She [H.S]

Chapter Three

"Are you okay? Need any help?" I lift up my head to lock eyes with Harry, who is seemingly looking very concerned. His brows are raised slightly, eyes widened with a glint of amusement at my reaction.

I clear my throat, standing up straight and dusting myself off after being on the floor.

"Yeah... Yeah, I'm okay!" I manage to breathe out, grasping the edges of my cardigan and piercing my fingernails through the knitted holes in an anxious fit. I look down at my shoes, gulping softly as the mint circulates the edges of my already bitten cheeks. "Just a little tipsy. I haven't drank in a while."

He chuckles softly, leaning against the wall with a certain glint in his eye. "I can see that. You looked pretty green when I bumped into you. Matched the colour of your fingernails" His jaw moves the piece of gum around his mouth as he smirks at his comment.

I breathily chuckle and begin to open my mouth, but stop myself from further embarrassment. "My name is Browne, Louisa Browne, but my friends call me Lou for short." I introduce myself, extending my hand to initiate the handshake- my hands are slightly clammy from the shock and embarrassment of the fact that Harry freaking Styles is right there in front of me. Being the gentleman he is and not caring about my sweaty palms, he takes my hand with such delicacy that I almost melt into a puddle in front of him. "I'm Styles, Harry Styles. Is it alright if I call you Lou?" He questions, breaking our point of contact and crossing his arms. 

"Please, you're more than welcome to. You seem pretty nice, I guess." I banter, releasing my knitted cardigan from my anxious grip, almost feeling comforted by his presence. He's quite the charmer- he's got me from Bambi on ice to long-time friends in less than ten minutes. Quite the record. 

He laughs, not breaking the severe eye contact we currently have. He observes me for a few seconds, before stepping closer to me, making my breath hitch in the back of my throat and the hairs on the back of my neck tingle in a way that sends shivers down my spine. He breaks eye contact to do up a button at the top of my cardigan, taking care of it like it's fine china, feeling the material around it with his slender fingers. "What brings you here to a party like this, Lou? Doesn't really seem like your kinda scene." He questions, a slight smile etched into his face and smile lines appearing.

"Not really. My friend, Reign quite literally dragged me here. I've not really had the most productive of days." I reply, correcting my stance so that I provide some breathing room between Harry and I. "What's a guy like you doing here? Shouldn't you be off touring the world and having fun right now?" I question.

"Mhm" He responds, almost too enveloped in looking at me. He processes the question for a moment, and I sense the realisation of the fact I asked an open-ended question. "That's the thing. Can't exactly go off touring right now." He breathes in and chuckles lightly, smacking the gum between his teeth, making me breathe in the minty scent. The tip of his nose moves ever so slightly, reminding me of a bunny.

"Why's that?" A knock on the door grabs our attention, the both of us turning towards the door. I take a few steps to open the door, Harry just behind me. I open the door slightly, to see Reign's vibrant smile barge right through the crack of the door, opening it more. "Hey!" She breathes, wafting a wave of pungent alcohol into my face. God, I miss the mint right now. I respond with a nod, to which Reign continues. "I'm just going home in a taxi if you want to- Oh, hello Harry!" I turn around, to see Harry leant against the sink with his thumb and forefinger pinching his lips ever so slightly and seemingly deep in thought. He lifts his head up, waving a little and smiling a greeting back at Reign. 

"I guess... I shall leave you alone then. I'll be at home with this sexy hunk I picked up!" Reign smirks, closing the door before I could even get a word in edgeways. I turn around, processing the words Reign had just said.