Loose Change (Harry Styles) [BOOK 2]

Janes POV
When I get back to the homeless shelter, I try to calm myself down and wipe my tears.
“Right on time! Breakfast is being served now if you want. “ Katherine says as she walks up to me.
I force a smile and I sniffle.
“I’m not really hungry.” I state.
Her face fills with confusion when she stares at my hands.
“Where’s your sketchbook?” she asks.
I look down at my hands and I clench them into fists.
“Nothing I- I guess I just left it at the park.” I respond.
She grabs my hand and squeezes it. I slowly move my head up to see her staring at me with a reassuring smile.
“I’ll go get your father, okay?” she whispers in my ear.
I look at her with my now glossy eyes and nod slowly.
She let’s go of my hand and walks away, in search for my dad.
I look around me to notice how everyone is staring at me. Some people have concerned eyes, while others have annoyed glares.
I turn away and I begin to walk towards the beds. This shelter is probably my favorite one. All the beds are organized neatly, they’re bathrooms with showers, the food is filling, and all the volunteers and workers here are all very sweet and kind. Volunteers like Katherine amaze me. I’ve never seen someone so dedicated to help people. When I’m older and I have a job, I’m going to definitely volunteer here or any shelter. I want to inspire and show kindness to people who need it. I know and have seen how broken some people are. They just need some motivation. I sometimes tell myself that I am perfectly fine, but I know I’m broken. I wish I wasn’t, because I want to be strong for my father…but sometimes it’s just hard.
I walk to the bed I so recognize, the one all the way at the corner of the room near the windows. I sit at the edge and I put my face in my hands. My hands begin to get wetter, as I realize how I’m in the same position as he was. I’m probably never going to see this guy again, but I’m crying anyway. It’s as if even though he didn’t know me, just by looking into my eyes he knew. He knew my secrets, my fears…it was just so indescribably intense. I can’t believe I left my sketchbook with that psycho. That was the only one I have ever gotten and most likely will ever get. That was the only luxury, I owned. Now my worth is even lower.
I’m startled as I suddenly feel a tap on my shoulder. I quickly look up and I wipe my tears.
“What’s wrong Janey?” my father asks with concerned eyes.
He sits down next to me and looks straight into my eyes. My heart begins to ache inside my chest as I stare into his eyes. I can’t tell him that I’m like this because of how miserable I find my life. How I wish we we’re normal and that I wish I was actually worth something. It would break him. He doesn’t know how I’ve seen him cry at night. How he talks to himself about being better…for me. I can’t do that to him.
I bite my bottom lip.
“I left my sketch book at the park.” I say.
His eyes look a little relieved and he pulls me into a hug.
“If you want, I can go and look for i-“
“No!” I scream.
He pulls me out of the hug and looks at me with one raised eyebrow.
“I-I um it fell in the lake. So it’s completely damaged. You don’t have to go.”
Good one.
“Oh, I’m so sorry Jane. I know how important that sketchbook was to you. Maybe if I find a job I can get you one.” He states with a soft smile.
I pull him in for another hug and I hug him tight.
“It’s alright. It was just a sketchbook. You’re more important to me than anything. Thank you, but I’ll be fine.” I say honestly.
He kisses the top of my head and hugs me a little longer.
“I love you daddy.” I whisper.
“I love you more.” He responds.
He then pulls away and gets up.
“Now let’s go get some grub. I’m starving and they got bagels.” He says excitedly.
I chuckle and nod my head.
I maybe not worth a lot, but this man is worth more than a million dollars to me. I get off the bed and walk with my dad to the food table.
After breakfast, I went to the bathroom and took a refreshing shower. Some people don’t even have the privilege to shower. Maybe I am luckier than I think.
Next Morning
I wake up and begin to tip toe out of the room.
I greet a few of the workers, before I walk out and start walking to the park.
Even though, I sadly don’t have a sketch book anymore, I still like going to see the sunrise every morning. It’s like my own tradition I guess. I doubt the jerk will be there again. He didn’t even sound American anyway. Maybe he was here for vacation and yesterday was his last day, and now he’s back in England or wherever he’s from. Or maybe he just moved here, and went to the park to find out more about this town, and he’s going to be here again today. Wait, I don’t think he was there yesterday for that. He seemed… tense about something, and he just went to the most serene place here, so he could think. I wonder why he was like that…why he cried…
I shake my thoughts and sigh to myself.
Why do I even care? He was a jerk to me and even made me cry. He doesn’t deserve to invade my thoughts. I don’t deserve to be tortured. Then again… what did he even really do bad? I mean sure he was rude to me, but I guess it was because I provoked him. Maybe, I’m the one that’s wrong here? Why am I thinking about this so much?
