Turning Tables

On Saturday morning Harry caught Cali in the hallway as she was getting her paper.

“Hey,” he said, beaming a wide smile at her.

“Hi,” she said awkwardly.

“So, you haven’t answered whether or not you’re coming tonight,” Harry told her.

“Where?” She deadpanned.

“To my show,” he said, looking at her dumbfounded.

“I was kidding. I remember,” she told him.

“Oh, ha,” he said chuckling. She couldn’t help but smirk at him. He actually looked relieved.

“Are you coming?” He asked again.

“I suppose I could swing by,” she said, quirking her eyebrow.

“Oh, you can pencil me in? How nice,” Harry joked.

“I mentioned it to Vivian and she said she’d be down with going too,” Cali told him.

“Oh,” he said awkwardly, his eyes darting to the floor.

“What?” Cali asked.

“The thing… that happened with her…” He started to say and Cali immediately waved her hand for him to stop. She didn’t want to think about it and she sure as hell didn’t want to talk about it.

“No, seriously, Cali. It was… really stupid. I shouldn’t have…” He stammered, looking at her apologetically.

“I’m over it, Harry,” she told him, waving it off again.

“I just feel really terrible,” he said, looking genuinely remorseful.

“Why? It’s not a big deal,” she said, shrugging it off, even though it kind of was a big deal to her.

Harry nodded and dropped the subject, for which she was grateful. She didn’t want to talk about it anymore… ever.

“So then, I’ll see you tonight,” she told him, trying to change the subject quickly.

“I’ll uh… text you the information,” Harry said awkwardly.

“Sounds good,” she told him.

“See you later,” he said with a smile.

“Bye,” she said and closed her door.

Things were pretty awkward because she didn’t know how to act around him. Everything was weird. It was like the world was spinning the opposite way on its axis. Like up was down and down was up. Her mind was a jumbled mess.

Vivian came over a few hours before the show to get ready with Cali.

“So, he like, invited you to his show?” Viv asked curiously.

“Yeah. On Thursday night,” Cali said, digging through her closet.

“So… what’s going on with that then?” She asked as she sat on Cali’s bed scrolling through her cell phone.

“What do you mean?” Cali asked, looking at her confused.

“He asked you to his show. Does he like you?” She asked, quirking an eyebrow.

“Pssh, no,” Cali laughed out loud.

“Sounds like he does to me,” Viv chuckled.

“What? Yeah, right. We hate each other. Which one?” Cali said, holding up a purple dress and a black dress.

“Black. What do you mean, ‘yeah right’? He asked you to his show. And look at you!” She pointed out.

“What?” Cali asked, slipping into the black dresses.

“Look at the two skimpy dresses you picked out to go to some club to see some band of some bloke you don’t even like,” she explained.

“All I own are skimpy dresses,” Cali said, rolling her eyes.

“Yeah, and you also own jeans and a t-shirt,” she chuckled.

“So you’re saying I should wear jeans and a t-shirt?” Cali asked, quirking her eyebrow.

“No, but you’re dressing to impress – even if it’s subconsciously,” Viv laughed.

“I’m changing right now,” Cali scoffed, pulling down the strap of the black dress.

“Hell no, you’re not! You better keep that dress on, Calista Freemont! Your ass looks exceptional in it!” Vivian protested, jumping up from the bed to stop her.

“I’m not wearing it for him,” Cali warned her.

“No. And why would you? He’s only an extremely hot eligible bachelor that just happens to live across the hall from you,” Vivian said in her usual sarcastic tone.

“And he just so happens to be a prick. But I’m not getting into it. I’ve beaten that horse to death,” Cali said as she began applying her eyeliner.

“Well, yeah. There’s only so many times one can say that a person ruined their life before the fact that they’re dwelling on it begins to be the thing that ruins their life,” she said with implication in her tone. Cali gave her a glare through the mirror and Vivian laughed.

“Like I said, I’m not going to get into it,” Cali shot at her.

The two girls took a cab to the club and Cali had to chuckle, because it was the same club her sister took her to see Brand New back in the day.

Louis and Harry’s band, One Direction, was the second band to play. It was really weird seeing them onstage. Calista watched as Harry tuned his bass guitar, thinking about how much she really loved live music. There were a couple other lads in the band. One of them – the guitar player, Cali recognized from the party she crashed at Harry’s when she was drunk.

