Golden Hour

Chapter 1

DISCLAIMER

The story plot is completely mine. Any characters I include are completely mine. Harry Styles is simply used as a name, as this is an AU. Most places in this book are completely made up.

Phew! Now that that's out of the way, enjoy!!
-Em

Harry's POV

Some people believe in love at first sight. Some people say it is just an attraction to that person's looks and has nothing to do with their personality. I suppose that would be correct if you saw a hot chick at the club and thought you were in love with her. But my case is different. I could almost tell her personality from her actions and facial expressions. I wouldn't say I was in love with her, per se, but I was definitely intrigued by her and found myself longing to know her.
I first laid eyes on her one unsuspecting summer evening, just as the sun dips down to brush the surface of the earth to give off a glow that engulfs everything in this golden light that seems sent from heaven above.
Jordan Lake is a manmade pool of water of a 3.5 mile radius that is apparently named after some rich guy who funded its construction whose last name was Jordan. The lake, as the locals call it, is situated in the town of South Windsor, Connecticut, where relatively well off people live.

The most popular part of Jordan Lake is near the center of town. Looking out over the lake is a huge playground with every kind of slide and climbing structure a kid could possibly need. Beside this always crowded playground is a long stretch of green plush grass, stretching from the edge of the water all the way to the busy road on the other side. Scattered about the lawn are tall oak trees and benches for tired joggers or chatting mothers. There is an old yet majestic gazebo, standing proudly in the middle of all of it.

This is the seemingly magical place where I saw the girl who I cannot get out of my mind.

"Here's the ball." I toss the football or soccer ball as they say here in the US at my cousin, who chucks it into the back of his car.

I slide into the front seat of my cousin Liam's banged up pickup truck. I got sent to live with my uncle, who lives here in Connecticut because of something I did back in England. I arrived here about a month and a half ago and Liam has been showing me around introducing me to some of his friends.

"Thanks for getting the soccer ball, Harry." Liam says, pulling his truck out of the driveway and onto the road.

I chuckle. "Look at you, using your American words. You sound exactly like an American. You've lost your British-ness."

Liam rolls his eyes. "Harry, British-ness is not a word. And I've lived here for ten years surrounded by American people. What did you expect? A Dutch accent?"

I roll my eyes back at him. "Yes that's exactly what I was thinking, Liam, although Russian was my first thought." I retort sarcastically.

We were on our way to that grassy spot at Jordan Lake for a high school party with Liam's group of friends and some others. Uncle Geoff thought it would be a good way for me to get to know Liam's friends better before school started so he had Liam take me with him. Not that Liam minded since we got on pretty well.

Liam swung his car into the parking lot and luckily found a spot right in front of the grass.

"Looks like we're one of the first people here. Niall and Sean seem to be the only others." Liam observes, getting out of the car. I grab the football, excuse me, the soccer ball, from the back seat and follow him onto the field.

"Hey, man!" Liam greets Niall, giving him a bro hug. I fist bump Sean, who grins at me.

"Hey, Harry. Nice to see you again."