The week went by slowly as Lori waited for Friday. Christine was busy with classes and Martha was busy with her shop. Most of Lori's other friends were already at college. Soccer tryouts wouldn't be for a while since most of her old team left to go play college ball in other states. Work was boring as usual, but on Wednesday Robert surprised Lori by calling her into his office. Nervously and having no idea what was going on, Lori sat in one of the chairs facing Robert.
“Lori, I'm not exactly sure how to say this so I'm just going to say it. I-I have to fire you. The summer season is over and well we just don't need as many employees anymore. Don't think you're not a good worker, you're an amazing worker. You work hard, you're responsible, you're honest, and trustworthy, but you're too smart for this job. You're eighteen and you've already finished college, you shouldn't be working at an amusement park. Promise me you'll find something you like, something that'll make a difference. I don't want you wasting your smarts.”
“Okay Robert I promise. Take care, okay?”
“You too, Lori.”
Besides looking for a new job, Lori didn't have much to do. She and Harry were always talking as usual, updating each other about their day. Lori went to a bunch of interviews for jobs she found slightly interesting. There were teaching opprotunities, office positions, all sorts of stuff. The only thing Lori really ever wanted to do was help people. As long as she was helping someone she was content with her job. Besides helping people she wanted to write. Books were always a big inspiration for her so she hoped that maybe one day she could do the same for another lonely girl. Finally Friday came and as Lori was packing her luggage her phone began to ring. She assumed it was Christine who was going to pick her up soon.
“Hello,” she sang into the phone.
“Someone sounds happy,” said a deep, raspy voice.
“Well someone is because that someone is going to see you soon.”
“Lori,” Harry said slowly, his voice no longer as upbeat “about that. I can't pick you up from the airport, but I'm sending you a car to pick you up and take you to my flat. I'm really sorry, I have to do an interview and then a performance.”
“Harry its fine. I wish I could see you sing though. I'll see you after the performance, okay?”
“Alright. There will be a key under the mat. Try not to be killed by the fans. And don't let any of the fans inside no matter how nice they are. There's this one girl who will say she's the maid, but she's not. Even if she's wearing a uniform don't let her in, I don't have a maid. I also have a cat so-”
“Harry I'll be fine,” Lori said with a smile. “Have a good performance.”
“Okay. Have a good flight!”
Lori hung up the phone and smiled at his contact picture.
“Someone is smiley,” Christine said as she leaned against Lori's bedroon door frame. Lori stuck her tongue out at Christine and the two girls began to load Lori's stuff into Christine's car. Christine kept telling Lori to take lots of pictures and to try to eat a bunch of British food and to stay safe etc. When they go to the airport Lori hugged Christine goodbye and was soon boarding her plane. The entire ride Lori was extremely anxious. She was scared to meet Harry's friends and family, she wanted them to like her. That was the only thing she could think about for the majority of the flight. When she got bored she'd write in her writing journal, the one that was filled with fiction and some of her feelings. Sometimes she watch the movie they were playing or just listen to music, but other times she'd just sleep. The person next to her was really nice. It was a girl heading home after spending the summer in the United States.
“What's your name? You look really familiar.”
“I'm Lori, what's your name?”
“Lena. I know who you are! You're the girl with purple streaked hair! Harry Styles' girlfriend.”
“Oh I'm not his girlfriend!” Lori said immediately “We-we're not a couple.”
“That's not what it looks like to me,” Lena said mischievously.
Lena put headphones into her ears and closed her eyes, a knowing smile on her face. Lori shook her head and did the same.
*******************************************
All the people in the airport made Lori feel a little nervous, but she took a deep breath, gripped her luggage, and began to walk around. As Lori walked around she noticed a couple of groups of teenage girls whispering with each other and staring at her. Their eyes made her feel uneasy and she wondered if they were One Direction fans trying to get a look at her. Christine had told Lori that news of her trip was in a few magazines. Lori prayed they wouldn't come up to her, talking with strangers was hard to do and she didn't want them yelling about how she was stealing Harry from them. A man in a suit stood standing near the exit, Lori's last name on the sign he was holding. It was weird for Lori to see her name, she felt important, but misplaced as if it were some mistake. Slowly she walked towards the man.
“Um, excuse me,” Lori said timidly, “I'm Lori Cross.”
“Hello Ms. Cross,” he said with a friendly smile, “I'm Nathan and I'll be your driver. Please follow me. Would you like some help with your bags?”
“Thanks, but I've got it.” Lori liked his accent and how he seemed so formal.
Lori followed Nathan out of the air port and to a small black car. The architecture of the city was charming and made Lori feel significant and insignificant all at the same time, like she would never measure up to be as impressive as the buildings, but important enough to be able to witness them. Nathan loaded Lori's bags into the trunk and opened the door for Lori. As they drove to Harry's flat Nathan told Lori all about London and about the events going on and who was going to be where; like he was her own little gossip magazine. Lori liked talking with Nathan, he was very friendly and he had a nice smile.
“Nathan, this may be a stupid question, but you don't work for Harry, do you?”
