I woke up on Saturday morning, face down in bed and still fully dressed. My arm was hanging down the side of the bed and I became vaguely aware of my phone buzzing. I lifted my head from the pillow - big mistake. It pounded with a dull throb, and my mouth was dry and felt as though it was filled with cotton wool. I fumbled around on my bedside table for my phone, and knocked it on the floor. I groaned and fumbled around for it on the floor, before finally locating it. It was Callie.

"Hello?" I croaked.

"Please tell me you're at home and you're ALONE," Callie said.

"Wha... of course I am. What's that supposed to mean?" I mumbled.

"So you're not with your mate Gary?"

"No!" I protested. "Why would you think that?"

"Because you were snogging his face off last night and pictures have gone viral!" she said.

"What... how do you know about that?!" I gasped.

"Because the pictures have gone viral!" Callie hissed. "It's all over Twitter! You look like you're practically stand-up shagging outside the tube station. "

"Oh jeez," I muttered, holding my head in my hands.

"What the hell happened?" Callie demanded.

"We were drowning our sorrows," I said feebly. "It was a mistake that should never have happened."

"Twice," Callie put in.

"What?"

"You were pictured kissing in Sync, then again by the tube."

"Mmhhh," I mumbled.

"Why on earth were you drowning your sorrows anyway?"

"Harry's been shagging some slut in the Philippines," I said.

"Prick," Callie declared. "Is that why all the tweets are going on about revenge?"

"Probably," I said. "I haven't been on Twitter since last night. I'll go and look and call you back."

I threw my phone down beside me on the bed and closed my eyes. I really couldn't be arsed with this. Couldn't I just suffer my hangover in peace? My mind was racing however, and curiosity started getting the better of me. I pushed the covers back and stumbled into the bathroom, fighting the urge to throw up. Next stop was the kitchen, where I made myself a strong coffee, sat down at the table and went onto Twitter.

@sugarlips_xxx: @jessie_braddy 2 guys in one week? Classy. #slag

@harrysgirl774: @jessie_braddy why are you trying to hurt @Harry_Styles ?

@plastixgen: @Harry_Styles your girlfriend @jessie_braddy is having plenty of fun without you!

@stylemelove1: @Harry_Styles are you and @jessie_braddy over? xxxxx

There were several pictures that had been retweeted thousands of times; one of me and Gary in Sync, kissing; One of us leaning up against the wall by the entrance of the tube, my hands on Gary's jacket, pulling him closer to me and his hands on my hips (this did look pretty passionate) and one of us walking down the steps to the tube, holding hands. I had to admit, if I'd seen these pictures I would have jumped to the same conclusions the rest of Twitter seemed to have jumped to as well.

I called Callie back. "It looks bad, doesn't it," I said when she answered the phone.

"It looks like you're about to shag each other on the pavement," Callie declared. "You didn't....?" she left the question hanging.

"No!" I insisted. "I don't do one night stands, you know that."

Callie made a strange coughing noise that sounded suspiciously like "Harry Styles!"

"Alright, apart from him," I sighed. "But that was different. And he was one of the main reasons it didn't get to that stage with Gary last night. I couldn't stop thinking about him, and I just kept wishing it was him I was kissing, not Gary."

"Are you really pissed off about Philippines girl?" Callie asked.

"Not pissed off, no," I said. "I'm just..." I faltered. What was I? I certainly wasn't angry with Harry. I was just upset at the thought of him with someone else. "I guess I'm jealous," I finally admitted. "I know he's not mine, but it just hurts that he'd jump into bed with someone else so soon after making out he's interested in me."

"I get it," Callie sympathised. "I'm sure I'd feel exactly the same. Shall we go for lunch tomorrow?"

We made arrangements, and after I put the phone down I ran a hot bath and spent an hour relaxing and trying unsuccessfully to take my mind off Harry.

When I got out, I put on the comfiest pair of sweat pants I could find, threw a hoodie on and began tidying the house. I heard a text come through as I was scrubbing the bathroom but couldn't be bothered getting it, so it was another hour before I pulled off my rubber gloves and went into the kitchen to check my messages. I picked my phone up and my breath caught in my throat.

1 new message from Harry Styles.

I quickly opened it.

From: Harry Styles: Hey you. Not heard from you in a while. How are things? x

My heart was pounding and my stomach was doing backflips. Harry was the last person I'd expected to text me. What the hell was I supposed to do now?

I put my phone on the table and made a cup of tea, pretending not to think about his text, but actually obsessing over every word. I took my mug and phone into the lounge and flicked the tv on, still pretending I wasn't bothered about the text. After about three seconds I threw the remote down and picked up my phone.

To: Harry Styles: Hi. Fine thanks, been busy. Heard about Zayn, that was a shock.