When they began their set, Cali and Viv stood to the side with their drinks in their hands. One Direction had quite the little fan base going in the front row. It was quite amusing. When Harry began to sing, Cali was mesmerized. But it wasn’t even just Harry that she was mesmerized by. It was all of them – their whole dynamic. They were good, really good. Cali couldn’t believe how good the little shit Louis was too. He was definitely an entertainer, cracking jokes and whatnot while up onstage. And Harry… his voice and the way he played the bass – oh, Lord. Cali had a feeling her erotic dreams were about to be revised.

After their set, Viv and Cali went back to the bar to get refills on their drinks.

“They were pretty damn good,” Viv commented, smirked over at Cali.

“Yeah, I guess,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.

“You guess? Holy shit, those guys were super sexy up there,” she said enthusiastically. Cali just had to laugh, because ugh, they were.

“Hey, Cali. How’s it going?” She heard from behind her, turning to see Rhys.

“Oh, hey! How are you?” She asked with a smile.

“Good. And yourself?” He asked.

“Awesome,” she said, beaming a smile at him.

“So, fancy seeing you here,” he said, looking at her skeptically.

“Uh, yeah… Harry invited me,” she said awkwardly.

“I thought you two didn’t get along,” he said, looking confused.

“Uh, we’re trying to be… neighborly,” she told him.

“Ha, okay,” he said, nodding his head.

Just then, she got a nudge from Viv in the side.

“Uh, Rhys… this is my friend Vivian. I don’t know if you two met,” she said, smiling politely. Vivian was with her at the club when she met Rhys, but she must have been off in her own little world.

“No. I don’t believe we have. Rhys,” he introduced himself, shaking Vivian’s hand.

“Vivian,” she said, smiling flirtatiously at him.

“Brilliant,” Cali said with a smile.

Seconds later, she saw Harry making his way toward them. He was sweaty and sexy looking, wearing black skinny jeans and a white v-neck t-shirt. When their eyes met, his lips turned up into a smile. She bit her lip, watching as he ran his fingers through the front tuft of his hair and flipped it to the side. Why was that so sexy?

“You came,” he said, smirking widely at her.

“Yep,” she said, smiling bashfully at him. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed that Rhys and Vivian were having their own little conversation, not paying them any attention.

“How about that drink?” Harry asked her as he squeezed in next to her at the bar. Cali turned toward the bar and gulped down the last sip of the drink in her hand.

“I’m ready for it,” she laughed.

“Okay, then,” he chuckled.

They ordered their drinks and the bartender went to making them.

“You guys were good,” Cali told Harry.

“You think?” He asked with a Cheshire Cat grin on his face.

“Yeah,” she said, smiling over at him. She could have sworn she saw a blush creep up his cheeks through the dim lighting of the club.

“Modesty looks good on you, Styles,” she told him and he let out a laugh.

Cali and Harry drank their drinks as they talked animatedly with one another. It was weird to her that, all of a sudden, the two of them became so chatty with each other. They barely had a real conversation with each other in all the years they went to school together and now, once Cali let down her walls a bit, she was beginning to realize they had much more in common then she would have ever thought. When they were finished with their drinks, Harry ordered more. The rest of the lads from the band came over and got drinks as well.

Cali could already feel the alcohol coursing through her veins, making her feel light and airy. She had two or three drinks before One Direction took the stage and now she was probably on like her fifth or sixth one. She was sitting on the bar stool next to Harry as he talked with the guitar player and drummer from his band – Niall and Liam. Vivian was deep in conversation with Rhys. It really looked like they were hitting it off and Cali was almost positive that Viv was going to go home with him at the end of the night.

“Hey, wanna go watch the next band?” Harry asked Cali, hitting her knee lightly with the back of his hand.

“Oh, yeah. Sure,” she said, standing up from the bar stool, the alcohol making her brain feel wonky.

“Do you need another drink?” Harry asked, point back to the bar before he left his spot. Cali looked down at her empty drink.

“Sure,” she said, throwing caution to the wind. She most definitely didn’t need it, but why not? Harry ordered her another one and handed it to her with a smile on his face.

“Thanks,” she said, smiling back at him. Harry was looking sexier and sexier with every drink she drank.

She followed him through the crowd as they made their way closer to the stage. The band was good, but One Directionwas definitely better. When the set was almost over, One Direction’s drummer, Liam came over and told Harry something that Cali didn’t have a chance of hearing over the loud music.

“Hey, I think we’re all going back to my place. Do you need a ride?” He asked, leaning in close to her ear.

“Where’s Viv?” Cali asked, trying to look back at the bar, but there were too many people in the way.

“I don’t know. Probably at the bar still,” he said with a shrug.

“I need to see what she’s doing,” she told him.

“Okay,” he said as he led her back to the bar.

