personal best || harry styles au

five

Edie was prancing around the hallway singing Christmas carols with unbrushed hair, her school jumper on backwards and wearing only one shoe when Harry knocked on the door. Maddie cursed his punctuality as she swung open the door, forcing a smile onto her lips to try and hide how frazzled she was feeling this early in the morning.
"Good morning." Harry waved a brown bag in the air, "I bought pastries!"
"I appreciate the baked goods, really I do, but I need you to sort out this demon of a child I have this morning." Maddie took the bag out of Harry's hands, peeking inside to get a feel for the selection on offer, "She's refusing to do anything and I- I didn't realise she became a teenager overnight."
"Edes, what's going on?" Harry bent down, "You're looking quite the rock chick, 's that what ya going for?"
"Grandad taught me about freedom of expression so now I am expressioning myself."
"With bed-hair and one shoe?" Maddie slipped her coat on, "Grandad needs to stop teaching you things that you cannot yet fully understand, madam. Last time I'm going to ask, Edith Rose, sort your jumper out." Maddie let out a sigh and relaxed against the wall as Edie disappeared up the stairs, "We need our own place. I love my parents and I'm so grateful for everything they've done for us but it's definitely time to move out."
"Where would you go?"
"Oh, not far. Couldn't ever imagine being anywhere else but Hastings."
Edie reappeared at the top of the stairs looking much more presentable than before; she'd brushed her brown curls and stuck in a few butterfly hairclips to make it look pretty. All that was missing was her shoe but that was waiting for her by the door, along with a warm chocolate twist courtesy of Harry.
***
Maddie tried her best to avoid the stares being thrown her way by all of the other parents on the playground as they all tried to work out who the man with Edie was. She was paranoid she'd seen a few phones out trying to sneakily take a picture of one global superstar doing a casual Monday morning school drop-off with a random child. Maddie told herself to stop being so silly as she sat down on a bench by the classroom door, watching Edie and Harry play hopscotch; she felt herself begin to relax about the situation when, suddenly, she saw a few of the parents approach Harry.
"You're Harry Styles, right?" One parent said, thrusting a blank piece of paper into the space between her and Harry, "Please will you sign this? I've got a teenager at home that absolutely loves you."
Harry smiled awkwardly as he glanced down at Edie, who looked completely puzzled by the entire situation. "I appreciate that she's a fan, please tell her I said hi but I don't- I don't think it's appropriate to be doing signings here. This is a school playground."
"All she's asking for is a signature, mate?" Another parent piped up, scrunching his nose up at Harry. "What? You're too high and mighty for a signature?"
"N-no-no, not at all. Just think there's a time and place."
Maddie arrived beside Harry, "Everything okay?" The other two parents exchanged looks before turning away and walking back over to the larger group of adults - all of which were staring in the trio's direction. "Edie, the doors will be opened any second now. Make sure you've got all your things."
***
Harry got the impression that Maddie was annoyed at him; she hadn't said anything about how she was feeling but he just knew. She'd barely spoken since leaving the school, her entire body seemed tense and she was walking so quickly that Harry had to pick up a steady jog just to keep up.
"Maddie, will you stop? Mad- Maddie. Mads-" Harry reached out for her hand but she snatched it away, stopping in her tracks. "-'m sorry, 'm really sorry."
"You didn't do anything wrong." Maddie was glad to see the crease between Harry's brows soften, "It's just a new kind of situation to come to terms with, that's all. Not used to it."
"I just- I shouldn't have come, 's'not fair on you or Edie."
"Harry, stop." Maddie stood still in her tracks, "Just don't worry about it, okay?"
How could he not worry? Harry thought. It was the only thing he was doing; it was the thing he was best at. Harry was trying to count down from thirty as they continued walking but it wasn't working, he kept losing his place.
"Maddie, I- I need to-" Harry's feet froze on the spot as Maddie continued walking - oblivious to what was happening behind her. "I can't- can't breathe." Harry felt his vision begin to blur and his throat started to narrow as he tried to swallow the bitter taste in the mouth.
"Harry?" Maddie turned around, noticing that Harry was a few feet behind her staring off into the distance with glazed eyes and shaking hands. "Are you okay?" She hurried over to him, "Harry?"
"Can't. Can't breathe, Mad."
"Hey, it's fine." Maddie took hold of both of his hands, squeezing them gently, "You're okay." She watched Harry's mouth as he mumbled several incoherent sounds. "It's okay, you're okay."
