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QOTC: How many of you liked the little part of Shawn and Gemma? I loved it of course.

• Chapter Thirty Seven •

"Anna!" I heard Tash scream through the apartment, I rolled off my bed and trudged out my room "Yeah?" I tiredly answered, running a hand through my knotted hair as well as using the heel of my palm to rub the sleep out of my eye "You're on the news" Hearing that suddenly woke me up "I'm sorry, what?" I asked in disbelief and stepped behind her in the living room "You're on TV!" She squealed and nudged my side "Oh shit!" Tash exclaimed once she put the volume higher.

There on our flat screen, my face had been plastered all over "Oh my god, why is this happening?" I gasped, my eyes widening as I read each word that was splayed across the screen. "Mystery girl? What the hell?!" I shrieked, the tabloids made me seem as if I'm a gold digger in Harry's life. They made me feel cheap about myself and it hurt. Flashes of the time I had searched Harry and all those articles came up, the thought of that made my head hurt. How did Harry and I go from not being able look at each other in the eye to, well, this?

"Yesterday afternoon, spotted was the famous artist and photographer, Harry Styles at the most prestigious restaurant in London. Was he alone? No he wasn't, strapped to his arm was a mysterious lady. Sources say that they seemed rather close to just be business associates. Is this one of those girls he had in his past or is this lucky lady here to stay in Styles' life? Recently we had also seen them in Harry's car, driving to his home, although at that point we couldn't catch a single glimpse of the mysterious lady's face but we're sure that in those two pictures, it is the same person. Though beautiful and unknown to us, this lucky lady was not accepted happily by Harry's fans. Here are some of the things they had to say.."

I heard my phone ring, going into my room I picked the device and immediately flung it across the room seeing the caller ID. I don't want to talk to him. The words being said about me, towards me, made my insides churn. Accusations were hurled at me like a fireball that exploded everything in its wake once it made contact with another object. The painful twisting sensation settled in my chest and I felt my eyes brim with tears as they softly fell down my cheeks.

"An?" Tash's voice was heard, I looked up from my sitting position on the bed "Harry's on the phone" she held up her phone and I turned my head away "I don't want to talk to him" I said, my voice barely a whisper. "Just listen to what he has to say," she started but I glared at her cutting her off. She nodded lightly before closing my room door leaving me there to wallow on my bed. She's just after his money. She doesn't even dress to his standards. She's cheap and plain. There's nothing exemplary about her. Who is this slut? Each word that flew through my mind, felt like a dart being flung towards me, poking my heart, only thing was that the darts were a combination of hurtful letters.

No girl ever wants to hear such things about herself, never, especially if she hasn't done anything wrong except fall for a guy way out of her league. I scoffed to myself at how dramatic and petty I seem right now. I'm stronger than this, aren't I? I can't let them and their words bring me down, they don't have that right. I'm not letting them do this to me, I know how media works. I've seen it happen to myself when I used to stay in America. Having a family almost like royalty had its perks but the repercussions of it were fatal.

My parents are known for their work, my mother for being the best closer in New York and my father for being the greatest surgeon that they say he has magic in his hands. It's suffocating. I thought I left that life behind of being followed by cameras, it looks like it just followed me. I sunk into my bed when I heard a knock on the door. Voices were muffled behind my room door making it difficult for me to decipher who's speaking, one for sure is my sister but I think I figured out who's the other by the heavy and determined footsteps that made their way to my room door.

"Anna?" I bit back a sob hearing Harry's soft voice from the other side of the door, I could see his shadow through the little slit in between the bottom of the wooden door and the tiles. "Please," he started again ", Let me in" the wood creaked a little indicating weight being put onto it. "I'm sorry for what they said about you. It's my fault. You didn't deserve those harsh words" the sincerity in his voice made me stand to my feet and walk towards the door. Reaching my hand up, I placed it against the door "Anna? Please" He gasped out as if realising my presence was close.

My heart shifted in my chest, and with bathed breath I twisted the knob, opening the door slightly. I kept my gaze on the floor as I stepped aside letting him in before closing the door once again. "I am so sorry" Harry said, lightly touching my arm "Look at me, please" he pleaded and my chest ached, slowly I met his gaze and a sob left my lips at the sight of him. His jawline was darkened by the stubble that formed, the tip of his nose red and his eyes, his beautiful green eyes were a shade lighter. "I didn't think they'd take it that far" he continued and I kept quiet

"Say something" he held onto my hands "It.. it just hurt hearing all of that." I said once I found my voice, I gulped back the lump that formed in my throat "I thought I left that life behind of being called names, but this was so much worse" a tear rolled down my cheek "Are people really that cruel to body shame someone else?" I questioned, rhetorically. "Oh, Anna" Harry gathered me in his arms, his grasp tightening around me and I moved away from his embrace. "Do you fucking know how it feels to be treated this way, to be seen this way? This is why I asked you, Harry. This is the reason why I wanted to know what we are. They made me seem as if I'm a lowlife gold digger. It made me feel cheap and characterless even your friends think I'm just hanging onto you for fun.." I trailed off

