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Dark Star

Chapter 2

When the doorbell rang that night I went through my options. I could spend my night hiding in my room or I could grow up and at least come out and say hello. I pulled on my jeans and a casual top. I glanced in the mirror briefly just to make confirm my hair was neatly combed. I made my way down the stairs to the sounds of my parent’s greeting their guests. I could see Harry’s Mum look up at me as I descended the stairs, smiling with shining eyes. I had extended my hand and was just about to open my mouth to greet her, when she moved to the side and I found myself face to face with Harry Styles.

“This is my daughter Ali.” My Mum spoke up and I felt like shrinking under everyone’s gaze, wishing I had put on something more than just a tatty pair of jeans and T-shirt.

“Nice to meet you Ali.” Harry’s Mother said brightly. “My name’s Anne.”

I smiled and shook her hand but my eyes were firmly fastened on Harry. I exchanged greetings with Harry’s stepfather and then looked up to see Harry watching me closely. He seemed to tower over me as he stepped forward to shake my hand.

“Nice to meet you.” He said.

“This is my son Harry.” Anne added, and I looked at her with a raised eyebrow. The guy really needed no introduction. He may have stopped being popstar, but nobody had told him that. His dark grey jeans were skin tight and his black boots were shiny and pointy. His black dress shirt was slightly unbuttoned and I caught a glimpse of a few of his tattoos. His hair was long and tousled andI unashamedly watched as he ran a hand through his hair before I realised he was waiting for a response.

“Hi.” I said dazed. “Nice to meet-“

I was inadvertently cut off by my Mum who led us all to the back patio where she had set up the table. Everything looked wonderful and I felt a stab of guilt over not bothering to come out of my bedroom to help her. Small vases of fresh flowers were a pop of colour against the pristine white table runner and dinnerware.

“Oh Jenny, this looks wonderful.” Anne exclaimed and my Mum broadly smiled in response.

“How about you kids sit here?” She said and Harry and I exchanged glances and he raised
his eyebrow at me. She ushered us to the end of the table and were made to sit opposite each other. I soon realised that whilst Harry had a view of the pool and garden behind me, I only had a view of Harry. Behind Harry was the back glass door, where I could only see the reflection of my face. I self-consciously tucked my short brown hair behind my ears, but there was nothing much I could do about my appearance. It also didn’t help when Harry put on a pair of dark aviator sunglasses. We sat there face to face for a few excruciatingly awkward moments when my mother appeared.

“Red or white?” She asked.

“Red.” Harry and I replied instantly in unison.

Once the wine was poured, I resisted the urge to take a huge gulp and when my Mother mentioned she had to return to the kitchen, I quickly spoke up.

“Do you need any help?” I half rose from my chair, eager for an escape.

“No, no. You sit down and keep Harry company.”

I nervously sat down and tried to ignore the amused look Harry cast in my direction.

“You okay?” He asked.

“Yeah… I mean yes… I’m fine.”

It was hard to look him in the eye when all I could see was a reflection of my pale and nervous face in his glasses, but I did anyway. He smiled at me in response and I felt myself relax a little bit more. The conversation freely flowed between my parents and Anne and Robin. It was obvious they knew each other well and there was barely a pause, until the conversation shifted to me.

“So Ali… what are your plans, now that you’re back in town.” Anne asked.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat and carefully rehearsed my response in my head before I said the words out loud.

“I’m taking a break at the moment.” I said, avoiding my parent’s steady gaze. “But I’m using the time to find the right job too.”

“That’s nice.” Anne smiled.

“Thinking of going to college?” Robin spoke up.

“Uh no.” I replied. “I prefer to work.”

“What were you doing before?”

“I was working in a law office.” I said.

“Oh?”

“In the admin department.”

“Oh.”

Anne and Robin smiled politely before returning their attention to the caprese salad before them. I was in the middle of fiercely concentrating on spearing a piece of tomato, cheese and leaf of basil on my fork, when my Mother spoke,

“Harry, I must say it’s lovely to see you. It’s been far too long.”

“It has.” Harry smiled. His voice was deeper than I expected and when he politely removed his sunglasses to regard my Mother, I could see how his entire face lit up.

“Ali was so excited when she found out you were living next door.” My mother went on, causing me to almost choke happening my wine. My eyes had been firmly fastened on Harry and he now turned to regard me with a small raise of an eyebrow.

“She was such a fan of yours back in the day.” My mother continued with an indulgent smile.

