All Again

CHAPTER EIGHT
BECCA
Then.
I heard from him again three days later while in my Rhetoric of Style course.
Believe me, the irony was not lost on me.
As I typed notes from my professor on my laptop, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. Since our late night airport chat, I had kept my phone pretty close anxious to hear from Harry again.
Over the last three days I had thought about texting him a lot, but didn't want to seem too forward. I had to appear cool, calm and collective.
I pulled my phone from my pocket, and snuck a peek at the sender; Harry.
I typed in my passcode so fast and went to my messages.
*Hello Becca.* sat in my inbox.
Inwardly I squealed and did a mini dance in my head. Outwardly, I sent a clear and concise *Hello Harry. How are you?*
My message took a full three minutes to compose.
*Fantastic. Are you busy?*
I looked up at my professor who was writing notes on the board. In my text delay, I had already missed an important theory I was suppose to be copying. The OCD in me cringed. I ignored it.
*No.* I said. *What's up?*
*I have a question for you.*
*Okay. Shoot.*
*Is Becca short for something?*
I looked at my professor to make sure she didn't see me texting and quickly typed a response. Why did everyone think that?
*No. Some people call me 'Beckham' as a nickname, but it's just Becca. What about you? Is Harry Styles your real name? It seems way too cool.*
I was joking and I was hoping he got my humor. I didn’t take things too seriously and liked to keep life playful.
*I'm afraid so. Though people call me Harold, Hazza or H and my sister has a more obscene name for me.*
*Haha. I bet. I feel your pain. My little sister is a rodent. Why Hazza?*
*No clue. How old is she?*
*16. You met. She was the young girl quite anxious to meet you the other day.*
*Oh cool, so it’s a family business then? She was nice. Does your dad work there as well?*
*No. He runs our other store and I only help out when I'm home from school.*
*Oh that's right, you were suppose to tell me what you studied.*
*That's right. Good memory Mr. Styles. I'm an English and Journalism major. I want to be a publisher.*
*Very cool. Do you have a lot of school left?*
*Not too much. Just a couple more semesters. I graduate in December. What were you planning on being before your stardom?*
*I don't know. We get asked that question a lot and I haven't really thought about it. This all happened before I had a chance to make up my mind.*
*How old were you?
*Sixteen. It's kind of crazy to think about it. It's gone by so fast.*
And then, *What are you doing?*
*I'm in class, sneaking texts.*
*Lol. Oh boy I’m corrupting you.*
*It's alright. I don't mind. :P*
*Lol. But seriously, do you need me to let you go?*
*No. It's good to hear from you.*
*Did you think I had forgotten you?*
*Me? Never. I'm pretty unforgettable.*
*Hmm…to be determined. :P But, you definitely have my attention right now.*
And I had it the rest of the afternoon too. I snuck texted Harry through my next class and through my mini break. I texted him so much that by the time I reached my dorm at 5, it felt like we were old friends.
The conversation flowed unbelievably easy and I forgot often that he was Harry Styles- megastar boybander. Though there was nothing about him that screamed he was an immature bubblegum star, I knew the perception of guys in boybands. They were all either really cheesy or screwing everything with legs. I was a little scared to find out if he fit in the latter category.
*So what's on the menu for dinner?* he asked, via text.
*I'm thinking a big nice juicy burger. You?*
*Nice. I don’t know. I can't remember the last time I’ve had a burger.*
*Are you even allowed to eat those?* I teased.
*Hey! I'm disappointed. You think I’m one of those celebrities huh?*
*Haha. Just kidding. I'm sure you partake in lots of junk food.*
*Actually I don't. I do eat pretty healthy but I don't necessarily censor myself much. I box and work out quite often though so it helps.*
*I can't see you boxing.*
*I’m actually quite amazing. You'd be jealous I think.*
*Well that's too be determined…*I said mimicking his words from earlier. *But maybe one day I’ll see.*
*Maybe one day you will.*
******************************
We kept texting.
We texted so much that our texts took us into late in the night.
*Well I’ll let you go.* Harry said finally a little past midnight via text.
Though I didn’t want too, I agreed.
*Yeah me too. I’m sure I’ve been keeping you from important popstar duties all day.* I joked.
The last few hours the jokes and some flirting had come very easy and I was now completely comfortable talking to him. Any apprehension I had, dwindling away quickly.
*No you haven’t. Trust me, you’ll know when I’m working. I’m pretty unreachable and I won’t answer at all. But I’ve enjoyed talking to you. When are your classes tomorrow?*
I wanted to lie and tell him I had none so we could talk again all day but I knew he had a life and he was just being polite.
*Ugh. Early. 9. And they go all day.*
*That sucks, but at least you’re learning something for your passion right?*
*True. I’m a little tired of some of the essay’s though. They can get repetitive and redundant after a while.*
*You just got back to school though. Do you have essays already?*
*Yup. Lol. Welcome to College.*
*I’m sorry. I feel for you.*
*Haha. Thanks! But, I’m going to let you go. I know you are a busy man.*
*When do you get a break tomorrow?*
*1 I think and then again at 4. It all kind of runs together after a while.*
*Gotcha. Well get some rest and good luck on your essays!*
*Lol. Thanks. Goodnight.*
*Goodnight Becca.*
The next day he wrote me at 1:03pm and I had to admit I was elated.
I wasn’t expecting to hear from him so soon and it took me by surprise a little.
I had been with Kelsey and other friends and immediately tuned them out.
*Well hello. How are you?* I wrote propping my feet on the couch and settling in. We were in a student lounge.
*Very well. Are you on break?*
*I am. I’m sitting with friends. What are you doing?*
*The same. I’m with my buddy Jeff at his house. How is your day going?*
*Jeff? Is that coffee shop guy? And great actually! The day has been moving rather quickly.*
*Well that’s good to hear. Do you have any weekend plans?* he asked.
