*Charlotte's POV*

Shakespeare's language, intricate and complex in its glory, was one I always had trouble understanding. Yet I couldn't get enough of it.

Call it cliché, but Romeo and Juliet reduced me to tears every single time. The first time I read it was only two years ago, when my Literature teacher assigned me to read the infamous book and write several essays on it. Due to the fact that my parents absurdly wished for their only daughter to be as intelligent as Einstein, my home-school teachers were all penurious and strict and the work was rigorous. School was never my forte, so needless to say, I never cared to try extra hard. Much to my parents' disappointment, my grades had never been above average. Except in Literature. 

Ever since I could remember, I loved to read. Every genre fascinated me, but I most adored fairy tales. Cinderella, Snow White, The Little Mermaid, you name it and I had it polished and immaculately stashed on the very top of my bookshelf. It was something about the unavailingly faultless lives of princesses that made me yearn as a child to be one of them. My life wasn't anything like a fairy-tale, but reading a story that described only the wonders of life lavished me with hope.

And in the strangest way, I considered Romeo and Juliet to be its own fairy tale. Sure, Juliet was no princess and Romeo wasn't a dashing prince who rode in on his steed to save her from a dragon or her evil stepmother, but their story was similar to all of the others in a way. What exhilarated me about all of those stories is that the lovers both are prepared to anything in their power to be together. How long it takes or the sacrifices they have to make aren't what's important, but the very fact that they do end up in each other's arms. And in Romeo and Juliet, they did end up in each other's arms, even if it was when their intertwined hearts were no longer beating. 

The story of Romeo and Juliet made love seem more realistic to me. No, love isn't about becoming a princess or glamorous weddings in which the prince rides off with the princess into the sunset. It's more sinister than that--more problematic. A force more than capable of tearing you down, whether it's mentally or emotionally. And that's exactly what it was doing to me. You could say that I was fighting love. Or you could say that I was fighting myself. 

Whatever it was, I can't deny that it was the reason why I was sat at the library, Romeo and Juliet clutched in my hands as I read over it for what could have been the thirtieth time.

After waking up to an empty house since my mother had some work to take care of and my father wasn't arriving until later that same week, I had taken a trip to the library. I found a small table isolated in the corner of the small building. And without giving much thought to it, I had picked out my favorite story to read: Romeo and Juliet. 

I didn't expect to get recognized at the library, especially because my hat and scarf kept my features obscure, which explains why my heart raced with panic when I heard someone call my name, snatching me out from where I had dived deep into the book.

"Charlotte?" The person had spoken in a whisper so even if it was someone I knew, I couldn't have possibly recognized him. I hesitantly brought my book down from where it was covering my face and set it on the table. I peered up through my hat at whoever had spoken and was truly bemused to see a smiling Harry standing before me. 

It was difficult to ignore just how badly I wanted to jump with glee at the sight of him. It hadn't been just Harry and me in a long time. Ever since he dropped the bomb at Leeds about his feelings for me, we kind of drifted apart. And the events that followed that day only estranged me even more into a world where all I could ever think about were my problems with Louis.

So at a time like this, where my life had dragged me so deep into an abyss of confusion, controversy, and more confusion, I could never explain in words just how happy I was to see him.

A smile settled onto my lips. "Harry?" I stupidly asked, my voice all too hopeful, and pulled off my hat. "What are you doing here?"

Harry walked around the small table and pulled out a chair. "Well, I had nothing better to do today, so I decided I wanted spend my day at the library." Laughter sputtered out of his mouth when he saw me raise my eyebrows skeptically.

"Just kidding. I went to your house to see you, but found your mum there instead. She told me you'd be here."

I frowned. How much time had I spent at the library? When my eyes darted to the watch that hugged Harry's wrist, I realized that it had already been nearly two hours. 

"So you came here to join me for some reading?" I quirked an eyebrow, wanting to laugh at his horrified expression. I watched his gaze drift to the open book laying in front of me. Before I could comprehend his actions, he reached out and grabbed it. 

A blush crept over my cheeks as he examined the novel. He had seen me reading the same book several times, so I wouldn't be surprised if he thought I was obsessed.

"Romeo and Juliet?" He ran his fingers over the book cover. "Really?" Harry's voice was dripping with amusement. He chuckled when he saw my sheepish smile.