The musky scent of his cologne invaded my senses, taking my mind of the situation for a split second as he pulled me to him "I promise, it will be okay." Harry said in a promising tone, his cheek resting onto my head and I nodded "I promise" he assured and I held onto that. I may have over-reacted about this whole media thing but I didn't leave the spotlight to be thrown into another. My life was always watched in Manhattan, where I'd go, what I'd do, who I'd hang out with and even why I'd do the things I did. The media always made assumptions about me, I let that slide because I knew the truth and I remained true to myself. Hearing all of that on the news, 7 years later, just felt like an anchor that sunk me.

"Why did this happen, Harry?" I whispered, taking a step back to look at him. "I honestly don't know," he started and I could sense his hesitancy by the way his eyes flickered across the room, never meeting mine. I grabbed his hand in mine, urging him to continue ", my life had always been followed. I built up quite a reputation for myself" he chuckled darkly, the kind that sends chills down your spine. Harry took a deep breath before he spoke again, "I had nothing to my name, I started my first year of university with a literal bang. I was pathetic and ruthless. I slept with anything that had legs and a vagina" I crinkled my nose at the last word.

Harry's green orbs never met mine still, a wistful look settled in them and I stood there silently, listening to him unravel his past. He snickered at what he said, shaking his head slightly as he went on, "I began my studies with the aim of becoming something great, something better - someone better and all I became was my father. My university life consisted of frat parties and intoxicated one night stands. That part of me, that sadistic side to me - a personality if I may - had left me so fucking ashamed that I couldn't look at myself in the mirror. I ruined my own life and most of the credit goes to my sorry excuse for a father" he scoffed.

I opened my mouth and closed it, the action made me look like a goldfish. Harry gave my hand a squeeze, his eyes finally met mine. Even though I had been staring at him all along, the anguish hidden in the green of his iris made my heart clench. Right here, in front of me, Harry stood vulnerable and transparent. All I wanted to do was hold him in my arms, tell him I'm here for him. "When I made a name for myself, whatever I did during my university days somehow got to the media. They found out everything about me and followed me wherever I went. I've been called names you couldn't even fathom"

He swallowed hard, the edges of his eyes turning a shade of red "So don't you dare tell me that I don't know what it feels like to be put under scrutiny, Anna" he gritted his teeth as his hands squeezed onto my arms before stepping away from me. In my rant, I asked him a question I already knew the answer to. The words of those articles written about him came to my mind once again "I'm sorry, Harry" I choked from holding my tears back "I'm so sorry" I sincerely said, a tear fell down my cheek and he shook his head "It's not your fault" Harry cupped my cheeks, wiping away my tears. Spending all those moments with Harry had changed my view on him. He was gentle, sweet and caring even though he had his moments where I wanted to rip his head off for being so damn arrogant but above it all, he made me feel something I never felt before, is that normal?

"You didn't ask for this, you don't deserve the life I have. My life shouldn't be a burden on your shoulders. I told myself to not pursue you but your smart mouth and captivating eyes lured me into an inescapable trap but it's better if we don-" I cut him off "No!" I shook my head, holding onto his wrists "Harry, if you can help me through my past, to bare the brunt of what it brought then so can I. I'm not leaving you, Harry" I implored at him, staring him in the eye "Harry, you're not a burden neither is your past. You just made bad choices, the both of us did. We went through things that only made us stronger. We may have lost against the world but we won each other. We gained the support of each other. I'm not leaving, you got that?" I placed a hand to his chest, above his heart which thumped at a rapid pace.

He nodded, a small smile forming on his face "What say we go out and have a day to ourselves?" Harry rubbed my arms and I looked up giving him a look "Seriously?" He chuckled, how can he go from being an emotional and vulnerable person to someone who has a grin on his face the next second "Oh yeah," he bit his lip "You know what?" I nodded, urging him to continue "You're mine and I want to show you off to the world" he smiled and I sucked in a breath "I thought you didn't want that" he shrugged "Changed my mind. I want to show the world that you're mine and I'm yours. I want to kiss you in public, to hold your hand, to spoil you like a queen, to have you all to myself because I'm one selfish bastard. So, Anna Montgomery." The green in his eyes sparkled and I waited with bathed breath for what's to come "Will you be my girlfriend?" I gasped and he smirked.

What did you think of this crappy ass chapter? Just so you know, my updates are going to be short like under 2000 words unless I have some sort of revelation lol. But anyway, you know the drill.

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