All Too Well

I woke up early as always so that I could drink my daily cup of tea and sit at my window seat in my apartment. It was raining, my favorite type of weather. There was something so peaceful about just sitting and watching the rain drops fall and listen to the splashes they made on the window. I think that’s part of the reason I moved here. It just seemed like my kind of place, somewhere that I could create a life for myself.
It had been two years since I graduated from beauty school and moved to London. Two years since I left my whole life back in New York. It was an impulsive decision, but it definitely wasn’t one I had regretted. I needed to get away from it all and do something for myself. I remembered how when I first moved, I was constantly getting calls and texts from my old friends back home. It was nice but it wasn’t something I really wanted to get used to. I knew that eventually everyone would just forget about me and move on. That’s exactly what happened after a few months. I wasn’t bitter though, I choose to move and make a new life. That included meeting new people and starting new friendships with people who shared my lifestyle. But to be honest, I was never one to get too close to anyone anyway, that is until I met Lou. She became my best friend, mostly because of our passion for the same industry. She took me under her wing and made me the new up and coming beauty and fashion girl. She honestly was the big sister I never had.
I mulled all of this over as I finished my tea. I decided that it was probably best to get ready for the day. I decided to keep it natural so I put on my bb cream and some light eye makeup and kept my lips bare. I styled my long light brown hair in the usual loose curls. As much as I dreaded taking off my sweat pants and loose T-shirt, I knew I needed to wear real clothes if I was going to get anything done today. I settled on black leggings and a maroon and white striped sweater with black rain boots, that way I was still comfortable.
My phone buzzed from the other room. I ran to see who it was and to my lack of surprise it was Lou.
“Hello birthday girl!” I laughed as I answered.
“Well hello to you too Collins. Look I need a favor, and since its my birthday you have to comply.” She said in a matter of fact tone, even though I could pretty much hear the smile on her face.
“Go on and ask then, I’m a busy woman!” I teased.
“Will you please, please take Lux for the day. I need to set up for the party and I cant get anything done with her here. She misses you too. All she keeps asking is when she can see her Aunt Collins.” Lou begged me.
“Say no more, I’ll take her. I miss her too anyway.” I said smiling. “I’ll come pick her up right now if that’s alright?”
“Perfect, see you in a little while!” She said excitedly, as if a weight had just been taken off her shoulders.
I hung up the phone and grabbed my bag. I decided against simply walking to Lou’s house because I figured it would be nice to take little Lux out to do some things today, and I needed to get Lou a birthday present. I pulled my car keys to my black mini cooper out of my bag and got into the car, starting the ignition.
It took me five minutes all together to get to Lou’s house. I knocked on the door and waited for the birthday girl to answer. Behind the door I could hear Lux excitedly running around.
“Mommy, mommy, is that Aunt Collins?” Lux asked in her adorable three-year-old voice.
Lou answered the door with a more than grateful smile plastered on her face. Lux ran and hugged my legs tightly so that I couldn’t move an inch.
“Hey baby girl, how’re you?” I asked the toddler as I lifted her into my arms. She hugged me tightly and said she was good.
“And how is the birthday girl today?” I asked looking at Lou once more.
“More than relieved that you’re here. I missed you, how have you been?” She sighed as she pulled me into a hug.
“Good, I’ve missed you guys too.” I smiled.
The dropping of plates and champagne flouts could be heard in the background.
“Ugh, I’m sorry to cut this short, we’ll talk tonight though okay? Take Lux wherever you want. You can just bring her back for the party since my sister and her kids are coming and she doesn’t drink. She’ll be watching the little rugrats.” Lou explained.
“Okay sounds good Lou, I’ll see you at six.” I replied understandingly.
Lux gave her mom a tight hug and kiss and then we were off. I strapped her car seat into to the mini and then got into the drivers seat. As I turned the car on I saw a boy around my age walking to Lou’s.
“Uncle Harry! He’s helping mommy and daddy. ” Lux exclaimed when she saw the boy. He must have been the Harry that Lou worked for most frequently.
“Yeah Lux, we’re helping mommy and daddy too by going out today! Where do you want to go?” I asked the adorable little blonde girl in my backseat.
“Everywhere!” she said excitedly.
“Shopping it is.” I said looking back at her with a smile.
Lou’s POV.
I was picking up the plates and glasses when Harry walked in with that cheeky smile of his. I noticed him looking around; I smiled knowing he was looking for Lux.
“She’s not here Harry, I had my friend Collins pick her up a few minutes ago and take her out for the day.” I said to him with a smile.
“What? Why? I could have taken her out. Why didn’t you ask me Lou?” He asked sounding almost hurt that he couldn’t spend time with Lux.
“Because you spend so much time with her, and Collins is like Lux’s aunt and she wanted to see her today.” I stated simply, knowing he’d get over it.
“Collins huh? Is she the American you hang around with?” He asked as he was deep in thought.
“Yes that is her, why?” I asked squinting at him, he was so protective of Lux it was funny.
“She better take good care of my Lux.” Harry said as I laughed at him.
“Just help me set up you loon!” I laughed at him as he joined me in unison.
Collins POV.
Lux and I got back to my flat just before five. I sat her on my bed as I got ready for the party. She looked bored so I put on music for her. I decided I’d wear black skinny jeans with a white peplum top and heels.
“How do I look Lux?” I turned to ask the little girl who was bobbing up and down to the music.