"And in answer to your previous question: No. I, unlike some people, actually have a life." 

I snatched the book from his arms and hugged it to my chest defensively. "If you came to insult me, then mission accomplished. You can leave now."

The banter we shared was something I missed tremendously. Thankfully, ever since the Leeds incident, Harry had somehow managed to act as if nothing had changed between the two of us. We didn't see each other as much, but every time we did, it was guaranteed that we'd have fun. One awkward situation with Louis was enough. If my friendship and understanding with Harry had dwindled even by the smallest amount, I don't know what I would have done. 

I didn't actually want Harry to leave, and I knew he wouldn't, even when I flipped my book open to a random page and held it in front of my face. It was more of an attempt to hide the smirk tugging at my lips than anything else. 

"I would, but I think I should teach you how to have a little fun instead." Harry remarked. I could hear him push back his chair and stand up. Soon enough, the book had disappeared from my hands and was held in Harry's. He turned around and set it on one of the numerous bookshelves before turning back to me. 

"Let's go."

* * * 

"So what you're telling me is that in the past eighteen years of your life, you've never been ice skating?" Harry asked as he expertly glided past me. He looked truly shocked that I had never before set foot in an ice rink.

Although, I wasn't too focused on his words. No, I was too busy staring down at the death traps he had forced me to strap onto my feet. Both of my hands were clutching the railings so hard that my knuckles began to resemble the ivory surface we were stood upon. 

Not without filling my ears about just how boring I was to want to waste a day at such a mundane place such as the library, Harry dragged me to a skating rink not far from where we were. How he managed to rent it out in a matter of only minutes shouldn't have come as that big of a surprise, but it did. 

I cursed the day the ice skates were invented when I stepped foot on the slippery ice. Of course, since he had done this before, it took Harry little to no time adjusting to the change in terrain. In a matter of seconds, he was skating in circles around me, a cocky manner of sorts making an appearance. 

"No. What I'm telling you is that in the past eighteen years of my life, no one has ever wanted me to die so badly that they took me ice skating!"  I finally found the words to yell at the entertained pop star. I usually got really jumpy and unpleasant in terrifying situations, much like this one, and Harry was well aware of that fact. So I don't see how he could blame me if by the end of our little "date," his head would no longer be connected to his body as a result of me having chopped it clean off. 

Harry's hearty laughter echoed throughout the huge ice rink, only making my blood boil even more in annoyance. 

"Oh, c'mon, Charlotte! Stop being such a baby," he teased. And later muttered, "If only Niall was here to witness this." 

It wasn't hard to imagine how much fun Niall would have had seeing me in such a predicament. As if he didn't already make fun of me enough, this would be something I'd never hear the end of. 

I hugged onto the railing for dear life as I slowly progressed on the ice. I stared down at the skates, wanting to rip them off and throw them somewhere they would never be found.

The sound of a camera's shutter made my head snap towards where Harry was standing, only a few feet away from me. He had his phone held so the camera was pointing towards me, my eyes widening when I realized he had taken a picture. 

"Harry," I warned, "You have ten seconds to delete that picture or else..."

"Too late." He shrugged. "I've already sent it to Niall."

That's it, I thought as I dumbly let go of the railings and charged towards Harry. It then hit me that he had sent that picture to Niall on purpose, so that I would let go of the railings. His plan was devious, but smart. But I didn't have time to be angry at him for that. Because right then, I was hurtling towards Harry with no control over my wobbling feet and my arms flailing madly. A terrified scream escaped my mouth as the horror of crashing tugged at my mind. I was ready for catastrophic impact with Harry, but it never came. 

Turned out that while I had shut my eyes in horror and kept screaming, I didn't realize that Harry had caught me by the arms. His grasp was tightening on my arms as I opened my eyes one by one. When I saw his smiling face, I felt both relieved and irritated. 

Heaving a sigh, I dropped my head in shame so it was resting on his chest. Harry was much taller than me, so it was easy for him to wrap me into a hug. 

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" He asked, his eyes sparkling with humor, as he pushed back my shoulders, causing me to reluctantly lift my head. 

I shot him a dull look, one he responded to with laughter. 

"Okay, maybe it was, but let's try again." Harry dropped one of his hands from where it had grabbed a hold of my shoulder and his other one slid down to envelop mine. 

