April POV

“YES YES YES! THE RED! WEAR THE RED ONE!”

“Don’t you think it’s a bit much? I mean we’re just going for a little, right?”

“Yeah, yep. Just for a little, Olivia.” I chuckled. She did this every time, she’d put up a fight over going out but once we got there, had a few drinks in us and danced a bit, she was the one I’d have to pull out of the club.

“Don’t give me that. I know what you’re thinking. And I know, I know. I’m going to have a good time. I’m just freaking out about school starting next week. I mean, college April. We are in college. How exciting?” she said, adding some mascara to her lashes.

“Dude, what is there to freak out about? Isn’t it just like high school on steroids?” I laughed.

Olivia and I were starting school at NYU. We had been best friends since elementary school and nothing would change that. We had gotten an apartment together for the school year and I couldn’t be more excited about that. We were both above average students with studious manners, but we enjoyed to get a little rowdy now and then. I had talked Liv into getting fake IDs for the next couple years until we were 21. I wasn’t going to live in New York City and not be able to get into all the coolest bars and clubs. Besides, if and when we went to frat parties, I wasn’t going to go dry, I was making sure Liv and I were set.

We weren’t crazy wild, but we like to go out. We’d have a few drinks, get to the point of just past tipsy, dance and flirt harmlessly with some guys and go home alone. It was as simple as that. We’d been using our fakes to get into clubs ever since moving to New York for school. It had only been a week or two, but it was already awesome. Once classes started, we wouldn’t be going out as much, so why not enjoy ourselves now?

After finishing the final touches on our makeup, hair and outfits, we headed to the elevator. The doors dinged open and we stepped into the crowded lift. It wasn’t unusual for so many people to be headed out at 11pm on a Friday night, after all this was the city that never slept. I scrolled through my phone looking at the club we had decided to go too. It looked posh and swanky but also fun and young. We exited the elevator and headed towards the curb. We flagged down a taxi, taking no time at all. We slid in the backseat together, me mumbling the place we were going too.

I took in the scenery of the city, tall skyscrapers, shoulder to shoulder tourists and natives alike walking down the bumpy sidewalks. Scaffolding lining the outside of buildings in dire need of repair, and gorgeous architects of history surrounded you everywhere you went. I smiled as I saw a hotdog vendor with a line wrapped around the block, making a mental note to go try his food some time. Nothing was ever dull or boring when you rounded a bend, something was always happening in NYC.

The cab came to a screeching halt in front of the club, we paid the cabbie and headed towards the entrance. There was a small line to get in, so we started towards the back of it when the bouncer yelled our way.

“Ladies, ladies, ladies!” he smiled as we got closer to him. “Now I’d love to let some pretty young things like you in right now, but I’ll need to see your IDs.”

Olivia always was most freaked out about this part. But I kept reminding her before we left that all she needed was her confidence. I had the IDs made so mine said 22 and hers 21. Yeah, we each had a couple years left to go until we hit those marks, but it wasn’t that much of a stretch. We could totally pass for those ages.

He looked quickly for our ‘date of births’ and handed each of us our cards back. “Enjoy your evening, ladies!”

“I can’t believe he let us skip the line.” Liv giggled.

“I can! I mean we look fierce tonight.” I tucked my arm through hers. “Shall we find the bar?”

“We shall!” she smirked.




Harry POV

“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this and now here we are, standing in a line, waiting to get in.” I rolled my eyes at my best friend.

“If you wouldn’t have worn that monstrosity of a shirt, we’d be in there by now!”

“Louis, it has nothing to do with my shirt. We’re getting too old for this bullshit.” I sighed. “I don’t even want to be here.”

“Then leave, Harold! I don’t care.” He crossed his arms at me.

“Don’t be mad. I’m not actually going to leave.” I chuckled at his childishness.

“And when you say we’re getting to old for this, you lie. We’re hardly too old. Besides, you need this before you start your uptight job at NYU.” He shrugged.

“Yes, I forgot earning a PhD and receiving a dream job teaching at NYU is so uptight.” I rolled my eyes at him again.

“Well excuse me Professor Styles, but now you actually have to do all the work that old dude you studied under did. Like assign work and grade things. And English? Of all subjects taught in this day and age, English? Do you know how many pages and books and papers and whatever else you’ll have to read? And not to mention dealing with idiotic freshman? Christ, your life is going to suck.”

“When you put it that way it sounds like it will suck. But I don’t think it will. I think it’ll be challenging and fun.” I smiled at the thought of me teaching my first college class on Monday. I was really beyond excited for this new journey in my career and life.

