Study Abroad (Harry Styles)

Chapter 4 - Sassy

Besides shamelessly flirting with Harry the whole fifteen minute drive, Liv did nothing. I'm sure she was ecstatic that my car broke down now that she got to meet a really cute mechanic. I'm not going to lie, he was gorgeous. But there was absolutely no way in hell that I was ever going to be able to even talk to him, and besides, he obviously took a liking to Liv over me. Not that I blame him.

When we arrived at the auto shop, Harry led us inside and in a waiting room, and left to (I assume?) fix my car and inform somebody that we were here. As soon as we left, Liv turned to me.

"What the hell!" She screamed!

"Lower your voice, Liv, my goodness. And what are you talking about?"

She ignored the first part of my sentence and said, "You're kidding right? You were practically drooling over him!"

"You're joking, correct? I didn't say one word to him besides my name, Liv."

"Right, but it's obvious that you like him. You can't keep your eyes off of him." Shit. Was it that noticeable? Embarrassed and timid Charlotte is back.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I know, I mean, I think you like him, like I don't know, it just seemed like you liked him, but I'm sorry if I offended you, I'm not going to try anything if that's what you thought."

She found humor in that because she began laughing, but then spoke. "Listen, I say this in the nicest way ever Char, but I knew you weren't going to make a move. And I'm not mad at you. He's fucking hot, but he was into you. I know you don't see it, but he was doing the same to you as you were to him. You're hot as hell and you need to realize it."

"Stop it. No I'm not and no he wasn't. I saw you guys flirting. It's okay, I get it."

"Char, please listen to me. Look at me." She said before grabbing my shoulders and turning me towards her. "You don't see it, but you're hot. You have this weird self-consciousness but trust me when I say this, that beautiful mechanic was all over you."

"Okay." That was all I said, because frankly, nothing like this had ever happened to me. Not that I believed her in any way, shape, or form, but because I wanted her to stop saying things like this. That's probably the first time anybody has ever told me I'm slightly good-looking, and it was making me uncomfortable. I don't know what her motive is, but lying wasn't going to help anything. And on the off-chance that Liv was right, who cares? Nothing is going to happen, because he will never talk to me and if he does, I'll scare him off right away.

My thoughts were interrupted by Harry walking through the lobby once again to walk over to Liv and I. His Long sleeve shirt was now a rolled-up sleeve shirt and, can I just say, wow. Tattoos. Lots of tattoos. And I found myself intrigued to find out what every single one meant. And that scared me.

His words came out slow and British, "Charlotte, can you follow me to the counter where I'll set everything up for you?" I nodded, and stood up from my chair and followed Harry to the garage up to a counter. When I turned around, Liv was not behind me, and I was now very nervous.

"Okay, do you mind telling me what happened?"

"Right, well I, um, I don't know really. I was just driving it, and it stopped. And I don't know, it's not even mine. I rented it."

"You're American." His words rolled off his tongue so effortlessly.

I don't know where it came from, but somewhere inside me, I was mad that he wanted Liv over me. I was used to rejection, but I thought coming over to a different country it would be different. But no, it didn't, and I guess that's why I said, "I am? Interesting." That's my best attempt at a comeback, how pathetic.

He seemed a bit surprised from this response though, because his eyebrows raised and he looked as if he was taken aback. "I thought you were going to be one of those girls who was like shy and afraid of everything they say, but I was wrong."

"No you weren't. Unfortunately I am just like those girls, and I don't need you to say anything or to tell me that I should stop because I don't need to hear it. What's wrong with my car?"

"It's not your car. You just told me that two seconds ago. Also, you're wrong. You aren't like the girls I thought you were like. I don't care what you think about yourself. I can see myself that youre fighting some personal battle, but it's not my business and I'm just your mechanic so I don't need the details. But the fact that you just shoved sarcasm in my face within an hour of meeting me shows me that you aren't a stereotype. You may contain some of their qualities, but you're different. There is something different about you than them, and I like that."

What? I have never, ever, received a compliment (if this even was a compliment) from anybody so gorgeous before, and now a stranger is telling me they like my personality? Where is awkward Charlotte? The one that is afraid of everything that comes out of her mouth? I haven't even known this man for an hour and he's already got me changing. "Thank you, I think."

"Your car just ran out of battery. I could have had this problem solved in like four seconds, but I wanted to hear your accent more."

"Oh, that's good. Can I just take it back to the school then?"

"Do you go to school here?"

"Can I take my car back to school then?"

He laughed before saying, "Yes, but I need you to pay for the new battery. I'm not rich, Charlotte." He smiled.

I handed him my credit card and he took it and swiped it through the machine. He handed it back to me and said, "I will need a phone number to, you know, reach you in case the payment doesn't go through."

So, to rid myself of further embarrassment, and to get out of there as soon as possible, I told him my phone number and he handed me my keys. I walked back into the lobby to find Liv reading a magazine. With her back to me, I released a breath I didn't know I had been holding. I don't even know what happened back there. Had he wanted my number to call me? Was he seriously interested in me? Either way, I walked up to Liv and she just stared at me.

"Told you." She smiled and stood up. We were about to walk back to my car and I was going to ask her what she meant by anything she had previously said, but couldn't because I didn't know where my car was. So, being the brave soul I am (jokes) I made Liv go ask Harry where my car was. My plan didn't work though, because they both walked through the door this time, each holding a smirk.

"Your car is right through those doors, Charlotte. Also, I will be calling you soon." He said and turned around before I could stop him.

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a/n: I don't really know what im doing right now so yeahhhhhhh.

p.s: I didn't reread this so excuse the errors until I go back and fix them.

p.s.s: Also this is dedicated to @Get_On_My_Cloud because shes the first person to do anything for this story and im really overwhelmed. Thank you!!!! J