Loose Change (Harry Styles) [BOOK 2]

I sit up straight on the uncomfortable bed and I stretch my arms in the air. I look around me and I notice how everyone is still asleep. I smile at the sight of my peaceful dad sleeping in the bed next to me. His mouth is wide open as he snores loudly. I chuckle a little as I take the sheets off of me and I carefully tip toe out of bed, not wanting to wake anyone else. I bend down and reach for my sketch book and pen that is hidden under the bed. As I get up from the floor, I can't help but have a mini heart attack.
"You scared me! Don't sneak up on me like that." I whisper.
"Why are you up so early Ms. Weck?" Katherine asks, ignoring my statement.
Mrs. Katherine is a volunteer here at the homeless shelter. She has short gray hair and light brown eyes. I think she's in her sixties, but she never confirms my assumptions.
"Katherine I'm nineteen, don't call me Ms. Weck. I'm not a teacher." I say while chuckling.
She gives me a soft smile.
"Sorry. Jane, why are you up so early?" she repeats her question.
I glance through the window and notice how the sky is starting to become lighter.
I turn my head back to her and smile.
"The sun is rising Kat." I simply retort.
She looks at the window herself and smiles back.
"You're going to the park again to draw aren't you?" she asks.
I nod my head.
"Okay. I'll tell your father when he wakes up. Breakfast is going to be served soon, so come back after."
I give her a quick hug.
"Thanks." I whisper as I silently walk out of the room and homeless shelter.
Right when I walk out of the shelter, the breeze hits my face and I can't help but close my eyes and take it all in. Nature is beautiful and just breath taking to me. It's never the same. I don't know why it fascinates me so much...
As I begin to walk to the park that is close by, I look up at the sky and see how the stars are beginning to disappear, and the dark blue shade is starting to turn lighter. I begin to run, so I won't miss it.
I know you can see the sun rise from anywhere, but it's much more magnificent and magical when you see it from the park.
My smile widens and I quicken my pace as I see the entrance to the park.
When I finally reach the park, I look for the bench I always sit in and I quickly sit down when I find it. I take a deep breath and I wipe the sweat off my brow. I really hate running, but watching the sun rise is worth the exercise.
I look to my right and see a small squirrel running down a tree, while holding a small berry. I quickly open my sketch book to a new page and I begin to sketch the squirrel. As soon as the squirrel runs down the tree, it stops right in front of me and stays there as if it's modeling for me.
I chuckle at the thought and begin to analyze all its features. I begin to draw an outline of its miniature body and small head. Whenever I draw animals, I have to sketch as fast as I can because they usually leave before I can fully finish. When I'm done with all the basic outlines like the eyes, nose, and teeth; I begin to add more detail and shading. It's harder to draw with a pen than with a pencil because if you mess up, than your whole drawing is ruined. But I also like it better, because pens don't break and you don't have to constantly fear if it does.
As the squirrel finally leaves, I look up at the sky and see the new colors that have appeared. Orange, red, pink... It's breath taking. I close my eyes for a second and listen to the sounds surrounding me. I hear the sounds of birds chirping, crickets rubbing their legs, frogs, and a man cursing loudly. Wait what? I quickly open my eyes and I begin to look around, searching to see where the cursing is coming from.
"Fuck! Why does this shit always happen to me?" I hear.
I'm surprised to even hear someone. No one usually comes to the park this early, except for me of course. When I do see people, it's usually because they're jogging and exercising.
I can't see anyone from where I'm sitting, so I decide to get up and walk around.
I see a huge tree and I tip toe and hide behind it. If I see the angered man, I don't want him to know that I'm watching...
I peek to the right side of the tree and I begin to scan as I hear more talking.
"Fuck this, I'm so tired of this crap."
My eyes finally meet the man and I see him... well the back of him. He's very tall and is wearing a black T-shirt with dark jeans. He begins to walk to the right and he sits down in the bench I was sitting in before. He puts his elbows on his knees and puts his face in his hands.
I tip toe to a tree closer to him, so I can observe him more.
Even though I can't see his face since they're in his hands, I can tell he's young. He looks like he's in his early twenties.
I begin to grow a sudden urge to draw him. No that's weird. I shouldn't.... I glance at him again and I notice how perfectly still he looks. He's a perfect model... No but it's still weird. What if you never get another chance like this again? I mean look at him. The amount of emotion he is showing would be the perfect picture. I bite my bottom lip at my own thoughts and observe him more. Is he even awake? It's been about five minutes, and he's still in that position. I think he's...sleeping. That seems like a very un- comfortable sleeping position, but I guess it's comfortable to him... What if he's not even sleeping? He is! Look he's not even flinching. I sigh.
Okay I'll do it.
I tip toe away from the tree and I begin to walk closer to him. I'm about seven feet away from him as I begin to draw. As I draw the outline of his body, I begin to notice more specific features about him. His brown hair is curly, he has big hands, and he has very toned muscular arms that are covered with tattoos.
I'm now drawing his tattoos, but I can't see some of them clearly from where I am. I sigh in defeat. Maybe I should just stop. What? Look at how amazing your drawing is! It's one of your best ones you've done. You need to walk closer to him and draw those tattoos. I can't though! It's creepy and stalkerish... Who cares? It's not like you're ever going to see him again any way. Besides look at how good it looks.