"Tryna- tryna count. Can't do it."
"We'll do it together. Okay?"
Maddie was stood so close to Harry that when he looked down at her he could see the faint sprinkling of freckles across her nose; he'd never noticed them before but now could not keep his eyes off of them.
"Mad, I-"
Harry felt Maddie's lips crash against his and, at the same time, his whole world felt like it stopped. Her lips were soft, so soft. Softer than anything else he'd ever felt. This kiss felt different. It didn't feel rushed or impulsive; it felt right. Maddie pulled away, opening her mouth to talk but before any words could spill out, Harry slipped his hand around the nape of her neck and pulled her lips back to meet his.
***
Harry had spent the last week planning Edie's birthday surprise and now the day had finally arrived, he still wasn't ready. Maddie had been actively avoiding him since their kiss so the last thing Harry wanted to do was ask her for help, especially since Ru had said that Maddie was also super stressed trying to organise birthday things on her side.
"Harry, you've had another package arrive, sweetheart." Carmel reached under the counter, pulling out a small cardboard box, "This the last one for today?"
"Yeah, that should be it now." Harry tucked the parcel under his arm, "Thanks, Carmel, appreciate it. You coming over later? There'll be plenty of food."
"You're alright, my love. I've got lots of things to get done for the birthday party on Saturday, offered me services to Maddie to lessen the pressure off of her. You have fun though. Wish Edie a happy birthday from me, yeah?"
"Will do." Harry pushed open the door, turning back with a smile, "Thanks again."
***
Maddie had closed the shop early, specifically to get the last few things crossed off her to-do list, before she needed to go and pick up Edie. At the top of her list was to blow up more balloons, finish wrapping up the last few presents and, finally, to try and stop her mum from crying at every opportune moment because she 'couldn't believe her granddaughter was now five'.
"Right, Mad, I've ironed the outfit Edie chose to wear tonight. What can I do next?" David hung up the rainbow jumper and sparkly jeans on the back of the door, "Delegate, girl. Tell me what you need."
"I need you to get Mum under control, she's cried seven times so far today."
"Mum's taken care of."
"What? By who?" Maddie heard a familiar laugh merged with the sound of her mother's as she turned on her heels and headed into the kitchen. Harry was tying the end of a blown-up confetti balloon with his spindly fingers. "When- when did you get here?" When Harry's eyes met Maddie's, she knew she needed to add 'stop letting Harry Styles make you feel things' to her to-do list.
"Harry's only been here about ten minutes, Mad, he must've snuck in when you weren't looking." Hannah poured out the just-boiled water into three mugs, stepping back once they were all full to let the tea brew. "Anyway, Harry's been helping me with the decorations - he even bought a helium canister to blow up these fancy balloons with."
"Sorry, I should've asked first." Harry tied a piece of string onto the end of the balloon and let go, watching as it floated up to the ceiling, "Just thought Edie would like it."
"She will. Thank you."
David cleared his throat, widening his eyes at his wife to try and catch her attention, "Han, can I borrow you for a second?"
"What for?"
"Does it matter, Han?" If David had tried to widen his eyes any further, he ran a risk of them popping out of their sockets. "I just need your help on something. Urgently."
Hannah muttered something under her breath as she excused herself, linking her arm through David's as he led her out of the kitchen.
"I like your parents." Harry was quiet as he pulled out another balloon from the open packet, "They're really cool. I see a lot of them in you, and Edie."
"Don't tell them that, it'll go straight to their head." Maddie lessened the distance between her and Harry as she grabbed hold of a balloon, twiddling the rubbery material between her fingers, "What are your parents- shit, um- I'm sorry- I meant- I mean, what's your dad like? God, I'm sorry."
It felt weird that she knew, Harry thought; it felt weird that Maddie would've found out his mum had died at the same time the rest of the world did. Not from him. It felt strange that she probably knew more about his personal life than she would ever let on.
"Harry, I'm really sor-"
"-me dad's a right prick, truth be told." Harry watched the confetti inside the balloon fly around as it filled with helium, "Not spoken to him in a good while and feel all the better for it, he's not worth it."
Maddie reached her fingers out to offer a comforting touch to the ring-cladden hand resting just inches away but, before she could feel the warmth of Harry's skin, the sound of Josh's voice jolted her hand back against her chest.
***
"Happy Birthday to you!"
