the baby project | harry styles

Chapter 4 - A Barrier of Jealousy

A busy and interesting week had flew by, and poor, young Harry still hadn't found the right girl. To add to his stress, Harry still hadn't confessed the way he actually felt about Cheryl.

Pitiful, Harry thought to himself. Why couldn't he do it? Nothing was holding him back, besides his anxiety. He just didn't want to ruin their friendship in case she didn't feel the same.

Instead of mentioning to the lads where he was going, he decided to leave without them knowing. They were all starting to get very suspicious about where he was disappearing to. Harry agreed that it would be best if his love life remained a secret.

So Harry snatched his jacket from the coat rack, quietly turned the door knob, and stepped out onto the bricked sidewalk. The cold winter breeze tore at his face as he shut the door behind him. Next, he hastily slipped his arms into his leather jacket and zipped it up, ready to start walking.

As he strolled along the sidewalk, he thought about Cheryl. He thought about her soft, brown eyes that seemed to glimmer in every shade of light. Her beautiful, auburn hair that swayed back and forth gracefully as she stepped. Her small, dainty body frame being much smaller than the curly-haired lad. Harry was starting to develop special feelings for Cheryl that he'd never felt before. And unknowingly, the feelings were that of love.

But anyway, Harry reached the entrance of Starbuck's. He stood there for a moment, heart pounding with his hand on the door, daring to venture any further. A lump formed in the back of his throat as he attempted to swallow it down. This is it, he told himself. I'm going to tell her.

Harry inched his way into the store, feeling comforting warmth surround him almost instantly. Cheryl was leaning on the counter as usual, waiting for customers to breeze on in. A cute smile was plastered across her pink lips as she watched Harry near her. He smiled back calmly, although he felt like his heart was going to explode out of his mouth. He was a nervous wreck.

"Hey Curly. What'll it be?" She greeted him cheekily, lifting herself from the glossy surface of the counter. Harry shook his head no in response, making Cheryl's smile fade. She could sense something was wrong with Harry, and she was definitely right.

"That's not really what I came here for." Harry's smile disappeared into the intense atmosphere he was now entering. Cheryl leaned back on the counter with one of her thin eyebrows wrinkled into an arch as Harry sat down in the seat he always sat in, swallowing hard.

"Okay, so what did you come here for?" She asked, her voice aching both suspicion and concern. Harry's hands rattled in his lap, his heart beating faster and faster than ever before. It's time, Harry told himself repeatedly.

"Erm, Cheryl. Uh," Harry's voice shuddered, "We've been best friends for a long time now. And I've started to like you—a lot." He gazed into her glittering eyes she began to smile again.

"Yeah, I like you too Harry. You are one of my best friends." Cheryl replied, not quite understanding the drift Harry was trying to send.

"No. I like you for more—" He continued on, only to be interrupted by Cheryl running around the counter. Harry watched her leap toward a guy who had just walked in, hoping that he was just a friend as well.

"Harrison!" Yelled Cheryl into his ear as he gleamed and pecked her cheek. Harry eyed the guy, who was named Harrison, starting to feel his heart break into two halves.

Harrison had brown, curly locks of hair—almost the same as Harry's, but lighter—and bright blue eyes. He had good looks too; great style. Black skinny-jeans and a white long sleeve T-shirt hugged his tall body frame. His boots were a bit worn out, but they still appeared to be very fashionable. Harrison could've literally been Harry's twin because they were so alike in many ways. Harrison even had a deep voice with a British accent.

"Hey babe. Who's your friend?" He looked up at me as Cheryl tugged away from his strong grasp. She flashed that cute smile at Harry, her auburn eyes as bright as the sun.

"This is Harry, one of my best friends." Cheryl introduced him to Harrison as Harry stood up from the chair that was resting by the counter. Harry smirked slyly, yet he wanted to throw Harrison against a brick wall and let him know who was boss.

"And you are?" Harry asked sarcastically, trying to keep himself sounding innocent. He walked toward the two and examined Harrison, looking him up and down.

"I'm Harrison of course," He chuckled, "Her boyfriend."

Harry distinguished his smirk, his heart sinking like the Titanic. "Oh. I see," He started, "It's nice to meet you." He lied through his teeth, jaw tightly clenching. "Unfortunately I have to get going."

Harry felt as if his heart was ripped straight out of his chest and then trampled on by a stampede of bulls. One half of his brain told him that he wanted to weep, but the other half told him that he wanted to deck Harrison straight in the face.

She has a boyfriend.

Cheryl could sense something was wrong with Harry though, so she told Harrison to wait inside, giving her time to talk with Harry alone.

"Harry! Wait!" She called after him, pulling on his collar. He hastily turned toward her, making her flinch from him. She watched a tear stream down the side of his cheek and her face softened, "A-Are you okay?"

Harry sighed and held out his hand for her to take it, "If you want to talk, come with me." He said as she nodded her head in silence, placing her hand in his. Harry folded his fingers with hers and led her into a dank, dim alley.

"What's the matter Harry?" She asked him as he shook his head again. Cheryl looked as if she was going to break down into a heap of tears too.

"Cheryl," He sighed, gazing up from the ground to her eyes, "I was trying to tell you that I like you for more than a best friend. I think I'm falling for you. You're beautiful, and I'm always thinking about you. I come to Starbuck's only to see you, not to get coffee. I just—" He stopped and glanced toward the ground. Cheryl placed her small hand on Harry's cheek, forcing him to look back up at her.

Instead of continuing this long speech about how he felt about her, he did something that he thought he'd never have the guts to do. He leaned in slowly and planted a soft, gentle kiss into her lips. All of a sudden, Harry didn't feel so tensed or stressed anymore. He felt trillions of imaginary sparks and fireworks shoot into the winter sky as if it were the Fourth of July. It was amazing, he thought.

He broke away from her, gazing down into her eyes with lust. She beamed ever so happily and latched herself tightly to him, "I like you too. I always have." She revealed as she continued to squeeze him. Harry sighed a long sigh of relief, which he really did deserve.

"I-I love you Cheryl. I just don't think you understand how much you mean to me." Harry whispered into her ear softly.

"H-Harry," Her voice trailed on as she released him and gazed into his emerald-green eyes with the hugest smile he's ever seen. "I love you too."

The two stayed like this for a few moments as if they were both in a trance with one another, but soon Harry's smile diminished.

"Now there's only one problem left." Harry said rather cheekily whilst shoving his hands into his pockets. Of course he was referring to Harrison.

"Just leave him. I'll break the news to him later." Cheryl giggled. Harry secured her dainty hand with his and started heading down the sidewalk with the girl of his dreams. God only knew what they were going to do when they got back to his place. And Harry didn't care one bit because this was the happiest he'd been in months. He had Cheryl by his side, and that was enough for the cheeky lad to be fully content. Everything was more than good. Everything was perfect.

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A/N: Hola! You've completed chapter 4 out of 43! Congratulations beautiful. Don't forget to comment and vote if you enjoyed this chapter. It's only a couple clicks away. I love you all so much. <3