Turning Tables

Calista felt uneasy all throughout her photo shoot. Harry’s behavior was unsettling and she kept wondering what his angle was. She learned to always assume the worst with Harry Styles and this was no different. What kind of game was he playing?

She knew he was probably waiting on a phone call from her, but the shoot was running a little long since a) she was late and b) the body paint took a little longer than originally planned to apply. Cali decided to text him to tell him it would be longer than planned. But as luck would have it – her text was sent a little too late, because there standing in the back of the room, watching her in shoulder-to-toe body paint was none other than Harry Styles.

Cali quickly excused herself, putting on a robe quickly as she walked over to him.

“How long have you been here?” She shot at him, feeling so annoyed that he was there.

“Long enough,” he said, smirking deviously at her. God damn it.

“I would rather you wait in the car while I finish,” she said, wrapping her arms tightly around herself.

“I’ve already seen it all,” he countered, cocking his eyebrow at her.

“Who let you in here anyway?” She snapped, narrowing her eyes at him.

“Some bloke over there. I told him I was your boyfriend,” he chuckled.

“Uhh. Why would you do that? I have a reputation with these people,” she said, scrunching up her nose at him, annoyance festering inside of her.

“Excuse me?” He scoffed, looking at her amusingly.

“What?” She shot at him.

“Are you saying I’m not good enough for you?” Harry asked, letting out a short laugh.

“Oh, please. I could date any number of guys who are hotter than you,” Cali scoffed, rolling her eyes.

“Calista, your ego is astounding,” Harry laughed.

“Your ego is asphyxiating,” she shot at him with a glare and he chuckled in response.

“Just get out of here,” she said, grabbing him by the shoulders, trying to turn him toward the exit.

“That’s no way to treat your boyfriend,” Harry laughed, digging his heels into the floor, making sure she couldn’t push him out.

“Dream on, creep,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him as her hands dropped away from him.

“Calista! Let’s go!” She heard the photographer say.

“Go wait in the car,” Cali demanded, hoping Harry would finally listen.

“No way,” he chuckled and she growled under her breath.

Cali walked back over to the shoot and reluctantly disrobed. She felt incredible nude in front of Harry. It made her skin crawl just thinking about the things he was most likely thinking about her. Gross. The shoot only lasted twenty more minutes – only because the photographer was getting frustrated that Cali was being too stiff. Harry Styles – ruining her life since 2008.

After the shoot, Cali threw her sweats and t-shirt back on over her painted body and grabbed her purse. She reluctantly walked over to Harry, who was standing against the wall with his arms folded over his chest, smirking at her as she walked up.

“You’re never allowed at one of my shoot again,” she snapped, glaring at him as she walked toward the exit.

“Why’s that?” He asked as he followed behind her.

“Because your mere presence annoys the hell out of me and I can’t relax,” she told him and he laughed out loud.

“Fuck off. Let’s go,” she said, pushing open the door.

Harry followed her out of the building and down to the street where his Range Rover was parked. Once they were inside he didn’t start the car. He didn’t even make a move to. He just looked over at her.

“What?” She snapped at him.

“Wanna go do something?” He asked.

“No,” she told him flat out.

“Why not?” He asked, sending her a sideways smile.

“First of all – I’m in head to toe body paint, and second – we’re not friends, nor will we ever be friends,” she explained, bursting his stupid little bubble.

“Well, first of all – the body paint is kind of hot, and second of all – we’ll see about that,” he said as he started up the vehicle. Cali narrowed her eyes at him and he laughed.

“And why would I ever be friends with you? What makes you think I would ever trust you enough to be your friend? You are a cocky asshole who thinks he is better than everyone else and thinks he’s god’s gift to woman. You repulse me in so many ways it’s astonishing,” she told him bluntly and he chuckled again.

“And that arrogant laugh thing you do – yeah, creepy and annoying,” she said, rolling her eyes at him.

“What else, princess? Please tell me,” he said sarcastically.

“Well, the amount of cologne you wear could kill a small animal if you got close enough,” she told him.

“You really got me with that one, Cali,” he said, placing his hand over his heart, feigning offense.

“And the way you play everything off as if it’s a joke – super annoying,” she said, rolling her eyes. He chuckled again as he pulled out into the road, beginning their twenty-minutes-too-long drive back to their building.

“I could tell you what’s annoying about you too,” he countered a few moments later.

“Yeah. Well, I had the pleasure of you tell me what’s annoying about me for four straight years in high school, so I’d rather we skip that little bit of show-and-tell,” she scoffed at him. He fell silent – just how she liked him.

