The Budding Roses

The Football Gala

Sunday 9th March
Flecks of old paint dropped to the concrete floor as I opened up the rotten wind damaged door. Why it's such a mess in here, how am I ever to find it? Mother would be livid if I were to leave my bedroom like this. Talk about a hypocrite.
'Mother! What have you done with my bike? My bike, my bike, how dare you sell my much loved bike?'
'What are you talking about? It's over there.' She was uncertain whether to point at me or the spider web encased bicycle which was hiding at the back of the garage. 'Have you stopped taking your tablets?'
My faithful friend had waited patiently, always knowing that this day would come. 'Hey old boy,' I stroked the rusted handle bars, 'how do you fancy going for a ride?' Let's go find some freedom, to relive our glory days, but I'm afraid it's just the two of us now, since Natasha has been banished and I'm not sure if she will ever return.

'Hey Simone,' Liam was talking with his brother as I cycled passed the Football Club, 'I didn't realise you were coming to Mr Bryans memorial, I mean I thought you weren't feeling that good?'
'Mr Bryan's memorial? No, I'm not, I didn't even realise. I was just taking a cycle on my bike to see if it still works. The doctor says I should get some fresh air to clear my head.'
'That sounds like wise advice to me, and it's great to see you smiling. It's a good thing I've seen you too. I've been meaning to give you this for a while now; it's just something to remind you that I'll always be here for you.' Please dear God don't let him be about to give me a ring.
'The Umbrella's! How did you know?' I'm shocked at the sincerity of this much considered gift; a postcard baring the image of my favourite painting.
'I remember when we went to the National Gallery with Art, you telling me how you related to the girl in the painting, standing alone with her basket.'
'Liam, it's wonderful, I don't know what to say.'
'Well I'd say it quickly, as you're not going to like what's coming.' Ugh, I was fool to have halted outside the Football Club. Of course he was here.
'Come on Liam, we've got to get on stage!' Harry gestured to Liam to head inside. 'You're coming to watch, right Simone?'
'Erm I doubt it.' Like I'd do anything that involves looking at that turnip ever again.
'Oh please, you'll love it I promise, plus I really want to speak to you afterwards.' The outrage! Who does Harry Styles think he is that can just strut out in to the road and demand my attention like he's the local hero or something?
'What exactly am I supposed to be watching anyway?' I questioned Liam.
'Oh Harry's somehow managed to convince me to join him in singing a song for Mr Bryan, like as part of a band. Can you believe it, me in a band?'
'A band? You and Harry in a band?' These meds really must be working, although I'm not sure that auditory hallucination is a normal side effect?
'I know, it's so embarrassing, but I've always been a good singer so I may as well use my talent whilst I'm young and good looking.' He laughed. Seriously, what is happening, now Liam is telling jokes too? 'It wouldn't be so bad if Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson weren't in it too, but they are the only other one's Harry managed to convince, except for that weird Zayn guy you went out with that time.'
'Zayn?' This just gets weirder.
'Yeah I know, but Harry said that he's got the right 'look' to give us credibility, to make sure people take us seriously as 'musical artists'. Harry must have really loved Mr Bryan to put all this together, that's all I can say. Anyway, I'm so sorry to have to dash off, I would have loved to talk to you for longer, you know that right?'
'Wait, Simone.' Somehow he'd not got the message and had in fact come closer to join us. Where in his cloth eared head!? 'Can I bob a lift home with you after the memorial?'
Bob a lift home?
'I'm on my bike and regardless the answer is no.'
'I know you are, I can sit on the back whilst you peddle, because I really need to talk to you. I need to explain, to say sorry.'
'Well I'm sorry Harry, but I'm not even heading home.'
'Simone, if you're not going to co-operate then I'll just have to do it here, in front of Liam, which I know you don't want me to do.'
'Don't you think you've caused enough damage? Why can't you just leave me alone? Liam, will you tell him, please?'
'I can't speak for Natasha,' Harry coughed, clearing his throat, determined to make his speech from the piece of folded paper which he had retrieved from his pocket, 'but I'm truly sorry. I really never set out to hurt you. It's weird, because all I could think of for so long was how amazing it must be to go out with a girl like you, and then when it happened I couldn't believe it, it really was incredible.'
'Then why did you say all those mean things to me, and then the worst act of all, why did you snog Natasha?'
'I don't know, I mean when Mr Bryan died I was just so shocked, just gutted, and Natasha was there for me. She said you just didn't 'get it', that you were too busy pining after some bloke you met on holiday to even notice.'
'And you believed her?'
'I'm an immature idiot, and it's only now, these weeks I've spent without you, that I've realised.' He was clutching on to my hand, looking like he was about to cry. I've just dodged one proposal; please don't let me be facing another.
'Do you want me to take him back inside Simone?' Liam interrupted.
'Shut up Liam!' Harry defended, 'I was about to tell my lovely, sweet, delicate Simone how much she means to me. And I want her to stay so she can listen to the song I've written about her. It's called 'Little Things' and I know that when she hears it she'll understand that I love her.'

Authors note: Thank you so much for taking the time to read The Budding Roses, I do hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to read more of my work please check out my other stories 'LA to The Bay' and 'The Gap Year' by clicking on my profile. Love, Ally xx
(c) Alexandra F. Smith. 2014. All rights reserved.