I close my eyes shut and take a deep breath. As I open them, my mind goes back to reality. I look around me and I notice how I’m right in front of the lake. I didn’t even notice I walked here, until now. I’m going crazy.
I shrug to myself and sit down on the grass. I spread my fingers and begin to tangle them in the green blades. I put my head back and begin to take in the atmosphere. The sky is starting to turn blue and I can’t help but smile at its beauty. I don’t think I’ll ever get over the beauty of all the colors.
“Me too.”
I quickly sit up and look to my left to see the Harry guy standing right next to me.
I feel my eyes widen as I see him sitting down next to me.
“W-what?” I ask.
“The mixture of all the colors with the blue of the sky…I’ll never get over it either.” He responds while looking up.
I feel myself blush. Did I say that out loud? Wait what is he doing here? Why is here again? Wait, what am I still doing here?
I quickly get up and I wipe the dirt from my pants as I walk away.
“Jane. Please wait.” I hear from behind me.
I begin to quicken my pace, until I feel some one grab my wrist. I quickly turn around to face Harry.
His green eyes are a lighter shade of green than how they we’re yesterday. I look straight down at my wrist, which is still being held by his hand. I glance up at him angered, and he quickly let’s go.
“What do you want? Our conversation ended yesterday.” I spit out.
He sighs and holds out my sketch book in his hand.
“You dropped this… I-I was hoping you would be here again, so I could give it back to you.” He says shyly.
I feel my anger drop and I take the book out of his hand.
“Thank you.” I whisper, while looking at my sketch book.
Silence.
I look up at him and see how he’s staring at me intently once again. What’s up with this guy and staring at me? I shake uncomfortably and look away from him.
“Well, thanks again.” I say as I begin to turn around.
“Wait.” I hear him state as he runs in front of me, stopping me from going any further.
“What do you want?” I ask.
He rubs the back of his neck with his hand and clears his throat.
“Your drawings are really good. Are you an artist?” he asks.
I raise one eyebrow at him in confusion.
“I was just wondering, because they looked professional and… I’m sorry okay. I didn’t mean what I said yesterday. My ego took over me, and no human being deserves to be spoken to in the way I spoke to you. I apologize. I was just in a bad mood and-“
He sighs.
“I’m just sorry.” He finishes.
This time I stare into his eyes, to see if he’s telling the truth. He looks like he’s completely serious.
“I-I forgive you I guess. Anyway it was kinda my fault… I mean I provoked you and you wouldn’t have said those things if it weren’t for me. I just don’t like people asking me stuff, even if it’s simple and I-I’m sorry too. So, sorry.” I admit, while looking at the floor.
I feel a hand on my shoulder and I look back up at Harry. He gives me a soft smile and drops his hand back to his sides.
“So…truce?” he asks with his hand out.
I stare at his hand and bite my lip for a while, before I give in and shake his hand. What the heck.
He smiles, showing his dimples again, causing me to smile once again. He has a very contagious smile.
“Your smile.” I say.
He looks at me with confusion.
“What?”
“Your smile… That’s why I smiled yesterday. I don’t know. It’s just contagious… Besides, it seems like you don’t usually smile a lot...as if it was one of those ‘rare’ things to see. You should smile more. You have a nice smile.” I honestly state.
His lips part at my words and he looks amazed. What did I say…
“Sorry, I was just being honest.” I say awkwardly.
I begin to kick the dirt around my foot, as I await for his response.
“Do you want to be…friends?” he asks.
This time I’m the one that’s amazed.
“Friends?” I ask.
He nods his head.
“Ya.” He simply states.
“Um why?” I ask.
He sighs and rubs his face with his hand.
“I don’t kn- just yes or no.”
Is this guy serious?
“Um sorry, but no. Friends know things about each other. I just met you yesterday. Besides, the first time we talked your words kill- they weren’t nice. That doesn’t sound very friend like.” I respond while shoving my hands in my pockets uncomfortably.
He walks closer to me. What is he going to do?
“My name is Harry Styles. I was born in a small place called Holmes Chapel in England. I have brown curly hair-“ he points to his hair.
“Green eyes-“ he flutters his eyelashes and I can’t help but laugh.
“I have one sister and my parents are divorced.” He says while looking up, as if he’s trying to think of other things to say.
“Um… I have dimples.” He adds as he pinches his own cheeks.
I laugh even louder and I notice how he is beginning to laugh.
“I like really hate mushrooms, I don’t know why an-“
“What are you doing?” I ask with a stupid smile on my face.
He mirrors my expression and quickly licks his lips.
“You now know some things about me. That means we’re now acquaintances.” He explains.
I raise one eyebrow at him.
