After saying goodbye to Louis, the last thing I wanted was a night out. My plan as I drove home from his house that afternoon was to have a hot bath, get into my pyjamas and veg out on the sofa with a huge bar of chocolate and relive the past month in my head, to ensure I never forgot even the tiniest detail of my encounter with Louis Tomlinson from One Direction. It felt like a long way down from Cloud Nine.

Callie, however, had other ideas. No sooner had I opened the door to my flat, with a multi-pack of Double Deckers in my hand, my phone rang.

"You coming to the Rose Garden tonight?" she asked, skipping any sort of greeting.

"No," I replied, not bothering to pretend to be vaguely interested. "I need to mope."

"Ugh," she scoffed. "That is the last thing you should be doing. Is Louis going to be moping around in Los Angeles? Of course he isn't," she answered herself. "He's going to be enjoying every second of his freedom, and therefore you should too."

"Callie, I really don't feel like it," I sighed.

"Just come for a couple of drinks," she pleaded. "I haven't seen you in forever. You've been so wrapped up in Louis these last few weeks, I've barely seen you."

I couldn't deny this was true.

"I haven't got anything to wear," I muttered.

"You don't need another new dress," she groaned exasperatedly. "It's just the Rose Garden! Jeans and a top will do. Get the tube and meet us there at eight."

"Us?" I echoed.

"Yeah, James and some of his work friends," she supplied, and I could hear the eye-roll in her voice. "I'm going to be bored out of my wits, so I need backup."

"Alright, alright," I groaned. "I'll come for one."

I tossed the Double Deckers on the kitchen table with a sigh, and spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning my flat before jumping into the shower just after six o'clock to get ready. I found myself with time to spare, and made extra effort with my eye makeup, and curled my hair into chunky waves, although I still wasn't in the mood for partying. I arrived at the Rose Garden just after eight o'clock and saw Callie standing by the bar with James and a few others, none of whom I knew.

Callie waved at me, and then pulled a face as I approached her.

"Fucking hell, Jess. Who died?"

"What do you mean?"

"You look miserable as sin."

"Sorry," I muttered.

"You need to forget about Louis bloody Tomlinson," she declared.

"I know," I sighed. "Get me a drink, will you?"

She gave me a one-armed hug. "That's my girl. We'll find you a new bloke by the end of the night."

"Great," I whispered.

James appeared next to Callie. "Hey Jess... woah, what's up with you?"

"Christ, do I look that bad?" I muttered.

"Well you look like someone just told you Christmas is cancelled," James said, raising an eyebrow at Callie.

"Or that Louis Tomlinson is halfway around the world, probably shagging some beanpole thanks to his new-found freedom," Callie explained.

I looked away and didn't respond. I didn't feel like going over my confusing feelings about Louis again. I got the impression Callie regarded this whole debacle as a silly fangirl crush, but I had felt strangely empty all afternoon and was beginning to regret my decision to call it quits with Louis. Which was ridiculous, considering I had known him for less than two months. So why was I feeling like I had made a huge mistake?

My gaze fell on two guys hurrying in through the front door, one with his head bowed and staring at the floor, in a strangely familiar gesture that I recognised from studying One Direction videos incessantly. He had long, dark hair that fell over his face, but his walk was so distinctive I felt my heart constrict and my stomach flip. Surely it couldn't be...

I looked at the other guy, and my blood ran cold. Nick Grimshaw, the Radio 1 DJ, was making his way towards us, staring past me and smiling at someone behind me. I flicked my eyes back to the first guy, knowing full well who it was but unable to believe it. I quickly turned my back on them both as they approached, taking a sharp intake of breath that almost made me choke.

"Jesus fucking Christ," I hissed at Callie.

"What?" she asked, loudly.

"Harry...," I began, and then lowered my voice. "Harry fucking Styles just walked in," I croaked. "He's with Nick Grimshaw from Radio 1, and they're heading this way. Oh God, I don't think I can cope."