“Did you just use the word challenge and fun as coinciding adjectives?” Louis scoffed at me.

“Yes. I think a challenge can be fun.” I shrugged.

“Good god. For my sanity can we just get shitfaced drunk and be reckless one last time tonight? Please?” he pleaded with his best puppy dog eyes.

“Fine, when, if, we ever get into this place, we will get shitfaced drunk and be reckless.” I agreed.

“There’s the Harry I met in college!” Louis clapped me on the back. “What the fuck?”

“What?” I asked, confused.

“That asshole bouncer is going to let these two girls in and here we are standing here in line!” he spat. “I mean I can’t even be mad because look at them, fucking dimes. But what the fuck!”

I chuckled at Louis, he was something else. But he was right, the girl leading her friend to the door was gorgeous, mid length curly blonde hair, a smile that could probably light up New York on its own, and a shade of crimson dusting her cheeks from the attention from the bouncer, she was gorgeous, fucking dime, as Louis would say. But I wasn’t Louis, she was simply beautiful.

“Told you.” Louis snickered when he caught me staring.

“Whatever. I just hope we get into this place soon.” I rolled my eyes. “Shitfaced drunk and reckless.”

“Shitfaced drunk and reckless.” Louis repeated with a laugh.







April POV

After ordering our drinks and promptly finishing them, we made our way to the dancefloor. The bass was pumping and we were enjoying ourselves. No one had the guts to make their move and come dance with us yet, but we didn’t even care. We dance happily and freely together. I took in the scene of the club, sweaty bodies grinding up against one another, drinks being finished left and right, and lights flashing everywhere.

Growing up I had never really pictured myself coming to bars or clubs, but the first time I went to one, I knew I was hooked. There was something so electrifying about dancing with strangers watching and consuming alcohol and feeling all warm and fuzzy. I highly enjoyed myself when I was here, especially with Olivia.

I knew once school started I would have to find a balance between school work and my social life. I liked to party but I was also a pretty serious student. Grades were the most important thing to me right now. I wasn’t in school to do mediocre. I was in school to excel and get a good job when I finished.

“I want another drink.” Olivia shouted over the music at me. I nodded, letting her lead us out of the dancefloor. “Hmmm. I want something fruity.”

“Me too.” I chuckled at her.

She was always quite the lightweight, but it was rare to get her into a completely not worrying, free state. Olivia and I met in the third grade in McHenry elementary school. She sat next to me all day and hardly ever said a word for the first few weeks, despite my trying to talk to her. Finally, one day I got her to break and we’d be inseparable ever since. Olivia was always the ying to my yang, the PB to my J, any and every cliché, we were it. We were similar in senses but also quite opposites. We both took our schooling very seriously, working our asses off to get into NYU together, I really couldn’t imagine being with her here in this big city. We laughed at the same kind of jokes, we enjoyed the same foods, and we both liked having our freedoms. But at the same time, I was more of a free-spirit, wild child and Olivia was more of the reserved, reasonable type. She was realistic, I was optimistic. She was cautious, I dove in head first.

We snagged two seats at the bar, ordering our fruity drinks. Liv snatched hers up as soon as it was set down in front of her. She sighed, taking a long swig.

“School is going to suck.” She sighed again, downing her drink, flagging the bartender over for another. I followed her suite, finishing mine as well, nodding as the bartender offered me another.

“No it’s not, Liv.” I hugged her. “It’s going to be awesome. We’re going to be fine.”

“You better not be lying to me. And Christ I can’t do this every weekend.” She giggled, alcohol taking full effect.

“We won’t do this every weekend.” I couldn’t suppress my laughter. “And you know I don’t lie to you, ever.”

“Cross your heart and hope to die?” she looked over at me, sipping her fresh drink.

“Cross my heart and hope to die, yes.”

“You know how we always dreamed about hot older boys asking us out in college when we were younger?” Olivia asked, seriously.

“Yes, why?” I rolled my eyes.

“I think it’s about to happen.” She nodded behind me.

I turned around to see two younger but obviously older guys approaching us. The shorter of the two, still not too short himself, leading the way proudly. His blue eyes sparkled as he got closer and his smile could melt the coldest of people’s hearts. But then I noticed the taller one. He had green eyes and unruly brown locks. When his friend leaned in to say something just before they got to us, his face lit up in the most incredible dimpled smile, if the first guys smile melted cold hearts, his smile melted Satan. I took a long sip of my drink and smirked silently at Olivia, she knew exactly what I meant.