Viv and Rhys were still talking and drinking, looking pretty cozy with each other.

“Vivy…” Cali crooned as she tickled her back with her fingernails.

“Hey, baby girl,” Vivian said, wrapping her arm around Cali, snuggling her nose to her cheek. She was drunk, but so was Cali.

“I’m gonna go with Rhys. Is that okay?” She asked with a pleading look in her eye.

“I guess so,” Cali told her.

“You can go with your hot neighbor, right?” Vivian asked, quirking her eyebrow suggestively.

“Yeah,” Cali said, sending Vivian a slight glare.

“I saw you two. He totally wants you, Cali. He wants to fuck you,” she said, slurring her words as her grip tightened around Cali.

“Shut it, Viv. I’m gonna go,” Cali said, pulling her arms off of her.

“Bye, baby!” Vivian said and left a sloppy kiss on her cheek.

“You have a good time,” Cali laughed.

“I always do,” she said with a smile.

“Bye, Rhys,” Cali said, squeezing his shoulder.

“Bye, love,” Rhys said, puckering his lips, making a kissing gesture.

When Cali turned to find Harry, she saw him talking to Liam again. She walked over to the duo, hoping it wouldn’t be as awkward as she felt.

“Are you coming?” Harry asked.

“Yeah,” she said with a nod.

“Ace,” he said, sending her a wide smile.

“Let’s roll,” Liam told them.

As the guys started moving through the crowd, Harry grabbed Cali’s hand and led her out. She almost ripped her hand out of his as a natural reaction, but relaxed with it. It kind of even made her smile, but she wanted to vomit at the same time because it made her nervous.

During the drive home, Cali sat in the back of the band’s van with Harry as all the guys talked about their set. She could really feel the alcohol and all she wanted to do was go to sleep.

Once they got to the flat, Harry let the guys into his place, but stayed in the hallway to talk to Cali.

“Want to come hang?” He asked, pointing back at his door.

“I think I’m going to go to bed,” she said, her eyes half-lidded from the alcohol.

“Oh, come on. Live a little,” he said, nudging her.

“I can’t remember the last time I drank this much,” she giggled, steadying herself up against the wall.

“So, don’t waste it. Come hang out and have a good time. I think you and I are finally getting passed all the bullshit,” Harry said, looking super adorable. Cali couldn’t help but smile at him.

“Come on,” he insisted, grabbing her hand again as he pulled her into his flat.

They hung out with the guys for a while. Cali felt so out of place. She was the only girl with about six blokes all together. They were all talking about going out to another bar to continue their night. Cali was kind of glad they were going to leave, because it meant she could go home and go to sleep.

“You coming, Hazza?” Liam asked. Hazza? Ha.

“Nah. I’m getting tired. You guys go,” Harry said, waving him off.

“Pussy!” He retorted.

“Screw off, Payno,” Harry said, flipping him off.

Once the guys hauled ass out the door, Harry collapsed down on the couch next to Cali with a sigh.

“I think I’m going to go to bed,” Cali told him, feeling extremely uncomfortable that it was just the two of them.

“You’re going to go? Really?” He asked, looking almost hurt that she would leave.

“I’m completely knackered and undoubtedly very drunk,” she told him and Harry laughed.

“Why is that funny?” She asked, smacking his arm playfully.

“I don’t know. I’ve just never seen you so pissed,” he laughed.

“Shut it,” she said, smacking him again.

“Oww. Stop hitting,” he laughed. She smacked him again for good measure, to which he grabbed her knee in response and squeezed it.

“Stop it!” She yelped and squirmed away from him.

“Ticklish, huh?” He laughed.

“Don’t even think about it!” She said sternly, pointing her finger at him. He laughed out loud and she could see the mischief dancing in his eyes.

“Don’t,” she warned him again when the smile stayed on his face.

“I didn’t do anything,” he protested with a laugh.

“You were thinking it,” she countered and he laughed again.

The two of them were silent for a few moments, sitting on the couch next to one another and all Cali could think about was how she wished she were sleeping, but liked where she was too.

“You know what’s funny?” Harry asked, breaking her thoughts.

“Hmm?” She asked, leaning her head on the back of the couch as she looked over at him.

“We’ve been living next door to each other for a couple months now and I’ve already seen you naked like three times,” Harry laughed and Cali scoffed loudly.

“Pervert!” She laughed, hitting him again. His deep laughed echoed through the flat.

“You have not seen me naked three times!” She protested.

“Have too,” he said, smiling deviously at her.

“No! Okay, that one time you saw my boobs because you were fricken’ pulling a B&E in my flat,” she conceded.

