I'll Be Your Reality ~Louis Tomlinson Fanfiction~

Chapter Nine: Maybe

*Jessica's P.O.V*


The car stops. I hear Harry gather his things and exit the car but I am in no mood to look at him. The only thing I see when he's in my vision is a broken young man with a desire to be whole again. Maybe if only he weren't so famous he'd have a chance at being normal. I feel bad for him, he barely made it out alive of his teenage years then was ripped away into fame. Surrounded by millions of people, and completely unaware on how to embrace adulthood. 
    Harry approaches my door but I open it myself, I don't want him to just do things for me because he has to; but I refuse to be another burden to him. I don't want to be known as his "fake girlfriend" that he's being paid to deal with, I want to be his friend. Harry holds the door open as I exit the car. My eyes widen when I see the restaurant. It's not elegant or mind-blowingly fancy, it's simple, it's real. We enter the restaurant and a smile approaches my face. This is a place where people can come and relax, eat real food, have real quality time. 
 A light flashes and I look out the window. Surely enough, the paparazzi have arrived as well. 
 

"Hello," Harry speaks to the clerk "reservation for Styles." The woman seems to be completely oblivious to the famous boy-band member in front of her, she doesn't seem to be taken back in the slightest. 
  "Right this way," She tells  us as she grabs a few menus and walks towards the dining room. She leads us to a table with a dark blue table cloth. Harry pulls out a chair for me, I take his offer this time. That's what friends do, right? The waitress hands us our menus and introduces herself. In this time I bring myself to look at Harry. His jaw is slightly clenched, his eyes are a shade darker than they should be, and his expression is artificial. He's hiding something, but I suppose he has to with a million eyes on him every second of the day.
  "Jessica?" Harry asks as his eyes meet mine, dragging me out of my trance.
  "I'm sorry, what?" I ask in response, I flicker my eyes to the waitress and back to Harry.
  "Would you like a drink?" Harry asks.
 "Oh," I say, looking up to the waitress "I'll just have a lemonade, thanks."
The waitress gives us our menus and leaves us to ourselves. I open up the menu and look through the options. I look at something I like and decide to just settle with that; I take this moment of silence to let my mind wander back to Harry. I glance up at him once more. I look back down. I know I shouldn't feel bad for him, men don't really like that I guess. I just want him to feel at ease. I want him to feel loved, I want him to be happy where he is; I doubt I can give him that, but I can at least try.
  I clear my throat, Harry looks up at me.
  "Yes?" He asks.
  "You haven't said a word to me since we arrived," I tell him. "What's up?" I ask as I put down the menu and give him my full attention. He furrows his eyebrows in response, then relaxes his expression as if he's giving into my odd request.
 "I'm okay." He responds. I mentally sigh.
 "How so?" I ask. Harry sighs openly.
 "Why do you care all of a sudden?" He asks rather abruptly. I look down, my eyes search the table as I think of an answer. I open my mouth to speak,
 "What would you guys like to order?" The waitress asks as she looks at us. I close my mouth and open the menu.
 "I'll have the New York style steak, well done." Harry tells her as he hands her the menu, his eyes fixed on me.
 "I'll have the cream of mushroom soup." I tell her as I give her the menu, my eyes staring right back at Harry. 
 "Alright! I'll be back in a moment with your food!" She exclaims and leaves us once more. I sigh and put my elbows on the table, I lean towards Harry.
 "I care because we might as well get to know each other." I tell him, "This obviously isn't much fun for either of us; but why not?" 
 Harry chuckles, "Maybe because you're in love with my best friend."
"Does that really stop us from being friends?"
"It stops us from being where I would like us to be." His comment takes me off guard, I recover with a smirk.
"Oh poor boy, fame taught you that you can get everything you want?" I respond sarcastically, "Life isn't always easy, kiddo. We might as well make it easier for us."
 Harry sighs. "Are you sure? I mean, do you really want this?"
 "How much do you think I want this now? Harry, I want to want this, help me want this." I plead. A small smile appears on his face.
"Alright," His deep voice speaks. I sigh and smile. Finally, now I have a chance. I have a chance to get that boyish smile make on his face. "You do realize you won't be with Louis for a while though, right?" He asks.
 "I know," I say with a sigh. "But you do realize you won't be with me either, right?" I tell him, "Not for real, anyway." I add.
"Deal." He says, "But for the sake of this, I agree with you. Let's be friends." He says. I send him a smile.
 "Okay," I agree.
"Keep in mind that we'll have to do some minor things for the camera, though." He reminds me. 
"Like what?" I ask.
"Little things. Holding hands, hugs, kissing, being around each other. You get the picture." He responds, "Louis will be doing the same with Eleanor, just try copying them for a while." 
I sigh to myself but bring myself to smile. What have I gotten myself into?


###

BOOM BABY GUESS WHO HAS TWO THUMBS AND JUST UPDATED THIS FANFIC?! THIS GIRL YEAH THAT'S RIGHT. :) Sorry for making you guys wait a year, I kinda forgot about this story.. :P Thanks so much for your support! I appreciate every single one of you guys!  This is kind of weird to ask but any suggestions for the next chapter? I'd love to hear your guys' input! -Hannah