Chapter 20 - Festivities

(A/N) HEEEEYYYYYYYYOOOOOOO, I sound like Rico from Hannah Montana :) ....

....

heh

That aside, it took me over a whole week to update.. AGAIN! I don't know if I should apologize because that's all I've been doing the past few chapters. I promise I always try to update as soon as possible! These past few weeks have been really stressful, there's been a lot going on. But more the reason to write, huh? Oh and this chapter switches between Harry's and Charlotte's point of views a few times, so let me know if you find any of it confusing. OH OH AND CHARRY SHIPPERS FASTEN YO SEAT BELTS ;D ! I'll shut up now so you can read the chapter :) enjoy!

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Maybe, maybe one day you'll see

How bright the stars do shine

Just how wonderful life can be

Maybe one day you'll know

Just how much I love you

And how my love will never cease to grow.

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*Charlotte's POV*

"You weren't lying when you said Leeds was big in the UK." I said. My eyes scanned the large crowd that filled the popular venue. There was music blasting through the atmosphere, creating a fun, buzzing environment. Several bright stars illuminated the last nights of a Winter sky, framing the ethereal crescent moon that was hung, much like an ornament, in the corner of the picturesque tableau. The recent argument I had with Louis repeated itself in my mind, finding too much enjoyment in reminding me of the unjustified anger that had taken control of me. How were things going to be between Louis and I now? Would he think about what I said? I sighed internally and told myself not to dwell in the past. I didn't say anything wrong to Louis, every single word was true and whether or not he wanted to heed my advice was solely his decision. After spending some time watching performances, Harry and I had decided to take a stroll around the area, away from the massive crowds.

"Not only in the UK, people actually come from all over the world for this. Of course, you would know that if you ever came out from that rock you seem to live under." Harry said. The sound of his teasing chuckle grabbed my attention as I turned to see the usual impish grin dancing on his lips.

"You boys are pretty big on insulting me, eh?" I rolled my eyes. Another laugh escaped his mouth as he bumped his shoulder against mine. He ran his fingers across the fringe of curls that was resting on his forehead and his emerald eyes met my own. "Only because we love you." Harry said, not knowing the meaning I inevitably found within his innocently spoken words. I shook the unrealistic thoughts out of my head and saw the small stuffed turtle that Harry had tucked underneath his arm. I reached out and grabbed it, hugging it close to my chest. Harry had insisted on playing a game of ring toss in order to win me a prize. That "one" game actually ended up in him spending over 30 euros, all on failed attempts. After embarrassing and teasing Harry, I decided to give it a try and ended up winning a prize in the very first round. A stuffed turtle. One that I had gifted to Harry.

"What are you gonna name it?" I asked. 

Harry shrugged. "I don't know yet. I guess I'll just call it.. Leo for now." He said. 

I let out a laugh. "As in from Ninja Turtles?"

"Yup."

"Loser." I laughed between forced coughs, only laughing harder at the deadly glare he shot me. 

"Hey, Charlotte?" Harry said, his tone changing to one of excitement. I turned to face him and saw that his eyes were lit up as his gaze was set on something off in the distance. "How do you feel about Ferris wheels?" He asked, still looking off at something ahead of us. 

I followed his gaze and felt nervousness build up inside me as my eyes landed on the magnificent Ferris wheel that stood a block or so ahead of us. I gulped and felt Harry's large hand engulf my small wrist.

"Never been on a Ferris wheel?" He asked, one eyebrow quirked. I had a strong feeling that he already knew the answer and nodded feebly. He gently squeezed my wrist, calming the nerves that were threatening to spill just at the sight of the towering wheel. I had never been on a ride, not even as a child. My parents didn't exactly care enough to take me to amusement parks. Instead, I spent my weekends in ballroom dance lessons and etiquette classes.

"You'll be fine, I'll keep you safe." Harry's words were laced with sincerity and a tone I failed to recognize. His bright swirls of emotions met mine as his lips curved up into a small smile and he led me down the pathway and towards the Ferris wheel.

*Harry's POV*

"That. Was. Amazing." Charlotte screamed as she hopped off of the cart and into step beside me. I tried not to pay attention to the fact that both of her hands were still wrapped tightly around my right arm, something that she found comfort in during the whole ride. The amount of amusement that was etched across her features was more than I had ever seen, even on a child. On the ride, she'd tug on my sleeve and point out some magnificent sight of Leeds. It was as if everything in sight amazed her, something I found incredibly luring.

"You think that was nice? You haven't seen anything yet! Wait 'till I take you to the London Eye." I stated, waving to a few girls that were watching us from a few feet away. The attention from fans was something that took time getting used to, but I never complained about it. If it weren't for their dedication, the band would not be as successful as it had become. I looked back down at Charlotte, who was smiling broadly.

"I'd like that." Charlotte said, the usual dimples that framed her beautiful smile making an appearance. It took all that was in me not to stare. I quickly tore my eyes away, hoping the dimming sky would hide my prominent blush. It was strange, to say the least. Charlotte was amazing in every way. She was independent, beautiful, smart, just perfect. My flourishing thoughts deepened as I smiled down at her, wondering if she even knew how marvelous she was.