“Why we’re you crying yesterday?” I ask.
His smile fades for a quick second before he begins to grin again.
“We’re not at that level yet. Right now we’re in the first level of our friendship. Level one. To know that, you will have to be in level…. Eleven.” He states in a playful seriousness.
I chuckle and stare at him.
“Hmmm fine. Well let’s see… my name is Jane Wec- Jane… I was born here in Hazelwood, Virginia. I have wavy ‘strawberry blonde’ not red, hair” He begins to chuckle.
“I have light brown eyes-“ I begin to flutter my eyelashes like he did, and he begins to laugh loud.
I can’t help but laugh myself.
“Stop making me laugh. Do you want me to continue or what?” I say teasingly.
He covers his mouth with one hand and motions me to continue with the other one.
I smile in satisfaction and continue.
“My parents are divorced as well…I have no dimples, because I’m normal looking-“ I look at him and see how he rolls his eyes and I chuckle a little.
“I’ve never tried mushrooms, but they look like they taste dreadful.”
I stop and I stare at him for his response. His hands are now, both down on his sides and he begins to nod.
“Tell me more.” He says as we begin to walk back to the lake.
I smile and continue.
“I like to draw and I really don’t know what else to say.” I state honestly.
He sits down in front of the lake and I do the same, sitting next to him.
“How’d you learn to draw like that?” He says while pointing to my sketch book.
I hold it tighter and blush a little.
“I just started to draw and I guess I got better over the years as I practiced.” I respond.
I look to the left and see how he looks very interested.
“You like animals a lot.” He says.
I nod.
“How do you know?” I ask.
“More than half of your drawings are of animals.”
“You looked through my sketchbook?” I ask.
His cheeks turn a little pink.
“Well um ya. Sorry, but I was kind of curious. The picture you drew of me is your best one, in my opinion. And not because I’m in it or anything, but it’s just really good.” He says shyly.
Before I can respond he continues.
“I’m not conceited, I mean the drawing is good because of the detail. It’s really good and-“
I can’t help but smile at his nervousness.
“I know you’re not conceited. You just really like the drawing. Thanks.” I interrupt him.
He looks at me and gives me a soft smile.
I put my sketch book in front of me and begin to stare at it for a while. I open it and begin to flip through the pages. I can feel Harry’s eyes burning through me.
When I finally reach the drawing of Harry, I carefully rip it out and hand it to him.
He stares at it and shakes his head a little.
“It’s yours. I can’t take it.” He whispers.
I grab his hand and I open it. I then lay the paper on it and I close his fingers.
“I want you to have it.” I reply.
He looks at his hands intensely and then looks back at me.
“Why are you giving me this?”
“I like giving drawings to my friends.” I say.
He quickly looks back at me and smiles.
“That’s a nice thing to do.” He retorts.
I smile back and we begin to stare into each other’s eyes again. Maybe talking to someone other than my dad and Katherine, isn’t that bad…
He shakes his head and begins to search through the pockets of his light denim jeans.
“What is it?” I ask.
His eyes glow with excitement, when his hand meets something in his pocket. He takes it out and I see how it’s my pen. He hands it to me.
“Draw me.” He states.
“What? I already did though.” I state confused.
He grabs my sketchbook and flips to an empty page, before handing it back to me.
“You have a better view now. Just tell me what pose you want me to do, and I’ll do it.”
I bite my bottom lip and look down at my paper, before meeting his eyes again. I nod my head quickly.
“Thank you. That would be great.” I say excitedly.
He turns his body, to face me and waits there patiently.
“What do you want me to do?” he asks.
I look up at the sky and begin to think.
I turn back to him to see how he’s just staring at me.
“Like that!” I say.
I quickly sit up straight and I place my sketch book on my lap as I begin to draw. His eyes look so intense, that it would look perfect on paper.
Thirty Minutes Later
“Okay I’m done.” I say.
He lets out a breath of relief and begins to rub his neck.
“Sorry.” I say shyly.
He scoots closer to me and looks down, staring at the drawing.
“Woah.” He says.
“Is it bad?”
He looks at me in shock.
“What? No! It’s one of the best drawings I’ve ever seen.”
I playfully hit his shoulder.
“It’s not that good.”
He gets up, walks in front of me, and bends down.
He cups my chin and points my head up.
“It’s brilliant.” He whispers.
I stare into his eyes and give him a small smile.
“Thank you.” I whisper back.
He smiles back and let’s go of my chin.
He stands back up and puts his hand out to help me up.
“Thanks…again.”
He nods.
We continue to walk in silence around the lake.
This time the silence isn’t awkward though, it’s peaceful.
