All Again

CHAPTER TWO
BECCA

Then.
December 2014.
"I'm going to scream."
My best friend Kelsey lifted her eyes up at me and immediately gave me a look.
She looked bored already.
I watched as she picked up her coffee cup and rolled her eyes; taking a long sip before replying.
"Here we go..." she mumbled.
I smiled, the pen between my teeth, sliding.
"No just hear me out." I began. I removed the pen and adjusted the screen of my laptop. My eyes glazed over my fall finals scores.
"It's such bullshit. He gave me a C."
Kelsey instantly shook her head in annoyance.
"A C Kelsey." I continued. "For Shakespeare. Do you know how hard that class is? Do you even know how hard it is to even comprehend what the hell he is trying to say!"
She sighed, scratching her head. I watched her in amusement as her bun shook with each scratch. Her bun was so loose that I knew it would be down in less than an hour.
"I told you to use one of those cheat sites Becca. It's your own fault." she said looking around the coffee shop.
"I can't Kelsey. I'm an English major. This is going to be my career." I said in mock disgust.
She rolled her eyes and completely ignored me once more. We had been friends since we were three so she was use to my freak outs and since we had started college together, there had been more than enough.
She glanced back at her screen. She typed quickly in her computer.
"Bobby's on." She said suddenly. Her voice rose in excitement.
My eyes snapped at her. Was she even listening to me?
I didn't care about Bobby 'slacker' Anderson right now. I had never gotten a C in my entire academic career.
Well...no...that's a lie. But it had been a really long time!
"He hasn't gone home yet for the holiday. I think I might invite him tonight." she said proudly with a smile and wink.
I pretended to gag. Hearing about her sexual adventures, was not something I was interested in hearing about at Starbucks on a Wednesday night; especially after finding out I had did so poorly in one of my important classes.
I focused back on my screen, sighing.
She tapped on her laptop more, Facebook chatting, and I continued to glance at my grades. We couldn't be anymore opposite but I loved her.
As I closed out of my current screen, and logged into my campus email to write my professor, my cell phone rang.
I glanced at the screen and saw it was my father. I was currently away for school in New York and he, and the rest of my family, were in California- my hometown.
"Hi Dad." I answered cheerily, happy to hear his voice.
"Hey Hun. What's going on?"
I was heading home in a few days, and he has been checking on me daily. I was pretty sure he and the rest of my family were just excited I would be home for a couple of weeks.
"Not much. Sitting with Kelsey."
"Where are you guys? It sounds noisy."
I looked around and agreed. We were in Starbucks in the city and it was absolutely packed. Every few seconds, the door would open and the draft would chill my bones. Who knew it would be so crowded at 8pm.
"Coffee Shop." I answered. "We're in the city for the night. We got a cheap hotel."
"Well don't let your Mother know."
I chuckled. "Trust me, I won't."
"Well tell Kelsey hello." he instructed. "And let her know her parents are looking for her."
My eyes found Kelsey as she was peering into her laptop and blushing.
"Hey?" I called out.
She looked up briefly.
"My dad says hey. And call your parents."
"Hi Mr. Johnson." she said loudly, causing a few looks from other members in the coffee shop.
She noticed.
"Sorry." she said looking back at her computer. "And let him know I already did.", her fingers already typing a new message.
I giggled and focused back on my conversation with my father. He was going into deep detail about his past week. I felt another draft which signified the door was opening again and shivered.
I had enough.
"Kelsey?" I called.
She looked at me.
"Can we go? It's getting cold."
I was only in sweats and it was the wintertime. I think the temp said high 20's this morning.
Her lips parted and she looked past me.
Her eyes immediately widened.
"Oh my God." she said.
I looked at her in confusion, and then turned. A guy in a Packers hoodie with a winter coat shuffled in quickly. A blond in a long black coat followed him. I didn't catch his face since he was turned and looked at the woman instead but I got it.
I rolled my eyes.
She must think he is hot.
"Kelsey?" I called her name again. Stay focused.
He's obviously taken.
"Oh my God." she mumbled again.
I sighed. "Dad?" I said into the phone. "Let me call you back. Kelsey is being...Kelsey. And we're getting ready to go."
My dad began to talk, but Kelsey hit my arm.
"Shit! Becca I think that's Harry."
I ignored her.
"Okay yeah...Love you too Dad." I said.
I hung up the phone quickly, and tried to stand to grab my coat, but instantly I brushed against someone.
"Sorry." I said quickly, but the someone- a teenage girl- wasn't even looking at me. She had her phone out and was smiling-widely.
I followed her gaze and she was looking at the hoodie man and the blond. However, they were not facing us. They had moved to the line, which we were not exactly close too.
