"If you want to be enthusiastic, act enthusiastic." ― Dale Carnegie


"I can't believe you dragged me here, Sam." I groaned.

"All of my mates were busy!" My brother argued.

"So you decide to bring along your little sister instead? Genius plan." I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. Truly, I didn't want to be here at a football game. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy the sport. I just would rather be doing something else. Going out with my friends to a movie or having a sleepover. Sam was a football fanatic, super crazy about it and I found it hilarious. Dad loved it because he loved football too but Mum wasn't that impressed, that's for sure.

Tonight, it was a game between the Packers and the Bears. We were in Chicago so naturally, the majority of the crowds were Bears fans; my brother was. However, around the stands, there were clusters of green, Packers fans banding together in support for their team.

The moment the Bears ran onto the grass, people around me leapt into the air, cheering and screaming. My brother was one of those people.

"Come on, Lizzy! Get up!" He said, grabbing my elbow and pulling me to my feet. I clapped but did nothing else. I wasn't enthusiastic tonight. I wanted to be with my friends or at home, not surrounded by thousands of people yelling at the tops of their lungs.

The first half of the game dragged on for far too long and I got bored easily. I wished that I had brought a book but if I had, Sam would've killed me. I spent most of the time on my phone, checking my Facebook and Instagram. I occasionally looked up at the scoreboard to see who was winning or when the Bears scored a goal. About 20 minutes in, I asked Sam if he wanted anything to eat or drink. He shook his head, keeping his eyes on the game. Well, I was hungry so I got up from my seat and headed to the area where they sold food and drink. I was looking at the menu when I heard a raspy English accent from next to me.

"Not enjoying the game, huh, love?"

I almost jumped and looked to my left, my heart going nuts when I saw who was standing next to me. No... Harry Styles is not here. Harry Styles is not beside me right now. I attempted to convince myself that one of the members of the biggest boyband in the world was not standing next to me but it was very hard to believe that he wasn't real. He was even more gorgeous in person. Long curly hair flowing over his shoulders, flawless features and dressed in a grey Packers hoodie with his signature skinny jeans and suede boots. My mouth opened and closed like a fish. I was lost for words. I couldn't even remember what he had asked me not ten seconds earlier.

"You OK?" He said, sounding a little concerned.

"Uh, yeah, yeah. Just...didn't expect to see someone like you here." I managed to say.

"Someone like me?" Harry raised an eyebrow at me and frowned a little.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I, um..."

"Love, relax. I was only joking." A smirk pulled at his soft pink lips, making my insides turn into mush. Jesus, have I fallen in love?

"I understand. It's not every day that you bump into Harry Styles, right?"

"Sure isn't." I played along with a smile. He looked at the menu and made his order while I looked at him. Is he on the menu? Because if he was, I would order him without a second thought. He was a pleasurable sight to look upon. Supple skin, beautiful bones, luscious lips. What wasn't to love? My eyes caught his Packers hoodie and I laughed.

"What's so funny?"

"Your hoodie."

"This thing? I'm supporting my team!" He cried.

"You and I aren't the same then." I giggled.

"Don't tell me you go for the Bears..." He sighed, taking the hotdog and Coke that the worker behind the counter had handed to him.

"If I didn't, my brother would murder me. And for your information, the Packers suck."

"They do not!" Harry argued but it only made me laugh harder.

"They do! Even if I hated the Bears, I would still support them over the Packers any day."

"Oh, now you're asking for it, love."

"Asking for what?" I narrowed my eyes but my question came too late. Harry swiped a ketchup-covered finger down my nose and I squealed. I searched for a tissue to wipe it off. Harry smiled widely as I furiously tried to get rid of the ketchup.

"I'm going to get you back for that." I growled and shoved the tissue in his face, catching him off-guard. I smudged the ketchup-stained tissue aganist his skin, all with a smile on my face. I totally forgot that he was this huge superstar. With me, he was just acting like a regular guy yet he was so bloody cheeky.

"I think I'm going to call you Ketchup Girl." Harry laughed as he grabbed a new tissue to clean his face up.

"Oh, God...please don't."

"I will if you don't tell me your actual name."

"I'm Elizabeth."

"Well then, Elizabeth, are you going to order something or do I have to cover you in ketchup again?" Harry smirked. I chose the first option. I decided on just some fries and being a perfect gentleman, Harry paid for it.

"Consider it as an apology for the ketchup on your nose." He said. I graciously accepted his apology and I said one myself for pushing my stained tissue in his face. He laughed at that and assured me that it was fine. I checked the time on my watch and realised that I had been gone for almost 10 minutes.

"Crap! My brother will be wondering where I am." I said, looking at Harry. I didn't want us to part just yet there. We got along so well already, apart from supporting different teams. Ones that were huge rivals. I tried to find a way to say goodbye but nothing seemed good enough. Luckily, it was Harry that spoke up.

"You go back to your brother, Elizabeth. And don't forget this." He said, placing my dirty tissue in my hand. I gazed at him curiously but he only smiled which let me know absolutely nothing.

"Bye, Ketchup Girl." Harry laughed and took a bite of his hotdog, walking back over to the way into the stadium.

"I told you not to call me that!" I yelled after him but he only cackled, disappearing from my sight. I shook my head and looked down at the tissue in my hand. My first instinct was to throw it in the bin but something stopped me. I didn't know what it was but I didn't throw it away.

I walked past into the stadium and returned to my seat next to my brother. He looked at me with a hint of anger.

"Where the fucking hell have you been?"

"Getting food." I said, gesturing to the fries in my hand.

"The Packers are one point ahead. I'm fuming here!" Sam shouted.

"Oh, I can tell." I said under his breath so that he didn't hear me. The stands around me erupted in euphoria and I realised that the Bears must have scored. I took it as an opportunity to unravel the tissue in my head. Red ketchup stains had dried on the white background but that didn't catch my attention. It was the scrawny handwriting on it that made me gulp.

Still can't believe you support the Bears.
See you around, Ketchup Girl. H xx

Underneath was his number. Harry Styles had given me his number. I grinned like an idiot and felt my cheeks turn red. I thanked my brother now for bringing me along. Nothing could wipe the smile off my face. I was in such a state of joy that I got up and cheered along with my fellow Bears fans, Sam draping his arm around my shoulders as we encouraged our team to win.

Notes

Hope you enjoyed this, Elizabeth! I know shit about American football so I had to do some research. Couldn't resist showing Harry's enthusiasm for the Packers, lol!

blankspace1 xx