I tried to succumb the severe blush that had conquered my cheeks as a result of embarrassment, but my efforts were of little use. I nodded, agreeing with his plan. 

My heart skipped a beat when Harry began moving and pulled me along with him. The way we glided across the rink reminded me dismally of the dance Louis and I shared only three days ago. The way he had handled the dance with such care and the words he had spoken had branded themselves into my mind. 

And that's when I realized exactly what I was doing. I was with Harry, yet I was thinking about how I longed to be with Louis. How was that fair to Harry? Sure, it wasn't like he could read my mind, but that didn't prevent me from feeling an enormous amount of guilt. 

So I tried my best to block all thoughts Louis-related from entering my mind. I focused instead on how my feet were becoming comfortable in the ice skates. Instead of scratching roughly at the ice, I was gliding smoothly just how Harry had been. He pulled me so we skated side by side across the entire rink and then, before I could see it coming, the warmth of his hand escaped mine. 

At first, I lost control of my feet, but regained it quickly as I tried balancing myself. If I couldn't overcome a fear as silly as this one, how was I going to get anywhere in the future? I glanced at Harry, who was no longer holding on to me, but stayed close just in case I fell.

He shot me an encouraging look. "It's easy, just move your feet back and forth like this," he demonstrated by alternating both feet on the ice until he accelerated past me. I began to do the same until finally, I was able to control which way my feet carried me and at what speed. 

"This is fun!" I yelled to Harry, who was skating backwards so that he was facing me. He smiled and gave me a thumbs up, pushing back a few strands of curls that had fallen onto his forehead. 

"You're doing great!" He replied. He urged me to move faster as I chased him around the rink.

And after a very long time, a smile graced my lips. Not a smile I plastered across my lips for when my mother asked if I was alright or for when I was around any of the other guys, but an actual emblem of joy.

I could say it a million times and it still wouldn't be enough. I was glad to have someone like Harry in my life. Someone who, with the littlest of words and biggest of smiles, was capable of tearing my sorrow away. The feeling wasn't permanent, no, it still lingered no matter how long I spent with Harry, but it felt good to know that I hadn't completely lost myself. It felt good to know that I could temporarily go back to having fun with someone. 

I then realized that I never really showed Harry how grateful I was to have him. Who knows what he thought after I rejected him at Leeds.

As we spent more time skating and Harry began teaching me more moves, I wanted him to know that sure, I didn't have feelings for him that went past friendship, but he was still special to me in a way that a sole friend could never be. 

* * * 

"Remind me again why we're at the shopping mall?"

My eyes were locked on the racks and racks of dresses in front of me. After we left the rink, instead of dropping me home like I thought he would, Harry drove the two of us to the shopping mall. I didn't bother to question his strange motives when he parked the car in front of the mall. I didn't utter a word when he handed me a pair of sunglasses as a disguise and took a pair and a hat for himself. But I did finally speak up when we stopped in front of the most popular and, no doubt, expensive dress boutique in the entire building.

The variety of dresses was astonishing. Ranging from short party dresses to sophisticated and modest ones, the shop was a dress haven for teenage girls all over the world. 

It wasn't too difficult to get into the shop without being noticed. Harry had some starstruck employees lead us through a couple of backdoors and secret hallways until finally, we ended up in front of Harry's predetermined destination. 

"Stop asking questions," Harry said, even though it was the first one I had asked. "Just pick out your favorite dress--the fanciest one you can find."

Fancy? I raked through my memory for any mention of such an event, but it was of no use. I knew that I couldn't get it out of him even if I tried, so I was happy to oblige to his request. Without arguing, I shoved my purse into Harry's arms. 

"If you say so." I smirked deviously and bee-lined to the rack of pretty turqouises in the very back. A flustered Harry followed, unaware of the dangerous mission he had sent me on.

Ten elegant whites, seven cute blues, four pretty pinks, and two suavy reds later, I finally emerged from the fitting room in a satin mauve dress that hugged my torso. At my hip, the material began to loosen more and more until it was hiding my ankles. 

I looked to a tiredHarry for his opinion. He had been sitting in the same couch in front of the fitting rooms for about an hour, so I could see how he was exhausted. 

Harry yawned and shook his head in rejection. "Nope. You look beautiful, but it's not the right one."

