I love it when we go into the city at night. All the lights and the action, its beautiful. “Did you like that restaurant, Max?” My mother asks me.
“The food was good, but you could tell the other customers there were snooty.”
My parents chuckle. “We thought that too. It's ridiculous how people who have money act like they are better than everyone else.” My mom rants. This has always been a big pet peeve of hers.
She turns around in her seat to look at me, “I want you to promise me that if you ever become insanely rich, you never act like that. Stay my sweet and loving daughter.”
“I am not sweet and loving, I can be a total bad ass if I wanted to.” I retort teasingly. Although it is something that bothers me, how everyone thinks I'm so sweet and innocent, that I'm a goody two shoes. I'm more than that. I can do what needs to be done, I'm not afraid to take a shot or puff on a joint. Just because I never have doesn't mean I don't want to. I just don't think I could look my parents in the eye if I did.
My mom gives me a look. I sigh, “I promise, mom.” She smiles. I wish I was as beautiful as she is. She turns back around in her seat and I lean my head against the window. The moon is shining bright and I almost fall asleep watching the sky roll by on the highway.
Suddenly, I hear my father yell, “What the fuck!” and my mother scream. I sit up just in time to see a car drift into our lane, it's headlights blinding me and the car horn deafening.

I bolt upright, sweating and breathing heavily. I hate those nightmares. I used to get them every night so I would refuse to sleep until I absolutely had to. They terrify me and feel all too real. Even though I wasn't in my parents deadly car crash, I still have nightmares placing me there anyway. Sometimes they end before impact, sometimes not.
The conversation we had in this dream was very real, however. My brain likes to torture me by melding real memories in with my nightmares.
The sun is just starting to rise, the sky still kind of dark. I look at the clock, almost five in the morning. There's no way I'm gonna be able to go back to sleep, so I might as well get up. I change out of my sweaty pajamas and into some comfy shorts and tank top. Exiting my bedroom, I try to remember where the kitchen is in this giant house. After about five minutes of searching, I finally get to my destination. Flipping on the lights, I pour myself a tall glass of water and chug nearly the whole thing. I notice my hands are still shaking from my nightmare and try to take deep breaths to calm myself. Truth be told, my nightmares automatically make me think back to the drug that almost killed me. I would do anything to get rid of the nightmares back then.
Consumed in my thoughts, I didn't hear anyone walk into the kitchen, so when my name was called I was a bit startled.
“Are you okay?” Harry asks me. He is so sexy right now. His voice is still thick with sleep, he's in just a pair of basketball shorts and his hair is a curly mess. I tear my eyes away from him and clear my throat before answering. “Yeah, I'm fine.” I know he doesn't believe me but he lets it go. I could use some fresh air and I haven't worked out since I got out of the Academy, so I might as well go for a run.
“What are you doing up so early?” he asks, moving to the island.
“Couldn't sleep. You?”
“Same.”
After an extremely awkward moment of silence, I say, “Well, I'm gonna go for a run so I'll talk to you later.” I begin to walk back to my room but stop when Harry asks, “Can I join you?”
I guess we need to talk about this sooner or later and I would rather it be where nobody can hear us. “Sure, if you can keep up.” I smirk at him. He smiles and I walk away before he can respond. I find myself smiling as I climb the stairs.
When I enter my bathroom, I am horrified at my reflection. I look like absolute shit. At least my hair is pulled back so it wasn't all over the place like usual. I brush my hair and teeth, put my hair in a high ponytail, put on eyeliner and mascara, then change into running shorts and a sports bra. I'm feeling better now that I have something to distract me.
When I exit my bedroom, Harry is exiting his from down the hall as well. He is still shirtless, but now he is wearing a bandanna to push his luscious hair back and he changed his shorts. “Ready?” he asks me. I nod and he leads the way out the back door and down to the beach. The sun is halfway up by now, so the sky is a pretty orange. I love running on beaches, it's calming.
We begin running at a decent pace until Harry picks it up. If he wants to play games, I'll play games. I'm quite the runner. I run even faster than he does, and of course he wants to keep up with me. Before long, we are both sweating and breathing heavily. I see a pier up ahead and decide to see who is the faster runner here.
“Race you to that pier.” I say to him. He smirks, “You're on.”
And we were off.
The later it gets the more people are out on the beach. Dodging people, Harry and I are neck and neck with only a little ways to go. This kid can run, I'm impressed.
However, I'm better. “Yes! I win!” I yell excitedly as I touch the pier literally about three seconds before he does. We're both bending over, hands on our knees trying to pump air into our lungs.
“I...want... a rematch.” Harry tells me between breaths. I laugh, “You got it.” I collapse on the ground, needing to rest my burning legs. Harry plops down next to me.
Here we go...
“I told you I'd see you again.” Harry starts.
I pull my knees up to my chest, “Bet you didn't think it would be so soon.”
He chuckles, “No, I didn't. But I'm not complaining.” I try and hide my small smile. “What are the chances of this happening. It's crazy.” I say.