Before Callie could answer, I heard Nick's voice right behind me. "Matt!" he boomed. "Great to see you! How are we all? Oops, sorry hun," he apologised as he reached to shake the hand of one of James' friends, and accidentally knocked my arm.

My face on fire, I looked up quickly. "It's fine," I muttered, avoiding eye contact and letting my hair fall across my face. I wasn't ready to talk to Harry Styles again. I was totally off guard, and now my legs were physically trembling. Callie was staring at me curiously. Then - 

"Jess?"

Oh God. That voice. That voice, saying my name. I was about to die all over again.

I plastered a smile on my face and turned round to see Harry Styles leaning towards me, a confused frown on his face which then changed to a smile of recognition as I met his gaze.

Oh God. Those eyes. Those eyes, staring into mine. I love death.

"I thought it was you!" Harry beamed. "What are you doing here?!"

"Not stalking you," I joked stupidly, but of course I sounded like I had swallowed a helium balloon, so this came out hurried and nervous, which only made it seem like stalking him was exactly what I was doing. "I'm joking," I added hastily. "Honestly. I had no idea you would be here. I thought you were still in LA. I'm not a crazy fan or anything, I promise."

Callie kicked me sharply, and brought me to my senses long enough to snap out of my hysterical babble, as all the while Harry stared at me with an amused expression on his face.

"Are you sure you're not a little bit crazy?" he teased, tilting his head to the side and wrinkling his nose playfully.

Oh God. 

"I, er..., ha ha," I laughed nervously, and wanted to face palm. 

"How are you?" Harry asked, politely ignoring my incapacity, and I took a deep breath and tore my gaze away from his. 

Big mistake. This enabled me to see the rest of him, which tonight comprised of a pale yellow shirt unbuttoned half way down his chest, black skinny jeans and chelsea boots. I stared at the line between his pectoral muscles, and swallowed hard.

"Um, fine thank you," I squeaked. "How about you?" 

Stop staring at his chest! I mentally screamed at myself.

I blinked and looked away from his smooth skin to stare at his lips instead as he replied, "Not too bad. You're right - I was in LA. But I've finished over there now, and I'm back to spend a bit of time with my family before we start touring again in a few weeks."

His hair was nestling in the crook of his neck; soft curls tumbling over his collarbone and shining under the dim lights of the bar. I wanted to reach out and brush them away with my fingers. What the hell was wrong with me?

"So, are you missing Louis?" he asked.

"She dumped Louis," Callie explained, peering round me to address Harry. "And now she's regretting it, although she would never admit it."

"You dumped Louis?" Harry repeated, raising his eyebrows and looking back and forth between me and Callie. "He kept that one quiet."

"I didn't exactly dump him," I argued, finally pulling myself together. "We were never official. And he's in LA... as you probably already know," I finished, feeling heat rise in my cheeks again.

"Not official eh? That's not what I heard," Harry teased, grinning delightfully and sending the heat in my face coursing through the rest of my body. 

"What... what did you hear?" I stumbled, and he gave me a coy look.

"Now, that would be telling."

"Obviously," I quipped, and he looked momentarily thrown by my retort, before breaking into a different smile; one that showed his dimples, and deepened the colour in his cheeks. He almost looked as though he was blushing. If this were a corny film, a sunbeam would have shone down on him from above, and angels would be singing in the background.

James appeared at my side and handed me and Callie a glass of prosecco each. "Shall we get a table?" he asked, and I wanted to scream at the interruption. I didn't want to stop talking to Harry about Louis, even if I was embarrassing myself beyond belief. Being in Harry's company was like nothing I had ever experienced. He had the ability to make you feel as though you were the only person in the room, like you were the centre of his universe at that precise moment. He made you feel on top of the world.