“Here goes nothing.” She whispered as the first guy reached us.


Harry POV

“Lou, come on. I don’t know.” I sighed.

“No Harry, look at me.” I rolled my eyes, meeting his. “You haven’t stopped staring since she got out of the cab and we actually find her in this ridiculously packed club and you don’t want to go over?”

“She seems to be enjoying her night with her friend!” I attempted my very lame excuse.

“Yeah and then they can enjoy it with us as well!”

“They look young though.” I eyed them.

“Yeah, but they got in here with no troubles so they’re at least 21! God Harry, come up with one more excuse.” He dared me.

“I just don’t know, picking up chicks at a club was never my thing, it was you and Nialls.” I shrugged as he shook his head.

“Okay then you’re gonna learn how to tonight, finish your drink, and we’re going over.” He glared at me.

“Fine, fine.” I downed my drink in one gulp, maybe I wasn’t getting too old for this yet.

“Let me do the talking and try and hide that horrible shirt and then you can come in and make some stupid comment like always and we’ll see what happens. The friend is pretty nice looking too so thanks for not even making me take one for the team here.” He slapped my chest as we got within a couple steps of the girls.

I laughed, probably a little too hard, probably a little due to the alcohol.

“Hey.” Louis smiled. “My friend and I were wondering if you’d like to dance or if we could buy you some drinks?”

The girls looked at one another before the gorgeous blonde turned to us.

“Only if you think you can keep up with us.” She smirked.

“Keep up? Babe, we invented the game.” Louis smirked back, sticking out his hand. “Louis.”

“April.” She smiled taking it.

“Olivia.” The brunette smiled before they both turned to me.

“Um, hi I’m Harry.” I followed Lou’s gesture extended my hand.

“April.” She took my hand, giving me a devilish grin, letting her hand linger a little longer.

“Olivia.” I smiled as I shook her hand, my eyes going right back to April.

There was something about her. She seemed so youthful and carefree. She seemed like she had life figured out and was ready to conquer the next task at hand. She seemed perfect. And that was all from hearing her say one word.

“We’re drinking 7 and 7’s by the way.” April winked at us. “But we’re always down for a few shots.”

“You like tequila then?” I heard myself asking before I could stop myself, surprising Louis.

“We love tequila.” Olivia smiled. “But it’s gotta be a true shot.”

I ordered four true shots of tequila, watching the bartender got them ready. He set 4 limes wedges down in an empty cup before filling the shot glasses. I held out the cup of limes, everyone taking one and passed the shot glasses around.

“What should we toast to?” Lou asked.

“A good fucking night.” April smiled.

“To a good fucking night.” We all repeated, drinking the gold liquid, following up with eating the limes. I shivered as I felt the tequila travel through my system. I loved tequila but only in small doses.

“You wanna dance?” I heard Louis ask Olivia who eagerly agreed.

He gave me a smirk as he led her onto the dance floor, leaving me alone with April.

“I’d ask if you’d like to join, but something tells me you need a shot or two more in you before you do that.” She giggled, clearing buzzing herself.

“Should we do another then?” I asked.

“Yeah!”

I ordered two more shots for each of us, quickly taking them.

“So uh…” I awkwardly chuckled. “Two Lemon Drop shots please.”

“Harry, don’t be nervous. We’re here to have fun!” she smiled, placing a hand on my arm.

I nodded as the bartender placed our shots in front of us. “Cheers.”

She smiled at me before downing her shot, looking back at me.

“It’s hard not to be nervous around such a beautiful girl though.”

She chuckled lightly, obviously having heard that many time before. “Beautiful or not, I’m human. Loosen up, have some fun! I mean you’re a club so I’m assuming you want to have fun…” she paused, raising an eyebrow, I nodded in agreement. “Then let’s go have some fun.”

She grabbed my hand leading me towards Louis and Olivia on the dance floor. I was suddenly glad Louis practically forced me to pregame. I was feeling a content buzz, perhaps even a little more than tipsy. I wasn’t sure the girl leading my way was even real. She tightened her grip, turning around to look at me, yep. Definitely real.

“Just follow my lead.” She smiled. And I did exactly what I was told.





April POV

I woke up with a pounding in my head and a sliver of light peeking into my room. Wait, my sheets aren't this soft, or this color. I sat up, instantly regretting it. I felt a nauseous rush pass through my body, luckily quickly passing. I was hungover and in an unfamiliar room. I looked over next me checking out the sleeping figure. Vague memories came back from the night before. I sighed, wishing I could remember more when said figure woke up. Harry. His name was Harry.