The sound of the moving water, the smell of the fresh air, the warm breeze…. The atmosphere right now is beautiful. I shut my eyes and I hold my sketch book close to my chest as I take in everything. Even though I can’t see him, I feel Harry’s eyes on me.
“Would you want to see me again?” he asks innocently.
I open my eyes and look at him. He looks so vulnerable.
I nod my head and he looks at the drawing I gave him.
“Thank you.” He whispers.
“What for?” I ask.
He looks back at me and shrugs.
“I…I don’t know. Just… thank you.” He whispers.
I smile slightly.
“Anytime.” I say confused.
He chuckles.
“Now what level are we on now?” I ask.
He looks at me confused.
“You know. Our friendship… What level are we on?” I ask.
He smiles, showing his dimples.
“Hmmm we’re almost on level four. Almost…” He says.
“Almost? How do we get to level four?” I ask.
“Well… you have to tell me more about yourself.” He says.
“I’ve talked enough. It’s your turn.” I say.
He rolls his eyes and grins.
“Fine. What do you want to know?”
“Well…”
An hour later
Harry and I are sitting down, our bodies both against a tree.
“To get to level ten you have to… climb this tree.” He says as he points upward.
“What? No!” I say.
“Fine then you won’t level up and you will never know what happened to me yesterday.”
I look up at the tree and see how it’s not that high. I mean if a squirrel can do it…
I look back at him to see the smug smile on his face. He knows what I’m about to say.
“Fine. I give in.”
He smiles in satisfaction and I roll my eyes.
I get up and I grab him up as well.
“You can do this.”
“Why do you even want me to do this?” I ask.
He shrugs.
“It’ll be interesting to see.”
“You’re crazy you know.”
He laughs and shrugs.
“Now go!”
“Fine. Fine.” I say.
I sigh and stare at the tree.
I walk to the tree’s bark and I hug it. What am I supposed to do?
“Why the hell are you hugging a tree?” he asks while laughing.
“Be quiet. I’ve never climbed a tree before.”
I then feel myself being lifted up and I shriek in shock.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Giving you a lift.” Harry replies.
I feel myself getting higher and higher.
“We’re not going to make it!” I scream nervously.
“Yes we a-“
We both fall to the floor.
I roll off of Harry and I hear him groan in pain.
“Told you.” I say while laughing.
He sticks his tongue at me and I laugh louder.
“I’m sorry Harry, but I can’t do it.” I say.
He slowly sits up and chuckles.
“It’s fine. You’re on level ten now.” He states.
I sit up straight and I laugh.
“Thank god. I’m not really into ‘exercise’. “
He laughs even harder and I as well.
I look around and notice how more and more people are beginning to come.
“What time is it?” I ask.
He takes out his phone and checks the time.
“Nine thirty- seven” he states.
I feel my eyes widen and I quickly grab all my things and get up.
“I’m sorry, but I have to go!” I state while walking away. My dad is probably freaking out! I usually stay in the park for an hour and go back to the homeless shelter. Oh no! I hope he isn’t searching for me.
I begin to run and I hear my name being called from behind me.
“Jane! Stop!” Harry yells.
I stop and I turn around, to see Harry running up to me.
“Where are you going? Did I do anything? I’m sorry about the tree, I was just playing around, I-”
“No, it’s not that. It’s me. I have to go. My dad is waiting for me and is probably searching for me right now.”
His features soften and he hands me his phone.
“Here you can use my phone to call him.” He says.
I stare at his phone and I sigh.
“He doesn’t have a phone.”
He puts his phone in his pocket.
“Why doesn’t he have a phone? I mean-“
“I have to go Harry. I’m sorry.”
I begin to walk until I feel my wrist being tugged. I turn around and I face Harry again.
“Let me walk you.” He whispers.
He looks so confused and even a little hurt. I can’t let him know that I’m homeless. I know he would regret even hanging out with me…
“No Harry. I’m sorry.” I whisper back.
“What about level eleven? We’re almost there. I’ll tell you if you want. Just stay.”
I feel my lips part at his words. Why does he want me to stay so much?
“We’re friends right?” he asks.
I stare at his hand that is still wrapped around my wrist. This time he doesn’t let go.
I pull my hand out.
“Today was one of the most fun days of my life. Thank you.” I say as I hug him.
He wraps his arms around me and holds me tight.
I pull away and I begin to feel tears form in my eyes. I wish I could be friends with him. I wish I wasn’t ashamed.
“Bye Harry. It was nice meeting you.”
He stares into my eyes and sighs.
“It was nice meeting you too Jane.”
I nod and I turn around to walk away.
“I won’t forget you.” I hear said from behind me.
I stop for a second and turn around. I give him a soft smile and I walk away.
I won’t forget him either.

Notes