"Okay. So his bottle is ready, and I brought some extra but I don't think he'll take a second bottle tonight. I also wrote down how he likes it. He's teething so there's some of that gel stuff for his gums and a teether in the side pocket," I said patting the end of the diaper bag. "Also my cell phone number is on a sheet of paper along with his pediatrician and Niall's cell number just in case you can't reach me. I don't think we'll be out very late but if anything hap-"

"Ari." Tessa cut me off with a grin and an eye roll as she bounced a happy Jamie on her hip. "You do this every time. I've got this. It's not my first go around. Calm down and don't worry, we'll be fine. You go have a good time. You deserve it darling."

I bit me lip looking from Tessa's kind face to Jamie who giggled at me. Taking a deep breath I shut my eyes and gave in. "Okay. Just don't hesitate to call me alright." I said looking at Tessa pleadingly before leaning forward and placing a kiss on my baby's head. "See you later little man. I love you."

I waved one last time, looking longingly at Jamie as I stepped out of Tessa's apartment and walked the few feet to Kendra's. She was supposed to help me get ready for the event Niall was taking me to tonight seeing as I had nothing suitable for this type of thing. Nor did I have any idea what would be suitable.

"There you are. Come on we don't have much time. El called and said that Louis was picking her up at 7 so I'm assuming Romeo is picking you up before that time for your date."

Kendra didn't even let me step through the door fully before she was dragging me towards her bedroom. "It's not a date."

"Sure it's not."

I wasn't at all surprised Eleanor had called Kendra. I had learned after being hired that it was Eleanor who had told Kendra about the job for me. Apparently the two were friends from Uni -I was slowly picking up the lingo- before Kendra decided she didn't need to keep going to school with the amount of money she was inheriting.

Aside from Niall, Eleanor was the only one who knew I was joining them tonight. Niall had thought it would be best to keep it to ourselves since the boys had a hard time keeping secrets amongst themselves and Eleanor only found out because Kendra has a big mouth, but she swore to keep it hushed. I had the feeling she wanted to see the reaction.

I wondered how Harry would take it. We had just begun some form of a tentative friendship and as much as I hated to admit it I didn't want to risk it. I kind of liked being on good terms with him.

I was kind of scared what would be the outcome of this when he realizes that I had been withholding this information from him.

He knew I had plans tonight, he even asked his mother to watch Darcy for the evening but I had a sneaking suspicion he wouldn't be too pleased with me showing up at this thing. Not for the first time I wondered why I was going to this thing again.

And then Niall would pop into my mind. He was so excited about this, it was cute. I could only imagine it was because he had never brought a date to one of these things before. He kept promising to make it fun for me and that I would have a good time. I didn't want to tell him it was hard for me to do so when I knew this was just a disaster waiting to happen.

But then again, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. I mean, come on, it could be fun to watch Harry bust a gasket in front of all those important people, and what girl didn't like getting glammed up every now and again.

"This will look amazing on you. You have all the right curves for this. You should thank Jamie because pregnancy did your body good girl." Kendra gushed as she thrust a silky piece of fabric at me. I looked at it like it was a forging object. I tried to unravel it from the jumbles mess it was but Ken didn't give me much time to figure it out as she quickly shoved me into her bathroom and slammed the door in my face.

I was reminded why I didn't do this often as I stood in front of the mirror an hour later in a black one shoulder designer mini dress that cost more than I would make in a year and nude heels that felt like I would need a wheelchair tomorrow. But I had to hand it to Kendra, I did look pretty.

I just really hoped I wouldn't spill anything on this tonight. I wouldn't be able to afford to pay her back if I did.

"Wow, you look gorgeous. Niall isn't going to know what to do with himself." Kendra gushed from behind me as she examined her handy work with a hand to her chin. "You're missing something thought..."

I glanced over my shoulder just as Kendra returned with two long gold drop earrings made from fragile looking disks.

"Ken I can't this is all too much." I said eyeing the, no doubt, expensive jewelry through the mirror as she clasped them in my ears.

"Oh shut up Ari will you. You look great and I like playing the fairy godmother." She finished clasping the last earring and stood back. "There. Now you're perfect, Cinderella."

And as if on cue the doorbell rang out in Kendra's apartment. She clapped happily. "Yay! He's here... oh I feel like a parent sending my child off to prom."

"I hate you so much right now." I said with a sigh as I followed her out into the living room as she skipped to the door. She spun around to roll her eyes at me before opening the door to let Niall in. As he greeted her I nervously smoothed my hands over my dress hoping that this wasn't too much, or worse... not good enough.

