Only You

I stood in front of my mirror smoothing down my skirt wondering why I had even agreed to going to Manchester today. My dream had always been Durham and since that had been crushed I doubted that I would suddenly just fall in love with some second rate school that I had never even really considered. Harry thought differently though. He had been trying to convince me all week that this could be one of the best things that had ever happened to me. I snorted at the thought. He was wrong, I already knew it.

I was distracted from my thoughts by a light tapping on my bedroom door. I turned as it opened and Harry poked his head into the room.

“You ready?” He grinned as he stepped into the room and over to me. I forced a smile as I nodded, trying to push my negative thoughts to the back of my mind. He seemed to read me like a book as he pulled my body to his gently and hooked his finger under my chin to tilt my face to his. He pressed his lips softly against mine for just a second before pulling back.

“I promise it’ll be great S…” He spoke softly trying to calm my mind.

“I know, I’m excited…” I lied a little too enthusiastically, making him chuckle gently. I could smell the peppermint on his breath as he leant down and kissed me again.

“You are a terrible liar.” He whispered before kissing me once more, lingering just a second longer and then releasing my body from his. I shrugged with a small smile as I reached over and grabbed my handbag from the end of the bed. He stepped aside, holding the door open for me with a smile as I left the room. I felt his eyes on me, particularly the skirt I was wearing as I walked down the small corridor and to the top of the stairs.

“Are you staring at my ass, Styles?” I smirked without looking back.

“Of course not…” He said but I noticed the flustered tone as he said it. I imagined him running his hand through his hair as he walked behind me as his cheeks flushed slightly. I giggled.

“Looks like I’m not the only one who is a terrible liar.” I said cheekily as we walked down the stairs.


We got to South Parkway station twenty minutes before our train was due. We took the time to get the tickets and a coffee before making our way through the bustling people to the platform.

“Have you been to Manchester before?” Harry asked me before taking a sip of his coffee.

“I’ve been to the Trafford Centre a few times, and my mum took me to see High School Musical on Ice show at the MEN when I was about seven with Taylor…” I blushed when I heard myself and how stupid I sounded.

“High School Musical… on ice?” He asked with an amused smile. I went to push him gently, but his hands were faster as he caught my waist and pressed his mouth to mine for a quick kiss.

“I didn’t know it was possible for me to think you were any cuter.” He said quietly as he pulled away, only increasing the redness in my cheeks. He smiled cheekily before releasing me and taking another sip of his coffee. I mimicked the action, the warmth of the smooth liquid matching that already in the pit of my stomach when I looked at the magnificent man before me.

“How about you? Have you been to Manchester?” I asked, changing the subject, hoping that my cheeks might go back to their original colour. I noticed that his smile faded ever so slightly at the returned question.

“Yeah, I lived there when I was younger… and I visited every other weekend until I was fifteen because my dad still does…” He said quietly. I could tell from the way that he turned to look at the train times above our heads that he didn’t really want to go too much in depth about his past and his dad. I didn’t blame him. I was usually the same when it came to discussions about my own father… at least Harry actually knew where his dad was.

“Oh, cool.” I said, not wanting to push him. There was a little tension lingering over us that I wasn’t sure how to squash. Harry seemed to notice it too as he turned to me with a smile.

“Not as cool as ice skating high schoolers though…” He said under his breath and poked my side. I was about to try and come up with a witty retort when the voice on the intercom echoed around the station telling us that it was time for us to board the train. I followed Harry as we hobbled down the busy aisle until we found an empty pair of seats. I sat down with a huff and looked out of the window at the now empty platform. Despite my reservations about Manchester, I was happy to be spending the day with Harry.

“So, what other universities did you apply to?” Harry asked as the station slowly began slipping away from us.

“Uhm, Birmingham, Edinburgh and…” I paused for a minute trying to remember the other university that I had applied to without a second thought.

“…Glasgow… why?” I added when I remembered. Harry smiled at me and shrugged gently.

“Just want to know where else we might be travelling to to find you the perfect place to be.” My heart lifted slightly knowing that Harry was willing to travel around to make sure that I would be as happy as possible.

“Thanks,” I said, resting my head on his shoulder, “What about you, where are your options?”

