sunflower/ hes

five

The airport was hopping. I chose an early flight to try and avoid all the Wednesday traffic but it didn't work that way, everyone had done the same.

I snuck out of the apartment before Tyler woke up, rolling out from under his heavy arm easily. He offered to drive me to the airport, And I told him he could but when it was time to leave I just didn't feel like doing the goodbye stuff. I did leave him a note, so I didn't seem like a complete jerk.

I walk towards the counter, smiling politely as I push my bag towards the edge, handing my ticket to the clerk at the desk.

"New York to the United Kingdom, what in this weather? It's freezing over there this time of year." The short balding man checking my bags  says, trying to make small talk.

"I've never been. New job is gonna have me moving around a lot."

"Well, be sure to wear a coat."  He finishes, giving me a thumbs up as he places my bag on the conveyor belt.

I look down at my ticket, Terminal 7. Where is terminal 7? I've flown before, never alone, never having to read signs and figure out how to get to the gate or terminal by myself. Plus I've never flown out of this airport.

"Where is terminal 7?" I whisper to myself, spinning in circles trying to read all the flight boards and signs on the wall.

I pull out my phone and dial Johnnas number, praying she picks up, I mean it is only 5.

"Alex? It's five in the fucking morning." She whispers groggily.

"Hey, that's rude to answer the phone like that. I need your help."  She groans quietly. I can hear her roll out of bed and open a door, breathing heavily through the speaker.

"What."

"Please don't be mad at me you're the one who keeps me together when I'm going on a flight." I poke my bottom lip out even though she can't see it. It's kind of embarrassing, walking aimlessly in circles trying to figure out where to go.

"What do you need?"

"I don't know where Terminal 7 is." I bite the inside of my cheek.

"Where did you park? Did Tyler drop you off in the Orange Parking lot like I told you?"

"I uh... I got a cab...." I hear her groan again, much louder this time.

"Alex. Okay um where are you?"

"I just had my bags checked I think I'm in a lobby?" I have no clue what I'm doing.

"You had your bags checked? Alex they check your ticket to make sure you're in the right terminal. You're in Terminal 7." She sounds super annoyed. I would be too if a dumbass called me at 5 in the morning asking me stupid questions.

"This was a terrible idea." I mumble, looking straight up to see a sign that reads 'Terminal 7.'

"You're going to be fine. Just go to the gate that is printed on your ticket and you'll be fine. Love you." She hangs up quickly, probably sick of hearing my voice so early.

I finally make it to the gate and onto the plane. I got lucky with a window seat, it'll be 5 o'clock at night when I land in London. I've never been to the United Kingdom, only ever traveling to beachy islands on spring break or for birthday trips.

I buckle my seat belt and open my window, staring out at the trucks rolling through the dark full of bags. In 7 hours this view will be very different.

I hear the pilot talking over my head, pulling me from dreams I can't remember.

"If you look out your window, we're flying over the River Thames."

I straighten up in my seat, pulling my phone out to snap a picture of the view.
I'm excited, this is the beginning of a new chapter. A fresh start. With Harry.

I get a familiar feeling in my stomach.

We're landing soon. Harry is having a car pick me up at the airport and take me back to his flat. Where he lives. Shit.

I completely forgot that we would be alone for the night before meeting up with the rest of his team to travel to the first show in Birmingham. I just know I'm going to make a fool of myself. I could always stay locked in my room and blame in on jet lag. Blame it on sleep deprivation, feeling under the weather, all sorts of things.

As soon as I get off the plane I make a straight line to the baggage claim, ducking around and through people like a girl on a mission, apologizing every five seconds in the busy area. After what feels like forever my bag finally comes around, and I know I probably look like a madman making a run for the door. I just need some air.

Stepping outside I pull my phone out of my pocket to see a text from who I assume to be Harry.

"Black Escalade. Pauly is the driver. Should be parked in the front. H."

Nobody else leaves an 'H.' at the end of a sentence like that.

I look at the parking spaces lining the side of the building, to my left I don't see a black Escalade, to my right I see two.

"Seriously?" I groan, pulling the suitcase behind me. I mentally prepare myself to walk up to a tinted car, knock on the window and say 'Hi, are you Pauly?'

I walk to the first truck, watching the window glide down before I can even knock.

"Alexandra?" A jagged accent calls from inside the car, opening the door once I shake my head.

That wasn't bad.

Pauly is a tall man, significantly taller than me anyways, with blonde hair. He doesn't sound like he looks, his beard is trimmed and his hair is sleeked back on his head. He's dressed nice, but his voice sounds like he could be a biker.

He doesn't speak again, only coming around to take my suitcase and open the door for me. He drives like that too, in silence, only humming along quietly to the radio, turning slowly onto street after street, houses getting bigger and bigger the further we drive away from the airport.

London is so big.

We finally pull up to a giant gate, Pauly punching in a code to open it. Driving up a short driveway to an even bigger house.

"You've got to be kidding me." I whisper to myself quietly.

This house is massive.

I had heard Charley talk about Harry's 'mansion,' tuning out half the conversation as always, but I never thought it would be an actual mansion. That's what I get for thinking, I guess.

I watch in awe as we pull into a garage, the door closing behind us. There's gotta be six other cars in here besides the one we're sitting in.

The door opens again, my suitcase being sat on the floor outside the door. Pauly motions towards another door when I get out, closing the door behind me.

"Take that door into the house, Mr. Styles should be inside." He turns around and exits the garage through a different door, leaving me alone with my suitcase and 7 cars.

I make my way to the door, opening it and pulling my suitcase inside. I walk slowly through the hallway, looking at the paintings hung on either side. I turn in a circle backing through the hallway when I hit something solid. I turn around to see Harry standing there, watching me with a lopsided grin.

"Hello, sunflower. Welcome to Chateau de Harry."