I made a point of not putting a kiss on the end.

From: Harry Styles: Yeah tell me about it. We're just about to start our first show without him in about half an hour, gonna be weird. So how come you never told me about your boyfriend? x

Errrr what?

To: Harry Styles: Hope it goes well tonight. What boyfriend?

From: Harry Styles: Have you been on Twitter recently? x

To: Harry Styles: This morning, yes. Are you talking about my brother? Or my work colleague?

From: Harry Styles: The one pushing you up against a wall and kissing you outside the tube station. He was in the picture you sent me last week x

Ah. He'd seen the pictures then.

To: Harry Styles: That's my friend Gary. We work together.

From: Harry Styles: Do you kiss all your friends in that way? ;) x

To: Harry Styles: Not usually. Only you ;) x

I put a kiss on the end of that one by mistake but decided to leave it on. I wasn't trying to be arsey with him but I knew I was coming across that way.

From: Harry Styles: You did a lot more than just kiss me ;) x

My stomach flipped over when I read that. I was trying really hard not to remember the feel of his lips against mine and his touch on my skin.

To: Harry Styles: I made a special exception for you x

From: Harry Styles: Only for me? x

I wasn't sure what he meant by that.

To: Harry Styles: ?

From: Harry Styles: Did you sleep with him? x

To: Harry Styles: Wtf? Personal question! No, I didn't, it was just a drunken kiss. Why do you ask?

From: Harry Styles: Just wondering. I'm glad you didn't x

To: Harry Styles: Why?

From: Harry Styles: Because I like you x

Oh Christ. Why was he saying this? I was trying hard to forget about him, I didn't need him encouraging my stupid feelings.

To: Harry Styles: Bet you say that to all the girls

From: Harry Styles: Only the ones I actually like x

To: Harry Styles: Like the blonde the other night?

Oh God, why did I say that? That wasn't cool. Was there a way to recall text messages?

From: Harry Styles: Not exactly. Are you pissed off? x

To: Harry Styles: No, it's none of my business, you can sleep with who you want

From: Harry Styles: I have to go, we're getting called. Are you free in a couple of hours? I'll text you after the show x

To: Harry Styles: I'll check my diary. Good luck x

Great. Now I had 2 hours to kill. There was no way I was sitting in clock-watching. I went into my bedroom and pulled on a pair of leggings, a pink crop top and pair of Nikes, pulled my hair up into a high ponytail and grabbed my iPod and front door key. I went down the stairs and out the front door, paused, switched my iPod on and scrolled down to One Direction. I selected Midnight Memories, hit play and started to jog as the opening bars of Best Song Ever began to play. I smiled, turned the volume up and increased my pace.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was out nearly two hours, and went through Midnight Memories, Four and part of Take Me Home. There was nothing like a bit of One Direction to put me in a good mood. I hadn't listened to their albums like this since meeting Harry, and I really enjoyed it. When I got back home I quickly jumped in the shower, even though it had only been a couple of hours since my bath. The run had cleared my head, got rid of my hangover and vastly improved my mood.

I changed back into my sweat pants and a strappy top, and went to make a cup of tea. As I was carrying my mug through to the lounge I heard my phone ringing over on the couch. I picked it up and nearly dropped it in shock. Harry was ringing me. I hesitated for a second. I hadn't prepared myself for this. I'd never spoken to him on the phone before. Be cool, Jess.

"Hello?" I answered, and it came out as a breathless squeak. I rolled my eyes. Great first start.

"Hey," came the sexy drawl. It sent a shiver down my spine.

"Who's this?" I said.

"It's Harry," came the reply, after a pause.

"Harry who?" I said. Why couldn't I just be serious for once in my life?

He finally caught on. "Harry Styles," he said, with a smile in his voice.

"From....?" I let the question hang.

"From One Direction," he said, still with the smile.

"Sorry, I think you have the wrong number," I teased. I could hear laughing in the background.

"Is this not Jess with the beautiful eyes and the soft lips?" he said, dropping his voice slightly. Oh God, I didn't have a comeback for that. My stomach did a few somersaults.

"Yeah ok, it's me," I mumbled.

"Don't start what you can't finish." Harry quoted my words back at me.

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered.

"Are you still pissed off with me?" Wow. Straight to the point.

"I never was pissed off with you," I said. "Why would I be?"

"Because of the girl you mentioned before."

"I told you, it's none of my business. We're both free agents. Were you pissed off when you thought I'd slept with Gary?"

"Yes."

Woah, what? My stomach did several more somersaults. I didn't know what to say.

"Was the other guy really your brother?" Harry asked after a moment.

"Have you been looking on Twitter?" I asked.

"I may have seen some pictures," he said slowly.

