Writing Cinderella

While most women wouldn’t have been able to wipe the smirk off their faces after being given the news that they’d be trailing a celebrity as a shadow for a few days to write an exclusive interview article on them, I couldn’t think of anything worse. As a ‘commoner’ or at least that’s what I had been referred to in the past by snobby, well to do rich types; I understood that my job was merely just that – a job – but deep down right now as I sat in the comfort of the living room in almost pitch darkness, I couldn’t help but feel as if this particular job might just be the end of me.

“I think I’m going to be sick--.”
“I could always take you home and make you feel better..”

Louis’ response as I gathered my bearings in the meeting the other day had completely thrown me off balance. For the first time in my professional life, I found myself without a snide comeback or remark to rebuttal any suggestion he spoke of. Sipping on now cold chamomile tea and with my lap top rested on my knees I sighed, feeling elevated in mood just slightly when I felt an arm wrap around the top of my shoulders.

“You know it’s almost 4am..”, Harry spoke quietly as he turned the tv on. Playing with the remote to adjust the volume and change the channel to something which was broadcasting a foreign movie, I sighed at his warm embrace and clicked open a new tab on my internet browser.

“Yeah..”, I replied quietly letting my eyes glance to the clock on the corner of the screen, “Did you wake up just to check on me?”

“I woke up for a chat and saw that you weren’t in your room”, Harry explained solemnly, “As history states after you get a feature job you usually sit in the living room and research your subject of interest.”

“Mhmm..”, I let out with a half chuckle, “I don’t know if I’d call this one a ‘subject of interest’”, I explained typing Louis’ name into google for the umpteenth time this morning and ran my eyes over the screen as I had it felt a million times before. Feeling a half glance over my shoulder I wasn’t at all surprised when I heard a chuckle from Harry before he started to skim through tv channels again to find something more assuming to his liking than what was on the screen.

“I didn’t think you’d accept a job like that.”
“What do you mean by ‘like that’?”, I inquired inquisitively biting my bottom lip.
“With someone who has no substance.”

“He’s not some basket case you know”, I replied quick to defend Louis. It was honest that I didn’t know him very well, or really – not at all; but apart from his rather forward suggestions and childlike behaviour during the meeting we attended, he seemed like a normal guy who just happened to be stuck in the celebrity spotlight.

“But he can be a bit of a jerk—“, Harry began to explain before cutting himself off immediately once he noticed the reactions and expressions come onto my face.

“You say that like you know him”, I joked taking another sip of my now almost ice-cold tea.
“I do...”

Pausing for a moment and letting my eyes fleetingly glance to the side to try and catch Harry’s expression, a thought crossed my mind and I shut my laptop with a clear thud, leaning forward to place the cup of tea I’d given up on trying to consume on the coffee table.

“You know Louis Tomlinson?”, I asked with hope, yet underlying regret in my voice.
“Mhmm..”, Harry responded like before with the same half chuckle, “We went to school together, were on the same football team until we were 16--.”
“So you know a completely different side to him than what all the internet articles and glossy magazines portray then?”
“Very different.”
“So you’d be a little more unbiased when it comes to information about him then?”

Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Harry unwrapped his arm from around my shoulders and picked up his little leather bound journal which had been sitting beside me on my couch all morning and pulling a pen out from its spine, began to scribble down whatever came to mind – closing the cover almost immediately when I leaned over for a sneak peek. The look he gave me meticulously afterwards was rather cold and reserved. I took it immediately as to give up on the suggestion I had thought of only thirty seconds ago.

“You’re not going to show me what you’re writing?”, I asked with a half smile.
“It’s a secret.”
“Harry, I thought we made it clear a long time ago that we didn’t keep secrets from one another.”
“It wouldn’t interest you anyway”, he noted somewhat apologetically while shaking his head, “Trust me. It’s just garbage.”
“Don’t say that about your work.”
“Its okay princess, I’ll turn that trash into treasure after you go to sleep. Your eyes are red and you’re paler than usual.”

Shutting my eyes the moment I felt Harry’s touch brush some hair behind my ears, I couldn’t half help but think back to when Louis had shown the same gesture toward me earlier on. With Louis, it seemed almost romantic or perhaps for better words suggestive yet with Harry, the move was nothing more than calming. Exhaling deeply, I sighed and pushed myself up onto my feet holding a hand out to Harry.

“You feel like telling me a story while I try and get to sleep?”, I asked with a smirk, knowing he’d be more than keen on the idea. Looking up at me from where he was sitting, Harry grinned and tied shut his journal before slotting it into the side of the couch and taking my hand.

“You want me to tell you a bedtime story?”, he laughed like a child although clearly the one acting like a child here was me.

“My dad always use to when I was a kid. It’d help me get to sleep.”
“Well do you have a favourite?”, he continued conversation as we wandered towards my bedroom. I had no hesitation whatsoever in responding to his question once he’d finished speaking.

“Apart from the fact this probably sounds like a preconceived notion because I work for a company which has a similar name but.. Cinderella.”
“Well then..”, Harry spoke without missing a beat,













“Cinderella it is.”

Notes

Sorry for the probably not as exciting chapter but I really wanted to set up the friendship these two have before throwing them into deep water. I can't believe I have so many followers already for only 3 posted chapters! You guys are amazingly sweet. Let me know what you think if you're keen on expressing how you feel after what you've read. I'd really appreciate some feedback <3 xx