Eloise's POV

I woke up 8am feeling a little torn. I laid on my back staring up at the ceiling; I was thinking of all the possibilities. If Harry wasn't a celebrity. If he didn't have a girlfriend. Then maybe, just maybe we would work. But not like this.
"Sup Deyes." Joe said, rubbing his eyes.
"Ah," I sighed. "It's noth-"
"It's Harry isn't it?" he questioned. I just nodded slowly. "You really like him, don't you?" And it's weird because I did like him. I didn't normally like someone so quickly, I didn't normally trust someone so quickly; but I did. And I still did. I just kept hoping that it would all figure itself out.
"How did you know?" I exhaled deeply, covering my hands over my face.
"Because I know you, Ell. And I know how you act around people. He makes you act so differently, yet he brings out the real you. I could never do that, but I wish I could. When you smile, I smile. When you're happy, I'm perfect."
"Aw Joe." I started, but he held up a finger to indicate that he wasn't finished, so I shut my lips.
"You trust him. You feel safe around him. You've only just met him but you feel like he's been around for ages," My jaw dropped as he said the exact words I'd been thinking. Joe looked deeply into my eyes. "You know they're always gonna be there, to cuddle away your problems." the way he changed from "him" to "they're" confused me.
"Well I don't know if th-"
"You tell yourself everyday that she's just a friend. But you're lying because you know that she's more than that." the look in his eye became more passionate towards me, but slightly hurt. She? "I watch her everyday with fascination because I don't know how someone who's so beautiful could have such a perfect personality. And I know that I've loved her for forever." he was pinching his skin but not breaking the eye contact we had. "I love you, Ell. Always have and always will."

Oh. My. God. That must have been the most escalated conversation I had ever had. First we were talking about me and Harry, then BAM, he admits that he's always loved me. I felt so bad because I didn't want to break his heart, because of course I loved him too, but not like that. He was my best friend. He was my beautiful little Joey. I could barely breathe and my stomach was in knots. I loved the sweet side of Joe but I couldn't stand the pain forming in his eyes as I didn't reply with the same thing.

Joe's POV

There was silence. The way her lips were slightly parted and her hands were trembling told me the answer. She didn't have to say it. I knew she didn't love me the same way she loved Harry. I knew she'd fallen for him, whether or not she knew herself. But I don't blame her, you can't choose who you love. It's not that simple. You have to be patient, because the right person will come along soon. And they'll love you back.

Eloise's eyes began to well up, and I felt so fucking bad for saying anything. I hopped up and sat next to her on her bed.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, taking her hands. "You don't need to say it back. Nothing needs to be different. Oh, Ellie, please don't cry!" She squeezed her eyes shut and a tear fell down her cheek. I wiped it away with my thumb.
"I-I-"
"Shush. It's okay. I don't need you to love me back. I just need you to be the smiley, happy, beautiful girl you always are!" I reassured.
"Joe, I'm sor-sorry," she mumbled through soft sobs. "I wish I could say it back. I do love you, like a brother. I don't want anything to change. I want us to be as stupid and immature as we always have been. I-I don't want to lose you!"
"You won't. I regret even saying anything," I half-smiled. "Nothing's changed, I promise you." I pulled her into a tight hug. "Harry's a lucky guy."
"Why?" she sat up quickly, rubbing at her wet cheeks, "We're not a couple."
"But you love him." I teased.
"No I don't." she defended. "I've only known the guy for nine days."
"Falling in love is like falling asleep; slowly and then all at once." I quoted.
"Well, if that quote is true," she rolled her eyes. She was quite a sceptical person. "I've not even experienced the 'slowly' part."
"Exactly," I chuckled light heartedly. "You jumped straight into the deep end."