“Like a princess.” She stated without hesitation. I laughed and picked up my sweet little Lux. I danced around the room with her in my arms while she giggled and squealed.
“Well I think its time that we change you into the outfit we got for the party so you can look like a princess too!” I squealed in unison with her.
I got her outfit out of the bag. It was a little white ruffled top that connected with a black tutu. Lux decided she wanted to pair it with lime green stocking so I got those too. As we got her changed into her party outfit Lux giggled.
“Collins we match!” She said to me with excitement, she was elated that we looked similar.
“Mhmm, but you’re a lot cuter than me Lux.” I smiled at her and picked her up. “Lets grab mommy’s presents and go okay?”
We left me house and drove back to Lou’s. We were early but I opened the door and walked inside with Lux.
“Hey Lou, we’re back.” I yelled through the house.
Lou came walking out as I put Lux down along with the gifts.
“Lux you look so pretty! You and Collins match!” She said to her daughter as she walked over to me. “Thank you so much for taking her, I’m sure she wont stop talking about it for days.” Lou said pulling me into another hug.
“No problem, you know I’d do anything for you guys, and I love you both so that helps too.” I said with a smile. Lou and I continued our conversation as a raspy voice boomed through the living room.
“There’s my little pal! You look so cute!” The boy from before gushed at Lux.
“Harry look I match Aunt Collins!” Lux gushed while pointing at me.
“Oh so this is the Collins who is trying to take my girl away from me. I hope you treated her well.” The boy named Harry said with a cheeky tone in his voice.
“I love you equal dumb butt.” Lux pouted at him as he smiled and kissed her cheek.
I decided to walk over and introduce myself formally to the boy who seemed to love Lux and Lou just as much as I did.
“Hey, I’m Collins, its nice to finally meet you. Lux and Lou always talk about you.” I smiled and extended my hand. Harry looked me up and down and smirked as he extended his free hand to mine.
“Its nice to finally meet you too Collins, I’m Harry Styles.” He smiled at me like I was supposed to know something. I racked my brain but all I knew about him was that he was in a band that Lou toured with to do their hair and makeup. My confusion must have shown up on my face as Harry interjected with the information he previously assumed I knew.
“I’m in the band One Direction.” He smiled at me as he spoke cockily about his career.
“Oh, right them. Sorry I just don’t really listen to that kind of music all that much. I’m more into indie, coffee shop type music.” I said sweetly, but still trying to put him in his place.
Lou could be heard laughing in the background no doubt listening. It worked as he simply nodded with a dumbfounded look upon his face. More guests started arriving, a lot of which I was friends with from the beauty industry so I took that as my escape.
An hour later I walked over to the drink area and poured myself a glass of champagne. Lou walked over to me with another girl.
“Collins! I want you to meet Eleanor, she’s Louis girlfriend.” Lou said sweetly.
I had met Louis just a few minutes before and learned that he was in the band with Harry, but he was a lot less smug about it.
“Hey Eleanor! It’s so nice to meet you!” I said with a sweet smile, I gave her a friendly hug. Being in the beauty industry, we all tend to just hug everyone.
“Lou has told me so much about you, I’m excited to finally meet you!” She said so sweetly.
The three of us continued our conversation for about an hour. I learned a lot about Eleanor and she seemed like a really great girl, someone I’d definitely want to be friends with.
“Harry keeps looking over here at you.” She said out of nowhere with a smile.
“What? I don’t even know him, I met him for like a second.” I said with a laugh as my forehead creased in confusion.
“ Well obviously you left a good impression on him because he keeps staring at you.” She laughed.
I quickly brushed her comment off. “What’s his deal anyway? He seems really conceited.” I stated, and Eleanor nodded.
“Yeah he can be like that when he’s trying to be charming or whatever. He doesn’t see that it doesn’t work in his favor with people who are down to earth and real. He has a hard time being himself around people sometimes.” She said, trying to fill me in. I understood what she was saying completely, I knew a lot of people like that. He just didn’t seem like the kind of person I wanted to be caught up with or anything.
“Im going to go find Louis to make sure he isn’t drunk off his arse already. But hey, it was great talking to you, you’re really awesome and I feel like we really bonded. We should hang out sometime. Here’s my number.” Eleanor said enthusiastically. I accepted, knowing it was really nice to have another friend to talk to.
Once Eleanor left I was alone so I decided to have another drink. My back was tuned to the rest of the party as I grabbed a cold beer.
“Ah, so you drink beer. That’s interesting.” A newly familiar raspy voice stated coming from behind me. I peered back at him and rolled my eyes. As I turned around I decided to play nice.
“You want one?” I asked the tall boy with curly hair.
“Nah I’m pretty drunk already, its not even time for cake yet.” He said with a smirk twitching on his smooth face. I’ll admit he was very attractive.
“Wow Harry that’s really classy.” I said sarcastically.
“Oh we’ve got a sassy one, I like that.” He said in a rather flirty tone. I wasn’t interested so I started to walk away. He almost tripped as he tried to grab my elbow.
“And you’re sloppy.” I said while rolling my eyes at him.
“Hey, Collins come on talk to me, I wanna get to know you.” Harry slurred.
I was disgusted with how drunk and flirty he was toward me.
“Sober up before cake and then we’ll talk.” I said as I turned away, but I stopped and looked back. “Oh, and don’t go near Lux when you’re this trashed. She shouldn’t see her ‘Uncle Harry’ like this.” I said coldly. I left him dumbfounded once again.

Notes