Dressed in Bruises -H.S.

Four

"I'm sorry Leo, but you had me at Harry Styles...you cannot just introduce me to Harry fucking Styles!"

"Hey, Styles!" Leo called out across the bar. "Stop!" I playfully smacked his arm but he continued to lead us towards the bar.

"I've been looking for you all night, I was starting to think you didn't like Sheryl's outfit and snuck out." I could tell Leo was messing around but I was trembling.

"Mitch pregamed before coming out and ended up in the bathroom so I was helping him out." he spoke, his gaze moved between Leo and I. "And no her outfit is lovely." he added while flashing me a slight half smile.

He just smiled at me, my insides are literally bursting in flames.

"What are you guys drinking? I'll order another round." he offered.

"I'm good, I still have some left, thank you." I nervously spoke.

"Well finish up, I need to order my new teammate a drink." He smiled at me again, resting his arm on the bar, I could tell he was pretty tipsy himself. "That is, if you took the job." he added.

"I'm gonna explode." I whispered to Leo over the music, trying to stop freaking out before it becomes noticeable.

"You're not going to explode." he laughed at me.

"You're going to explode?" Harry questioned with his thick accent and a soft chuckle.

"Don't tell me you're going to pull a Mitch." he joked while pouring a beer into a glass.

Oh god, what do I even say now? I'm so embarrassed, he probably thinks I'm crazy.

"I'm not actually going to explode," I laughed. "I'm sorry I'm very expressive, what I meant to say is I'm extremely nervous right now." I awkwardly smiled, hoping I just saved myself some dignity.

"No need to be nervous, love. You'll fit right in." he said while draping an arm around my shoulders.

He is definitely not helping me calm down right now.

"I hope so." I mumbled while looking over at him, his arm still resting across my shoulders, his smile bright as he continued chatting with Leo.

He removed his arm and waved at me to follow them, they led me to an obviously wasted man that I'm assuming to be Mitch.

"When are you gonna learn, dude." Leo playfully hit his arm while Mitch sat with his face in his hands at the table.

"Shut up." he grumbled

They all sat in a seat so I copied them, I was across from Mitch & between Leo and Harry. Mitch still didn't raise his face from his hands.

"We have someone for you to meet." Harry spoke while pushing at him.

He looked up at Harry then noticed me and sloppily smiled.

"Ooo she's pretty." his smile grew wider, his eyes barely open.

"Mitch, this is Sheryl. The amazingly talented stylist we spoke with you about." Leo boasted me.

"You all are just hyping me up tonight." I shyly held my hands between my knees while adjusting myself in the seat.

"Oh my God, this is her? I could get to look at this angel every day? Hell yeah!" Mitch yelled the ending after slurring everything else.

"Mitch, Jesus Christ you need to go home." Harry face palmed while laughing at his beyond wasted friend.

"I'm sorry about that, love." Harry rested his hand on my shoulder, "He will regret it in the morning, but for now I'm going to get him a cab home. It was nice meeting you, Sheryl. I hope you accept the job so I can get you that drink next time." he removed his hand and sent me a soft wink before helping Mitch up and leaving the table.

"Holy fuck." I said to no one in particular.

"Are you okay?" Leo chuckled.

"He just fucking winked at me," I took a deep breath. "No, I'm not okay."

"You're hilarious when you're high strung." Leo laughed at me. 

"It's not funny, so much stuff happened all in one day that my little brain can't process all of this." I spoke with my face in my hands, laughing along with Leo at myself.

"Don't worry, it's cute." he relieved me a bit but I still felt like he was lying to spare my embarrassment.

-

Leo and I hung out and got to know each other better for a little while longer, before admitting he was too tired to stay out any later.

"Should I order a cab for the lady?" I could hear the smile in the thick accent from behind me.

"You scared me," I giggled. "I thought you left a while ago, but no thank you."

"How are you getting home?" Harry mumbled.

"I'm going to drive, I didn't drink that much, I cut myself off after a bit so I'm completely fine now."

"Not allowed." he pretended to act stern.

"And why is that Mr.Styles?" I said with a playful smirk.

"Sober or not, I look out for everyone." He started walking in a circle around me, making eye contact the entire way around.

"I'll give you 2, maybe 3 options." he stopped in front of me.

"And what will those be?" I chuckled at him pretending to act serious.

"One, you let me order you a cab."

"Nope won't work, I live pretty far." I started to mess around with him back, but I was still telling the truth.

"Okay then, option 2, you can spend the rest of the night with your new boss at his place and get to know him." he referred to himself in the third person.

"Eh, I don't think I'd be interested, I heard he's pretty lame." I shrugged my shoulders, clearly joking.

"Me? Lame?" he questioned, foolishly acting offended.

"Oh you were talking about yourself? No thanks, even lamer. Third option?"

His hand was now on his chest, taken aback.

"Third option, I can get you a hotel in the area so you can get back to your car in the morning... but after that last jab I could just leave you here to fend for yourself." he added to the entirely sarcastic conversation.

"That one won't work either, can I get a fourth option?" I joked with a small laugh.

"The fourth option would be the same as the second."

I opened up for that short amount of time to him and now I'm seconds from exploding again.

I can't go to his house with him! For one, he's my boss and two, he's Harry fucking Styles.