Harry's POV

I stumbled down into the restaurant to see if Eloise was there. She wasn't. But her tall friend and girlfriend were sat at a table in the corner. I strolled over and heard the boy say 'Zoe' so I assumed that was the girls name. "Zoe?" I asked, hoping I'd heard correctly. She turned her head around to talk to me.
"Oh my god. Harry Styles knows my name!" she squealed. "I'm a big fan." she tried to say more calmly, while the boy rolled his eyes. I laughed.
"Well it's really nice to talk to you again, Zoe, " she flashed me a big grin, along with the tall boy. "And you...sorry I don't think I ever got your name."
"Alfie," he replied. He offered his hand and I shook it firmly.
"The other night was awesome, even if we didn't get the chance to talk." I said.
"Yeah," Zoe replied. "You and Eloise certainly enjoyed it." she winked.
"Is everything alright with that by the way, like what happened?" Alfie asked, concerned.
"Well we kissed, and because we were quite intoxicated we didn't really think twice about the fans or paparazzi there. Next day we were all over the news and Eloise wasn't really happy about that. I guess it didn't help that I had a girlfriend either.." I trailed off, now staring at the floor because I felt ashamed.
"Had a girlfriend?" Alfie asked, picking up on the past tense.
"Yeah, I broke up with her. I don't really know why I was with her anyway. She was a gold digger; still is." I explained. Alfie shot me a massive smile.
"Yay!" Zoe beamed. "I never liked that girl! And even better, now you can be with Ell!" she clapped. She seemed really sweet and bubbly.
"Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. Do you know her room number?"
"108!" she answered quickly.
"Thank you." I grinned, before waving and walking away.

After a few minutes of walking down corridors that looked identical, I found it. I took a couple of seconds to prepare myself, then knocked three times.
"Oh, hi," I said as a boy opened the door. "Who are you?" I tried to say nicely, but I was crossing my fingers that he wasn't her boyfriend.
"Joe Sugg," he answered. "Who are you?" I opened my mouth to answer but before I could he doubled over with laughter. "Just kidding, I obviously know who you are!" I laughed in return, but I hated when people said that. I was a normal person too, well-known or not. Jealous was building up within me and I really wasn't keen on this guy. "You're here to talk to Ell, right?"
"Yes." I nodded.
"She's in the bathroom at the minute. Come in." he said.
"Are you guys a, you know, are yo-"
"A couple? No way. She's pretty much a sister," he interrupted, but he was biting down on his lip. "We weren't originally sharing rooms but then Zoe and Alfie started dating so we thought we'd do them a favour."
"Oh, okay." I still wasn't confident I trusted him.
"Ellie!" he shouted, banging on the bathroom door. "You have a visiter."
"What?" she yelled back and I smiled because I loved her voice.
"Harry is here!" Joe replied. I heard a tap switch off and a few bangs before she pulled open the door.
"Harry?" she asked. Although it was very muffled because she had a toothbrush in her mouth.
"Can we talk?" I looked over at Joe. "Alone." Joe grabbed is wallet and jacket and left without saying anything. Eloise walked over and sat on her bed after nodding and washing her mouth out.
"What's up?" she smiled, showing all her teeth. And god, I loved that smile.
"I just want to apologise," I said. "Obviously I knew I had a girlfriend when we were going to breakfast but when we were kissing, it was just me and you. I wasn't thinking about her or the paparazzi or the fans, I just needed you in my arms."
"Harry," she pouted slightly. "That doesn't change anything. That doesn't remove the picture from the internet or the TV. It's up there forever. You cheated on Sophia, Harry. All of it's my fault."
"It's not your fault at all!"
"If I hadn't invited yo"
"Shush," I said calmly. "I wanted to go with you. I wanted to spend all my time with you. I like you, Eloise. You make me smile. You make me feel things that no one else ever has. I want to be with you. I've broken up with Sophia."
"Everything's too complicated, Harry. I'm a normal girl from London and you're a popstar who's life is to travel around the world and perform. We're too different, we clash..."
"That's okay. We can work through it, together."
"I don't think we can." she sighed.
"When I first saw you, you gave me butterflies. You made me feel different and I didn't understand why. Every time I see you I just want to hug you and hold your hand and protect you from everything bad in the world."
"I feel the same way." she smiled.
"Then what's the problem?"
"I'm not sure I'm ready for this kind of life. I'm not sure you'll want me. I'm not like the glamorous women you usually date. I don't think I can live up to that kind of expectation..." she trailed off.
"You're so much better than any of them. You're real. All that matters is what we think of each other."
"It's a scary world."
"Embrace it."
"Your fans will hate me."
"They hate everyone."
"That doesn't help." she giggled.
"Be mine?" I asked, gripping onto her hands and locking our eyes.
"Okay." she said softly.

Notes

Yay!! Ship it <333333