When Stars Collide

“This place hasn’t changed much, has it?” Zoe Everheart mused as her older sister Sophia maneuvered their black Mazda down the familiar street that led to their old family home. The sky was bright and the street was quiet; an idyllic day for moving in.

Zoe watched a few people mosey down the street together, lost in animated conversation. Beyond them an elderly couple sat in the front garden, gesturing towards their neat little rockery by the gate. There was an idyllic quality to this place, Zoe had noted from when they’d exited the motorway. Everything seemed greener, more tranquil here. It would have been unnerving, if it hadn’t been for the vague familiarity to it. But when you’d spent the last eleven years in the thriving metropolis that was London, a rural town in Cheshire was like being in a different world.

“No,” Sophia agreed as she slowed the car down. “Feels like we just travelled back in time doesn’t it?” she smiled before rounding another corner. “Here we are girls, home sweet home.” Zoe, who had returned her attention to texting her friend Aimee about Skype-calling later, looked up to see the old house looming above them as Sophia pulled into the drive.

It was a shorter building than she remembered but it was wider too with a small, white-painted stone gable in the roof. The gaps in the tiled roof from when they first lived here had been filled in and the second floor stone walling had a fresh coat of ivory paint. The ground level walling was made from red bricks, well maintained so the place looked like it could have been built in recent years. Clearly the last owners had given the place a face lift. As Zoe stepped out of the car, she admitted to herself that she was glad they hadn’t changed the place too much. The appeal of coming back to their old home had been the guiding force for paying extra to reclaim the house.

The driveway had also been well-looked after, she noted, as she followed Sophia up to the front door. Most of it was paving stone except for a large rectangular patch of trimmed grass, edged with rose bushes. Zoe remembered the wild, untamed bushes of her youth - what a hiding place they had been. She pushed away the tinge of sadness at their replacement.

Their other sister, Ruby clambered out of the back seat, yanking her iPod earphones out and stuffing them in her pocket. “What time’s the moving van coming?” she asked as they stepped through into the house.

“It should be here in ten minutes,” Zoe noted as she checked her watch.

Once they were all inside, she looked about the lounge. It was a spacious, open room with a bay window looking out at the drive. A wide window seat sat below it with cream cushioned with gold patterned leaves sealed to the seat. On the adjacent wall, a cream marble fireplace took centre place. A small black stand containing a number of pokers rested next to the furnace. The rest of the room was empty but Zoe could smell the fresh tinge of newly applied wallpaper and paint. The skirting boards were white and unmarked and the wallpaper, which had the same cream and gold patterns as the window seat, was new and unfaded. Zoe allowed her mind to wander back to her childhood when the walls had been striped with different shades of blue. The floor, instead of being laminate, had been soft, thick midnight blue carpet.

On one side of the room stood a doorway leading into a black and white, chrome style kitchen with more cupboards than Zoe suspected they’d need. Adjacent to the kitchen, a red oak spiral staircase occupied a corner of the room. While Sophia examined the kitchen, Zoe headed upstairs while Ruby headed outside, Zoe assumed, to wait for the moving van.

Upstairs, the hallways had the same decor as the lounge. They formed an L shape with Sophia’s room occupying the space within the short spike of the L. Zoe peeked inside at the white walls and the mauve skirting boards and carpet that Sophia had chosen. Sophia had always loved purple. She even loved the book, The Colour Purple as well. Moving on, Zoe passed the bathroom at the end of the hall and came to the next bedroom. As soon as she peered into it, she was greeted by the illuminated but gentle yellow tones of the walls complete with an understated pale carpet. That would be Ruby’s room. Her own room was at the other end of the corridor, at what would be the top of the L. This time she stepped inside completely and smiled.

It was a spacious room, just like she’d asked for. Not like Ruby’s box room. (But then Ruby was rarely home for long, other than the occasional meal and sleeping.) Whereas Zoe’s room also acted as her office. So she had opted for dark oak skirting boards and flooring. The only thing out of place for the purpose of a bedroom/office was an ivory wallpaper that was almost completely covered in large red and black hearts. For as long as she could remember, she’d always enjoyed Alice in Wonderland. As childish as it seemed, Zoe wanted to hold a little bit of that Wonderland obsessed child, now she’d moved back in. She moved about the room, visualising where the bed would go, her desk and her Narnia-style wardrobe. She moved towards her own bay windows and gazed out over the back garden.