"Whoa." I heard him breathe out. My eyes snapped up to look at him as he eyed me up and down. "Ari you look... beautiful."

I bit my lip and looked down nervously. "Really? Are you sure this is okay? I mean I didn't know what this was going to be like and Kendra said that most of the time its semi-formal but I wasn't sure if this was good enough or maybe it was t-"

"ARIA!" Kendra shouted over me as Niall chuckled beside her. "Take the complement and stop freaking out."

"Okay." I nodded slowly taking deep breaths before forcing a smile on my face. "Thank you Niall."

He kept on laughing as he stepped forward and held out his hand for me. "You're welcome, beautiful. Now we should probably go if you still want to get something to eat beforehand."

I nodded and we both said our goodbyes to Kendra as we walked out the door. I half expected her to pull out a camera with the way she was looking at us.

My eyes glanced at Tessa's closed door as we walked by; silently wishing I could see my baby boy one more time before I was off with Niall to this thing.

We chatted the whole drive to wherever Niall had planned to take me. I managed to avoid all talk of Harry, mostly because I was extremely anxious to see his reaction. Not to mention the general anxiety I was feeling for even going to this thing to begin with.

However I should have known Niall would be the considerate date because as soon as I saw where we were I couldn't hold in my laughter. Niall smiled triumphantly from beside me. "You like it?"

I bit my lip and nodded looking at the familiar pizzeria logo. "Yup. Only you would choose to come here before some big fancy event."

His eyebrows furrowed and a look of worry crossed his face. "Did you want to go somewhere better? We can, if you want? I just though you would like-"

I placed my hand over his mouth and chuckled. "Niall... shut up I love it. Now let's go. I want some breadsticks."

He nodded with my hand still on his mouth, I could feel him smiling into my palm, and then we both exited the car.

As soon as our orders were in we sat in a booth at the very back of the restaurant.
"So... are you nervous?" Niall asked as I picked at my freshly manicured nails.

My eyes darted up to his. "A little. I'm not really used to being around rich and famous people." I said biting my lip and looking down at the table.

"Well you hang out with me and the lads all the time. It's kind of the same. We'll all be there and you met Eleanor, she'll be there as well. So will Danielle, she's Liam's fiancé. And Zayn is bringing Parrie."

I didn't miss how he skipped over Harry. I wondered if it was because he thought I didn't care or he didn't want me to worry anymore then I already was. Whatever the reason, I choose to ignore it because I was too curious to not ask.

"And, um... who's Harry's date?"

Niall genuinely looked startled that I would even ask. "Oh... um a friend of his."

I raised an eyebrow at that answer. A friend. I found myself much too concerned with who this friend could be. I mean Harry and I were barely friends, I really shouldn't care so much. But I did.
The rest of our meal past without any more questions about the others or their dates, even though I was still very interested in Harry's.

Niall spent the meal and most of the drive to the event trying to reassure me that I would be fine and that I wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb like I was afraid I would.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit insecure about walking into a room full of rich beautiful women. I just hoped that I wouldn't embarrass myself, or worse embarrass Niall. I prayed to pass the night invisible in the background.

That feeling only grew as we walked into the hall the gala was taking place in. Everyone looked so glamorous, so... unreal. I just wanted to hide away.

And then I spotted him.

Harry stood farther into the room with the other boys and their dates chatting amongst themselves. He hadn't seen us yet so I took the opportunity to look him over.

I would never admit it to anyone but Harry Styles was very much an attractive man. Sometimes I would find myself just looking at him despite myself. Of course I would then chastise myself for doing something so dumb but I couldn't help it. He was nice to look at.

I then let my eyes drift to the tall blonde beside him with her hand resting on his arm. Her back was to us so I couldn't make out her face but she was slender and about Harry's height and she made me want to turn the other way and run. And that was just from looking at her back.

"Um Niall, I think I'm going to run to the ladies room really fast." I said just as Niall began to pull me over towards our group.

Niall stopped short and looked at me worriedly. "Oh. Do you want me to wait for you?"

I shook my head and waved him off. "No, no I can see where the others are. I'll meet you there in a second. Go."

He looked at me before nodding and walking away hesitantly. I sighed in relief as soon as I lost him in the crowd before spinning on my heel and marching towards the bar.

If I was going to do this I was going to need a shot of something strong.

God help me.

Notes

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