“Uh, hi.” I smiled as he looked up at me.

“Does your head hurt as bad as my head?” he chuckled softly.

“Worse probably. Did we…ummm?” I started to ask when he cut me off.

“No, no. We didn’t. You don’t remember anything?” he asked.

“Not really much past doing shots then dancing.” I shrugged.

“Well we danced for a bit and then we went back over to the bar and did a few more shots. You decided you wanted food and we found some little diner around the corner and then we came back here.” He shrugged.

I looked at our various stages of undress, he had sweatpants and no shirt on, and I was in my bra and underwear. I wasn’t a subconscious girl, but I was curious as to how we got to this point if we weren’t doing anything.

“We came back here and you know made out a little, talked over some coffee, and made out some more.” He shrugged. “You got tired and I tried to offer you some clothes but you said you’d be fine in that.”

“Why didn’t you know, try anything?” I asked, seriously curious.

“Well for one, I wouldn’t take advantage of a drunk girl. And two, probably had whiskey dick anyways.” He laughed at the end, causing my mouth to rise up in a smile as well.

“Oh well, uh, thanks I guess.” I kept my smile. “Not many other guys would have been so nice.”

“I’m not most guys.” He said as I stood to begin redressing, only to remember the tacky, low cut shirt I had worn.

“If this doesn’t scream walk of shame.” I laughed at myself.

“Take a shirt of mine.” He shrugged. “I’m not worried about it.”

“Oh, yeah thanks. Thanks. But not that hideous one you had on last night.” I smiled as he got out to fish a shirt out of his dresser. I took the time to really, soberly check this guys out. He had defined muscles but not in your face muscles. He had scattered tattoos on his forearm that all looked so intriguing. He was honestly a great looking guy.

“Oh ha ha, you guys think you’re so funny making fun of me all night. I actually happen to like that shirt.” He stuck his tongue out in a childish manner.

“Fuck us then. You rock the shit out of that shirt, honestly. It’s just not a great pattern.” I shrugged, as he handed me a plain black shirt.

I pulled the shirt over my head, and my legs into my skinny jeans, thankful I wore flat shoes. “Can I use your bathroom, you know to make myself look presentable to New York City?” I asked.

“Sure, that door there.” He pointed to a door in the left corner of his room. I nodded a silent thanks heading into the bathroom.

I looked at myself in the mirror. Not too bad, April. I had a little bit of mascara smudged under my eye and my hair was still relatively straight. I pulled it up into a quick pony tail with the hairband wrapped around my wrist. I tried to salvage my mascara, wiping the smeared bits off. After a quick, look over of the rest of me I was ready. I headed out to the bedroom, only to find Harry fast asleep again. I thought about leaving my number, he seemed like a really nice guy, but decided against it. I don’t know what stopped me from leaving it, but something inside me made me not do it. If it was meant to be, fate would sort it out.

Without another word, I slipped out of the apartment and found my way to the curb, hailing a taxi.





Harry POV

“What do you mean she was just gone?” Louis rolled his eyes as he flicked through the TV.

“She said she was going to the bathroom and the next thing I know, I woke up at 2pm and she was gone. I had to of fallen asleep before she came back out.” I shrugged.

“Well at least you got her number before she left, right?” he asked. My silence answering everything. “Dude, no! What the fuck?!”

“I had planned on asking her for it when she came out.” I sighed. “But she didn’t leave it either so maybe it’d better this way.”

“Dude, I hate to tell you this, but the few hours I spent with her, she’s one of a kind.” Louis mumbled. “We’ll find her. Don’t worry.”

“Yeah we’ll find one girl in a city of 8 and a half million people.” I rolled my eyes. “She was too good to be true.”

“Don’t be such a downer, Harry.” Louis rolled his eyes for the hundredth time today.

“I’m not, I’m being realistic.” I shrugged.

“Well I’m being fucking optimistic. We’ll find her. You’ll find her.” He smiled. “But now, let’s go work out these toxins.”

“Fine, I’ll be ready in a minute.” I said, heading into my room.

I sat down on the end of the bed. He was right, she was one of a kind. I knew I would never find her but the hope that maybe I might one day, put a smile on my face. I guess I’d just have to let fate play this one out.

Notes

hey guys, i_heart_1D here!

so doing this like co-author thing. it should be fun! i hope you enjoy the first chapter.

i threw this together, so excuse any errors or anything. let us know what you think!

hoping you guys like it and want to read more! it's only gonna pick up from here!!!

enjoy!!

i_heart_1D :)