"Becca!" Kelsey called again. I looked at her.
She was smiling as well. "That's Harry!" she squealed.
Again, people near us, glanced at her, but this time she could care less.
"Who?" I asked.
"Harry Styles!" she said in a loud whisper.
The name sounded familiar but I couldn't place it. Did he go to our school?
"Who?" I asked again.
This time she rolled her eyes.
"Harry Styles." I heard beside me. The voice coming from the girl I bumped into. Her tone was irritated. She clicked her tongue and turned back to this 'Harry'. Obviously my naïve attitude, was enough for her.
Again...who?
"Becca...he's in One Direction you idiot." Kelsey finally said, turning to glance at him.
I followed her gaze. I couldn't even see this dude's face, but most people in the coffee shop were watching him, and others were sneaking pics.
He was stood close to the blonde, almost huddled, and they seemed to be discussing their order.
"Cool." I said uninterested, "Now can we go?"
Kelsey stood up. "You're so dense. I wonder if I can get a picture?" she said, pulling her streaked blonde hair out of its bun.
"Um...I think he wants to be left alone." I said slowly as if talking to a child. "I'm sure he doesn't want to be bothered."
"Of course he does. He's a celebrity. This comes with the job." she said with a snort. She shut her laptop quickly and pulled her cell phone out.
I looked around me and at this 'Harry Styles guy'. I didn't even know what he looked like. Sure, I've heard of their band? Or is it a group? And I know a song or two. But...that's about it.
I take in the girl who is standing with him. She is tall and looks pretty.
But, then my attention is moved to the draft that comes through the door again.
I peered and saw more people, around my age. They are all watching Harry and the girl.
Oh great, this place was about to fill up even more.
"Kelsey." I groaned. "I want to go."
I reached down and packed up my laptop and threw on my Columbia fleece jacket.
She's wasn't even listening. Or there.
I looked around and saw she had moved over to the counter, and was once again in line.
By now, Harry and his girlfriend(?) had moved further down the line and were waiting on their drinks. The tall blonde he was with, was now showing him something on her phone. I sighed as more people pushed past me to get in line and get closer. I quickly bent down and grabbed Kelsey's bag. When I looked back up, hoodie boy was looking in my direction. His eyes moved swiftly, as if he was keeping an eye on things and then, our eyes locked.
He took me in for a few moments and then turned back to the girl.
The moment didn't even rattle me.
I quickly looked for Kelsey. She was still in the line, trying to sneak a picture.
You've got to be kidding me...
"I'm leaving!" I announced loudly and many people turned to look at me-including Harry and his date.
I ignored everyone and kept my eyes on Kelsey. I shook her backpack. Come on!
Kelsey's eyes were slits. I knew she was completely embarrassed, but so was I. She was acting like a child.
She instantly looked in Harry's direction, and I do as well.
He was looking at her with a smile. Then, he turned to me, slightly amused.
Well, I'm glad he was happy- he was the cause of all this nonsense.
His name was called, signaling his drink, and he quickly turned from me.
Kelsey used this time to come to me.
"You are such a Debbie Downer!" she hissed, yanking her backpack from my hands roughly.
She snuck a quick snap for her cell phone gallery and stormed past me out of Starbucks.
I took one final glance at the One Direction boy, who now had his drink and seemed to be heading out too.
He was handsome, but that's all I could see. The boy was probably ridiculously rich but he looked like a hobo.
It dawned on me that I didn't exactly look like Beyonce either, with my sweatpants and fleece pullover.
I quickly averted my eyes, and fought my way out of Starbucks past all of the new patrons. I was just in time to see Kelsey hailing a cab.
I ran to catch up with her.
"I should leave you." she said dryly as she opened her car door.
I giggled and hit her shoulder. "But why...you love me." I teased.
She shuffled in the car and I followed and at that exact moment, Harry and the girl, left the Starbucks.
Kelsey was already paying attention as I climbed in.
"Where to?" the cab driver asks.
I spewed out our hotel address since we were about three hours from our dorms.
"Ugh. He is so hot." Kelsey said before turning back to her phone.
I turned back towards them to get a closer look, but his head was down and he was focused on the girl he was with. She was smiling widely at him, and if the slight crowd behind them bothered them, you couldn't notice.
"What's his name again?" I asked.
"Harry Styles." Kelsey said as if I was an idiot, and then, reality seemed to hit.
"Shit! Bobby!"
As she quickly fumbled with her phone, I just sighed and rolled my eyes, thankful I didn't have man problems.
The One Direction guy was still being followed with the girl and they walked past our car.
I was suddenly thankful I didn't have his problems either.
I couldn't handle it.

Notes