Harry

I waited until I could see her reach the landing at the top of the stairs and the door shut behind her before I pulled away. I was still massively surprised that she finally agreed to meeting tonight. I could feel my nerves ignite in excitement. As soon as I was down the street I started to do some strange dance in the driver’s seat. Where the hell did that come from? This is a night I have been waiting for. It was the beginning of December the first time I asked. I was home for a few days and had come in towards the end of her shift with an excuse to buy a Christmas gift for Gemma. In reality I’d gone in hoping that she’d agree to having drinks with me. She said she had plans with some friends but was lying. Over the last six months I’d developed the ability to tell when she was lying. She’d been lying that day and I was confused as to why.
It was the next day when I asked how her night out had gone that she tried to make an excuse. She said that plans got cancelled last minute and didn’t want to bother me with a late text. Eventually she gave up her story. She knew I could tell and not only admitted that she had been lying but that she hated that she’d lied to me. She told me she wasn’t sure it was appropriate to get drinks with a customer. But I kept asking, nearly every day I was in there. Eventually Lizzy even told Annie to say yes, but every night she said no and told me maybe someday. Lyla had told me that she thought Annie was intimidated by the perception of what I was interested in dating. That she just needed to trust the reality that she was who I asked to drinks. Lyla had been on my team since then working covertly to get Annie to agree. I wonder what her reaction will be when she hears we finally won.
I arrived at Niall’s after a short trip through the city. Parking in the drive I got out and headed in to the house. I knew that he would have the front door unlocked so I let myself in and wiped my boots on the rug.
“Where are you?” I called.
“Back here,” he replied from his living room. I headed through the house and flopped down on the couch on the opposite end from Niall. “So she finally said yes, huh?”
“She finally said yes.” I knew I was grinning like I was mental but I didn’t care. I knew that Niall wouldn’t judge me. He knew more about Annie than anyone, except my sister and maybe Ben. Everyone else just knew about the girl from the bookshop. “She and Kim, her flatmate, were getting supper and then heading for drinks. I figure once we are done I can see where they are and we can go meet them.”
“Is her friend hot?” Niall asked. “I mean if I’m gonna play your wingman I should at least get to have fun right?”
“She’s very pretty. Blonde with a southern accent. She’s also American.” I opened up the Twitter app on my iPhone fiddling around until I found Annie’s profile and brought up a photo of the girls together. Annie’s smile lit up her whole face making her blue eyes sparkle, even in a photo taken on an iPhone. The photo was a favorite of mine. She’d posted it a few weeks back. They were exploring a winter market near the river with giant hot cocoas, which knowing the stories she tells were likely spiked. “I’ve met Kim once or twice when we happened to be in the shop at the same time. She seems pretty cool.”
“She’s cute. Tonight won’t be too terrible. So food?”
“Sure, you’re starving. Let’s go.” I stood up and we headed to the foyer. Niall pulled on a coat before we were outside and in my car. I drove to restaurant listening to Niall talk while I barely said a word. We were inside and seated at our table almost immediately.
“Earth to Harry. Come in Harry,” Niall said waiving his hands in front of my face. “Where did you go there, mate?”
“Sorry, I’m a tad preoccupied. I’m excited for a chance to hang out with Annie outside of the shop.”
“It’s about time she agreed to drinks. It’s not as if you two don’t text each other constantly. She gave you her mobile number and e-mail address but won’t go for drinks with you. Is she mental?” Niall asked laughing.
“Technically, Lizzy and Lyla gave me her mobile number and e-mail address.” I had e-mailed the store in hopes of getting in touch with Annie while I was on the road. Lyla had been checking the store e-mail that day because Annie was off. She showed Lizzy and the response I got back from them was hilarious. They were both picking on me for being that desperate when I was on the road. After a week of torture they handed over her email and number. I still remember texting her for the first time, I was nervous which I couldn’t figure out why but I know it now. I didn’t just miss a new friend I’d met during a bit of time at home. I missed a girl I was starting to feel something for. I wanted to get to know her better. I’d spent at least 20 minutes crafting that first message. Should I be serious, funny, charming? In the end I went with a bit cheeky and something she’d instantaneously know was from me. Do you have a copy of the latest Nicholas Sparks novels available? She had told me that she could spot a Nicholas Sparks fan from ‘a mile away’. She admitted that she’d read most of the books but felt that the goal of them was to make you want to cry your eyes out in to a pint of ice cream. She’d responded to the text with a smile and a smartass remark, just like I expected. We have a deal going on right now. Purchase two Nicholas Sparks books get the pint of ice cream and box of tissues for free! Cat fur covered sweater and slippers sold separately. Her sense of humor was infectious. Just thinking about some of the things that came out of her mouth made me smile and laugh a bit.
“Well whatever. You’ve been texting non-stop since you got it. Makes sense that she’d finally go on a date with you.”
“I don’t know that it’s a date,” I said quickly. Of course I wanted it to be a date or lead to a date. She was so incredible. She was smart, passionate, carefree, and at the same time I knew there was more to her than anyone could see just from meeting her. She loved with every ounce of her being. She cared about people in a way that even just the small amount of time I’d known her made me feel important and not for what I do but for who I am, just me. I wanted this to lead to a date, badly. “We are just getting drinks with Annie and her flatmate. I don’t want to push this in to date territory if she doesn’t. I really like her. And I think she likes me. She was getting a bit flirty in the texts she was sending me last weekend when I was in LA. They were hilarious. She was bartending and evidently also drinking. I was on the golf course with Jeff. She kept me entertained while I had a shit round.”
“Well that can only be a good sign. Maybe tonight is what you need.” I sure hoped Niall was right. Supper was a nice chance to catch up with him. Having spent a lot of time in LA so far this year meant I hadn’t spent a lot of time with my mates at home. We paid our bills and headed outside as I grabbed my phone to send a text to Annie to make sure that we were still meeting up together. I was nervous she’d try to find a way to back out having had time to adjust to the idea and let her fears take over.