"Yeah, let's sit down," Grimmy said, jolting me out of my trance. I snapped my head up to look at him, and Callie and I exchanged looks of wide-eyed disbelief as James, Grimmy and Harry walked off together towards a table.

"Are they... are they with us tonight?" I murmured to Callie.

"I think they are," she said faintly.

Harry turned round and looked back towards us. "Coming?" he asked, looking directly at me.

"I think she's close," Callie quipped, and Harry chuckled as he led the way to a table and pulled a chair out for me.

"Oh - thanks," I stammered in surprise, as Callie pulled out her own chair next to mine, leaning forward to murmur in my ear.

"Oh my God he so fancies you."

"Fuck off," I muttered back.

"I'm telling you."

"You're wrong."

"I'm never wrong."

"Not a bad little place, this," Harry remarked, smiling at me and Callie, seemingly oblivious to our exchange.

"I'm surprised you haven't been mobbed," I admitted, looking around the room at the crowds of people apparently unaware, or uninterested, that Harry Styles was in their midst.

"It's easier than you think to stay under the radar when you choose quiet little bars like this," he replied. "It would be a different story if I went clubbing in Soho."

"Is that why you don't do that?" I asked, before I could stop myself, and he smiled.

"Yep. I still go out, I just prefer intimate restaurants and bars to high profile clubs."

"Me too," I admitted. "Clubbing isn't really my thing either."

"Then what on earth are you doing with Louis?" he grinned.

"She's not with him - she dumped him remember?" Callie grinned back.

"I didn't dump him!" I insisted, as Callie and Harry both chuckled.

"OK, so I have to ask... why did you dump him?" Harry asked. "Was it his chavvy dress sense? His abominable taste in music?"

He caught sight of my face and his expression suddenly dropped. "Sorry," he added. "I'm not trying to pry into private stuff. I'm just teasing you."

"I was afraid of getting hurt," I blurted.

There was a moment of silence as both Callie and Harry stared at me.

"Oh," said Harry.

"I just didn't think the timing was right for either of us," I continued, as my mouth ran away with me, unable to stop. "He's fresh out of a long-term relationship, he's over in LA for the next month, and then you're all off on tour until the end of October. It would be impossible to take things anywhere, because he isn't going to be here. So I suggested we put it on hold indefinitely, until we're in a position to pick it up again, if we both want to."

Harry nodded slowly. "I suppose that makes sense."

"Does it?" I demanded. "I'm beginning to think I've been a complete idiot."

"You're not an idiot," Callie put in. "You're the most level headed person I know."

"And that's not always a good thing," I sighed.

"It's good where Louis is concerned," Harry mused. "He has a tendency to jump into things feet first, without considering the consequences. He gets himself into trouble sometimes because he just lives in the moment. A bit of balance would do him good."

"We're talking like I'm still involved with him," I remarked. "And I'm not. I need to get him out of my head while he's away. I can't be mooning over him, waiting on tenterhooks for him to text me when it might never happen."

"I think you're underestimating yourself," Harry remarked. "However hotheaded Louis can be, the one thing he isn't is a cheat. He was faithful to his ex-girlfriend the whole time they were together, and he had plenty of opportunities to stray."

"You would say that - you're his friend," I interrupted, flatly.

"I appreciate what you're saying about the timing of it all," he continued. "But don't be surprised when Louis calls you at the first opportunity he gets."

"Really?" I said, softly.

"Of course," he replied, smiling at me and reducing my bones to jelly again. "Why wouldn't he? You're absolutely stunning."

My breath caught in my throat and Callie nudged me with her foot under the table, a mild told-you-so expression flitting across her face.

Harry cleared his throat and looked away, suddenly interested in the collection of empty glasses on the table top. 

"Thank you," I squeaked, my face now on fire, and he looked back at me briefly and gave me a shy smile. (I wanted to slither into a hot mess on the floor beneath my chair.) 

"So are you and Grimmy here with us for the evening?" Callie asked.