I quickly began to type when he texted again.
*Oh and yeah. Coffee shop guy. *
I chuckled and finished my text.
*Still debating. My friends want to go to some party tonight but I don’t know yet. What about you? Any plans?*
*A few.* He said vaguely. *Why don’t you know about the party?*
*It’s not my scene.* I said honestly. *Your tour starts soon right?*
*Next week.* He wrote quickly. *I can’t wait.*
I began to write him back when I heard my name called.
I looked up at Kelsey who was looking at me curiously.
“What?” I asked.
“Who are you talking too?” she asked.
“Who says I’m talking to anybody?” I said.
She smiled. “You’re obviously texting.” She pointed out.
“It’s probably her parents.” Sam, a mutual friend cut in. “You know Becca is boring.”
A few of our other friends laughed.
I shook my head and fake laughed too. “Haha! So funny.” I said dryly.
I turned back to my cell phone.
*Where does it begin?* I asked, texting Harry.
“No really. Who are you talking too?” Kelsey cut in again.
I looked back at her as my phone buzzed.
I looked down quickly.
*Australia. Do you travel much?*
I looked back up at Kelsey.
“It’s no one.” I said. “Have you talked to Bobby today?”
Her face instantly lit up and I was forgotten, just as I assumed I would be.
“Yeah. I think he’s coming to the party. I texted him earlier and-”
I tuned her out and looked down at my phone. I quickly wrote him back before I was interrupted again.
*I did when I was younger a lot. I don’t really have the time anymore.*
Around me, Kelsey was now talking about Bobby and the others were cutting in, my text conversation no longer important.
Good.
*Nationally or overseas?*
*Nationally for now. But don’t worry, I plan to see all of the major countries before I die! Lol.*
*Where would you start? And do you have a passport?*
*No. No passport. I haven’t needed it yet ya know? But, I’m not sure. I really want to go to Australia one day or maybe London.*
*Don’t just say London because that’s where I’m from. Lol. I won’t be offended.*
*I’m not! I do want to go one day. My parents have both traveled a lot and they say it is beautiful.*
*Don’t take this the wrong way because I’m not saying it to offend you, but your parents seem pretty successful and I mean you’re going to Colgate University, you’re pretty lucky.*
*Haha! I’m not offended. Trust me, my parents are far from rich but they have their own successes. They worked really hard to get where they’re at and they want the same for their kids so I guess I’m a little lucky but I mean…look at you! You’re living the dream Harry.*
*Well there is good and bad to everything, but I am pretty happy. You should get a passport though. You never know when it can come in handy.*
*I will one day. I’m sure I don’t need it anytime soon.*
I sent the message and waited for a reply, but he didn’t get back to me as quickly as he had been before.
I ended up having to go back to class before he responded.
I figured he was busy doing some facet of his job so I didn’t worry.
I was already lucky I was getting so much of his time.
As I sat in class he was on my mind. I once again wondered what he was doing and if I was on his mind too.
In just a few short days, he had completely changed my life. I had started the week not even thinking about him and now, every thought was him.
It had been a while since I had male attention so I was a little thirsty for it, but there was something about him that was pulling me in and it had nothing to do with his celebrity. It was just really nice to talk to him and he made it really easy to get to know him.
By the time it hit my next break I was really anxious. I still hadn’t heard back from him and was starting to miss him. Though I didn’t think it was necessarily appropriate. After all, it had only been two days.
As I rode in a taxi with Kelsey to grab some off campus takeout and she spoke on the phone to her parents, I found myself looking him up again on the internet.
It dawned on me that I was doing a mild form of stalking, but it wasn’t like I could creep on his Facebook. I could however, creep on his Twitter. I looked at his latest tweets. One being a Instagram photo of a fire hydrant and the other a simple “Interested” that he had tweeted on the day he gave me his number.
My heart did a hop and a skip at that but I knew it was probably related to something else. As I scrolled down, I quickly learned that he was known for some random and sometimes outlandish tweets.
I continued scrolling and occasionally clicking on his Instagram links.
I was officially obsessed.
“Hey Beckham?” Kelsey called in the middle of my stalking.
“Hmm?” I asked looking up.
“My mom wants to know if you can call her later. She’s making some hats and she wants to know what colors you want.”
I smiled and nodded. “Alright.”
Kelsey’s mom was the knitting queen and could virtually make anything you threw at her. Her new obsession was making me and Kelsey winter gear for the cold winters in New York. We both lived in fleece and sweats right now.
I turned back to Twitter, but I must have clicked a link while talking because I was off of Harry’s page.
I quickly went back to the search bar and typed in Harry Styles and re-entered his world. But, then I stopped.
There were multiple variations of the same picture being posted.
It was Harry in a black and white patterned shirt and skinny jeans. He had his hair pulled in a bun and he was walking from some place. The pictures were from today and he had been texting someone!
I instantly wondered when the pictures had been snapped since they were obviously high quality, and more importantly who Harry had been talking too.
Had it been me? Another random girl he had given his number too? Or something work related?
An inner voice in my head also reminded me of the blond girlfriend he was seeing and I felt a wave of jealously.
I clicked out of Twitter and re-opened my messages. It was now going on six hours since Harry had responded and I was starting to think I had just missed his message. But I hadn’t.
My last response about the passport was all I saw.
I sighed.
I was now disappointed and a little upset, but I had to understand. He had important shit to do.
I was quickly getting in too deep and starting to care too much too soon and that wasn’t me.
I decided then and there that I needed to take a step back.
I made a hasty decision and turned my phone off. If he texted, he texted, but I wasn’t going to wait around.
I needed to live my life too.

Notes