Cali didn’t say anything and he didn’t say anything for the rest of the drive. Even when he was grumbling about traffic, he never directed any statements toward her. She was grateful for the silence. She and Harry Styles would not be becoming friends just because he gave her a ride to and from work.

When he pulled up in front of their building, Cali hopped out right away going straight into the building. He was walking up the stairs as she was unlocking her flat.

“So is that it then?” Harry asked her.

“Is what it?” She asked, not even bothering to look at him.

“I just gave you a ride home – you insult me and then you give me the silent treatment the whole drive,” he said.

“Awesome how that works, huh? I hope the taste of your own medicine is bitter on your tongue,” she said and slammed her door in his face.

Yeah, she probably wouldn’t be getting any more rides from Harry ever again – but hey, there was always public transportation. She’d rather be late every day for the rest of her life than have to ask Harry for a favor ever again.

That weekend Cali went out with Vivian. She needed to get out of her building because once again, Harry was throwing a party and it was driving her absolutely mad. She and Viv went back to the same club they met Harry’s friend Rhys. It was absolutely packed in there, but Viv and Cali got VIP access because they were in the model scene. It just seemed weird to Cali that people got perks in life because of the level of their beauty. It usually didn’t sit right with her, but that night she just wanted to drink and forget about everything. She wanted to be loose enough so when she went back home and Harry’s party was too loud, that the alcohol was enough to take the edge off. Plus, Viv said she would stay over with her so Cali didn’t go over and kill some people.

After five gin & tonics, Calista was definitely loose. She was a light-weight when it came to alcohol because she rarely drank, so when she and Viv caught a cab back to her flat at one in the morning, she was looped. Viv even had to help her up the stairs.

“His fucking music is too fucking loud!” Cali yelled explicitly.

“Cal, I don’t understand why you let him bother you. Seriously, don’t let him get to you anymore. You’ve wasted enough time and energy on that arsehole,” Viv told her. But it went in one ear and out the other.

“I am sick of his disrespectful attitude!” Cali said, stomping to his door.

“Cali, do not go in there!” Vivian scolded. But Cali already had his flat door opened before Vivian could pull her away.

“Harry Styles!” Cali yelled and some guy in the living room pointed to the kitchen.

“Calista, stop. Let’s go back to your flat,” Viv said, grabbing her arm, but she fought her off.

Cali marched straight to the kitchen to find Harry. He was chatting up a couple of people who were in his vicinity in the crowded room. His gaze met her with a surprised look.

“Cali, what are you doing here?” He asked, smirking wildly at her.

“Your music is too loud,” she said, holding herself up with her hand leaning against the archway in his kitchen. She didn’t realize she was staggering until she almost fell over.

“Are you drunk, Calista?” Harry asked, letting out a small laugh.

“No!” She protested, but they both knew it was a lie.

“You are. Ha. Brilliant,” he said amused.

“Why must you always have your music so fucking loud? Like really, you’re standing right fucking here. Are you deaf?” Cali complained. And of course because she was drunk, she didn’t even realize how big of an ass she was making out of herself.

“Cali, let’s go. I’m sorry,” Viv said, apologizing to Harry.

“Do not apologize to him. He does not deserve an apology!” Cali snapped, poking Harry in the chest with her finger repeatedly.

“Ow,” he said with a smile as he rubbed the spot his chest.

“Cali, come on,” Vivian said, pulling her arm again.

“Turn it down, Styles,” Cali told him sternly.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, saluting her with his hand. Cali paused, staring at him – was it really that easy?

“Are you really going to turn it down?” She asked, a little bit surprised. Actually, a lot surprised.

“Yes, Cali. I will turn it down,” he chuckled.

“Uh… thank you,” she said awkwardly.

“No problem,” he said with an ever-present smirk on his face.

“Let’s go,” Vivian said and Cali finally let her pull her out of Harry’s apartment.

Vivian got Cali in bed and she passed out not long after. She was drunker than she thought. She never really ever drank so much all at once. Cali woke up about three hours later with a seriously dry mouth and the sudden urge to go to the bathroom.

She stumbled to her bathroom and did her business. She looked in the mirror afterward and saw her disheveled appearance staring back at her. She quickly pulled her hair into a ponytail and washed her face. She was still wearing her bra and underwear from the night before, but Viv had somehow managed to slip her out of her dress. Cali was glad she did, because that dress was pretty damn expensive.

After she was done in the bathroom, she headed to the kitchen for a glass of water, but saw movement in the living room – on the couch. Viv had some bloke in her flat and she was having sex on her brand new couch. Oh, gross.