"Yep," Harry nodded. "He was coming to meet his friend Matt - that guy over there in the green tshirt." He indicated across the table. "He asked if I wanted to tag along for the ride. Imagine my surprise when I saw you here." He looked back at me again and grinned.

"Believe me, I was more surprised to see you," I said, stupidly, and then cringed. Would I ever be able to speak to him like a normal person?

He smirked, and looked down at the table. "Yeah, you did look a little unnerved when you saw me. I wondered if it was because I know Louis."

"Or because you're Harry Styles from One Direction, and Jess is a ridiculously big fan," Callie grinned. "So tell me Harry: are you single, married, gay...?"

"Single," Harry replied, casting an amused look at Callie. "You?"

"I'm with James." She hooked a thumb to her left, indicating to James who was deep in conversation with a guy wearing thick black glasses and a navy paisley shirt, and there was a moment of silence.

"Yeah, it's sort of difficult to keep a relationship going when you're not in one place very long," Harry said, with a faintly wistful tone. "I don't know how Louis managed it. I never have."

"You've never done the long term thing?" I asked, before I could stop myself. Instantly I felt stupid. I didn't mean to ask such a personal question, but it seemed my mouth had a mind of its own tonight, and was intent on embarrassing me.

Harry didn't seem fazed however, and hesitated only a split second before answering. "Not really. My last relationship ended in February, just before we started the tour."

He sounded sad about this, and the words were out of my mouth before I could catch them. "Your choice, or hers?"

Oh God. When would I learn?

"Hers," he answered, looking up at me with a serious expression. "She didn't trust me to go on tour and stay faithful." He gave an ironic smile. "Funny that, considering what we've just been saying about Louis."

"I'm sorry," I said, feeling stupid and conspicuous.

"It's fine. Just don't go telling the media," he joked. "Although there have already been reports detailing Nadine's lack of trust in me. So someone got there already."

"That must be annoying," I said, feeling my stomach flip over at Harry's acknowledgement of his relationship with Nadine Leopold. As far as I knew, it had never been officially confirmed.

He shrugged. "I do my best to keep my life private, but you'd be amazed at how many people leak shit to the press."

"Well I wouldn't do that," I said quickly. The last thing I wanted him to think was that I would go shooting my mouth off to a reporter.

"Of course not," he said. "You would have done that already to Louis, if that was your intention."

His cynicism was blatant.

"Does that happen often?" I asked, curiously.

"I've learnt to spot the fame-seekers, for the most part," he said darkly. "But every now and then one slips through the net."

I wasn't sure how to respond to this, so I kept quiet.

"So," he continued, "if Louis texts you, are you going to reply?"

Callie nudged me under the table with her foot, her face a picture of innocence and serenity. I ignored her. "Who knows?" I shrugged. "Depends when and if that happens. I could meet the man of my dreams tonight."

Callie snorted. "Ironic."

I kicked her.

"So you're not going to tell me if you're into him, then?" Harry persisted.

"What's it to you anyway?" Callie smirked, knowingly.

"Just looking out for a friend," Harry responded, smoothly.

"Right," Callie muttered under her breath.

"Anyone want some more prosecco?" I asked loudly, standing up and pushing my chair back behind me so the legs scraped across the tiled floor noisily.

"I'll share another bottle with you," Callie volunteered, while Harry shook his head, and I nodded before making my way through the crowd back to the bar, my heart pounding and my head swimming.

I hadn't even finished my drink, but I needed a breather from the intensity of Harry's stare and Callie's embarrassing and pointed comments. I had to wait a few minutes to be served, and eventually gave the bartender my order and waited while he fetched a bottle out of the fridge behind him, alomg with two clean champagne flutes. I tried not to think about Harry's eyes, or Harry's smile, or Harry's chest, but failed miserably and thought non-stop about all three while my card was swiped through the machine.

