GOLD | Harry Styles AU

Chapter 1

Present

Avery dashed out of her room and ran down the hallway with eyes set on the door and her hand clutching her leather bomber jacket.

She couldn't afford to be late again, she thought, hopping on one leg as she slipped on one black converse after the other. She quickly threw her ball cap on and grabbed her keys off the kitchen counter before flying out of the front door. Strands of hair hit the sides of her cheeks as the wind violently blew in her face, making her huff in annoyance. In a hurry, she hopped onto her skateboard and picked up speed down her neighborhood side street and onto Hollywood boulevard.

The street was busy as usual and Avery tried her best to swerve quickly to avoid running into pedestrians on the crowded sidewalks. She looked up momentarily, noticing the clouds light shade of gray, and silently prayed it wouldn't rain by the time she got off of work. She wasn't really dressed for that kind of a day though now that she thinks about it, she wouldn't mind being all curled up with a nice book accompanied by the faint sound of raindrops.

Picking up speed down the busy street, she passed magazine stand after magazine stand filled with flashes of tabloids and exposee's making her roll her eyes in annoyance. She began riding even faster, as if the speed would make them all disappear somehow. If there's anything she hated most about California, it was everyone's blatant obsession with fame, fortune and lives outside of their own. She found that to be absolutely exhausting, though she understood how a false sense of fulfillment could still be fulfilling. It's always easier to focus energy into something that doesn't make you have to look at yourself in the mirror, isn't it?

Approaching the cafe shop, Avery kicked up her board, hoisted it under her arm, and pushed through the front doors. The shop bell rang through her ears as the smell of roasting coffee beans filled her nostrils, making her breathe out a pleasant sigh.

"Avery baby, you know I hate it when you're late," her manager, Nina said while shaking her head.

"I know, I'm sorry" Avery apologized sincerely. "...But you love me anyways, right Ninabean?" she asked playfully, blowing a kiss and chuckling lightly. Nina grinned, pretending to catch it and put it in her pocket as she rolled her eyes.

Even though Nina was her manager, Avery has always seen her as a friend more than anything. Nina and Avery met a few years back when Avery had just begun boarding school and Nina was her best friend's older sister. Despite the two having a bit of a dramatic falling out last year, Nina and Avery still remained close.

Avery made her way behind the counter as she pulled her short brown hair back into a tight ponytail, all the while exchanging a few words and smiles with customers.

"Cover yoself," Jabari fake scolded, throwing an apron at Avery, making it accidentally land across her entire face. She snorted, pulling it off and sticking out her tongue with a smile.

"What, you don't like my corduroy pants, huh?" She retorted, spinning to show off her light brown bootleg bottoms.

"They look like my grandmother's carpet, but go off sis," he cackled, earning a round of giggles from nearby customers.

Avery looked around the shop with eyes feigning shock and outrage. "Margaret, you don't agree with him, do you?" she probed, turning to the 70 something old women sitting in her usual spot, cappuccino in hand.

"I plead the fifth," she said, sipping on her mug with a gleam in her eye. Another round of laughter went around the shop and Avery simply shook her head, biting back a giggle herself.

"Looks like I can't trust a single one of you! I'll remember this the next time you ask for a free extra shot of espresso in your drinks," she teased.