“Vivian Lee! That couch is brand new! If you get any sex secretions on the fabric I am going to murder you,” Cali told her, half-serious half-playful.

“Oh my god!” She heard Viv gasp. Cali giggled until the guy’s head popped up from beyond the couch.

“What the fuck!?” Cali yelled, her eyes wide with surprise.

Harry motherfucking Styles.

“Cal…” Vivian said, hiding her face behind her hands.

“What the fuck are you doing in my flat? Are you seriously fucking my best friend on my couch!?” Cali yelled at Harry. He stayed silent, just staring at her slack-jawed.

“What? Are you waiting for the blood to flow back to your brain? Get the fuck out of my house!” Cali screamed at him. He stood up quickly and gathered up his clothes. Cali quickly turned away so she wouldn’t have to see anything that would scar her for life.

“Cali –” She heard Harry say quietly.

“Get the fuck out, Harry,” Cali screeched. He didn’t say anything else and soon she heard the door open and then close.

“Cali…” Vivian said as she put her clothes back on quickly.

“I can’t believe you, Viv,” Cali said, anger filling her tone.

“I’m sorry,” she said, hanging her head.

“I don’t even care that you were having sex with him…” Cali started, but realized how wrong that statement felt to her. She did care.

“I am just angry you brought him here. He is the enemy!” Cali yelled.

“I know… I’m sorry. There were just so many people still at his house… and…” She stuttered.

“Save it, Viv. I’m going back to bed,” Cali said angrily as she walked back to her room without getting the water she so desperately needed.

She slammed her bedroom door and collapsed on her bed. Her mind was reeling. Her best friend was just having sex with her arch nemesis in her god damn house. She was angry. It bothered her more than it should. And good lord, the thought of Harry having sex messed with her head. He was never more than a dirty rat to her – someone to loathe because of how he treated her all those years ago. But now, her filthy dirty horny mind couldn’t stop thinking of him sexually and she was certain that’s what angered her the most. Harry Styles was a sexual being and he made her lady parts tingle. Gross.

The next morning, Viv was already gone. Cali felt bad for the way she reacted. She text her to let her know she wasn’t angry at her – not really. It was just something she needed to get over.

When Cali went out to her kitchen to make some coffee, she heard a knock at her door. She was in no mood for dealing with anyone. She grumbled as she threw open the door. Standing in front of her was Harry with two coffees in his hands. Cali stared at him with a glare in her eyes. He held out one of the Starbucks cups to her, but she made no move to take it.

“Here,” he said eagerly.

“No, thank you,” she said with a bit of attitude.

“Cal, I got you a coffee. Just take it,” Harry told her.

“Why would I take anything from you?” She asked, glaring at him.

“You took a ride from me,” he pointed out.

“You fucked my best friend – in my flat,” she shot back at him and he hung his head. Was Harry Styles showing shame?

“I was really drunk,” he said quietly.

“So was I, but I managed not to fuck someone in my stupor,” she shot at him.

“Cali, I’m sorry. It was disrespectful…” He said, looking remorseful.

“You’re disrespectful by nature, so I don’t understand why you’re apologizing,” she snapped.

“Are you ever going to get over it!?” Harry grumbled, rolling his eyes at her.

“Why should I?” She yelled back.

“Because I’m not the same fucking person I was in high school!” He protested.

“I don’t understand why you’re even bothering with me. Who am I to you?” She asked, narrowing her eyes.

“I don’t know. My neighbor?” He offered, shrugging his shoulders. She scoffed, because what a stupid answer.

“Come on, Cali. I am really trying to be the good guy,” he said, looking at her hopefully.

Cali stared at him for a few more moments, trying to wrap her head around it. He held out the coffee for her one more time and reluctantly, she took it.

“If there is a roofie in this, I am fucking you up, Styles,” Cali shot at him and he laughed out loud.

“It’s roofie-free. I promise,” he said, his green eyes dancing with amusement.

“So, yeah… thanks, I guess,” she said, holding the cup up.

“No problem,” he said with a smile.

“I’m not inviting you in,” she told him flat out.

“I wasn’t asking,” he countered.

“Good,” she said, feeling awkward that he was still there.

“Have a good day, Cal,” he said finally, turning toward his door.

“Yeah,” she said under her breath and watched as he unlocked his door.

Before he had a chance to look back and see her still watching him, she quickly shut her door and felt incredible torn between hating Harry and feeling something other than hate for him. It made her feel all wrong.

Notes