Little [Harry Styles]

[42]

19th September 2015

***

"Where are we going?" I asked, turning to Harry to see the carefree expression on his face as he switched off the engine of the car and patted his legs a few times dramatically, as if to announce we had arrived.

"We're going to walk in the country and breathe in the fresh air."

The thought was sweet, but the brand new, white trainers I had chosen to wear definitely were not prepared for walking on dirt paths. "I should've worn my old shoes."

Harry looked down at my feet, before returning his gaze to my face and shrugging, pointing out the more appropriate boots that he'd picked to wear with a smug grin. "I'll just have to carry you."

I raised my eyebrows as he looked back at me, his face set in a completely serious expression for a couple of seconds while we sat in silence, he almost had me believing he was being honest for a moment before the corners of his lips turned upwards and he burst out laughing. "I love you, but I'm afraid you're going to have to walk...and anyway, where's the adventure in keeping clean?"

I hummed in agreement before getting out of the car and taking his hand as he walked us down the unpaved dirt track that seemingly lead to nowhere. He knew where he was going, leading the way that he'd probably walked a thousand times; I'd always wondered what he was like pre-fame, I had no doubt in my mind he was the same person but, a life like this was bound to affect anyone.

I'd met him towards the end of 2012 and by that point he was already Harry Styles from One Direction so to me this was everything he'd ever been to me, I didn't know any different, but I couldn't help but wonder how different things could be had he not been thrown into the limelight.

"I like your jacket." He commented, tugging on the bottom of the jacket I wore over my t-shirt. I looked down, thinking for a second before I looked back at him.

"I think...I think it might be yours. I could be wrong, though." I shrugged, pulling it so it sat better on my shoulders. "You can't have it back though."

"Keep it." I was never planning on giving it back in the first place.

I unzipped the jacket in question, letting it hang open as I took in the little amount of warmth that the sun was providing as we walked. In the past week the weather had taken an autumnal turn, but it was still that sort of awkward in between weather where it's chilly in the mornings but by lunchtime you're sweating.

Holmes Chapel was one of my favourite places. It felt like life here took a simpler route, a complete contrast to the never-ending buzz of a big city like London; clean air and the view of endless fields was a welcome change from pollution and skyscrapers. Harry's words the previous night had replayed in my head ever since they'd been spoken, and I could see everything he'd mentioned for our future, I really could.

"Do you think Mum's okay with Isabella? Should I ring-"

"Harry. The woman has had two kids, she'll be fine for a few hours...plus, as long as she's got a snack, she'll be quite happy." I laughed lightly at the end of my sentence, knowing the truth behind my words. 

"Yeah...you're right, it's just weird...not having her here." 

"Yeah, it is." I agreed, squeezing his hand a little tighter as he swung them gently as we walked. 

I'd never really been a country person, the pull of the big city always proving too strong for me to appreciate the little places. It's why I moved to London in the first place; I'd grown up in the outskirts of a smaller city but London had always seemed to be where big things happened, so me and Nora moved there with stars in our eyes and did what we could to make it work for us.