I look down at my drawing and see how my mind is right. The drawing looks very intense and emotional. The way he's sitting... it makes you want to know what he's thinking about and I even did the shading good. The tattoos will make it more realistic and personal, in my opinion.
I'll do it.
I walk closer until I am only a few inches away from him. I slowly kneel down on the floor and I begin to observe him more. I'm so close to him that I can hear his breathing, and I can even see some beauty marks that are on his arms. I glance up at him. I wonder what his face looks like...
You're here to draw the tattoos remember.
I shake my thoughts and I stare at the ink covering his arms. I begin to sketch the huge ship on his bicep, a triangle, three nails, a heart, and one more that I see is hiding under his sleeve. I kind of want to know what the one hiding under his sleeve is... I hold my pen tighter and slowly and softly pull up his sleeve a little with it.
"What the fuck!" I hear him say as he sits up and glares at me.
I knew this wasn't a good idea...
"I-I'm sorry." I whisper frightened.
He quickly gets up from the bench and pulls me up by my shirt.
"What are you doing?!?" he asks while air is being released forcefully out of his nose.
I feel my eyes widen as he pulls me closer to his face by my collar.
Oh no.
"WELL!?" he raises his voice.
"I-I was just- just- just."
I'm too scared to even finish my sentence.
"He looks down at my hand and sees my sketch book.
"What, do you want to write about how Harry Styles was crying at a park? I know the magazines will just love that! Why do you even do this? Does it make your life less shitty and boring than it actually is?"
My fear gets soon replaced with confusion. What is he talking about? Wait... he was crying?
I stare into his eyes and see how they are a really dark green, but are also red and puffy. Oh my, he was crying.
"I wasn't trying to-" I try to defend myself before he suddenly lets me go and grabs my sketch book out of my hands.
Oh no he's going to see it...
I feel myself redden as I see him angrily flipping through the pages as he walks away from me.
His features begin to soften and he looks confused as he stops on a certain page. I'm guessing the drawing of him...
He pulls the book down and begins to stare at me.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to be creepy or anything, I just-"
"Why we're you drawing me?" He asks, as he walks closer.
I sigh and look into his eyes. I don't want to get this guy mad again so I might as well tell him the truth.
"You looked very interesting to draw... I don't know... You just looked very intense and I thought it would be a nice drawing." I shyly but honestly respond.
He begins to observe me as if I'm a new species and I can't help but feel uncomfortable.
I clear my throat.
"Um again I'm sorry." I say while I try to grab my book back.
He holds it closer to him and ignores me completely.
"Do you know who I am?" he asks.
I raise one eyebrow at him.
"Um no. Why, am I supposed to?"
He continues to stare into my eyes as if to see if I'm telling the truth or not.
"Can I kinda have my sketch book back?" I ask awkwardly.
"What's your name?" he asks.
Is this guy for real?
"No. Now can I please have my sketch book back?" I try to snatch it again, but he holds it tighter in his grasp.
He's starting to annoy me.
"Not until you tell me your name."
"No!" I yell as I use both my hands to snatch it out of his hold.
He pushes my hands away and holds my book up high. I try to jump and get it, but he's too tall. Ugh, curse me and my short legs.
"Why won't you just tell me your name?"
"Because I just met you, and it's weird." I defend.
He gives me a face of disbelief.
"What? And drawing some random person at the park and pulling up there sleeve is perfectly normal?!"
I open my mouth to speak, but quickly close it. He has a point there.
I sigh in defeat.
"Fine. My name is Jane. Now give me back my book. Please."
He smiles in satisfaction and hands me my sketch book.
I hold my book tight and stare as he gives out his hand for me to shake.
"Hello Jane, my name is Harry."
I shake his hand and I can't help but smile as his dimples show.
"Why are you smiling?" he asks with one raised eyebrow.
I feel myself blush and I lie.
"I'm just happy I got my sketch book back." I say.
Nice.
He lets go of my hand and observes me more. Why does he always try to read me? I don't like it when people stare at me....
"You're lying." He says.
"No I'm not."
"Yes, you are. I can tell."
"I don't lie."
"You just did. Again."
I roll my eyes.
"Fine. I lied." I say in defeat.
He smiles again.
"Now tell me why you we're smiling."
He begins to stare at me again and I look away.
"I don't have to tell you anything. I just met you. You're not my friend and stop freaking staring at me!"
His smile fades and he begins to look mad again.
"I was just asking you why you we're smiling, not where you live or what you do every day of your life. Calm down. And you have no right to talk to me that way. Like you said, we just met. You're not making a very good first impression." He fights back.
"First impression? Why would I care about impressing you, you're just some guy I just met at a park."
He begins to laugh cynically.
"You really don't know who I am, do you? I am worth way more than you will ever be."
My sketch book falls out of my hand as I feel my heart stop at his words and tears begin to form in my eyes.
"Look I didn't mean to I-" He begins to say as his face fills with regret.
"You're right. I'm sorry." I whisper before I turn around and run.
"Jane!" I hear my name being called from behind me, but I don't stop.
I just run and run as his words echo in my mind.
'I am worth way more than you will ever be.'
He's right. He is worth more. Everyone is. I'm just a homeless girl...That's all I am and that's all I'll ever be.

Notes