"Your friend is intense isn't she," said a slow, deep voice in my ear, causing me to jump out of my skin and drop my debit card on the countertop. I was thankful I hadn't yet reached for the now-open bottle of prosecco in front of me, as it would have ended up all over Harry.

"Just ignore Callie," I squeaked, picking up my card again and trying to ram it back in my purse, while juggling my phone in one hand and nervously tucking my hair behind my ear with the other. "She's about as subtle as a brick."

"So I gathered," Harry smiled, his eyes twinkling and his dimple deepening. 

I tried to mask my shaky intake of breath, but probably failed miserably. "Are you sure I can't get you a drink?" I gabbled.

"No, I'll get it," he said.

"Don't be silly," I said firmly, setting my phone down and waving the bartender over again to place Harry's order. 

"See, I would have had to wait ages to be served," he remarked. "Why do pretty girls always get served first? It's unfair on us poor blokes."

"I don't think you're exactly lacking in the looks department," I retorted, and then slapped my hand across my mouth in humiliation. "What I mean is, if it were a girl serving, you'd be straight at the front of the queue," I corrected myself, before realising I was just digging myself in deeper.

Harry just surveyed me with amusement and chuckled softly. "You're very jittery aren't you?" he teased.

"Thanks for pointing that out," I muttered dryly, as his drink arrived and I handed it to him and the server swiped my card again. 

"Thanks for the drink," he smiled. "You didn't have to."

"You're welcome," I smiled back, my stomach somersaulting again. "I wanted to."

Harry held out his arm in an 'after-you' gesture, and I stepped in front of him to cross the room towards our table. His hand lightly touched the small of my back to guide me, and a tingle ran down my spine in response. I felt like a giddy teenager with a crush.

"Where have you been?" Grimmy asked, looking back and forth between us as we sat down.

"Just to the bar," Harry replied, indicating to his glass of red wine.

"But you've got a full glass there," Grimmy said in confusion, pointing to a glass on the table in front of where Harry was sitting.

"That's yours," Harry said quickly, pushing it towards Grimmy who was now looking back and forth between said glass of wine and his own full bottle of beer with even more confusion. Callie smirked triumphantly down at the table top.

"I said we'd meet Fifi in about an hour," Grimmy said to Harry. "I thought we could have a few drinks here and then go on?"

"Yeah, whatever," Harry nodded, and then turned back to me and Callie. "So, Jess, how's the world of credit insurance?"

"Fine thanks," I said, surprised he had remembered what I did for a living.

"You sound a bit... insure," he said, barely able to contain his grin as I groaned.

"How long have you been waiting to crack that joke?" I asked.

"Since the day I met you at Louis' house," he admitted.

"Have you got any more up your sleeve?" 

He gave me a look of mock affront. "No! Give me some... credit. Haha!"

"Oh God," I moaned. "I feel like I've opened a can of worms."

"Would you say I'm a liability?" 

He slapped his own thigh and barked a laugh.

"You know, you really shouldn't laugh at your own jokes," I grinned, beginning to chuckle at his mirth.

"There's no accounting for taste," he winked, and I laughed out loud at this one.

"You can't claim that," I attempted, and he stared at me silently with a straight face. I felt my cheeks reddening, until I caught sight of his nostrils flaring in an attempt to hold in a laugh, and then I glared at him.

"Don't be a shit," I told him, and he threw his head back and laughed. 

"Sorry," he apologised, holding his hands up in surrender. "I won't risk another pun."

I rolled my eyes, but couldn't stop the corners of my mouth twitching as he waggled both his index fingers and muttered, "badum-tsss."

Callie watched us with a knowing smile. "You don't know how much Jess is loving this," she told Harry. "She's a massive nerd. She's secretly digging this jargon-humour."

"There's nothing nerdy about insurance," Harry said, seriously. "It's a complicated business."

"Thank you!" I said triumphantly, turning to Callie. "See?! Someone else understands."