“Really?” Harry asked with an unwavering gaze.

“Oh yes. She used to listen to your songs over and over again.”

I stared at her in amazement. On what planet did I ever listen to One Direction? Either my mother was completely deluded or she was just trying to be polite and create a little conversation. All eyes were on me as though they were waiting for my response.

“Soo…” I said, trying to change the subject. “Have you released any new music lately?”
A stony silence followed and I noticed everyone (even my parents) suddenly look tense. Why was it perfectly acceptable to grill me on my career prospects, but asking Harry Styles a harmless question was a definite no-no?

“Harry has retired.” Anne informed me.

Retired? The guy was only twenty six years old, wasn’t he a little young to be retired? Didn’t he do anything at all? I looked at Harry to see the dark sunglasses had returned. I could not see his eyes, but I could tell he was not exactly thrilled with the line of conversation. His shoulders were slightly slumped and his head bowed.

“He doesn’t make music anymore.” Anne added, probably in response to my wide eyed, surprised look. “He does quite a bit of charity work though.”

“Oh.” I replied and turned my attention to my empty wine glass. “Would anyone like some more wine?”

Harry instantly held out his glass and I wasted no time pouring the wine. The stilted conversation was saved by my Father, who suddenly remembered a good golf story. Greatly relieved that the attention had been shifted away from me, I indulged in a little wine and I could see Harry was doing the same thing.

Dinner progressed slowly after that. Harry and I barely spoke, but every now and then our eyes would meet and I would feel my stomach tighten. By now he had removed his sunglasses, so I could actually see his green eyes. The fact that I had now consumed a few glasses of wine did not help the situation and feeling of longing inside me only grew more intense.

By the time dessert was served, I could see his mouth moving, but I could barely hear him speak.

“Sorry?” I breathed.

He was truly good looking. There was no other way to put it. I don’t know if it was the wine talking (or ‘thinking’ in this case) but he was seriously attractive. His hair may have been a little too long, but between his forest green eyes and his plump pink lips, I did not know where to look.

“I was just saying I might have a job for you.” Harry said.

A job? I blinked back at him dumbly.

“A job?” I echoed.

“It would just be a temporary job.” He went on. “Just to tide you over while you look for work.”

“Really? Wow- thanks.” I said, mentally kicking myself for not being able to construct a single, proper sentence.

“I need an assistant for a charity drive I have coming up… someone who can liaise with the organisers and help out on the day. I’m rubbish at stuff like that. I guess I’m used to others doing it for me.”

“That would be great.” I said. I desperately needed an escape from home and something constructive to do other than sitting on my porch every day. Yes, Harry made me a little nervous, but I would have to get over that. Maybe this job would be a good entry on my CV.

“Are you free tomorrow afternoon?”

He asked me to drop by his house the next morning and I agreed.

“It’s just temporary.” Harry assured me and I nodded.

“That works for me.”

When Harry and his family made a move to leave, I unsteadily followed them to the front door. The wine had definitely gone to my head and I found myself stumbling only to feel a strong hand grip my arm.

“You okay?” Harry asked.

“Yeah, I think so.” I said, checking to see if my parents had noticed. Thank God, they were too busy chatting to see my little fall from grace.

“A little too much wine?” He smiled.

“Maybe a little.”

“Take care of yourself Ali.” He said, using my name for the first time.

His hand lightly touched my arm as he bid me goodbye and I watched in wonder as Harry Styles walked out of my house.

That night I googled my new boss and looked through a whole heap of images of him through the years. From the fresh faced kid of sixteen when he first started out, to pictures of today. The most recent photos were mostly candid paparazzi photos and they were not many in existence. But the difference in Harry was obvious. His eyes were hard and intense and he now had an edge about him that I could not explain. I could feel my heart skip a beat as I stared at the photos.There was no doubt I was attracted to him, but I was pretty certain Harry Styles did not look at me the same way.

He was just my boss. And I would just have to get over it.

Notes

Comments

@En_1960

Thank you, I'm glad you liked it! :)

Everso Everso
10/23/19

Thank you so much for updating. I love it.

En_1960 En_1960
10/22/19

@En_1960
I just saw your comment. Thank you for being here :) I will try and update soon. Subscribe so you get the notification when I do.

Everso Everso
6/12/19

I am here. Please update?

En_1960 En_1960
5/30/19

@JasperRenee

Thank you! I can't believe it's been a year since I last updated (!!)

Everso Everso
12/17/18