Once upon a time it had been a large lawn with wild bushes and trees growing around it. (Ok so the Everhearts were not gardeners by nature.) Now, the bushes were trimmed and blooming with flowers of purple and gold. Several of the trees were already producing fruits of apples and pears. (Zoe was really starting to see why the house had been so pricey.) But the lawn had been halved in favour of a paved area complete with a built in barbecue.

Zoe’s eyes wandered over towards the garden next door and immediately gravitated towards a shirtless young man with long brown hair that fell past his shoulders, riding a lawn mower. As he moved width-ways across the garden, Zoe’s eyes fell upon the taut muscles of his back, the way the wind and the motion of the machine moved his hair along his shoulders. She began to turn away as he turned the mower around, so he wouldn’t catch her staring. But at the last second she got a look at his face and did a double take.

It was Harry Styles.

For a moment she just stared at the One Direction singer, before her brain re-engaged itself.

Of course he’d be here. It was his mother’s house after all. Her cheeks flushed pink at her foolishness for not imagining that she might run into him again. Over the years since they’d moved away from Holmes Chapel, their mothers had kept in contact but she and her sisters along with Harry and Gemma Styles, had fallen out of touch. They’d heard of Harry’s journey into music fame of course but by that point it had been over five years since they’d had anything remotely to do with the Styles and they certainly weren’t going to jump on the bandwagon of ‘we used to be neighbours and friends’ claim to fame.

Still, it would be strange, Zoe told herself as she jerked away from the window before Harry could see her. It was one thing returning to a childhood friend but moving back next door to one who’d become an international global sensation? Oh god…

“Hey Zoe!” Sophia’s voice called from downstairs, breaking into Zoe’s thoughts. “Anne’s called round to see us.”

Anne. As in Styles? No wait, Twist, at least Zoe thought so anyway. Eyebrows raised at the coincidence of Harry’s mother’s appearance, she made her way to the top of the stairs and slowly descended. Anne stood in the doorway with Sophia and Zoe faltered in the middle of the stairs.

Somehow Anne Twist was one of those people who never seemed to age. She was dressed in a black belted top with navy skinny jeans and decorative black flats. Her rich, ebony hair was twisted into a casual updo and her eyes, darkened by the dim lighting between the door and the window, flashed with recognition when she saw Zoe. She smiled broadly and Zoe’s own recognition flared up as she recalled that smile from her childhood. All the times she’d made Anne laugh when she’d ventured into her garden without asking or asking questions with no filter whatsoever, came flooding back to Zoe and her cheek tinged pink. Anne’s complexion was deeply tanned making Zoe wonder if Harry had taken his mother on holiday recently. She snapped out of that chain of thought when Anne approached her.

“Zoe, hi… Gosh, you look so grown up.” Anne told her as Zoe reached the foot of the stairs. “You’re really the spit of your mother, you know,” she told her with her broad smile. Zoe smiled and gave a small nod. It had been noted a few times that Zoe was the only sister to really take after her mother in looks. As well as being slightly on the slender side, she shared her mother’s dark chestnut hair and her small, marble shaped sea-blue eyes. Not to mention many mannerisms and her mother’s softer facial features. Her sisters on the other hand took more after her father. Sarah was strikingly tall at 6”0 but with a fuller figure than Zoe. Her eyes were their paternal grandmother’s distinctive gray rather than their father’s brown. Shorter and thinner but with curvaceous hips, Ruby had been born blonde but had dyed her hair brown at fifteen and never gone back. Instead she rotated through highlight colours. Currently her hair was streaked with scarlet. She shared Zoe’s blue eyes but that was the only physical resemblance to her mother there was.

“She really does,” Sophia grinned over at Zoe. “She’s like Mum’s mini me.”

“Only, horrible at cooking,” Ruby added, making Zoe scowl.

Anna chuckled softly. “So was your mother when she was your age. I was horrible at cooking too until my grandmother stepped in.”

Zoe fought back a smile. “Really?”

“Yeah,” Anne told her. “One day she sat me down and told me I was going to learn a basic life skill if it killed her.” She then grimaced. “My attempt at cooking a chicken nearly did at first.” She smiled again. “But she taught me and your mother some great recipes, shared some valuable tips.”

“I didn’t realise you and mum had been friends that long,” Ruby folded her arms, looking intrigued.

“Oh Hannah and me go back years, we both grew up here,” Anne explained. “But after I married Des, we moved to Redditch for a few years because of his job.” She then clapped her hands together. “Anyway, I didn’t come round to give you my life story,” she admitted with a laugh. “I wondered if you’d like some help moving in. I know it’s stressful as hell,” she added.