I sighed and threw my head back in exasperation. "Maybe if you tell me what all of this is for, I can choose a suitable dress." Even after having me try on over twenty dresses, Harry declined my requests to tell me what was going on. 

"No can do," Harry said and shook his head. "You, my friend, are hopeless. Wait right here." With just that, Harry disappeared from the fitting room area and back into the shop. I heaved a sigh and turned to face the mirror. All of the dresses I had picked out were ones that I thought were fitting for whatever Harry was planning. I even tried to tell him that I had tons of them at home, but Harry was stubborn, so he didn't even consider what I had to say.

I waited ten agonizing minutes before Harry appeared in the fitting rooms again. My eyes darted to the shiny maroon material in his hands, but before I could get a good look at it, he hid it behind his back. 

Harry was about to speak, but I beat him to it. "I am not trying that dress on until you tell me why we're doing this." My arms crossed across my chest in a stubborn stance and my eyebrows raised, I awaited his answer. 

"Fine," Harry said and narrowed his eyes. He clearly wasn't happy with the idea. "But at least let me show you the dress first." 

I nodded and he brought the dress out from behind his back and held it out in front of me. I gasped at the sight of it. The dress--no, ball gown-- was an elegant maroon color. The upper half was lined carefully with silver beading that followed the gown until the mid-thighs. I had never seen such a beautiful gown up close, despite the several that I owned. 

"Harry," I carefully took the dress from his hands, "This is beautiful, but it's so formal. What is it for?" 

Harry looked proud of his choice and I would too if I were him. "Well I'm sure you've heard about Louis' engagement ball, am I right?"

I tried to ignore the way his words pulled at my heart. Of course I had heard about it, I was first to know. But instead of saying that, I simply nodded. 

"I was wondering if you'd be my date..." Harry gingerly rubbed the back of his nech, his eyes cast downward. 

I was beyond flattered, but I didn't know which sense Harry was asking in. I had already clarified that I didn't have those type of feelings for him, so I only hoped that he didn't mean it in that way. 

"And before you say anything, I meant that maybe we could go just as friends." Harry had obviously sensed my hesitation. His piercing emerald eyes were full of hope and anticipation. 

I don't know why I gave the question any thought. Harry understood that I didn't have feelings for him and he understood it so well. He was such a sweet person and denying him anything seemed like a crime. And besides, it wasn't like I didn't want to go with him. Going with Harry made the whole thing seem more bearable.

"Absolutely!" I yelled and threw my arms around Harry, who was picking nervously at the cuff of his flannel shirt. He was taken aback, but soon comprehended my actions and wrapped his arms around my waist. 

"Really?!" He questioned, his eyes widening once he saw me nod profusely.

The thought of going to the engagement ball and seeing Louis and Eleanor together, celebrating their soon-to-be marriage seemed a bit less difficult for me to process with Harry around. So what if my date wasn't someone I was in love with? And who cares if we were going as just friends? Until then, I believed so strongly in love and only love. Until that moment where Harry asked me to be his date to the ball, I had been mourning the fact that I couldn't be with the person I loved. I don't think I realized just how stupid I was so completely disregard just how strong and important friendship can prove to be. 

Maybe I would never have my fairytale ending with Louis. Maybe I would never share with Louis the type of hopeless love Romeo and Juliet seemed to share. And maybe I would never have my fairytale ending at all.

But admitting that didn't hurt as much as I thought it would.

At that moment, I didn't care as much that it was Louis' engagement ball I was going to. It still broke my heart in ways I never thought possible, but I didn't care. I cared that I was going with Harry.

I cared that maybe love didn't work out for me the way I thought it would, but friendship did.

* * * 

(A/N) SURPRISE UPDATEEEE!!!

Hehe I spent so long working on this chapter because I really wanted to get it up today! The reason I decided to update only two days after my last one is because I realized that you guys made me reach 500 fans and this story has nearly 100,000 reads! So it's kind of like a thank you update, even though just one chapter could never be enough to thank you guys. 

I mean this in all seriousness. Just how far this story has come and how many people are supporting it never fails to astonish me every single day. You're all incredible and have no idea how happy you really make me and I can never ever thank you enough! 

Leave your thoughts on this chapter in the comments below and hopefully the next chapter will be up soooon! ;) 

Oh and dress to the right! ------>

- Aysha <3