Always.

“You look so gorgeous, Kelly. And you aren’t even in your dress yet.” Danielle compliments me as she looks at the work she had spent an hour doing on me.

We sit in her bedroom, I’m in a silk-like robe in a chair. Danielle has finished my make-up and hair, putting some curls in it.

“You should look.” She says.

I do, and stand from my seat to look in her mirror. “Whoa,” a gasp falls from my lips as I stare at the person in the mirror in front of me. My lips are red, and my eyes are gold, and the mascara she did makes everything just pop. My hair is loosely curled and pinned a little at the top. “I look… wow.” I stare in awe, is that really me?

“Let’s get you dressed.” She walks to her closet to grab the dress and hands it to me. “Here.” She says, not giving it to me fast enough.

I change in the room with her there, pulling the dress on up my legs and putting my arms through the slots. “Can you zip me?” I ask her, and she comes to my assistance right away.

“There you go.” She says, tapping me on the back. “Now shoes.” She walks to her closet in search for some.

“I brought some flats.” I say, though it is probably no use.

“Nonsense.” She digs around some more before she sighs muttering the word “perfect” under her breath and turns around with a black pair of wedges.

“I don’t know whether it’s good or bad that we’re almost the same size.”

“It’s good, Kelly.” She rolls her eyes and hands me the shoes.

“What if I fall?” I ask, putting them on.

“You won’t. Plus, they’re better than heels and won’t stick into the grass when you have to walk on the field.”

I slip them on my feet and then stand up straight. I walk over to her floor-length mirror with more ease than I expected. Again, I was mesmerized by my reflection. “I look so..” I trail off, at a loss for word.

“Stunning, flawless, gorgeous… You name it, that’s how you look. Damn, Harry is going to go absolutely crazy.” She laughs.

I smile at the thought. I could imagine how I would like Harry to look when he sees me. Then I realized something.

“Wait? What do you mean?” I look at her, confused.

“I just meant, uh.” She rubs the back of her neck… “Fine, I’ve been talking to Liam lately, and we-uh, kinda talked about you and Harry.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before.”

I sigh.. “It’s okay. I just don’t want everyone thinking things.” I sigh.

“Well, whatever the feelings, he’s going to be drooling over you.” She gushes. “You’re welcome.”

We leave shortly, and go to the band room before the game starts. Everyone, almost everyone, comes and tells me how pretty I look and it’s really cool and sweat of all of them. Once they die down, Niall comes up to me and gives me a warm smile.

“Kelly.” He uses his hands show the length of me body. “You look beautiful.”

I feel myself blushing at his complement. “Thank you, Niall. That’s too sweet.” I gave him a quick hug and whispered. “Kick ass tonight,” in his ear before swiftly moving back watching him walk away.

The band was about to line up outside and begin the cadence as they walked to the field so I just stayed in the practice room with the piano, and the door that I seem to forget to close.

This time I left it open and just sat in there on my phone scrolling through my tumblr.

“Kel?” I hear the familiar deep accent and chills run down my spine as I stand up and straighten out my dress.

“Yea?” I say, walking to the door frame and finding him just walking in.

His jaw drops slightly, and his hands freeze on his shirt collar as he stars at me. I cough awkwardly and he snaps out of his position and looks me in the eye. “Wow. You look absolutely breathtaking.” He shakes his head, almost in disbelief. “Am I one lucky prince.” He grins, looking at my attire again and then into my eyes.

“Thanks.” I reply to his compliment, rubbing my arm with my opposite hand and look at him. “You look really good too. His wears black dress pants and a nice dress shirt that has just enough buttons undone so you can see the birds tattooed on his chest. Which took a lot of convincing and begging to him mom to get if I might add. I also noticed the tie he held in his hand. “Did you need help?”

He nods. So he isn’t keeping his shirt unbuttoned… Damn.

“Come here.” I said, and he walked so he was standing right in front of me. With these shoes on, it made it seem like I wasn’t as short as usual.

I reached my hands out and buttoned up his undone shirt. Then I grabbed the tie from him and wrapped it around his neck, twisting and pulling it until I had tied it perfectly. I moved my hands slowly to his collar and straightened it out over his tie. “There.” I whisper, my hands still on him. My eyes travel from the tie to his eyes, and I find myself biting down on my lip.