I watched as she tripped over her own feet and tightened her grip around my arm, struggling to regain her balance. Attempting to stifle a laugh at her clumsy ways, I bit down hard on my lower lip. Her clumsiness was something I found strangely adorable.

"Think this is funny, Styles?" She questioned, eyes narrowed in an accusing manner. Her hands released my arm, leaving a strange yearning for her touch behind. I ignored the sensation and nodded, confirming her accusation. She opened her mouth the speak, but quickly closed it once she spotted the three girls that were approaching us. I turned to face the, most likely, fans, and smiled widely.

"Hi!" The tallest girl chirped. She looked to be around our age. Straight, long blond hair cascaded down like a waterfall on either side of her head, framing  her heart-shaped face. Bright blue eyes gleamed underneath the festival's lights. On any other day, I would have found her to be really attractive. But the thing was, there was only one girl that managed to capture my attention and keep me hooked, much like an addict on a drug, since the first day I had met her. Charlotte.

I smiled at her and greeted the two girls standing beside her. They were mere replicas of the first, but shorter and no doubt younger. "Can we get a picture, Harry? We're huge fans!" The girl on the right said. Her blue eyes darted from me to Charlotte, who was stood silently next to me. I guess they failed to notice the fact that she was the Charlotte McVerry. Although I had a feeling Charlotte wasn't exactly complaining.

*Charlotte's POV*

"Of course, love. What're your names?" Harry asked as the girls stood on either side of him. I awkwardly fiddled with the strap of my old side bag, not knowing what to do in a situation like this. Even though I made it seem like I wasn't listening by pulling out my cell phone, I couldn't help but overhear Harry's conversation with the girls. My gaze would dart to them every few seconds, wanting to see Harry's interaction with his fans.

"I'm Brittany." The oldest one said, batting her eyelashes confidently. She twirled a strand of her long blond hair around her pointer finger, shamelessly attempting to flirt with Harry. I was surprised when Harry brushed it off like it was nothing, He didn't even acknowledge her flirty nature and bent down to the other two girls' heights. "And these are my sisters. Kaylee and Danica." She nodded towards the little girl to her right and then at the one to her left. Harry hugged each of the girls, making them squeal in delight, and gave Brittany a hug, too.

"Nice to meet you girls." He grinned and tucked his hands into his coat's pockets, his eyes slyly darting towards me. I instantly snapped my gaze away, realizing that he probably noticed I was eavesdropping. I tried focusing once again on the cell phone in my hand, allowing my hair to cover the embarrassed blush that crept onto my cheeks.

A few minutes later, I heard Harry's voice as he approached me. "Sorry about that." He said, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. I tucked my phone away into my pocket and smiled up at him.

"Don't worry about it." I said. Harry smiled and we resumed our walk down the pathway. As he brought his hand down from his neck, I saw a flash of white tucked between his fingers. I narrowed my eyes, peering closer at it and once he crumpled it up and threw it into his coat's pocket, I realized it was a piece of paper.

Stopping in my tracks, I placed a hand on Harry's arm. "She gave you her number?!" I asked excitedly. Harry pulled a weird look and nodded slowly.

"Well why did you just crumple it up?! She was pretty, Harry!" I smacked his arm, finding his actions quite ridiculous. Harry tilted his head to the side in confusion and  amusement was prominent by the way his lips curled up into a small smirk.

"Gosh, Charlotte, you sound like one of the guys." He laughed and brushed my question off before he began walking again. I shot him a disappointed look and crossed my arms over my chest. Brittany seemed really sweet, and Harry wasn't even giving her a chance. When he noticed I wasn't following him, Harry let out a heavy sigh and made his way back to where I was standing.

"You're so stubborn." He whined and rolled his eyes teasingly before speaking again. "She just wasn't my type." Harry frowned slightly before shrugging and averted his gaze, finding a keen interest in the ground we were standing on.

My eyebrows knitted together as I stood there deep in thought. "What is your type, Harry?" I couldn't help but ask. And if I didn't know better, I would say that Harry was blushing. He laughed unconvincingly and fell into step beside me.

"I'd say she has to be able to hold a conversation with me." Harry mused. The way his forehead creased and his teeth bit on his lower lip made it quite obvious that he  was lost in his thoughts. 

"Like Brittany!" I shouted loudly. Harry laughed at my change in volume and shook his head, the curls on his head bouncing side to side.

"She has to have.. brown hair and brown eyes." He added. I sucked air into my cheeks out of   frustration and scanned the area around us. There was a group of girls standing a few feet away from us, watching Harry intently as they excitedly whispered to one another.

"That girl has brown hair and brown eyes!" I said, nodding over to the girl in the middle of the small group that was to our left. She was laughing with the others, her gaze drifting to Harry every now and then.

Harry's eyebrows knitted together and he shook his head in disapproval. "She has to have a beautiful smile." He clarified, his voice rather quiet.

