Freedom is not free.

February 20, 2012
The Chesterfield Mall

I finished eating my oatmeal and went into the kitchen to put my bowl away. I took the liberty of making my own breakfast this morning because I didn’t want Haley to make me breakfast this morning so that she could rest.


“Anastasia, get dressed.” Harry walked into the kitchen, grabbing his newspaper from the kitchen counter.


“Why?” I asked, squinting my eyes.


“Don’t ask questions, just do it.” He snapped and I crossed my arms. He pushed down on his eyebrow with his thumb and sighed. “I have to go to the mall today because I have some things to pick up. And I figured I’d take you with me. You know, because you’re trapped here.”


My mouth dropped. “You’re taking me to the mall?” I couldn’t hide my excitement. “Oh, my gosh. You’re, taking me, to the mall.” I jumped up and he scowled at me.


“We won’t be there long Miss Greene. And you aren’t leaving my sight once we get there.” He used his newspaper to point at me.


I walked past him and smiled. “Then I guess you’re just going to have to keep up with me.”


I quickly ran up to my room and threw open one of my dresser drawers. I pulled out a white strapless dress with a netted skirt. When I slipped the dress on, I went to the closet and grabbed a pair of black heels and brushed my hair out, showing my natural curls.


Then I did my makeup, grabbed my wallet and the phone that Harry gave me a week ago and walked down stairs.


When I met with the marble floor after stepping off of the stairs, my heel made a click noise and Harry walked into the room.


He took a second glance at me and I could have swore I save his lip twitch as if he was going to smile, but then he shook his head and slipped his jacket on.


“Let’s go, Miss Greene.” He rasped and opened the door for me, locking it behind him when he stepped out.


When we sat down in the car and he began to drive away, I couldn’t help but notice that he seemed a little uncomfortable.


“What’s wrong with you?” I asked and it made his brows draw together.


“There’s nothing wrong with me.” His voice sounded soft. I raised my eyebrows at him and he sighed. “You just look really attractive today, and I am going to have to keep my distance from you or something bad might happen.”


Would he kiss me if he had a chance?


I had that dream again a few nights ago and he actually kissed me in the dream. And ever since that dream, I’ve been daydreaming about what it would actually feel like. What would it feel like? Would it feel harsh? Affectionate? Distasteful?


When we arrived at the mall, it was more crowded and more beautiful than I remembered. All those people enjoying themselves because they are shopping, and all those people who are dragging their boyfriends’ along with them. It was gorgeous.


“I don’t know about this.” Harry muttered beside me as we walked into the mall.


“Oh come on, don’t be silly. This is going to be fun. Just tell me what you need to pick up, and I’ll help you find it.” I smiled and he cocked an eyebrow.


“Do you honestly think I’ve never been to the mall?” He chuckled a little and I cringed at the sound. So unsuspecting, so foreign.


“Well yeah. No boy comes to the mall intentionally or because they want to.” I shrugged my shoulders and he chuckled again.


“I have to pick up some new clothes for both of us.” He stated and I looked at him, surprised. “Yes Miss Greene, I am buying clothes for you. But you’re wearing the clothes I want you to. And that might as well be sweatpants and sweatshirts,” I crinkled my nose. “Because I can’t look at you in a dress without-” He stopped.


“Without what?” I asked and he shook his head, making me push my shoulder onto his, pushing him over a little.


“Nothing.” He blushed and I smiled because I had just witnessed his inner child again.


Once we walked around for about fifteen minutes, I figured that I should at least try to hold his hand. I bet his hand would feel wonderful tightly clasped into mine.


When I locked fingers with him, he didn’t move. And once again, he took me by surprise. But then he quickly pulled his hand from mine and grabbed my wrist, pulling me into an empty hallway. He placed my back on the wall and clasped his hands on my shoulders again.


“I did not sign up for this Anastasia. I told you I wanted nothing to do with any kind of relationship.” He sighed and I crinkled my nose again.


“Who said anything about a relationship?” I did not realize how much of a thot I sounded like when I said that. “Friends hold hands too.”


“I don’t care. If I hold your hand, my hand would transfer to your waist. And then my fingers would get itchy, and then…” He stopped and placed his hands on top of his head. “Let’s go shopping shall we? And no touching this time.”


He then nodded his head and walked before me, making me trail behind him.


“Get your ass up here.” He said, looking over his shoulder. I quickly walked up beside him and he laughed. “When I said don’t touch me, I didn’t mean you had to stay away from me.”


I went to say something but I put my finger on my lips, debating whether or not I should have said it. But then I shook my head and we walked into a Chanel store.


“You shop at Chanel?” I asked, laughing a little.


He grabbed the skirt of my dress and his finger dipped down into the back of my dress, making me gasp. But then I realized he was looking at my tag.


“No but you do.” He then motioned for me to follow him and he leaded me to the dresses. “Pick one out.” He smiled and I shook my head.


“Oh no. Those dresses are way too expensive. This is my only Chanel dress.” I shook my head again and he widened his eyes.


“Pick out a dress. Please.” He sounded more demanding than sincere and I shrugged my shoulders. I picked up a gorgeous baby blue strapless, and it was flowy at the bottom but still thigh-length.


