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They Don't Know About Us

Auld Lang Syne

The smell of cinnamon filled my apartment as I woke up from my heavy slumber. I sat up stretching like a lazy cat before rolling out of the warm bed. My bare feet padded through the living room and into the kitchen to reveal a shirtless Harry cooking away. I smiled, leaning on the doorway. He noticed me after a few moments taking a quick glance and then returning to his cooking.
“You’re staring.” He muttered smirking.
“I’m gazing.”
“It’s creepy.”
“It’s romantic.” I fired back. He chuckled and I walked up behind him wrapping my arms around his long torso. My lips pressing a small kiss to the skin of his back. Moments later he turned in my arms and kissed me properly. “Good morning love.”
“Morning.” I smiled.
“You hungry? I made French toast.”
“My favorite.” I smiled before kissing his dimple.
***
After breakfast, it started to rain so we cuddled up in my bed and watched movies.
My fingers absentmindedly wound in his curls as his fingers found my long locks. We always ended up this way, it was comforting to us both.
The rain was hitting the window hard as we finished watching “When in Rome”. As I got up to put another movie in, I was pulled back down by Harry. His face buried into my neck as my fingers found their way back into his hair.

“So what are we going to do?” I asked.
He lifted his head and looked at me. His fingers brushed a few stray strands of hair from my face before saying, “I was thinking we’d come out New Year’s Eve. There is no way your lips won’t be the ones I’m kissing at midnight. Whatever comes with it, we’ll deal with it together. No matter what, I love you.”

I brought his face to mine kissing his pink lips. “I love you too.”
**
It was the day of New Year’s Eve and I was at final rehearsals. Everything was going to be perfect. I sounded better than ever despite the slight cold I was developing. It just added a raspy tone to my voice that Jason praised.
I finished my last song and checked my phone. 1 new message from Lucky.
Niall. I desperately needed to talk to him. I opened the message to read:
I’m guessing you made your decision. I hope he makes you happy, that’s all I want for you. Just know I love you Tater tot. xx
I immediately called him.
“Hello?” His Irish voice filled the speaker.
“Hey.”
“Hey. How are you?” He asked.
“I’m really good. Listen, I need to talk to you.”
“Listen if you’re just going to tell me how happy Harry makes you then you can save it, he already told me everything. Tay all I want for you is to be happy. And if he makes you happy then I’m happy. You’re happiness means everything to me. You two obviously love each other too much to let what you have go, so
I’m going to let you two be happy together. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. I thought I’d be more upset about this but I’m not. Seeing you smile again is worth everything.”
“Thank you Niall. That means a lot. And just so you know, whoever snags you up, is going to be quite a lucky girl.”
He chuckled, “Yeah she will be, won’t she?”
I rolled my eyes, “Alright Mr. Cocky.”
“I have to go love, you better smash that stage like you know how tonight! I’ll talk to you soon! Love you!”
“Alright and I’ll try. Love you too.”
Well that was easier than I thought.
***
“Hey babe?” Harry called through the hotel suite as my hair and makeup team was busy getting me ready for the night.
“Yeah?” I answered not looking up from my phone.
“Can I talk to you for a sec?”
“Yeah.” I said standing up from my chair following him. He led me into my bedroom and shut the door. “What’s up?”

“So, I’m sure you know about Coldplay being in town.”
“Yeah, I wanted to try and go but I can’t. Why?” I asked.
“Well… I scored a ticket last minute and-“
“Go.” I smiled.
“Really?”

