Harry's POV

I sat up just as my alarm went off, hitting the red button with my fist and stretching out my arms. "Morning Harold," my stepfather said, passing my room with a newspaper raised up to his face. I merely nodded since he'd walked by too fast for me to answer him.

As I looked out the window, squinting slightly as the bright yellow rays hit my face, I sighed. Today was my nineteenth birthday. And what was I doing? Studying for college. I sighed again, throwing the covers off my bare chest and boxered legs while getting up. I walked over to my dresser, pulling out a pair of black jeans and a button up white shirt.

I walked out of my bedroom, shutting the door silently behind me, knowing my stepfather doesn't enjoy loud slams or something. I can't honestly remember the last time I even opened or shut my door louder than silently. I trudged over to the bathroom, stripping off my boxers and jumping into the warmed shower.

After taking a shower and brushing my teeth, the usual hair mess thing I did, I buttoned up my white shirt and left the bathroom, after the cleaning the fogged up mirror. My stepfather doesn't like that. I casually walked downstairs, slipping into the kitchen where my mother had set a plate of eggs and bacon on the counter waiting for me.

"Thanks Mum," I said politely. Grabbing the plate and a fork before sitting down at the dining room table. My stepfather was already there, legs crossed, reading the newspaper, with a cigarette in his mouth.

As I began to silently eat my eggs, my mother joined us at the table. "Happy nineteenth birthday, Harry," she smiled at me, but I couldn't help but see slight panic in her eyes. Which confused me more than anything. What did she have to be panicking about?

Ignoring what I was thinking, I smiled a genuine smile back at her, swallowing the piece of bacon I'd put in my mouth, "Thanks Mum, again," I chuckled lightly before continuing to eat breakfast.

My stepfather cleared his throat, and I turned to look at him, my mother already facing him, "Have you seen what came in the mail today, Harold?" He asked me, arching one of his dark brown eyebrows and setting his newspaper down, folded nicely as he straightened his back, sitting up more.

I merely shook my head, swallowing the last bit of my food. "No, sir, can't say I have." I got up, grabbing my plate and fork and walking into the kitchen. After rinsing off my plate, I walked back out to them to see my mother with tears in her eyes but a happy smile on her face. "What?"

My mother stood up, clapping a hand over her mouth as she shakily handed me an envelope. I slowly opened it, knowing it was definitely from one of the college's I'd submitted to, "Read it aloud," my stepfather instructed, putting out his cigarette in the ashtray by the counter.

"To the parents of Harold Styles,

We have gone through records and such and the work Harold has submitted to us, as much as we know he is definitely material we'd like here at Manchester United, and from his football record our coach would love for him to play on our team specifically. Which is why we are glad to give an all paid college experience with us. We hope to..."

I trailed off, not being able to read anymore. I was stunned. First of all, it was in Manchester so I knew there was a huge shot I wouldn't get in. Second of all, their coach who has made some of the best british and irish football players around the world wants me on his team. And third of all, they want to pay for my whole scholarship!

"This is great news, Harry!" My mother exclaimed, jumping and hugging me tightly around the neck. I was still too stunned to react so I just stood there, letting the paper slip from my hands and onto the floor.

Breaking back into sanity, I hugged my mother back tightly, kissing her forehead with a huge smile on my face. This was incredible. "Congrats, son," my stepfather said, patting my back before leaving the room. A few minutes later, with me still staring at the wall, he walked back while putting on a suit jacket, "Have a good birthday Harold, Anne I'll be back by dinner." He gave my mother a quick kiss before leaving.

I finally broke out of my trance and smiled again, "This is great news, Mum! I got in! Finally, I got in!" I jumped up once, landing softly which caused my mother to laugh before suddenly she just stopped, frozen practically. I turned to look out the same window she was just as something zoomed away.

When I turned back to my mother the same panic-stricken look was on her face. "Mum, what's wrong? Something going on?" I quizzed and she sighed, gathering the dished off the table, clearing trying to avoid some subject.

"No, no, Harry, go have fun! It's your nineteenth birthday!" She smiled over at me, the panic look still there. But I pushed it to the back of my mind as she put the dishes in the soapy water in the sink.

"Okay mum," I laughed lightly, kissing her cheek before heading back upstairs.
--
I got out my phone, dialing Niall's number as I drove with one hand, I knew this was illegal here in America, but it was my nineteenth birthday and I wanted to do a few things I usually wouldn't. After two rings, he picked up, "Harry, mate, happy birthday!"

A small smile played on my lips knowing Niall sounded so happy, after all, he was home back in Ireland for a few weeks. He did live with me, my mother, and stepdad. But he was visiting home at the moment. "Thanks Niall, how's being back at home?"

I could practically hear the happiness in his voice as he spoke, "Great craic! Great seein' the family, ya know? Everyone's changed so much in the past two years, crazy how much time has passed!" He chirped into his phone, "How've things been back there?"

"That's great to hear, tell the family I said hi. Things are good, guess what? I got excepted into Manchester United!" I practically jumped in my car seat just thinking about it and by hearing a glass shatter on the other end I knew Niall had jumped.

"Really? That's great Haz! Mom, Dad, Harry got accepted, tell everyone!" I heard him yell and had to pull the phone away from my ear for a moment before chuckling. "So we're both going, huh? This is great!"

I sighed happily, still slightly shocked I was accepted. Niall and I had been planning to go to Manchester just to get back in our old surroundings, and because it's a great school. "Yea, and there's more! The coach wants me on the football team!"

"That's amazing! And t' think, you got this acceptance letter on your birthday! Must be luck!" He chuckled on the other end and I couldn't help but join him. He was right. It had to have been luck, my grades weren't the best for Manchester, even though they were pretty good.

"I probably got a bonus for my good football skills," Niall laughed on the other end, probably imagining how many times I use to fall when trying to kick the ball when we were younger. I laughed shortly after him. "Well, I've gotta go Ni, I'm driving right now and plus you should get back to the family," after hanging up I focused completely on the road again.

About two minutes later I started seeing something zoom past up ahead, about a third of a mile away. I squinted my eyes, trying to get a better look, but it wasn't working. Slowly, I slowed my pace on the road, looking closely to make sure it wasn't a wreck or something.

I saw a girl up ahead, seemingly very pretty, before I could blink she was directly in front of the car, causing me to swerve off the road and into a random parking lot with loud music blaring from the building ahead. I took a deep breath, taking the keys out of the ignition and climbing out. I turned around, looking at where I'd seen the girl and was shocked when I saw no one was there.

"What the hell?" I mumbled to myself, looking around. That was until someone yanked me back by the arm, causing me to turn around and come face to face with a tall blonde girl.

She smirked at me.

Oh shit.