“Hi” He said. That was the first thing I ever heard come out of his mouth with those irresistible eyes. “Hi yourself” I replied with a smile. “Can I sit?” “Of course.” I shuffled over in the velvet green booth so this boy could join me. “Harry.” He said just before I replied smiling with “Cassandra. Nice to meet you, Harry.” “Whoa,” He said, taken a back, “What’s with the accent? I was expecting this ordinary accent but then this incredible, foreign accent! Where’re you from?” “Australian, born and raised.” I replied, tucking my hair behind my ear. “Really? What’re you doing all the way up here? I’m lucky I found you when I did, you’ll probably freeze to death in winter.” He said with a grin. “It isn’t winter yet? Jesus, I’m already freezing!” I laughed and he joined in as I sipped my tea. “But, um, I work as a front office manager in InterContinental hotels and Australia kicked me out so I had to come here.” Let’s see if he falls for this. He looked a little shocked. “No way. They can’t do that!” He played along. “Such a shame as well. Now I have to put up with all you brits and your seductive accents and deadly cold winters.” I said sipping my tea again, looking over the cup to see him grinning, his eyes glowing. “It must be utter hell for you.” He grinned. “Could I get a drink for you, sir?” A waitress came to the table. “Whatever this beautiful Australian girl’s having.” “Just a pot of earl grey tea?” “That’d be lovely, thank you.” He said with a polite smile before turning back to me. “Nice choice of tea, miss.” He complimented. “Thank you, sir. I like it because it because I got my last name off it.” He crooked his head to the side. “Please tell me it’s not Cassandra Earl.” The tea in my mouth headed out through my nose at that comment. “It is actually…” I trailed off. “Serious? Oh God. I’m so sorry! Way to make a good first impression haha” He apologised. “It’s not, it’s not, it’s not! Cassandra Grey.” “Why’d you change your name, love?” He asked, crooking his head again. “Perhaps if you stick around long enough I’ll spit it out.” I smiled. “You know, I might just have to now. The story of how Cassandra Grey became Cassandra Grey.” He grinned.
He told me about his fascination with cardigans with elbow patches and how much he likes rich tea biscuits. I told him about my love for 80’s movies and Polaroids and how daisies are my favourite flowers. We talked about music and turns out we have the same taste. “You know, ‘have a cute coffee date with a beautiful Australian girl’ was actually on my bucket list.” He said, smiling at me as we walked down the almost abandoned London Street. “It looks like we lost track of time.” I chuckled at how dark it had got. “Do you Australians know the saying ‘time flies when you’re having fun’?” I laughed and he smiled. “Yes, I told you, just because we’re an island country doesn’t mean we’re isolated. We speak English.” He laughed at this. “Do you speak any other languages?” “Oui, je parle le francais.” I replied. His eyes lit up, “Moi aussi!” I giggled and he looked puzzled “What?” he asked. “You just looked so innocent and cute when your eyes lit up at me speaking French.” I stopped walking, facing him. “I’m hurt! How do you know I’m not actually just cute and innocent? Plus, I would’ve never expected that French accent from you!” He stopped and faced me, looking down into my eyes. He was half a head taller than me. “I’m just full of surprises aren’t I?” I smirked, looking briefly at the ground before up again to his eyes. He seemed closer. “I really want to kiss you right now.” He whispered, resting his forehead against mine. His voice stirred the butterflies in my stomach. “Good because I’ve been waiting all afternoon.” I smiled as he closed the distance, placing his hand on my waist, the smile not erased from my lips. It wasn’t even ten seconds long but the electricity and the fireworks were there. “I’ll see you later, won’t I?” I asked after I broke the kiss. “You’ll just have to stick around and see.” He smiled and pecked me again. “Hey, tell me your last name.” I said. “She’s demanding.” He laughed quietly. “Hey, I am not! You know mine, what’s yours?” He became serious again and smiled sweetly. “Styles, Harry Styles.” “Aaaah, from some lame boyband.” I joked, “See us Australians aren’t too out of whack.” He remained serious. “Does it bother you?” “No, that’s not the boy I met in the coffee shop this afternoon.” I replied, meaning every word. “Give me your phone.” He chuckled, pulling his from his pocket and unlocking it. I clicked on contacts and typed, “The beautiful Australian girl that speaks French I met in the coffee shop” and then my number. He laughed when he saw it and when I saw his name in my phone was now “Harry the coffee shop guy and definitely not Harry Styles” I joined in. “I’d better get going.” I smiled and he returned the favour. “I’ll see you later then, Cassandra Grey” “See you around Harry the coffee shop guy.” He said and turned the opposite way. So many thoughts were clouding my mind as I walked away but all was forgotten when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I read the name on the screen and laughed. “I just had to make sure it was the right number. I couldn’t let you suffer in this English hell without me.” Harry’s voice said through the receiver, I laughed. “It’s going to be tough. You’ll have to help me through it.” “No problem, love. I’ll call you.” He said and hung up.
That was the first time I met Harry. Not Harry Styles, just Harry.