Smile? I was confused. How could Harry narrow it down so much? He obviously had a really good idea of what his perfect girl would look like. I noticed this had turned into some sort of I Spy game, one that I was finding way too enjoyable. I was about to make another joke, a remark, but my the humorous smile that had found its way onto my lips slowly slipped off once my eyes met Harry's. His bright green ones were staring intently into my hazel ones, making me feel insecure, self-conscious. I gulped, trying to hide the sudden rush of confusion and nerves that swept through my mind and body. I felt as if my hands were trembling as I continued to stare into Harry's captivating eyes.

"How oblivious can you be, Char?" He asked slowly, his eyes not daring to leave mine. He took a step closer to me, the distance between us decreasing with every word that came out of his mouth.

"Brown hair." He whispered, laughing quietly. Harry's hand reached up and tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. His hand lingered on my cheek as his eyes didn't dare to leave mine, not even for a second.

"Brown eyes." His voice grew quieter with every word. I stood frozen, not knowing what to do. Was Harry basically saying that I was his type of girl? But that couldn't be possible. Harry never saw me as more than a friend, right?

"Beautiful smile." His deep, husky tone sent shivers up my spine as I noticed his gaze drop to my lips. The pad of his thumb brushed my cheekbone, reminding me all too much of the night at the river, where Louis had almost kissed me. My eyes squeezed shut and I struggled to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill. When I opened my eyes, I saw that slowly but surely, Harry began leaning in. To say I was shocked was an understatement. I didn't know that Harry liked me. I didn't know he saw me as more than just a friend. But the worst part was, the twisting knot of guilt in the pit of my stomach told me that I had been leading him on this whole time. Just as Louis had done with me.

Without warning, I stumbled backwards just before Harry's lips came a mere inch away from meeting mine. "I.. I'm so sorry, Harry." I croaked out, my throat raw from the terrible desire to cry. Harry leaned away from me and placed both hands on the nape of his neck, not daring to make eye contact. Before I could apologize further, he ran both hands over his face and placed both hands on my shoulders in hopes to make me stop talking. 

"It's okay, it's just.. I shouldn't have done that, I'm sorry Charlotte." He pleaded, his usual bright green eyes dimming with disappointment. He allowed his hands to drop from my shoulder and stuffed them into his pockets. He avoided my eyes, looking down at his feet.  

Horrible doesn't come close to describing how I felt right that moment. Seeing Harry so heartbroken was something incredibly difficult to bear. The worst part was that I knew exactly how he felt. I knew how it felt when your heart longed for someone that didn't feel the same way. A few bright flashes came from our left, warning us about the arrival of paparazzi, and Harry quickly threw his hood over his head. "We should go.." He said, his voice all too serious. I nodded and fell into step behind him as we jogged through the crowds and stopped in the parking lot. When we saw there was no one following us, we slowed down into a walk.  

It was awkward to say the least. Harry still refused to look at me and kept his gaze focused on something to his right side, away from where I was standing. I watched him and gulped heavily in attempt of ridding myself of the constriction in my throat caused by the tears that were brimming my eyes.  

How could I have been so stupid? Not only did I unintentionally lead Harry on, but I also caused the pain that was evident in his eyes. The pain that instead could have been replaced by happiness. If only I had let him kiss me. If only I had fell for him instead of Louis. It would have been so much easier, so much more perfect. Harry was an incredible guy and he actually had feelings for me. Louis did not. As I gazed up through my hazy eyes at the starry sky, I felt my thoughts take control of the feelings that had forcefully conquered my heart. The way the clouds and stars fought each other, battling for dominance of the sky, reminded me far too much of the war that my heart and mind battled to take control of my actions. I could have been smart. I could have fallen for Harry. I could have actually had my happily ever after, something that I had always dreamed of. I could have been happy. But the thing is, no matter how much I wish it was different, it's impossible to love intelligently, a lesson I learned in the hardest way possible. It's not the mind that loves, it's the heart. And despite how much my mind opposed the idea, my heart was still with Louis. 

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(A/N) ASFRTHGSD I don't know about this chapter... I feel like some parts were really choppy but idk, what did you guys think? Oh, and I made a trailer for the story! It's posted at the beginning! Please check it out and let me know what you think :)

I've been getting questions about the poems and quotes I put in the beginning of every chapter. Yes, they're all original! If you haven't checked it out already, I write poetry and have uploaded a collection of my work. It's called "Between the Lines" :)

Thanks again, guys, for the AMAZING responses to this story! It has over 40,000 reads.. I never expected this! Don't forget to leave your VOTES & COMMENTS! They always mean a lot :) Criticism is also appreciated! 

I have to ask, though.. CHARRY OR CHOUIS? i know i shouldn't be so biased, but i am CHOUIS THE WHOLE DAMN WAAAAAAY.

So this chapter is dedicated to my weirdo of a friend.. Michelle! love ya :) She's a crazed packers fan.. beware.

Haha thanks for reading, and have a nice day/night, whatever it is where you live :) 

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