“Hey, Kelly have you seen Potter’s-” I quickly backed up from Harry as my eyes landed on Niall. His face looked sadder than I’ve ever seen it before and I swore I could see pain flash in his eyes.

“I’m sorry. What were you looking for?” I asked as nice as possible but he just shook his head at me.

“Never mind.” He looks round the room and stops when he looks toward the marker board. “I’ve got it.” He quickly grabs whatever it was that he needed and leaves the room without another glance toward me.

“Uh.” I clear my throat and look towards the clock at the back of the room. “We should probably start heading down there.” So we walked down toward the stadium and the others were already standing beside the stands so Harry and I joined them.

I could see the full stands, and I remember how crazy it is on homecoming night. Suddenly I’m more nervous than I have been all night. What if I fall in front of all these people? At least I can make sure that doesn’t go into the yearbook.

“Hey, you okay?” Harry comes up beside me and asks.

“Yea, there’s just a lot of people. Don’t let me fall okay?” I tell him, giving him the most serious look I can.

“Of course not.” He says and a silence falls over the rest of the candidates as we line up.

The underclassmen are first, then the 8 seniors are in the back. We each received our sash that has homecoming court on it and told us that we to wait for the choir to finish singing the national anthem before we walk across.

“You really do look amazing.” Harry whispered in my ear as he physically took my arm and looped it through his. “Mum is going to take so many pictures. She might even cry a bit.” He chuckles.

I did too. There’s just something about his laugh that it so contagious I can’t help myself.

Before I know it, they begin announcing the freshman. My grip on Harry’s arm tightens and he looks down at me, patting my hand with his free one.

They announce mine and Harry’s name, and we walk out onto the track. The crowd cheers for us, and loud whistles are heard. I look up at the bleachers as we walk across and a sea of red and white covers them. Harry looks down on my and smiles, showing his prominent dimples.

We walked on the field and took our place next to the other candidates as the other two continued their walk down the track. They announced all of our names when we were all on the field. They had the four groups of seniors come up to the front.

The queen and king from last year walked up to us, Abbey Walker and Christopher Man. They each had the crowns in their hands and Chris held a dozen roses in his hand.

The announcer told us about our alumni king and queen and then began. “Ladies and Gentlemen.” He says and the students go absolutely crazy. “You’re senior homecoming King and Queen are…” he pauses and Harry looks down at me and I up at him.

“Regardless,” he whispers. “You’ll always be my queen.”

My heart began beating rapidly and then something I never expected to happen, did.


“Kelly Ericson and Harry Styles.” My jaw literally fell to the ground and Harry pulled me into a hug, almost making me lose balance.

He let go and I take in the crowd cheering, which was absolutely mad. Christopher made his way over to me and asked for my sash and then replaced it with one that said ‘Homecoming Queen” on it. Then he placed the crown on my head and told me congratulations and finished by handing me the flowers.

There were flashes everywhere as we got out crowns on and I watched Harry get crowned and he put his hand on the small of my back when we were asked to take pictures with one and other. Then we took pictures with the rest of the court.

Once the cameras were gone Harry hugged me again. “They would have been fools if they didn’t vote for you to be Queen.” I giggled as he pulled me closer for a moment and then let go.

We were told to leave the field so we did, and as soon as we walk off the field onto the track Caroline came up to Harry and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Congratulations.” She said, and he smiled down at her as she leaned in to kiss him.

My breath hitched and I had to walk away. I made my way up the side of the bleachers and toward the band room when I heard my favorite voice.

“Kelly! I have to get a picture, love.”

I turn around and see Mama Anne’s beautiful self and walked up and hugged her.

“You look beautiful. I’m so proud of you… Where’s Harry?” she asks, looking around.

“With his girlfriend.” I say, trying to hide the disappointment in my voice.

“Oh.. Well after, if he stays dressed up, I want a picture of the two of you.” She smiles.

“Alright,” I say. “I have to go take this stuff to my car and then go to the bandroom.” I gesture to my things and she nods.


“I’ll see you soon. Good luck tonight.”

“Kelly!” I heard my name again and Anne takes that opportunity to walk away as Louis, Zayn and Perrie walked to me and engulfing me in a group hug.

“Oh.” I say, as they almost knock me over. “Hi, guys.”

“Oh, you look so beautiful.” Perrie says, stepping back to look at me.

“Thanks.” I blush when they all agreed.