The room filled with cheers as Edie blew out the five candles sticking out the top of Josh's creation; Harry hated to admit it but Josh had done an amazing job at designing Edie's dream cake - a Greek temple. The top and sides were decorated with the different monsters Edie had been learning about and the flavours ranged from triple chocolate all the way to carrot.
"Shall we do presents first and then cake?"
"Yes, please!" Edie clapped her hands together, "This is the best birthday ever."
"What present do you want to open first?" Maddie knelt down, resting back on her feet as she watched Edie's eyes scan over the wrapped gifts.
"Um, I think I want to open Harry's first." Edie turned to Harry, "If that's okay?"
"Oh, mine- mine isn't actually in the pile. It's- 's in the dining room." Harry felt his cheeks grow more and more red as everybody's eyes turned to look at him, "I was- uh- was gonna do it later. Less people an' that."
"What's wrong with doing it now?" Josh chimed in, putting down his glass, "Should be used to big crowds, no?"
"Josh-" Maddie put her hand on his leg to stop him from carrying on.
"-no, it's- s'alright." Harry nodded at David and Ru - who got up and hurried out of the room. "Uh, I hope you like it, Edes. Special gift for a- for a special girl."
Maddie's jaw dropped as soon as the piano first entered the room. Edie shot up, let out a high-pitched squeal and ran over to the piano, lifted the cover and admired the glistening keys; she was practically bouncing with excitement.
"Mummy, a brand new piano!"
"I donated the old one and- and your mum helped me pick out a good one, Mad." Harry lowered his voice, "I hope that's okay?"
"Someone's gunning for 'Father of the Year' over here, am I right?" Josh laughed, "Thinks spending two grand on a piano will make up for five years of nothing."
"David, let's go get some cake with Edie, shall we?" Hannah quickly shot up, hurrying over to Edie and taking hold of her hand, "You, my little princess, can tell me what song you'd like Nanny to teach you first." She shut the door behind her.
"Josh, what the fuck?" Ru broke the silence, "What is your problem?"
"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't- I didn't mean for it to come out."
"What did you mean, then? Because, to me, that is exactly what you meant to come out."
"Maddie, I'm sorry. It just slipped out."
Harry stood up, "I'm gonna head off. Uh, tell Edie 'Happy Birthday' and that I might see her on Saturday." Ru patted Harry on the arm as he walked out, not even stopping to look back at Maddie.
"Ru, can you give us a minute? Please."
"Maddie, I'm really sorry."
"Cut it out, Josh; you're not sorry. You might be sorry people heard it but you're not sorry you said it." Maddie pleaded with herself to not cry, that's the last thing she wanted but, already, she could feel the sting of tears poking at her eyes. "You stole from me the moment that I've been trying to have with Edie since Harry came into her life. You stole that. In one selfish act, you took from me something so precious. How could you do that? I know why you did it - jealousy. But, how?"
"I'm sorry."
"I don't care." Maddie scoffed, quickly wiping away a stray tear, "I want you to go now. Thank you for the cake, Edie loved it."
"Maddie, you're not- you're not serious?"
"Oh, I am. See, I don't care that you've upset me, no. I care that you've potentially upset my daughter, my child. I care that your pathetic jealousy may have just turned her world upside down and that is the last thing she deserves. So, yes, I am serious. Please get out of my house."
***
Edie had spent the rest of the evening flicking between eating cake, mimicking her Nanny on the piano and watching different movies of her choice - with a sprinkling of opening presents mixed in with it all. She'd wanted to ask her mum what had happened to Harry and Josh but nobody else was talking about it so she thought it was best not to say anything.
"Have you brushed your teeth, little bug?" Maddie tucked a stray piece of hair behind Edie's ear.
"Yep, they're all clean. I took extra special care around my wobbly one at the front." Edie bared her teeth, pushing her tongue against the loose tooth so it stuck out a little.
"It'll be a visit from the Tooth Fairy soon then, my lovely." Maddie bent down and placed a kiss on her daughter's forehead. "You're a lucky girl, aren't you?"
"Mummy, is Harry my dad?"
Maddie smoothed her hands down Edie's soft hair, "Yes, he is."
"I'm glad he's not lost anymore then."
"What- what d'ya mean, lovely?"
"Grandad said that Harry was stuck in his own labyrinth this whole time, just like Theseus. That's why it's taken him a while to get here."
"Oh, Grandad did say that, did he?"
"Yeah." Edie yawned, snuggling down further into her bed, "I'm glad he found his way out."
"Me too." Maddie gave Edie one last kiss, "Happy Birthday, little bug."