His Only Angel (Harry Styles Fanfiction)

Chapter Twelve

I hung out with some of the crew as they packed up after the show, helping where I could. In many ways, I felt useless. The staff didn't seem to treat me like I was in the way, but I wouldn't be surprised if they thought the same things I was. Even Rachel had something to be doing, and her job was incredibly limited. She was in charge of hair and makeup. Harry didn't really ever wear much makeup on stage, though sometimes he did for interviews. Rachel gave him haircuts when they were on the road since he spent so much time traveling. She also painted H's nails when he wanted something that he couldn't do himself. Harry came to find me, wearing the outfit Alex had been laying out for him. He looked oddly... casual. He was in medium wash bell-bottoms, a white t-shirt, a cream cardigan, and black vans. On anyone else, it would have looked horrible, but somehow on him, it worked. "Hey, I've been trying to find you. Do you want to go out with me tonight?""Sure. Where are you going?" "I'm just going out. Alex keeps bugging me about being a shut-in. My 'image' needs me to make appearances in public."That didn't quite seem like how Alex had made it sound. In fact, according to Alex, it was Harry's idea to go out after the show tonight."I think Alex laid something out for you if you want to change."I rolled my eyes at him. He needed to stop commenting on what I was wearing. Not everyone had a personal stylist on the payroll. And, I didn't really have an issue with what I wore."Ummm, sure."I followed him back to his dressing room. The outfit Alex had set out for me was terrifying.It was a pair of high waisted, light wash jeans, and a black bodysuit that was more lace than fabric. It had cups on it, like a bra. It looked more like lingerie than real clothing. Harry saw me looking at the clothes and said"Oh, don't worry. Alex said you can just wear your high tops."He gestured to the black converse I had on. My shoes were the least of my issues.I didn't know how to tell him that the idea of wearing this out in public made me feel physically sick. Instead, I opted to at least try it on. Once he saw it on me, he would understand. This was more of something only a supermodel would be able to pull off without looking ridiculous. H left the room and I changed, putting on the bodysuit like a second skin. I absolutely hated skin tight clothes. The jeans were comfortable and looked nice. I put back on my shoes and looked in the mirror. It wasn't as bad as I had expected, but I wasn't super comfortable in it. I pinched at my sides, wishing this top did a better job of cinching in my waist. H knocked on the door twice and opened it without waiting for a response from me."Wow, El. You look... good."I wasn't sure if he was placating me, but there was something in his eyes. Was that lust? I straightened a little, feeling slightly better."Thanks."I folded up my other clothes, managing to fit them into the work bag with my computer and my notes."You can leave your bag with mine. I'll have someone take it back to my room for me.""Okay, sure."I sat my bag next to his, feeling weird about leaving it. I didn't like it when Harry asked the crew to do things for me. Like when he asked Alex to find clothes for me or when he had the staff load my bags onto the bus for me. I wasn't really doing much on tour, the last thing I wanted to do was make more work for anyone else.We found our way out of the venue, walking through the winding back tunnels. Once we got out to the street, H hailed a cab and we got in. He told the driver the name of a club, but I wasn't really listening. I checked my emails, hoping I had gotten a response from my economics professor about the paper I had submitted the day before. My inbox was full of garbage, websites having sales, and mass emails from Columbia about upcoming events. I turned off my phone and leaned a little, so I could put it in my back pocket. Was H just checking out my boobs? No, he wasn't. Right?The cab driver dropped us off, and the place looked packed. It was a Wednesday. Why were people out at a club on a Wednesday? H opened my door, and I got out, following him as he passed the line of people out the door and went straight to the bouncer. The bouncer, saying nothing, moved aside for the two of us to go inside. H held his hand out behind him and I grabbed it, still following him into the dark and loud club. The music was so loud I could feel the bass in my bones, and there were so many people it was quite hot inside. At that moment, I was glad for my skimpy top. H dragged me over to the bar where he ordered us drinks. I wasn't sure what he got for me, but I almost spit it out when I went to drink it. I'm pretty sure it was just straight alcohol. H downed his and took my empty glass from me when I was done. I tried hard to keep my face from showing how much that drink burned."Let's dance." He was yelling so that I could hear him over the music and the people."Okay."I wasn't much of a dancer, but it couldn't hurt. I didn't know anyone here, and the only person I was embarrassing myself in front of was Harry.We danced for what felt like hours. The club manager ended up spotting Harry in the crowd and got