“Yeah, it’s Coldplay! This is their last concert on their tour. You’ve seen me perform a thousand times, I want you to go enjoy yourself. Don’t worry about me.” I smiled.
“I guess this is what I get when I decided to date one of Coldplay’s biggest fans.” He chuckled. “Thank you baby. I’ll make it up to you I promise!”
“I know you will. But your ass better be in Time’s Square before midnight!” I warned. He laughed again before pecking my lips. “Love you. Have fun!”
“Love you too! Rock that damn stage like you know how to!” He called walking out.
***
I had twenty minutes until I went on stage. Taylor was finishing up her performance. I was watching with Ryder from the side stage.
“Don’t be nervous. You’re gonna do great.” Ryder said from beside me.
“Thanks but it’s not the performance I’m worried about. It’s the kiss.”
“What do you mean?” She asked crinkling her eyebrows.
“What if he’s late? What if she finds him first? What if one of us chickens out? What if I can’t get to him?”
“Tay, you’re going to make it. I’ll make sure of it. Just trust me.” She said reassuringly. “Now, take your mic and show that crowd what a real performance is!”
I rolled my eyes turning to look out on the stage just as Taylor finished. She passed me rolling her eyes. “Don’t suck.”
“Trust me, I won’t. You already took care of that.” I smirked.
She scoffed as her security team escorted her elsewhere.
A few minutes passed before I was introduced to come on stage. I made sure my in-ears were secure before taking a deep breath and making my way onto the stage. The crowd cheered as I set up. I smiled at the support, and laughed at the already drunk crowd.
“How are y’all doing?” I yelled into the mic. The crowd erupted into more cheers. “Well I hope y’all are ready to have a rockin’ New Years Eve!”
***
I had gone through many songs, they were all highly energetic and upbeat. Deciding to slow it down for a bit, I sat down at the grand piano on stage saying, “Um, this next song was written by my good friend Ed Sheeran. A certain world-famous boy band has made it famous. Um, this song is just very near and dear to me personally for many reasons. Anyways, this is Little Things.”
(Start playing Little Things by Madilyn Bailey) “Your hand fits in mine like its made just for me but bare this in mind it’s meant to be. I’m joining the dots with the freckles on your cheeks and it all makes sense to me. You know I’ve never loved the crinkles by my eyes when I smile. I’ve never loved my stomach or my thighs. The dimples in my back at the bottom of my spine, but you love them endlessly.” I sang out smiling shyly. I continued to sing through the chorus before looking up and seeing a familiar mop of curls. There he stood next to Ryder in the wing of the stage smiling proudly as I continued to sing, now with a noticeable blush on my cheeks.
I came to Harry’s part and looked straight at him. “You know I’ve never loved the sound of my voice on tape, I never want to know how much I weigh. And I still have to squeeze into my jeans, but you love me for me. And I won’t let these little things slip out of my mouth. But if I do, oh it’s you, oh it’s you they add up to. I’m in love with you and all these little things.”
Throughout the rest of the song, I kept my eyes locked on Harry’s. he smiled widely, deep dimples indenting his cheeks. It was like there wasn’t anyone else watching me, and I was performing solely for him. It wasn’t until then that I realized how much I truly loved the boy. Even after everything we’d been through, it only made me love him more.
***
I finished my performance and the crowd was going nuts. I smiled proudly waving to them as I walked off stage. My security team rushed me into the hotel suite they’d rented to get me ready. As I was getting changed Ryder burst through the door beaming. “Come on miss popstar, you’ve got some Harry Styles lips to kiss!”
“What time is it?” I asked frantically.
“11:45.” She said realizing.
“Shit! We’ve got fifteen minutes to find him!” Shit shit shit.
I looked to Jason who was confused. “I need Lance to help me find Harry ASAP. She can’t get to him first, he has to be the one I kiss at midnight Jase!”
“Consider it done.” Lance interjected. I smiled up at him before we rushed out of the room. Lance called a few more security guards to help and they met us downstairs. I grabbed Ryder’s hand preparing to brace the cold and the crowd again. I took a deep breath pulling out my phone.
“Hello?” Harry yelled.
“Hey, where are you?”
“In front of Ryan Seacrest’s set up!” He answered. I hung up telling Lance. He nodded before walking in front of me and leading
me through the crowd.
***
Anxiety spread through my body as the clock ticked closer and closer to midnight. People were so tightly packed and no matter how much we pushed they wouldn’t budge. Ryder gripped my hand reassuringly. I tried steadying my breathing.
Lance and his team finally got some people to move thankfully. Ryan’s set up was in sight and not that far off. I looked up at the clock, 11:54.
“Shit Ryder, I have six minutes!” I shouted over the loud crowd.
“We’re almost there I think I see him!” I sighed in slight relief that at least he was in sight.
We decreased the distance, eventually Harry was only a few steps away. Just as I was about to bring him into a tight embrace she walked up to him taking my place. His hand rested uncomfortably on her lower back as she hugged him. Jealousy coursed through my veins as I watched her.
“Ten.”
I stood there frozen not sure of what to do. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She wasn’t supposed to be here or anywhere near us.
“Nine.”
They stood there oblivious to my presence. Harry’s face was cold and hard. I hoped he didn’t think I chickened out.
“Eight.”
Ryder gently pushed me forward a bit but I remained still thinking he would change his mind and kiss her instead.
“Seven.” She giggled at something he said as he put on the most fake smile I’ve ever seen. His hand still resting on her lower back as hers wound around his neck.
“Six.”
By this point in all this, I was done crying. It was time to be pissed. It was time to get my boyfriend back. It was time for me to stand up for myself. For both of us.
“Five.”
I didn’t realize Harry had started walking towards me until I heard her call an chase after him.
“Four.”
Almost there, just a few more steps and he’d be here.
“Three.”
His face was determined. He wasn’t looking back, not anymore. She caught his wrist trying to pry him back to her. He shrugged out of her grip continuing towards me.
“Two.”
She glared at me. I stood firmly as Harry finally reached me.
“One.”

Harry’s arms wrapped around my waist as he pulled me as close as he could to attach his chapped lips with mine. My hand cradled his cheek as he leaned forward making me bend backwards a bit. I smiled into the kiss as his grip on me tightened. We broke apart and his green eyes locked with mine.
Love. That’s what I saw. That’s all I saw.
Flashes were going off but I didn’t care. All I was focused on was the guy looking at me with eyes filled with love. Auld Lang Syne began playing as we ignored the rest of the world and absorbed each other.
“Harry!” She yelled. “What are you doing?”
He turned to her pushing me behind him. I looked around his arm reaching my hand down to thread my fingers through his.
“Something I should’ve done a long time ago. I’m kissing my girlfriend on New Year’s Eve, in front of everyone so they can know who the actual girl is that owns every piece of my heart. The one that I should’ve been hanging out with instead of you. The one that I should’ve been showing off to the world. My girlfriend. You can tell your PR team the deal’s off. I’m not hurting Taylor anymore.” He stated firmly. I looked up at him and squeezed his hand in mine. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to spend the rest of the night with the girl I love.”
He turned back to me kissing me one more time. Another click. Harry chuckled lightly.
We were out, we could go out and not have to worry about people seeing us. We didn’t have to hide our relationship. No more sneaking around. No more playing it off like we were single. We could finally just be with each other.
“Happy New Year baby.” Harry purred in my ear as he wrapped his arms around me from behind. He pressed a kiss to my head as we watched the fireworks go off above us. I smiled leaning into him.
All of this was a test to our relationship. It was tough, but we got through it together. I knew we would be able to withstand anything now. Whatever came our way would be dealt with together. No matter how hard it got. Harry was mine, and I was his.