After walking Odette home, we agreed that I would come and visit her in work - considering she visits me almost everyday, I'd like to know what she does and what she wants to achieve in life. I'm sorry if that sounds cheesy but it's true, you know when you really like someone and you would do anything to spend as much time with them as you can? Well that's what's happening here.

The walk home felt long, we talked about everything and anything, just getting to know one another. As you do.

The lads came over a few hours ago, they decided my apartment for tonight and Niall's for tomorrow night. I love the fact that we sleep at each other's apartments, it's like a lads night in but every night. I mean we don't really do anything extravagant, we just mess about and do stupid things like pull pranks on each other. But it's great having four mates like them.

I'm wondering what it's going to be like at Odette's work tomorrow, I mean I don't really know what to expect although I'm rather excited. It's another area of her life that I can learn about, it's another part of her mystery that I'm revealing, and I smile automatically at the thought of it.

Although, at the same time I'm nervous. Who knows what I might see, or who I might meet. Oh god, I hope I don't meet a jealous ex-boyfriend or her really attractive boss that I'm going to have to keep her away from.

"Harry!" A familiar Irish voice pulls me from my intent thoughts and my eyes scan wondrously around the room, the four familiar faces of my friends looking at me expectantly.

"Sorry, what did you say?" I ask shaking my head from me previous thoughts.

I watch Zayn roll his eyes with a smirk, "nothing mate." He chuckles along with the others. My wandering thoughts are nothing new to the group nowadays, it's apparent what - or should I say who - I'm thinking about. I just can't get her off my mind.

"Sorry guys." I reply honestly, I do feel bad for them having to listen to my constant rambling about Odette; although every time I apologise, they wave it off and chuckle. It reminds me of when they all first met their girlfriends, I think that's why they let me go on and on, because I had to sit and listen them when they went through this stage of first attraction.

"Tell us what's on your mind mate." Liam speaks, trying to ease my mind of it's problems and probing questions. I don't really like annoying them with things like this, I should be able to make these decisions on my own, but this time I just don't know.

"Do you guys think I should ask Odette out? Like on a date?" I question them, speaking aloud my wandering thoughts. Hopefully they'll be able to give me some constructive advice, because at the minute, I have no idea what to do about it. "Or is it too soon? I don't want to rush her-"

"Harry! Relax!" Louis chuckles at my scattered behaviour. "You guys see each other almost every day, personally I think you should." He shrugs, his ocean blue eyes conveying the honesty in his words.

"Yeah Harry, it's obvious that you like her, so go for it." Liam includes.

"And even if she says no, you can still be friends until she feels ready to be in a relationship." I suppose they're all right, I don't really want to lose the relationship I currently have with Odette and if it means I have to wait for something more, then I will.

But how do I ask her? I have no idea, I suppose I haven't really thought this all through very well; I don't want to look stupid in front of her but I'm clueless - she isn't like any other girl I've met before. She's pure, and caring, and innocent, she could accomplish anything if she put her mind to it and she values everything that she has. She doesn't wear short skirts or low cut tops, she's a lady and that's what I respect.

My head softly nods towards the lads, taking in their words of wisdom. They all notice my mind wandering off again and decide to put a film on, they know how to save me from myself, from my own worrying mind. "So how's the sign language coming along?" Zayn asks me, his eyes focused purely on the tv although I know that I'm the one his question is aimed at.

"It's going great I guess. I learned a lot yesterday, and I keep watching videos on the internet to learn more. I'm getting there." I inform them all, they like the fact that I'm learning sign language. Having lived in this building for the last three years, I think they're the only ones that actually attempted a conversation with Odette; and considering their girlfriends are close friends with her, I suppose they started to see her a lot more.

"Can you understand simple sentences yet?" Niall adds, his large hand dug deep into the bowl of salted crisps that lies in his lap.

"Yeah, I can. We can have a conversation; although, I do have to think over a few signs, but I'll get used to it sooner or later. She mimes a lot to help me." I watch the screen as the protagonist character begins to narrate.

"Good, make sure that you keep it up, it must be nice for her having someone to talk to that lives so close by." Niall's words really imprint themselves in my head, because it's true. After three years in this building, the same amount of time as the lads, she's only befriended the lads and their girlfriends, and Amy of course.

I hope he's right and that she enjoys talking to me, I hope that when we finish having a signing lesson or when she finishes helping me with my work, that she leaves with a permanent smile on her face. I hope that I'm worth her time and that she enjoys my company, because I certainly enjoy hers.

•••

The lads left early this morning for work, hopping into their cars and heading to their individual jobs. I, however, am spending my day at Odette's work. Which reminds me, I don't actually know what she does.