“B&E?” He laughed.

“Breaking & entering,” she explained and he laughed.

“I did not B or E. I was standing at the door. I did not come in,” he laughed.

“You still stole the goods – and by goods, I mean looking at my breasts,” Cali said, crossing her arms over her chest tightly, causing him to laugh again.

“That I did,” he chuckled.

“Perv,” she said, elbowing him.

“You are a violent drunk,” he laughed, rubbing his arm.

“I am not,” she laughed.

“Pssh, whatever. I’m going to have bruises all over my arm from you,” he said, lifting up his sleeve to check his arm out.

“Whatever, Styles,” she said, rolling her eyes. He chuckled lightly as he dropped his sleeve and looked over at her.

“When were the other times?” She asked, really curious as to when he thought he saw her naked.

“What other times?” He asked.

“When you supposedly saw me naked,” she reminded him.

“Your photoshoot,” he pointed out.

“I had body paint on!” She protested.

“Still counts!” He said with a wide smile.

“Nah-uh!” She laughed.

“I saw your nipples and lady bits. It counts,” he laughed.

“You’re gross,” she said, pushing him.

“And… okay, maybe I only saw you naked twice, but I’ve seen you in your panties a lot,” he chuckled.

“Never again,” she scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest again.

“Are you so sure about that?” He asked, quirking an eyebrow at her.

“Positive,” she told him.

“Is that like, a challenge or something that I’m going to have to win?” He questioned, letting out a chuckle.

“No. Absolutely not,” Cali laughed.

“I think it is,” he said, squeezing her knee again.

“Harry!” She yelped and he laughed out loud.

“God, I had a dream that started out just like this,” she blurted out before she realized what she was saying. Holy shit.

“What? A sex dream? About me?” He asked, looking shocked. Her face blushed immediately, knowing she’d stuck her foot in her mouth.

“What? No!” She said, trying to save face.

“You’re lying right now! Your face is so red!” He laughed.

“It’s red because I’m drunk,” she protested.

“Nah-uh! You had a sex dream about me!” He teased. God. What would he say if he knew she had multiple sex dreams about him?

“Oh my god,” Cali said, holding her hand over her embarrassed face.

“What were we doing?” He asked curiously.

“Each other, obviously,” she blurted, confirming what he already knew was true. He laughed even harder.

“I had no idea you thought of me that way, Cals,” he said, pleased with himself.

“I don’t,” she shot back.

“Obviously,” he said sarcastically.

“Harry, shut it. Oh my god,” Cali said, standing up from the couch.

“Where are you going?” He asked quickly, his smile dropping off his face.

“To bed,” she said, walking passed him. But he caught her arm and pulled her down on his lap.

She looked back at him with a shocked expression, while he looked deep into her eyes. The moment got serious really fast.

“Harry…” She breathed, her mouth suddenly so dry.

“Cali…” He cooed.

Another sexually tense moment passed and then his lips were on hers as his hand snaked up behind her neck to pull her in closer. Her dream hadn’t exactly happened like that, but it was close.

Harry’s tongue found its way into Cali’s mouth as she began kissing him back. Her mind was telling her to get up and run, but her body wouldn’t allow it. Her fingers, as if they had a mind of their own, tangled themselves into his hair. Harry released his grip on the back of her neck as his hands began pulling her hips closer. Harry’s kisses were easy to lose herself in. He was an incredible kisser, better than most of the men she’d kissed.

She felt his hands leave her hips and move up the front of her body, grabbing hold of her breasts in them. She moaned against his lips and he took it as an invitation of sorts, because he pushed the straps of her dress down for easier access to her chest. Never faltering once with his kisses, he was able to push the front of her dress down, letting loose her assets. Cali broke the kiss to moan as his thumb flicked across her hardening nipple. His hot mouth moved down the length of her neck, leaving sensual kisses all the way across her erogenous zone.

His mouth met her nipple with fervor, sucking, teasing, nipping at them both as his hand moved down her back, pulling up the hem of her dress so he could get a grip on her bare bum. He was talented, she would give him that much. This Harry was giving dream Harry a run for his money.

“Bedroom?” He moaned against her collar bone.

“Uh-huh,” she breathed, wrapping her arms around his neck.

He lifted them both up off the couch in one swift motion, which surprised the hell out of her. He must never miss leg day at the gym. Cali’s body was wrapped around his as he carried her toward his room. Once they were over the threshold, Harry kicked the door shut behind them.

Cali couldn’t believe what was happening and almost wondered if she was dreaming all along.

Notes