They all wanted to take a picture together but then Louis wanted a picture alone. “Back off bitches. I need a picture with my queen.” He said when he had Zayn take the picture. I wrapped arms around his waist from the side and kicked my foot up. Perrie was holding my roses as we took the picture so it wasn’t in the way. Louis and I both smiled at the camera and he announced, “I’m going to caption this, “Bow down, bitches.” He laughs and mutters. “God, I am so clever.” He shakes his head and laughs.

“Alright, I have to take this back to the room and then I have to go to the field. I’ll see you guys later.”

“You’re going to the dance?” Zayn asked and I nodded.

They said their goodbye and I walked back to the band room, deciding I would put my stuff there instead of the car.

The night passed by quickly. Before I knew it, I was conducting the band in my dress and heels, trying not to fall on my ass. They sounded good, as usual.

The game ended with us winning and the first thing Liam did was run up to Danielle and i. He hugged her first, which was the cutest thing, then he hugged me and told me I looked beautiful. Such a sweet guy Bad Ass Liam is.

Anne got her picture, somehow catching Harry and I on the track at the same time. Our crowns and sashes were off, but she didn’t care. She was so proud of both of us, you could see the tears forming in her eyes.

“Alright, mum. It’s just a picture.” Harry told her, but it was more to her than that I suppose.

I left them after that, and went to my car to grab a change of clothes for the dance. Just what I had on today really and I threw my hair up into a ponytail.

The cafeteria was already full of student lined up to pay the 5 dollars for the dance, but since I won queen I didn’t have to pay. As soon as everyone did though, the first song began.

“Can we have all the homecoming candidates on the floor, please?” the dj, asked. I don’t know who he was… I didn’t even know they hired actual djs. I made my way onto the floor with the others and Harry walked up to me. “We’ll start off with a nice, slow dance.” He said and then Harry grabbed my hand and waist. I put my hand on his shoulder and he began swaying us back and forth.

“No longer my princess.” He sighs.

“No longer my prince.” I reply and he smiles.

“At least now everyone knows we’re royalty.” He laughs and so do I. “I’m glad you’re my best friend.” Yea, and I wish we were more.

“Me too.” I look at the ground. “If you’ll excuse me.” I don’t look at his face, I just leave and walk into the bathroom and go into a stall, closing it behind me.

A couple of deep breathes later, I hear Danielle’s voice ringing through the room. “Kelly. Are you okay?” she asks…

“Yea.” I say weakly, clearly showing that I am not okay.

“Open the door.” She says softly from outside the stall.

I sniffle and open it letting her see me.

“Stop it.” She says. “You shouldn’t be in here because he’s out there. You can’t let him have all the fun.”

“I can’t help it.” I answer.

“Yes you can. Just… just ignore him. Have fun with me and all your friends.” She smiles at me.

“My friends are his friends, Dani.”

She rolls her eyes. “Just for tonight. Okay? Have fun… let go.”

I nod at her, there was really no getting out of this with her. “Alright.” I agreed.

The night ended up going really well. We all danced together as a group and sometimes Harry would join in and it wasn’t even that bad. We did those dances like the cha cha slide and cupid shuffle which I hated half the time because they were so repetitive but I did them anyway. It was all good, really until I started paying attention to my surroundings when a song I didn’t know came on and I looked at other people. I shouldn’t have. I knew I shouldn’t have, but I did. I looked at Harry who had this stupid, boyish grin on his face. Usually I would think it was so cute, the most adorable thing, but…not this time. This time he was smiling down at Caroline, or rather her back and ass as she grinded on him.

His hands were on her hips, and it never really actually hit me that they were really together until today because they aren’t together too often. But watching him watch her, and watching her on him and then turning around throwing her arms around his neck. The way he bit his lip and slipped his hands around her waist as she moved closer to him was enough to make me realize that Harry and I were only friends. And when they kissed I turned around and left the school. Harry and I were only friends, and I know I have to handle that and accept it, but I can’t.

I’ve tried this back to normal shit and it isn’t working. Nothing is working and I’m not sure what I am supposed to do anymore. The more I’m with him, the more I’m really aware of my feelings for him and so I figure there is only one way to settle this.

No more of this ‘best friends’, I can’t do this anymore.

School will be the only time I talk to him. I can’t do this anymore.

No more being close to Harry because I can’t do this anymore.

Notes