“No Love, I'm just part of a business, but Harry's grandfather is a good friend of mine so you can say Harry and I are well aquainted. Whenever he uses the business he specifically asks for me,” he added with a glint of pride.
When they got to Harry's flat Nathan gave Lori her bags and a hug goodbye. There were fans waiting near the house, hoping to get a glimpse of the girl with the purple streaked hair. All the people and cameras and questions made Lori uncomfortable so she quickly walked up to Harry's front door, unlocked it with the spare key, and hid inside. His house apartment was nice, very big with cool, modern furniture. Since Lori didn't know where she would be sleeping she just sat on the couch and turned on the TV, wondering if she could find the program Harry would be on. As she was flipping channels a cat with gray fur jumped onto her lap and immediately began to pur when Lori started scratching it behind it's ear.
“Well aren't you a cutie pie,” Lori said to the cat. “What do you do for fun around here?”
Lori got up and began to walk around, her curiosity taking the best of her. There were a lot of rooms, but nothing was really all that messy which surprised Lori because she just assumed all guys were slobs. Unsure of what to do, Lori walked back over to the couch, pulled out her writing journal, and began to write and listen to a music channel she found on Harry's TV. When Harry came home he found Lori sitting on the couch, watching Doctor Who. As soon as Lori saw Harry she jumped up and kissed him.
“Hey, how was the performance? I couldn't find it on your TV.”
“It was great, the host was hilarious. Do you know Alan Carr?”
“Yeah, Chattyman.”
“We were on his show. He's wicked. How are you liking London?”
They sat on the couch together as Lori explained how much she adored the city despite only seeing glimpses of it. Harry assured her that he would take her on a tour tomorrow after he finished a photo shoot. Together they made tacos for dinner, well they tried making tacos for dinner. They messed around, making silly faces at each other, throwing food like little kids, kissing when they got close. Eventually they did end up eating and when they were done Harry helped Lori with her bags and showed her to her room. As Harry helped Lori unpack he discovered a black lace bra.
“Look what I've found” he said with a cheeky smile, bringing her attention to what was in his large hands and pink heat instantly flushing her cheeks.
“Harry gives that back,” Lori demanded as she reached for the bra, but Harry was quicker and he held it above his head.
“Reach for them, Babe.”
Lori tried to get them, but was far too short so she jumped, hoping to grasp the fabric in her fingers. Feeling a little childish, Harry put them on his head and began to run around his flat with Lori close on his tail. He ran into his bedroom and Lori tackled him onto the bed, reaching for her bra. They wrestled on the bed until Lori finally grabbed it out of Harry's hands. When she tried to get to her feet Harry rolled on top of her and pinned her to the black duvet, his knees on either side of her torso.
“Let me go!” Lori ordered, “Harry, get off.”
“No way,” he laughed as he planted a kiss on both of her cheeks.
“You're the biggest six year old I ever met. Get off, you have cooties.”
“Girls are the ones with cooties, but don't worry, I can wash them away.”
Harry began to kiss Lori, pressing his lips against hers. At first Lori was a little tense, but soon she eased up as Harry's tongue slipped into her mouth. They turned over so Lori was on top and she laid her hands on Harry's chest as he gripped her hips. His hands didn't stay there for long, they slowly went lower until they gripped her bum, making her moan in their kiss. She felt Harry smirk at her shock. To get back at him she grinnded herself onto Harry's crotch and heard him release a throaty groan. Without thinking, Lori started to pull Harry's plain white t-shirt over his head. He helped with the action and his shirt was soon on the floor. The feel of his exposed skin sent tingles through Lori and she could feel his muscles tighten as she pressed harder onto him. Something small and furry jumped onto them, causing Lori to give out a small shriek and roll off Harry. He laughed at her jumpiness and Lori swatted his muscular arm.
“Calm down, it's just the cat. Come on, let's go get you unpacked.”
**********************
Lori sat on Harry's couch, waiting for the videogame to load. Harry walked over with a bowl of popcorn and quickly grabbed a controler.
“Did you have any plans for tomorrow?” Harry asked Lori.
“Nothing in paticular. Why, got something in mind?”
“It's just I have a photoshoot tomorrow, but I was thinking afterwards I could show you around London and then go to a football match and after that we just head over to Liam's birthday party. What do you think?”
“I think I'm going to snipe you,” Lori said with a sly smile as Harry's character died. “But yeah, that sounds fun.”
They played for about an hour before going to bed. Harry kissed Lori goodnight and walked into his bedroom. Lori walked into her room and changed into a t-shirt and sweatpants before going to bed. It was a little cold, but Lori didn't mind so much. She huddled into the soft blankets, engulfing herself into their warmth. Her eyes adjusted to the dark room and stared at the wall for a little bit, seeing if she'd go to bed. The time difference should've made Lori easily tired, but thoughts floated to the front of her mind. Lori rolled onto her back and thought about all the fans that had been there at Harry's flat. She wondered if any magizines or websites finally had her name and the idea of that made her stomach uneasy. Lori didn't want the world to know her, she liked being invisible and she was good at it. But then she thought of all the good memories Harry had made with her over the past month. All the smiles and laughs and kisses. All the tears and hugging and comforting. Harry was worth it.