us free drinks throughout the night. I was drunk. I could feel it. My head was spinning, my body felt lighter than usual. I really needed to stop drinking. This is not like me. In NYC, I hardly ever drink. Maybe a bottle of wine to celebrate or drinks with my friends on a Friday evening. I tried not to get too caught up in my head, reverting my focus to Harry's hands on my hips. I was grinding on him, swaying to the beat. I felt alive.It was so hot in here, Harry had taken off his sweater, and now he was just in his jeans and his t-shirt. The sleeves were rolled up at the end, and I could see his muscular arms and tattoos."I want to get a tattoo tonight.""El, it's 1 in the morning.""So? We don't have to do anything tomorrow. We leave for Norway the day after. Let's have fun tonight."He decided to humor me."What tattoo do you want to get?" "Ummm. I don't know.""Okay, where do you want to get it on your body?" "I don't know.""I don't feel like you have thought about this decision at all."I ran my hands up and down his arms, looking up at him. I loved the way his skin felt under my hands."What's wrong with not thinking sometimes?""Well, okay then. Let's find a tattoo shop."He pulled out his phone, googling to see what he could find. I kept dancing, enjoying myself.Would I regret this in the morning? Maybe. Was I going to enjoy it in the present? Definitely.Harry found a place, asking me if I was ready to leave. I said yes, and we walked out, the club still as packed as when we had arrived.We hailed a cab, and Harry told him where to go. I sat in the seat, a stupid smile on my face. This was fun, like really fun. I hadn't had real, spontaneous fun in a while. We pulled up outside of the shop, and sure enough, the lights were on inside. Harry paid the driver, and we got out. I walked in first with him behind me. I had sobered up a little since the club, but I still wanted to go through with this.A man was sitting at the front of the shop, and I told him that I wanted a tattoo. He looked a little surprised. Maybe because of how late at night it was, perhaps because of my accent, possibly because of Harry behind me. The man walked to the back to check on something, and I turned to Harry."Have you decided what you want?""No.""I have an idea if you want.""Even better. Surprise me. I know where I want to get it." I lifted my arm, gesturing to the side of my ribs. It was right where a bra band would cover. I didn't want to get it anywhere too obvious. I wasn't ready to go full Harry and have tattoos all over the place.Another man came out from the back, making me sign waivers and asking what I wanted to get. Harry whispered to him, and the man nodded. He took us over to a chair that looked like it was from a dental office. I laid down and managed to get my left arm out of my strap, pulling my top down on one side and holding my now exposed boob with my right hand. Harry sat at my head and held my left hand. It was kind of weird, laying in a brightly lit room with two men, my breast entirely out, in front of a window that faced out to the street. But, weirdly enough, I wasn't that uncomfortable. It didn't take long, less than an hour. The pain wasn't crazy; I had felt worse before. Harry held my hand the whole time.When he was done, the tattoo artist let me stand up to look at it in the mirror. It was four botanical sprigs, with the stems tied together by a dainty ribbon. It was simple and beautiful. I loved it. The tattoo artist cleaned it and wrapped it, and then I carefully slipped back on the left side of my top.I tried to pay, but Harry stopped me."I picked it, I'll pay.""That's not fair.""I never promised to be fair."I wanted to stick my tongue out at him, but it felt slightly juvenile. I also wanted to kick him in the ankle, but that too felt juvenile. I settled for pouting, which had no effect on him. Before we left, the artist gave me care instructions and folded them carefully to fit them in my pocket.Our hotel was actually only a ten-minute walk from here, so we opted to walk back. I probably wouldn't have if I was alone at this time of night, but I felt safe with Harry. The air was chilly, but he put his sweater over my shoulders, and I was immediately warm. It smelled like him. Spicy and yet clean. He put his hand around my waist and kept me close as we made out way back. We rode in the elevator together, him giving me a kiss on my forehead when he dropped me off at the door to my room.I stepped into my room, immediately feeling how tired I was. I turned on the light in the bathroom, looking at myself in the mirror. I looked a little crazy. My eyes were a bit brighter, my cheeks flushed. I ran the water until it was hit so that I could wash my face, brushing my teeth in the meantime. I dug through my bag to find something that I could wear to bed, deciding on just an oversized t-shirt and my underwear. I took another look at my tattoo in the mirror, absolutely loving it. The skin was red around it, and it was kind of hard to see it under the protective wrap, but I still loved it. I left the instructions on the bathroom counter so that I could read them in the morning. I turned off all of the lights and fell asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow.