Dark Star

Harry did not let go of my arm the entire time we stood there. He spoke with an effusive Jack, who could not stop thanking him or congratulating him. They talked for ages that night, with Jack encouraging Harry to perform there on a regular basis. People also dropped in to congratulate Harry and let him know how much they enjoyed his gig.

We didn’t get a chance to talk until Jack cleared the room at about midnight. It was obvious to everyone who knew Harry that he had reached his limit. He looked slightly jaded as Jack led us toward the back exit.

“The bar’s still busy… I thought maybe you would want to escape through the back.” He said with an understanding smile.

It was not until we stepped out into the back alley, that Harry finally let go of me. We stood there, facing each other awkwardly, the memory of our argument still vivid in our minds.

“You’re pushing me into something I don’t wanna do!” Harry had yelled at me, but he had not only ultimately faced his fear and finally performed in public, he had triumphed.

“So…” Harry was the first to speak.

“So…” I echoed.

He hung his head and then looked up at me with a half-smile.

“I’m sorry.” He said.

“It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not. I shouldn’t have blamed you for anything… I guess I just freaked out. The more I thought about it, the more I got scared.

“What changed?” I asked and he shrugged in response.

“I guess I figured I had nothing to lose.”

He opened his arms and I stepped into them, holding him close.

“I was so proud of you.” I told him. “You were so awesome.”

We stood there for a few moments until the cool air blowing through the alley compelled Harry to snake his arm around my waist.

“Let’s get outta here.”

We drove home and without a word made our way into Harry’s dark house and into his bedroom. He poured himself a drink and practically downed it in one as he paced up and down for a while, going through the night’s events and shaking his head every now and then. It was as if he could hardly believe that he had actually performed in public and that the result had been wholeheartedly positive.

“Hey.” I said.

“Mm?” He said, looking as though his mind was miles away.

“Put that drink down and come here.” I told him. He paused for a moment before doing just that. I held my hand out and led him to his bed, where we lay close together.

“Just take a deep breath.” I said softly. Before long, he was breathing evenly and his green eyes eventually focussed on mine.

We slept in each other’s arms that night

X

The effects of Harry’s gig at the Black Cat were immediate. Jack was bombarded by phone calls, and even Harry’s phone began to ring. He never answered, but would listen to them quietly before deleting them. When I questioned him, he would merely shake his head.

Harry was not the only person getting hassled. When I walked into work a couple of days later, my workmates did not hold back.

“Are you seeing Harry?”

“How long have you been together?”

“How the fuck did you manage that?”

The last remark was spat out by Chloe who did not even bother to disguise her surprise.

Surprised that someone like Harry would be interested in someone like me? Surprised that Harry didn’t choose her instead? Whatever it was, I instantly felt my defences go up. I didn’t answer her as I took off my jacket and hung it in my staffroom locker.

“Aren’t you gonna tell us anything?” Chloe persisted, dramatically drawing out the last word.

“What do you want to know?” I asked flatly.

“About you and Harry… we want details.”

The other girls giggled, but it was obvious from the expression on their faces that they were dying to know too.

“We’re friends.” I shrugged.

“Yeah right.” I heard Chloe mutter, but I was halfway out the door. I could have easily played along, but the bad vibes I felt coming from her acid tone were enough to make me shut down. I kept my head down for the rest of my shift, only engaging with the customers and keeping to myself. Toward the end of my shift, one of the girls approached me with a smile.

Penny had started working at the Black Cat a couple of weeks after me and we had helped each other out ever since.

“Don’t worry about the others.” She said. I shrugged my shoulders as if I didn’t care, but she merely smiled again. “Seriously… I think they’re just pissed off that they didn’t get to him before you did.”

“I don’t know about that.” I said and she laughed at my comment as if I was the most naïve person in the world. I was in no mood to play along with her either and so as soon as my shift was over, I practically ran out of the bar, only to bump into Jack. Literally.

“Woah, you’re in a hurry.” He chuckled as I picked up my dropped handbag.

“Sorry.” I said sheepishly.

“I’ve been calling Harry.” His tone suddenly becoming more serious. “And he hasn’t been answering.”

“Really?” I said, pretending to be surprised.

“Yeah… I really want to set up another gig.”

“Wow, yeah… that would be great.”

“Do you think you could talk to him? He hasn’t been here all week, so I haven’t had a chance to see him.”

“Sure, I’ll talk to him tonight.”

“Awesome. If all goes well, maybe this can be a regular gig for him.”

When I next saw Harry, it felt good just to melt into his arms.

“You okay?” He said as I wrapped my arms around him.

“Uh huh.” I mumbled in response.

I knew he was smiling by the sound of his voice, but I felt him gently push me away, his hands firmly grasping my arms.

“You sure?”

“Yeah… I’ve just had a crap day at work and I feel like I haven’t seen you in ages.”

“We were together the other night.” He pointed out, referring to the night of the gig but I just shrugged my shoulders. Before the gig, I had barely seen him for a week.

“What was so crap about work?” He asked.

“Nothing really… I guess I just wasn’t in the mood to deal with everyone.” I said cagily. “But the good news is that Jack wants you to perform again.”

“Really?”

“Yes really.” I said, lightly swatting him on the arm. “And you know it. He’s been calling you, but you never call him back.”

“Yeah well… I just needed some space.” He said. “Maybe I’ve been feeling the same as you… just not in the mood to deal with everyone.”

“So you’re not going to do it?”

He didn’t speak for a few moments, but when he did, he smiled.

“Never say never, Ali.”

X

I don’t know why, but I was surprised when I saw Harry’s picture in the local paper. I would have never seen it, if it weren’t for my Father who pointed it out to me.

“Did you see this?” He asked. “Harry performed at your work.”

“Yeah I saw it.” I said casually, feigning no interest. But as soon as I could, I grabbed the
paper and read the article. Once again I had underestimated Harry’s notoriety, because the article built him up to soaring heights.

Local recluse Harry Styles is finally being spotted around town, most notably performing at our swanky local The Black Cat. The former boybander performed a series of hits, that did not include any songs from One Direction and had the crowd hooked from the moment he took the stage.

The article praised Harry and wondered whether this was the small beginning of a big comeback.

“That’s strange.” My mother said, suddenly appearing at my elbow. She scanned the article and still looked puzzled.

“Why?”

“From what I know, this is very out of character for him. A few months ago, he would barely leave the house. I’m surprised Anne let this happen.”

“Why would he have to get permission from Anne?” I asked, feeling a little defensive.

My Mother just gave me a pointed look, but was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell.

She left me sitting there feeling more than a little rankled. Why was I the only person who thought Harry was capable of doing more than just sitting around the house? I shook my head and ripped out the page from the newspaper, so I could show Harry the positive feedback later. I was about to leave for work, so I grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl and headed for the front door.

“That was Anne.” My Mother said as we crossed paths.

“Hmm?” I said absentmindedly, checking to see my phone and keys were in my handbag.

“Anne from next door. She’s invited us over for dinner.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” It was my Mother’s turn to sound absentminded as she rearranged the flowers on the hallway table.

“Sounds good. When?”

“I think she just meant your Dad and I.” My Mother said, suddenly alert.

“I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if I came over too.” I said, trying to hide my amusement.

“We’ll see.” She replied, returning her attention to the flowers. I was still smiling to myself as I made my way down the front path and onto the street.

“Ali!” I heard a voice call and looked over to see Anne. I paused for a moment before making my way toward her, meeting her halfway. I smiled politely, but it was clear that she was not in
the same mood as I was.

“I’ve been meaning to speak to you for a few days now.” She said. “About Harry.”

“Harry?”

“I heard about the gig he did recently at the Black Cat… that’s where you work, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Harry decided to leave this kind of life a long time ago.” She said. “And I think it’s really strange how he’s suddenly performing in town. I didn’t even know about it Ali. I had to find out through friends, I had to read about it in the paper… he never told me a thing.”

“Maybe he didn’t think you’d approve.” I said, but she disregarded what I said with a wave of her hand as she continued.

“I have done all I can to help him and this is how he repays me?”

“This is something Harry really wanted to do.” I told her.

“Really? And how about you? Did you really want Harry to do this?”

“All I wanted to do was support him.” I said. “And that’s what I did.”

She regarded me for a few moments, long enough for me to become uncomfortable under her unwavering gaze.

“I just invited your parents to dinner.” She said suddenly. “Maybe it would be a good idea if you join us. I can let Harry know.”

I blinked, wondering why her icy accusations had turned into a dinner invitation. I walked away from that conversation feeling a little uneasy. So far my relationship with Harry had invited jealousy and suspicion. And I could not help but shudder at the thought of the upcoming dinner party.

Notes

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