“Here. I want this one.” I smiled and handed it to him. And before I knew it, he walked over to the register and paid for it. “You know you don’t have to buy me everything I see or want. Because that’s kind of ridiculous.”


“You’re right. That is ridiculous. I wanted you to wear a Chanel dress. But I let you pick it out so you wouldn’t be wearing a dress that you didn’t like.” He then walked out of the store and followed after him, once again.


“I’m hungry.” It’s been two hours since I’ve eaten anything, and I am almost to the point of starvation. “Can we get something to eat?”


“Yeah. I’m getting kind of hungry too.” But then he stopped when we were right beside Kay Jewelers.


I shrugged it off and looked around. “I’m going to the bathroom.” I put my hand on his arm and he waved me off, making me go to the bathroom.


Once I was out of the bathroom, he was waiting outside for me.


“Where do you want to eat at?” He asked, narrowing his eyebrows.


“I don’t know. I mean, it doesn’t really matter.” He then grabbed my arm and we walked out of the mall, walking to the car.


“We’re going somewhere downtown. It was the last place I went to with my dad.” He seemed so sincere when he said that, and I couldn’t resist.


When he pulled into a small parking lot, I smiled. “Haven’t been to a small restuarant in a while Mr. Styles.” I smiled again and we got out of the car.


But then he walked past the small restaurant and walked around back.


“Where is he going?” I muttered to myself before walking to the back. But I stopped in my tracks at what I saw.


“Oh Mr. Styles, this is gorgeous.” It was a wide variety of flowers, and flowers, and more flowers, and let me think… Flowers. The view was breathtaking. There was a giant water fountain in the middle of it and a small table beside it. I paused and smiled when I saw Harry running his hands over the designs of the wooden table.


“My mom and I put this place together when I was a boy. You know, my real mom. She died when I was twelve, and I’ve never been the same. Her death convinced me to be the man that my father always wanted me to me. A sophisticated, proper, rich man that could take over all of his lands.” He smiled and rolled his eyes. “I’m talking about myself, Anastasia.”


“You should do it more often.” I sat down on a bench by the table in front of where he stood and he swallowed.


“You really are something, you know that Ana?” He swallowed hard again and I looked down. “And I am starving. Waiter.” He called and a man in black immediately walked up to him and I gasped.


“Yes, masuire.” He asked, his eyes closed and a silver tray that held two wine glasses was resting on his bent hand.


“Can you get my guest and I the special of today?” Harry said, clasping his hands together, and the waiter set the wine glasses on the table, along with a bottle of wine.


“Of course Mr. Styles.” He said before quickly walking away.


“I want to be able to say that I came here after he died.” He muttered when he sat down in front of me. “I told myself that I would never come here again. But because of you, I did. And I want to thank you Anastasia.” He smiled and dug in his jacket pocket for something. “Here is my way of thanking you.” He handed me a box and I raised my eyebrows, biting my lip.


I grabbed the box from him and slowly opened it, closing my eyes when I did. It was a bracelet. A diamond covered bracelet. Real diamonds.


“It’s, it’s breathtaking Harry. Really. Thank you.” He took it out of the box and clipped it around my wrist. “I honestly couldn’t thank you enough.”


“No need to thank me. It’s a gift. Accept it with care.” Then the waiter came back with our food and nodded his head before walking away.


“And I also want to thank you for taking me out of the house today. I don’t know what I would have done if I would have been trapped in there for another whole day.” I widened my eyes at the thought and he smiled.


“Today is music and dance day. I’m sure you would have had fun.” He smiled again and we began to dig at our plates.


“Harry, erm. I mean, Mr. Styles, I haven’t danced in 3 years.” He frowned when I stuttered out his name.


“Doesn’t mean you can’t do it again.” He took a sip of his wine and his frown appeared back on his face when I set my fork down.


“I stopped dancing because my mother told me it was immature for a young lady.” He nearly choked on his food when I said that I covered my mouth. “Are you okay?”


“I’m fine.” He held up his hand.


“I’m sorry, but I don’t dance anymore.” I somehow finished my food quickly.


When he was finished, he left some money on the table and walked to the car, rather quickly. When we were both in the car, he quickly drove away.


He pulled into the Bently Mansion’s driveway and helped me out of the car, taking me by my hand and walking past the front door.


We walked to the very back of the house, and he sped up when we came in eye level with a large brick building. He opened the front door to it and switched on some lights, showing a giant gym with weights, a recording booth, a tennis court, a swimming pool and a ballet dance floor. When I saw that, I nearly choked on the pain in my chest.


“What are we doing in here?” I asked, walking forward a bit, running my hands over the ballet pole attached to the mirror.


I turned around and looked at Harry and he had the thinnest smile on his lips.


Oh no. We better be in here to play tennis.


He turned on some spotlights and some waltz music. Then he slipped off his jacket and grabbed my hand in his saying, “We’re here to dance, Miss Greene.”

Notes

Sorry I didn't update yesterday, wasn't feeling too well. But here's your update for today :) I love you all xx