"Whatever gets you through the night," she said wickedly.

It was almost ten thirty when Grimmy leaned over to us, his phone in his hand. "Harry, shall we get going? Fifi and the others are in Lagoon, waiting for us. I'm gonna call a taxi now."

"Oh, right, yeah," Harry said, turning to me and Callie. "Are you guys coming with us?"

Callie shook her head. "I'm with James, and I think he's staying here. You go if you want, Jess."

Harry looked at me expectantly as my stomach lurched and I stared back at him, and then at Callie. "I - I'd better stay here," I stammered.

"Why?" she asked. "I think we'll be finishing up in an hour or so. Go and enjoy yourself."

I swallowed hard, my heart now banging in my chest. Harry gazed at me, waiting for me to answer. My tongue felt stuck to the roof of my mouth. I was completely torn.

"Come on," he smiled. "Come to Lagoon with us for a bit. I'll see you home safely afterwards. My driver can drop you off wherever you want."

"No, it's fine, I'll stay with Callie," I heard myself say. "I'm almost ready to call it a night, anyway."

Callie stared at me in disbelief. "Jess - it's only half ten."

"I know, but it's been a busy week," I told her. "I'll share a cab with you and James."

"If you're sure," she shrugged, and Harry looked away and nodded at Grimmy.

They stood up and said their goodbyes to the others, and then Harry turned to me as Grimmy headed towards the door. 

"Are you sure I can't tempt you to join us for a couple in Lagoon?" he asked, leaning in to speak in my ear. The vibrations from his voice sent goosebumps down my neck.

"Quite sure," I nodded nervously, afraid to turn my head to look at him as his face was only inches from mine.

"OK," he replied. "Well it was really lovely seeing you again. And if Louis has any sense, he'll text you and I'll end up seeing you again very soon."

"Maybe," I said coyly, because I hadn't a clue what else to say when Harry Styles from One Direction was this close to me, giving me the most sultry, seductive look I had ever seen. He leaned towards me again and gave me a gentle kiss on the cheek, and I struggled to contain a shiver.

"Take care, Jess," he said softly.

"You too," I squeaked. "Nice seeing you again."

I watched as he walked out the door with Grimmy, pausing to look back and smile at me before disappearing onto the street.

"Why the fuck didn't you go with him?" Callie's voice demanded in my ear, jolting me out of my trance. "He's so obviously into you! Are you insane?!"

"Don't be ridiculous," I scoffed. "He wouldn't look twice at me in a million years. He could have anyone he wants. And I've been seeing one of his best mates. I'm sure that goes against the bro code, or whatever they call it. He doesn't seem the type to betray a friend."

"Hmmm." Callie looked at me through narrowed eyes. "Bro code or not, he was flirting with you and staring at you all evening. And he invited you out with all his friends. He obviously wanted you there."

"I don't even know him!" I protested. "It would have been really weird. Not to mention a bit unfair on Louis. I turned him down because he was going off touring for the rest of the year. I couldn't exactly accept an invitation from his bandmate could I?!"

"Why not, if you're adamant Harry's intentions were innocent?" Callie fired back immediately, with the air of someone who had just played the winning card.

"Because it wouldn't have been the right thing to do," I answered firmly. I turned away from her to indicate the conversation was closed, and stared at the door after Harry and Grimmy. 

I couldn't admit to her that it had taken everything I had to turn down Harry's invitation, and my inner fangirl was lying face down on the floor kicking and screaming at the opportunity that I had just passed up. But ultimately my feelings for Louis were still unresolved, and I knew full well that spending time with Harry, albeit innocently, would not help me gain any clarity. My life over the past couple of months had been a tumultuous whirlwind, and I knew that right now I just needed time to breathe. I wasn't even sure I would hear from Louis again, and I didn't want to confuse the issue further by hanging out with Harry.

But I was about to learn that fate had a funny way of twisting my world upside down.

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