After showering and getting dressed, I climb the stairs from the second floor and to the third - where mine and Odette's apartments are. I actually feel a little bit nervous, and I have no idea why, maybe it's because I don't know what to expect.

Yeah, I'm going to go with that.

My index finger presses lightly to the doorbell and I wait for her to answer. My hands are clasped loosely behind my back and my feet are together. My heads falls and I glance over my outfit one final time, I decided to go for smart casual this morning; therefore I am wearing black skinny jeans, a white shirt tucked in and some plain black boots. I hope it's okay.

Her door opens slowly, only to reveal Odette wearing a red pencil skirt and a white lace top, with nude coloured suede heels that give her height and red lipstick which makes it almost impossible for me to resist. "Hey," I utter breathlessly, the vision of her lips on mine taking me slightly away from reality.

Odette's small hand gives me a shy wave and she walks towards me, closing the apartment door behind her. 'Come on' she signs to me, a small blush on her cheeks with a coy smile dancing on her lips.

"So what do you actually do?" I ask her as we descend the stairs. It's a familiar route for me now, walking through the apartment halls and down towards the car park. Odette's hands work in front of us, my eyes trained on them solely; she has started to sign more in my presence instead of acting out her words like she had to when we first met.

She thought it would be easier for me to learn if I had to decider through actually signing, so that's what she's doing.

I watch carefully at the way her hands move intricately, every movement meaning something different. I furrow my eyebrows in confusion, I get mixed up on a few words. "You have three dogs?" I ask in confusion, this can't be right.

She shakes her head and giggles at my question, signing the final word that I was stuck on and miming along to help me. 'Jobs!'

"Oh, jobs! See that makes more sense." I laugh. I'm so embarrassing, why didn't I guess that?

Her small hand rests on my bicep in reassurance, her touch giving me electronic shivers that pass through my arm and making a shy smile erupt on my features.

Our car journey consists of small conversations and giggling - on Odette's part - as we drive into the more populated part of the city, considering we live in a small village. Not long after, we pull up outside a tall building which I assume is Odette's work. "So what are your three jobs then?" I ask.

'One, is I teach sign language to children at the library.' She signs slowly and carefully for me, making it easier to understand.

"Okay, next one?"

'I write a blog.'

"Cool, what's it about?"

'Whatever I like; it could be fashion, food, advice, travel. Anything really.' Her smile erupts, I can tell she loves what she does.

"And the third one?" I ask as her eyes train on my lips whilst we walk into the building.

'You'll have to wait and see.' She chuckles to herself, obviously because we're in the building of her third job.

I follow behind her like a lost puppy, my tall figure towering over hers as I watch her walk in front of me. Her body moves perfectly as she walks, with her hips swaying and her back straight as it should be. She takes me into the lift and up to the fifth floor, walking into an open room with multiple office desks everywhere and large glass windows that stretch from the floor to the ceiling - looking out over an incredible view of the busy city streets.

I glance around the grey room as we walk in, watching as some people sit at their desks, eyes trained to their computer screens as they work. Several canvases hang from the walls to add colour into the dull room, all the employees being friendly and sending us welcome smiles as we walk in further.

I'm sure I look completely confused and out of place, whereas they smile anyway out of politeness. "Hey sweetie!" A feminine voice sounds as a girl scurries over to us, her arms wide as she engulfs Odette into a hug. Odette simply smiles in response, her eyes lighting up as she recognises the girl.

"Hey mate, you must be Harry." A strong voice offers, his hand resting casually on my shoulder whilst his other hand shakes mine firmly.

My eyebrows furrow in confusion, I have no idea who this man is, so how does he know me? "Yeah, Harry Styles."

"I'm Ben Worth. I work here alongside Odette, she's told us a lot about you." He whispers the latter and I try not to make my blush too noticeable. Stop acting like a teenage girl Harry and be a man! My inner monologue scolds.

"Well it's nice to meet you man," I let his hand go from our firm grip. He must be one of Odette's friends, she wouldn't have told a perfectly good stranger about her random neighbour. "So have you worked with Odette for long?"

"Three years, I was the one who showed her around when she first started here. We've been close friends ever since, although I treat her like a sister." That's good to hear, at least I know that I don't need to worry about any other guy stealing her heart.

"You must be Harry, I'm Lucy Nichols, Odette's best friend. She's told us so much about you, it's a pleasure to finally meet you." The copper haired girl smiles, her grin enthusiastic as she sticks her arm out for me to shake.

"You too," I chuckle back in my deep husky tone. "I hope it's all good things."