“Oh that’s really sweet,” Sophia told her. “But we couldn’t ask-”

“Honestly I’m offering,” Anne cut her off affectionately. “Besides I’m happy to help and I have Harry and Gemma next door too. It’d hurry things along wouldn’t it?”

Zoe looked towards her sisters. “It would make things easier,” she agreed before turning to Anne. “But I’m sure Harry and Gemma have their own stuff to get on with.”

“Well how about I ask them?” Anne suggested.

“Alright then,” Sophia agreed. “Thank you, Anne, it means a lot.”

Anne gently stroked Sophia’s arm. “It’s no trouble. It’s such a nightmare moving. I would have bitten anyone’s hand off, if they wanted to help us move,” she added, laughing. “Anyway I’ll be back in a moment,” she told them. Seconds later she was already crossing the drive to return to her own home.

“Mum wasn’t exaggerating when she said Anne was one of her nicest friends,” Sophia mused as she watched Anne go. “She’s such a sweetie.”

“Not to mention we might get her fit son helping out,” Ruby grinned.

Sophia rolled her eyes. “You would eat him alive. And anyway you have Donald.”

Ruby laughed. She and Donald ‘Donny’ Madison had been dating since her first year of university. They were pretty serious but even more so about dodging the many hints and suggestions from both sets of parents about official commitments. Zoe thought it was quite amusing, especially since their brother Jack had already set their parents’ on edge with excitement over his recent engagement to Steph. The pair of them already had little Lucy together, who’d turned four last month. Clearly Jack’s situation had spurred the Everheart parents into pressing for the same from their three daughters now.

“I do have Donny,” Ruby agreed. “But even he wouldn’t say no to watching Harry Styles lug boxes up and down our stairs.”

Sophia rolled her eyes. “Just as well he’s not here then,” she muttered. “I don’t need two of you drooling on the laminate flooring.” She dodged a playful shove from Ruby and the two of them began laughing as Zoe stepped outside. A huge blue van marked Harvey’s Movers was pulling up to the driveway.

Ten minutes later, Sophia had explained to the moving men that the beds were to go in first and Zoe’s bed had already gone up. Ruby and Zoe were quickly assigned the task of taking the kitchen equipment in. Once they’d brought all four boxes inside, Ruby remained to start setting up the equipment and Zoe headed out to the moving van. This time Anne was outside, talking to Sophie and surrounded by two figures.

Zoe recognised Harry immediately. He’d thrown on an elbow-length-sleeved, grey t-shirt and his shoulder length hair was thrown back in a messy bun. Next to him was a tall girl with flowing, pastel blue-lilac hair that reached her chest. The colours were stunning together; the combination looked so natural that Zoe couldn’t take her eyes off it for a moment. So that was Gemma, she deduced, after she snapped out of her staring. Gemma turned to look towards Zoe at the same time as Anne did.

“So Zoe,” Anne told her with a smile. “Sophia says the guys in the van are gonna handle big furniture and assembling. So me, Harry and Gemma will help you guys with the smaller boxes.”

Zoe shot the three of them a grateful smile. “That’d be amazing, thank you.”

Between them they decided that until Sophia and Ruby’s beds were upstairs and assembled, Anne and Sophia would help out with the other downstairs boxes. Gemma would take Ruby’s belongings up to her room and then do the same with Sophia’s. Harry and Zoe would take Zoe’s stuff up to her room and try and unpack around the future assembling of her other furniture. With tasks assigned, everyone got to it and Zoe was surprised to witness the eagerness that Harry accepted the first of her boxes.

“Don’t worry,” she told him sheepishly. “I only have four.”

“It’s fine honestly,” he told her with a smile. He then raised his eyebrows and feigned a frown. “Unless you’re going to add -ty on the end of that.”

Zoe laughed. “No no. I travel light.”

He looked down at the box he was carrying. “You’re not kidding. Did I pick up the teddy bear box?”

Zoe stepped forward to open the lid. “Oh let me see-”

“No, forget it!” he backed off playfully with a grin. “Equal opportunities. I’ll take teddies, you take the heavy box,” he declared, face dimpling with a massive smile as he spun round and sauntered into the house. Zoe smiled after him shaking her head.

“What a dork…” she murmured to herself.