Message with Annie
Are you at The World's End?
Yes. Our first drinks were just delivered. Though a warning I did have a bit of wine with dinner and Kim ordered shots. I'm a bit tipsy.
This should be fun. You were a bit tipsy when you were texting me last weekend. It was funny. Especially considering it was the middle of the day in LA.
Well if you stayed in London it wouldn't have been the middle of the day. So there. :P
Yeah yeah I know. You said that when I got back on Wednesday. I'll see you in a few minutes we are on our way.
Driving or riding?
Driving. We should be there shortly. Niall just ate like a 12 course meal.
Pay attention to the road and I'll see you in a few. We're on the mezzanine level at the back. I’ll be waiting…

“Okay they are at The World’s End. Are you sure you’re okay meeting up with them?” I asked sliding the phone in to the center console as I pulled away from stoplight we were at.
“Of course I’m fine with it. If it means you get to finally hook up with this girl I’d hang out just about anywhere. Maybe you’ll finally shut up about her.” He started laughing as I reached my hand across the car and smacked his shoulder. Rather than parking closer to the pub I parked in front of Annie’s flat. “The pub is over there you twit,” Niall said through his laughter.
“I’m well aware. That,” I said gesturing at the building,” is Annie’s flat. Parking here means maybe she’ll let me walk her home tonight.”
“Good thinking. Though it is starting to snow and it’s gonna be a long walk without my crutches.” Niall had recently had surgery on his knee and was still hobbling around on the crutches. “I’m just gonna leave them in the car.”
“You’re stupid sometimes.” I laughed a bit.
“Crutches aren’t sexy. I’m playing wingman the least I can do is try to get something out of it.”
“If you can’t walk tomorrow don’t blame me.” I locked the car and we headed across the street and up the stairs. I saw her sitting at the back and smiled as our eyes met. Her whole face lit up with her smile making mine grow. She looked beautiful. Her long brown hair still had the same natural wave from earlier today and managed to shine even in the dim lighting of a pub late at night. Did my heart just skip a beat? That’s not possible, is it?

Notes

Thank you so much for the feedback I've gotten so far and for reading along with the characters.
The song title for this chapter eluded me for a bit but Green Day is always somewhere I can turn for inspiration. Let me know what you think of Harry's first chapter. I should have the next chapter up soon too. Thank you!! xx