“Why did you lie to me about your name?” he blurts.
I look at him, “I don't like telling strangers my real name.”
“I wouldn't call us strangers...” Harry says smirking and nudges my shoulder with his. I laugh and involuntarily blush. “About that...What are we gonna do?”
His eyebrows furrow, “About what?”
“This is my first job, Harry. It can't get out that we knew each other prior to this. It will only get me fired and a bad rep.” I tell him straight up.
“Well I'm not telling anyone.” He says simply. When I don't reply, he takes my hand in his. “I haven't stopped thinking about you since we met, and now you're my personal bodyguard. This couldn't have worked out any better.”
I sigh and remove my hand from his and stand up, “That's just it, Harry. I'm your bodyguard, I'm supposed to protect you, not fuck you. What we did needs to stay in the past. I need it to stay in the past if I'm going to do this job.”
Harry stands as well,”I like you, I don't want to leave it in the past.”
“I like you too, but it's too risky. Harry, please. This is my career on the line.”
He sighs and after a moment says,“Fine. Let's start over, then.” He sticks out his hand, “I'm Harry Styles.”
I sigh a breath of relief and smile, “Max Calder.”
“Short for Maxine?” he asks.
I shake my head, “Nope. And I'm not telling you what it is either.”
“Why not?”
“Because I hate it.”
“I'm gonna find it out sooner or later.”
“I know, but it won't be today.” He sticks his tongue out at me and I do it right back. His face gets serious. “Max, I will act however you want me to but I need to do something first.”
I don't say anything as he steps closer and cups my cheek with his hand. I don't fight him as his lips land on mine softly. He pulls away and before I know what I'm doing, I'm pulling him back and crashing my lips onto his. He presses me against him by my waist and I tangle my hands in his hair, making out intensely. He grabs my ass and bites my bottom lip, causing me to moan.
Stop it, Max! This is exactly what you didn't want to happen!
I pull away from Harry and lean my forehead against his, both of us gasping for air. I untangle my hands from his hair and drag them down his chest. “I know you feel the connection, Max. Don't ignore it.” Harry whispers.
“I have to ignore it, Harry. I need some time. I need to be just friends for right now.”
I know it sucks, but right now it's what is best for me. Harry sighs and takes a step back from me. “Okay, I can do that.”
“Thank you.”
He nods, “We should be getting back.” I agree and we begin our run back to the house. On our way back, I notice people staring and pointing. When I spot a camera, I remember that Harry is famous. I hope nobody saw our little make out session we just had. “We should pick up the pace, people are starting to recognize you.” I tell him. He looks around and nods. We make it back to the house ten minutes later. It's around seven and the house is still sleeping, even Jackson.
After I take a shower and get dressed, I go downstairs to see Jackson sitting at the table in his robe. I hold back a laugh. “Oh good, you're up. The boys will be up soon and we can discuss exactly what you will be doing.” I nod at him before pouring myself a large cup of coffee.
An hour later, we're all sitting around the dining room table, Jackson at the head. “Okay, this is the plan. Max, we think it's best if the story is you're Liam's childhood friend. Since you will be with Harry quite often, you will say you guys are becoming good friends.”
“Why don't we just say she's dating me then if we're going to lie anyway?” Harry asks. I glare at him.
“Because then the media will want to know every detail about Max, they will easily find out that she works for a security company. I don't want Max's past dug up for the whole world to see and I'm sure she doesn't either.” Jackson answers Harry and I can feel myself shrinking in my seat at just the thought of everyone knowing my past. I'd forget it if I could.
“Why are we doing it this way?” I ask.
“If someone does decide to take these threats to another level, he won't be expecting you to be a bodyguard. You can kick his ass.”
“That's if she even can kick ass.” Liam spouts.
“I could kick yours, if you want.” I say to him sweetly. He blows me a kiss and I give him a dirty look. All in good fun.
“Enough. Trust me lads, Max can kick ass. I've seen her training videos and she finished top of her class.” Jackson defends me. I smile triumphantly. I don't blame them for being a little skeptical, everyone always is. I'm small.
“When do I start?” I ask.
“Tomorrow. Today they just go to the recording studio, we don't need you for that. I suggest you use today to buy yourself a cell phone and anything else you need.”
“If you're going shopping, my girlfriend could take you. She needs something to do while I'm in the studio and she loves to shop.” Zayn speaks up for the first time this morning, it must take him a long time to wake up.
“That's a good idea, it will show that she's not only getting close with Harry.” Jackson says. Looks like I don't even have a choice in the matter. “Sure.”
Zayn smiles and starts typing away at his phone, “She'll be here around noon.”
“Now that that's settled, be ready to leave in an hour and a half.” Jackson instructs to the boys. They all groan tiredly except for Harry.
I haven't really met any new people in three years, now they're being thrown at me from all over. Shopping with a stranger... I just hope she's not a bitch.

Notes

Hey everyone! I'd like to start with saying thank you for all the comments, votes, and subscribers! I hope I continue to not suck horribly lol. Lemme know your thoughts(:
I'll update again when I get a few more subscribers & votes as motivation. <33