I sighed. "I went out with my brother last Saturday for lunch. It's him in the photographs. Someone obviously followed us, took pictures, jumped to conclusions and wrote a bunch of lies about us."

"Why didn't you post that picture of the two of you earlier?" Harry asked.

"It only occurred to me on Friday when I'd had a few drinks," I said. "Why does it matter anyway?"

"I thought he was your boyfriend or something," Harry said, after a moment.

"Gross," I muttered.

"Yeah well I thought maybe you were trying to give me the brush off before we left because you were already seeeing someone," he said. "So when the opportunity came up with a girl, I just went with it."

My heart was pounding as I processed his words.

"What are you saying?" I asked. "That you wouldn't have slept with her if you hadn't seen the pictures of me and Calvin?"

"I don't know," he said. "But I did see them, so there was nothing to stop me. Maybe I still would have anyway. I guess we'll never know."

"Why would it have stopped you?" I asked, my heart practically jumping out of my chest.

There was a pause. "I told you. I like you," he said.

Oh my God.

"When I saw your tweet about him being your brother it made me hope you'd posted that so I would see it," he continued, "and that made me think you might still be interested."

"It was more to stop the hate I was still getting," I said. "All your fans were hassling me, and then there was uproar when you were pictured with your blonde girl. I didn't want to confirm or deny the rumours about us, so putting up that picture of me and Calvin seemed to be the best way to shut them up."

"So how did you end up kissing your friend?" Harry asked.

I shifted uncomfortably. "You're not beating around the bush are you?"

"Sorry," he said.

"No it's fine," I said. "He broke up with his girlfriend yesterday so we all went out after work to cheer him up, and we both got really drunk and he kissed me and I didn't stop him straight away. That's all there is to it."

"Do you like him?" Harry asked.

"Not like that," I said. "He's a lovely guy but there's no attraction there."

"Looked pretty hot from the pictures," Harry persisted.

"Maybe it was for about a second," I conceded. "But I don't think either of us were really feeling it."

There was another pause. "So you're single then?"

"Yes, I'm single," I said.

"That's good to know," he said, and I could hear the smile back in his voice.

"Anyway, how was the show?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Weird," he said. "It was sad without Zayn there."

"Are you ok?" I asked softly.

"Yeah, I'm alright," he said. "The fans were great and we picked up his solos ok, considering it was last minute."

"When's he back?" I asked.

"End of the month," Harry said. "He's joining us in South Africa."

"So what are you doing tonight?" I asked.

"Probably just heading back to the hotel and crashing," Harry said. "None of us really feel like doing anything else to be honest."

"Where are you now?" I asked, surprised.

"Backstage," he answered. "I called you as soon as we'd finished."

"Oh I thought you'd be back at the hotel already," I said.

"The others have just gone," Harry said. "But I've been thinking about you all evening. I couldn't wait to speak to you."

"So you haven't even had a shower yet?" I laughed.

"No, I'm all sweaty," he chuckled.

"Sounds quite sexy," I murmured, more to myself than to Harry.

"Mmmm, you reckon?" he murmured back. "So am I going to see you again?"

"I don't know, are you?" I turned it back on him.

"I'd like to," he said.

"Maybe you will then," I said. "Let's see where we are in a few weeks."

"Ok," he said. "Can I text you in the meantime?"

"I suppose so," I said, my insides dancing a jig.

"Maybe I will then," he said.

"I can hear you smiling," I said without thinking. Oh God. That was lame, Jess.

"You make me smile," he said.

"I won't tell you what you do to me," I whispered.

"Why not?" he murmured.

"You know I like to keep you guessing," I teased.

"You definitely do that," he said. "It drives me crazy."

I smiled, and then he said, "I have to go. They're saying I need to get back to the hotel."

"Ok," I said. "Enjoy your evening."

"Not much left of it really," he said. "What are you doing?"

"I went for a run before so I'm pretty tired. I reckon I'll just slouch in front of the tv tonight," I said.

"Hmm, so you're all sweaty too?" he said.

I laughed. "No, I had a shower."

"I don't know which is better, imagining you sweaty or imagining you in the shower," he said.

"Both?" I suggested. "Imagine working up a sweat with me, then joining me in the shower." Yikes, that was bold.

He moaned softly. "What are you trying to do to me?"

"Don't start what you can't finish," I teased.

"Touché," he said. Then he paused. "I really have to go."

"Ok," I said.

"I'll text you," he said.

"I might reply," I teased.

He chuckled softly. "Bye Jess."

I ended the call and calmly put my phone on the arm of the sofa. Then I squealed louder than I have ever squealed in my life, rolled onto my back and kicked my legs in the air.

Thank God he couldn't see me now.