He hesitated as I presumed he tried to think of his places.

“I applied to all three in Liverpool and Manchester Met as well as UOM.” He said quietly. It was on hearing the slight sadness to his voice that I remembered that he hadn’t had any offers in yet.

“Don’t worry about it, your offers will come in the next couple of weeks, I know they will.” I said gently and squeezed his hand in mine. He grunted in response but lifted his arm and put it around me as he closed his eyes and rested his head against the head rest.

It took us about forty-five minutes to get to Manchester and then the university was only a fifteen minute walk from there. Harry took every opportunity he could to point out things that were already ‘great’ no matter how simple they were.

“How great is that! It only took us forty-five minutes to get here! You could go home whenever you felt like it, and your mum would be able to meet you for lunch sometimes if she wanted to!”

“Wow! How amazing is that, huh? Durham’s not even a proper city, and this is literally in the heart of all the action! Imagine how much you’ll save on taxis!”

“I’ve counted four coffee shops already! You’re going to be spoiled for choice on ways to get your caffeine fix!”

I rolled my eyes as we walked into the administration building and Harry made another comment about how great Manchester was already turning out to be. I appreciated what he was trying to do, but it wasn’t going to work. There was nothing he could say that would ever make me believe that this was where I wanted to be.

“Hello! Can I help you?” A perky plump woman looked up from her computer screen as we approached the desk. Her smile was wide and inviting which made me relax a little and I couldn’t help but smile back at her.

“Yeah, we were wondering if we could take a look around your music department? We have an appointment at half twelve with Dr. G. Adams, but wanted to just have a look around first?” Harry said, tapping his hands excitedly on the desk. The woman rifled through some papers on her desk before handing us a map and pointing to a building just round the corner. Harry thanked her with a smile and grabbed my hand to pull me gently in tow.

I looked around me as we walked quietly through the busy streets. I had to admit the university buildings were much more amazing than I had expected. They reminded me of what I had expected if I had gone to Durham. Tall old fashioned buildings, made of stone with intricate detailing on their friezes. We turned the corner and a large building with glass walls could be seen on the next corner. Harry looked down at the map and then turned to me.

“That’s the music department…” He said in a hushed voice as my mouth dropped open. The way that the light hit the windows made the building look as though it were shining through the dreary day. I felt my first pang of excitement as I looked on and saw two students coming out of the sliding doors carrying violin cases. This was it. An actual university level music department. Harry chuckled at me as I realised that I was grinning from ear to ear. I nudged him playfully as we walked toward the doors and stepped inside.

There were large posters of people playing instruments, composing and conducting music lining the walls of the long white corridor. Every couple of posters there was a light brown door with a window in and signs indicating that they were practice rooms. I peaked in one as we strolled quietly down the corridor. Inside was a pretty girl with long dark hair singing with her eyes closed. I smiled as I caught the eye of the tanned boy with dark hair who sat behind her playing the piano. He grinned back at me and jerked his head gesturing for me to come in as Harry appeared behind me. We quietly pushed the door open, turning the muted tones of a voice into soft clear melody flowing gently with the beautiful piano chords. We stood by the door waiting in awe for the girl to finish for a minute or so. Once she had stopped singing she opened her eyes and looked over at the boy with a grin.

“That was great Sara!” The boy smiled and stood up from the piano before looking over at us, “What did you guys think?”

“I… I just… You are amazing! So talented!” I gushed as the girl’s face reddened and I realised I was embarrassing her. The boy came and put his arm around her waist and placed a small kiss on her cheek.

“See, I told you.” He muttered to her just loud enough for us to hear. He then let her go and took a step toward Harry and I with an extended hand.

“Hi, I’m Zayn.” He said brightly as he took Harry’s hand in his own.

“I’m Harry, and this is Selena.” He said with a grin as Zayn took a step back and then turned to me, “We’re just having a look around since Selena might be coming here in September.”

“Cool! Yeah, I thought as much since I’ve never seen you guys before…” He turned to me with a wide smile, his teeth looking even whiter against his darker skin, “The department’s really close knit, like a big family… Would you like us to show you guys around?”

