Taylor steps out the front door of her apartment and into the dull, grey drizzle of the afternoon. Sometimes it feels like she’ll never really get used to New York City in the fall no matter how many years she lives here. When the sun is out and the air is sharp and crisp there’s nothing more beautiful, but on days like today when it’s been sprinkling rain for hours it’s miserable; a bone deep chill that cuts through the air, making her shiver despite all of her layers of clothes.
She pauses on the top step to adjust her hat and pull it down further over her ears. She’s got an umbrella with her - bright purple print with pictures of cat faces all over it that her agent got her for Christmas last year - but it doesn’t feel like the kind of rain that needs one. It’s not big fat drops drowning everything around her, but a thin mist just barely covering everything like a blanket.
Taylor looks up into the dark sky and blinks. Raindrops catch on her bangs and she tightens the belt on her coat and settles her hand on the wet rail. She’s just taken her first step down when she looks over and sees him standing there.
He’s at the bottom of the stoop, staring up at her with wide eyes and a small smile quirking his lips. His hair is pulled back tight under a black knit hat and his eyes are bright green. Taylor’s not seen him in person for so long she can barely remember when the last time was. It was probably at some sort of industry function; an awards show or a dinner. Something like that. Not that it matters really. They were together and then they weren’t and then they were friends and now they’re… whatever it is that they’ve fallen into now. Acquaintances, Taylor thinks would be the best word. Acquaintances with close friends in common.
“Hi,” Harry says. He’s chewing a piece of gum and grinning like he’s letting her in on a secret. She can hear things off in the distance - the sound of a car door slamming shut and the blare of a horn - but her street is fairly quiet. She looks around, peering over his shoulder to see if he’s got anyone with him but he seems to be alone. Out in secret it is then.
“Hello,” she says, voice even and sure.
“I’m in New York now,” Harry says. He takes a step forward and rests one foot on her bottom step.
“I can see that,” Taylor answers. She makes her way down to meet him at the bottom of the stairs. The rain is still falling and her gloves are damp and Harry is standing in front of her, close enough that the toes of their boots touch.
He reaches out and pulls on the ends of her hair. He’s got a silver band circling his index finger and some kind of twisty thing with a stone in the center on the finger next to it. He flicks his eyes up to hers and grins easily.
“You let your hair grow back out.”
Taylor cocks her head to the side and raises one eyebrow. “There’s certainly nothing getting by you today, is there, Styles.”
Harry laughs at that - a loud, booming laugh that he puts his whole chest and face into. Taylor shakes her head because apparently it doesn’t matter how much time has passed, Harry seems to be as ridiculous of a human as he always was. Of course, he can be sexy and mysterious and dashing when he wants. But this right here, Harry being corny and fun and laughing at himself, was always Taylor’s downfall.
“I like it,” he says. He’s got more lines around his eyes and his mouth seems wider somehow and all things considered, piece by piece Harry was never really her type. Too bad that’s never seemed to matter much.
He tugs on her hair again and takes a small step back. “Are you on your way out?”
Taylor stares at him and gestures from herself to the street and the umbrella in her hand. Her security guard discreetly clears his throat and Harry gives him a jaunty wave from where he’s hovering protectively over Taylor’s shoulder. Taylor rolls her eyes at them both.