"Oh yeah, she always tells us how hot you are and how much she li-" I send a smirk over to Odette as her hand slaps Lucy's arm abruptly, ordering her to stop her sentence and sending her death glares afterwards. "Anyway," Lucy changes the subject, "we have things to do and people to talk about." Lucy sends me a wink whilst she takes a firm grip on Odette's arm and pulls her out of our sight.

"Excuse my girlfriend, she's easily excitable." Ben smiles and rolls his eyes at Lucy's previous behaviour. She's harmless really, very quirky and bubbly; it's quite refreshing actually.

"It's perfectly fine." I smile, following him down to a couch on the other side of the room, the large cream object facing the open city view.

"So you like Odette huh?" He asks, I feel like a schoolboy who has been told to go to the head teachers office, like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. I certainty wasn't expecting that.

Ben's demeanour is friendly, although he can be quite protective also; in all honesty I understand his concern, he has known Odette for three years and is close friends with her - he is the only constant male figure she has in her life, so I understand why he is curious.

A quick sigh escapes my smiling lips, "yeah I do." I tell him honestly, I get the feeling that he's very loyal and I trust that he won't tell Odette this, "but I don't know-"

"If she likes you back?" Ben interrupts and reads my thoughts. I nod at his words; it's true, Odette is a complete mystery and I can't read her like I can read other people. "Listen, in the three years that I've known Odette she's never dated anyone. I've been cautious with everyone that has shown an interest in her, and you won't be any different."

"I understand, and I respect that she has someone like you to look out for her; but I can promise you now, that I'm not going to break her heart. I've never been so interested in someone in my entire life. She's just different." I attempt to reason with him, I completely understand his position and I hope he realises that I don't want her to get hurt and I'll do anything to prevent that from happening, even if it means getting hurt myself.

"You're different Harry." He tells me honestly, facing forward and staring out of the window.

"How so?"

"You're the only guy that cares about the girl on the inside and not just on the outside, you're the only guy that has been willing to learn an entirely new form of communication just to talk to her and you're the only guy that she has brought to meet me and Lucy. You're different man, and I like that." Ben smiles warmly towards me.

"I just want to know everything about her, you know?" I chuckle at my own words, I need to stop sounding like a teenage girl.

"I was like that when I first met her too, she's extremely intriguing and after time she told me everything about her; her family history, why she moved here, stuff like that. But her past wasn't easy, and it's hard for her to talk about so you have to respect her privacy and give her time. She'll tell you eventually."

I can't help but allow my mind to wander to all of the different possibilities there might be. Ben said that she's had a rough past, and that means that her mysteriousness will take time to unfold. "So what made her trust you?" I ask him inquisitively, trying my best not to sound rude or abrupt.

"I had a girlfriend. I've been with Lucy for four years so I've always been just a friend to Odette, nothing more and nothing less." He answers honestly.

"So she doesn't trust guys? Did someone hurt her?" Anger rises in my body at the thought of any guy treating her badly, that's not something she deserves and if I find out that she's been hurt I'll hunt the guy down.

"Harry!" Bens voice pulls me from my somewhat raging thoughts with a knowing smile, "calm down. No-one hurt her." He soothes, his hand resting on my shoulder again, just as it did before.

"Sorry, I just-"

"It's okay mate, I understand. You remind me a little bit of myself," he smirks, "I like the thought of Odette hanging around someone protective, it makes me feel more at ease knowing that she's being looked after."

I chuckle at his words considering that's exactly how I feel, "thanks."

"She likes you Harry." He tells me in all seriousness. "And I know she isn't very good at showing it, but she does. You should ask her out." Bens soft voice utters casually. Is he giving me his consent? "Yes I am." He laughs, obviously knowing that comment wasn't supposed to escape my lips.

"I don't know how to ask her. She deserves something perfect but I just can't think of anything." I ramble on.

"Odette is very old fashioned. She likes the simple things, so don't do anything extravagant." He advises me, his words of wisdom coming in highly useful for my predicament.

"Can I ask you one last thing?" My voice remains soft, I don't want to him to feel like I'm annoying him or pestering him.

"Sure."

"How do you get hugs from her? She seems really closed off." I propose, that's something I've noticed about Odette, she never really hugs; she gives you a simple and shy wave when you say goodbye, nothing more and nothing less.

I feel stupid as I hear Bens chuckle, clearly finding my words humorous. "I had the exact same thing when I first met her." He smiles making me do the same. I like Ben because he is welcome to help me when it comes to Odette, his advice is brilliant and I'm hoping I can go to him if I ever need to in future.

"So what did you do?" I ask.

"Just steal hugs. She loves it."

__________________________

What do you guys think of Ben and Lucy? How do you think Harry will ask Odette out?

Comment and vote please! Thank you :)

- Pianogirl56