“That would be great!” It would be nice to have someone who actually knew their way around the department helping me rather than just feeling as though I was snooping. Harry smiled at me encouragingly as Sara and Zayn led us from the room hand in hand. They pointed out some of the other practice rooms before leading us up a staircase and to another similar corridor with only two double doors at the end. When we reached the doors, they were in the middle of telling us how good the department facilities were, but once they opened them it was like I had gone deaf to their voices.

The room before me left me speechless. We were at the back row of a huge theatre lined with red velvet seats facing a huge stage. Zayn led us to the steps at the side of the stage and gestured for me to step up.

“Really?” I whispered as my hand gripped the cool metal of the bannister and a pulse of excitement ran through my veins. He grinned at me and nodded as I took a deep breath and stepped slowly up the stairs and onto the stage alone. A loud bang resonated around the room and suddenly the bright lights were shining down and blinding me to the rows of seats. I imagined how it would feel to stand on this stage one day and sing for an audience that big and couldn’t help but smile at the nervous butterflies that fluttered in my stomach. It was the first time since I had decided what I wanted to do that I had been able to imagine myself anywhere other than Durham.

“What do you think?” Harry’s voice whispering in my ear as his hands wound around my waist made me jump.

“It’s amazing.” I breathed as he chuckled and placed a soft kiss on the crown of my head before letting me go. I looked over at him as he stood and faced the seats as I had just done. I wondered if he was imagining the same thing that I had. If he could see himself singing for an audience that screamed his name. The smirk on his lips told me that my assumption couldn’t have been that far off.

“Zayn? Had you booked out the room?” A kind voice called out from the back of the theatre, tearing Harry and I from our fantasies. A tall man with shaggy blonde hair wearing an open collar shirt and a pair of jeans strolled down the centre aisle. Zayn flicked a switch at the side of the stage and there was another bang as the lights faded.

“Damn the bloody computer systems! Why can’t they just stick with paper like they used to? Never works!” The man grumbled as he reached the stage.
“Nah Greg, just showing these prospective freshers around, you need the room?” Zayn said with a smile and a head jerk in our direction. The man looked over at us and his frown suddenly disappeared to be replaced by a beaming smile.

“No, no, not at all! Just thought the system was down!” He said as he hurried up the steps and walked toward us with an extended hand, “It’s lovely to meet you…” He hesitated, waiting for us to introduce ourselves.

“Selena, and my boyfriend Harry.” I said as I took his hand and reciprocated the smile.

“Ah! My twelve o’clock I see!” He exclaimed happily as he shook Harry’s hand and then looked me up and down almost hungrily.

“Yes! I remember reading your personal statement, you really are a talented, well-rounded young lady! I’m happy to see that you’re seriously considering joining us this year at UOM!” His eyes twinkled as he spoke and he seemed so genuine that it warmed my heart. Harry seemed to feel the same as his hand found the small of my back and he rubbed a small supportive circle.

“I am.” I said, and for the first time I realised that it was true. I really was considering that the University of Manchester might just be where I could end up – and that I would be happy about it.

“Marvellous! Do you have any questions for me that Zayn hasn’t already answered?” He asked with a kind smile. I shook my head and took another look around the large theatre.

“I just can’t believe that one day I might be standing here with people sitting out there.” I breathed softly. He nodded, seemingly understanding what I was experiencing in that moment.

“And what about you? Will you be considering UOM next year?” He asked kindly, turning to Harry. I looked up at Harry with a wide grin as my mind flooded with images of Harry and I studying here together, spending time at the library, pouring over books comfortably in each other’s silence, sharing a house together, graduating together… I turned to Harry as he opened his mouth to speak.

“Oh my god! Now that I love it, we should definitely come here together! You've already applied so it's perfect!” I squealed, jumping slightly as I grasped his hand in mine.

Notes

Hope you love it - this story is nearing the end in the next sort of 15-20 chapters I think which is super hard for me because Harry and Selena hold a little place in my heart that I literally can't get over.

Also I'm in my final year of university, so posting will definitely be slow on everything because I am trying my best to get the best results I can... so yeah, please have patience with me, I haven't forgotten about you guys... <3

Love always!

Lola xo