which was Ava, along with other things about herself and I, the same. The only slight thing that I didn't tell her would be the most obvious, who I am. But right now it didn't matter, for now my sole focus was just on this beautiful women, who I just met, but has me totally engulfed under her spell.

Little did I know, that this small and irrelevant moment in time and women sitting in front of me, in a cozy hole-in-the-wall cafe, would both, turn my world as I know it upside down and make me question everything I have ever believed, and I was completely okay with wherever it was headed, as long as it involved her. Ava.