After unloading all of the boxes and the furniture for both upstairs and downstairs, the moving men set about assembling the rest of the furniture upstairs. Downstairs Sophia insisted on making everyone some food as a thank you with Anne chipping in to help. Ruby and Gemma set off for the shop to pick up some wine and shopping. That left Harry and Zoe hanging outside in the garden. Zoe set up two of the iron chairs leaning against the fence, positioning them either side of the barbecue. As she and Harry took the seats, she pushed some loose strands of hair away from her sweaty forehead and behind her ears.

“Nice maneuvre by the way,” she told him as she reclined in her chair.

Harry was already beginning to grin. “What maneuvre do you mean?”

“Getting all the light boxes. Leaving the heavy ones for me,” she scoffed accusingly.

He pressed his lips together in an attempt to hide his laughter but Zoe could practically see the chuckle rising in his throat. “That was fate. I just happened to get them. Isn’t it great how we live in a world where a girl can carry her own heavy boxes inside the-ha!” he laughed as Zoe jabbed him in the arm with her elbow.

“You weaseled out of the heavy stuff and you know it,” Zoe snorted.

“Just think, now you have bigger muscles,” Harry suggested.

“All the better to smack you with,” Zoe pursed her lips in amusement.

“So violent.” Harry shook his head, grin stretching across his face.

“Such a weasel,” Zoe retorted before she froze, as memories clicked into place. At the same time Harry stiffened as well.

“That was your thing!” They both chorused before laughing hard.

“You were constantly pinching me!” Harry accused.

“Because you weaseled out of everything!” giggled Zoe.

“I did not!” Harry protested.

“When we were eight,” Zoe reminded him, “we trashed your mother’s rosebushes and you said you only did it because I was holding your kiddie microphone thing to ransom.” Seeing Harry’s face light up in another smile, she elbowed him again. “I got grounded for a week for that!”

“It’s not like you didn’t get revenge,” Harry pointed out. “I never did get those Easter eggs back.”

“You didn’t pay up.”

“Who charges twenty pounds for Easter eggs?”

Zoe pretended to consider it. “An ambitious hustler?” she smiled.

It was Harry’s turn to scoff. “Let’s face it. You’d have taken the money and eaten the eggs.”

“Oh no doubt. I’d already eaten one and a half of them by the time I wrote that note.”

Harry scowled playfully. “I hope you’re proud of yourself.”

“I am.”

Harry’s face relaxed and Zoe laughed gently along with him as the sounds of cutlery clanking together and furniture assembly drifted across the garden towards them. Harry leaned back in his chair and gazed up at the clear sky.

“It’s funny,” he admitted. “We haven’t seen each other in what? Eleven years? Yet it’s so easy to fall back into old habits.”

“We were right pains to each other, weren’t we?” Zoe chuckled.

“Some of us more than others.”

“Shut up,” Zoe laughed and crossed her legs. “We had so much fun, I remember being furious with mum for making us move.”

Harry’s expression softened. “I really missed you when you left. I kept badgering Mum to take me to see you but she said it was too far.”

“Yeah, I mean, we were all the way down in London,” Zoe admitted.

“It seems like a much longer trip when you’re little,” Harry agreed. “Now it’s just two hours on a train, if that.” He ran a hand through his hair and Zoe took the opportunity to really drink Harry in.

Of course she’d seen the pictures of him through his time in One Direction: growing hair, bigger muscles and a jawline that was defining itself each year. But actually being near him again, when they’d only been eleven the last time they saw each other, was unsettling yet it unlocked a tingling sensation just below the surface of her skin. Making her feel like maybe she was just dreaming about moving back home and seeing an old friend again. Dreaming about a conversation they’d never actually have-

“I remember you saying you’d never grow your hair out,” Harry smiled at her.

Zoe reached up and clasped a few strands of her hair self-consciously. “Oh yeah… And I see you made no such statement,” she teased. “What are you going for, Simba’s mane?”

“Shut up,” Harry declared with a shake of his head. An action that swung his hair into his face. He immediately raked his fingers through the top of his hair, forcing it out of the way of his face. Zoe’s smile deepened which did not go unnoticed. “Shut up,” he repeated, his tone playful.

Before Zoe even realised how long were sitting out here, she and Harry fell into easy conversation and the minutes flew by. Zoe found it incredible how easy Harry was to talk to even after all of this time, including his One Direction fame. Somehow the boy she’d pinched, play-threatened and adored hanging out with, was still underneath the international face he’d become in the last six years. In the meantime, the assembly noises from the upstairs windows and the sounds of Anne and Sophia cooking had all faded away.

They’d been sat out for about an hour before Ruby emerged to inform them that even sandwiches had expiry times.

Notes