Next day

Bella's pov

Finally college ended. Today was really hectic, Susan kept on asking me questions about yesterday, she even involved Stacy in this.

I don't know why can't they understand , I'm better off without talking about that.

Yesterday was really hard for me to pass. That moment kept on playing in my head, the feeling of being lied to was really devastating. I even had to lie to Granny to stop asking any more questions.

I have never felt that way for no-one except him ! But turned out I didn't even know his real name ! Even if he had a valid reason for what he did then also I can't just forget everything.

The only way I could avoid this pain eroding in me was to just not think about it .I really wanted to go back home and just lay down on my bed but I had promised Gia.Therefore I'm going to meet her.

I decided not to take uber, and to go there walking. I really needed fresh air right now.I was relieved that there was little traffic and not hundreds of cars and people on the road. Her house was situated in old L.A, and it was a week day therefore it was no surprise that the streets were almost deserted.

I bent down to roll up my gean. I don't usually wear geans to college, I just don't feel really comfortable.

Nonetheless today was an exception. When today morning I opened my closet to take out a midi, everything from yesterday came flashing upon my mind I was being inclined to that pain and agony all over again. Hence I decided to go different today.

I sighed and continued walking, turning left I entered a deserted alley, there was literally not a single person there. I was the only living soul present there. Cool air rushed through me, giving me spooky vibes. There was nothing actually scary about the place except that there was no one else but my imaginary mind was the reason behind my downfall.

Not long after I began to feel someone's presence behind me, I really hoped it to be my hallucination but it felt too real.
Soon I heard the sound of a car moving, it seemed as if it was just behind me.

Maybe it was someone living in this area only. Maybe the person is not actually following me. Yeah that might be the case therefore I began to walk again. I was hoping it would stop at some point but ,no it was moving behind me.

When I stopped walking, I sensed the car's engine turn down.

Oh God! Now it was sure the person is after me.

"Oh Lord save me!" Was all I said before picking up a stick, thrown on the ground.

I held the stick tightly near my chest and began to calm myself down.

"Okay . Okay.....First of all who asked you to come here all alone can't you come with Sam? No you wanted to be alone, you wanted fresh air. Now see this is the result. Urgh....whatever , now I'm gonna fight ! Yes ! Whoever it is , is gonna get some good punches, even if he's a Russian Mafia leader with lots of advanced guns, I'm gonna fight him."

I heard the door closes, that means he came out of the car , he's coming for me.

I turned around , eyes closed and was ready to stab his face. When he held my both hands, I realized how miserably I failed.

When I opened my eyes, I was confused whether to be relieved or even more sacred, because it was Harold standing in front of me.

"You?" I said

I began to struggle to free myself from his grip, however it all went in vain as he only gripped harder but not ceasing to be gentle at the same time.

"Calm down. " he said. I did what he said , not having much of a choice with me.

"What..?" He said then took the stick from my hand and continued
"What were you doing with this?"

"Was going to stab your head." I replied real fast.

He laughed , hearing my answer.
HE HAD THE AUDACITY TO LAUGH?

I just glared at him with disinterest.

"You didn't think of facing your stalker with a stick . Did you." He asked evidently amused.

"Well this stick would be enough for me to deal with a hipster. " I said indicating at the stick.

"However if you don't believe I have no problem to show you physically. " I completed my threat.

"I'm on non-violence lane." He said raising his hand in defence and letting me free from his grip.

"Great...Now I'd like you to please let me go." I said and was about to resume walking when he held my upper arm.
"I want to talk to you." He said pleadingly.

"I am in no charge to fulfil your want." I instantly replied back.

He sighed and said "Bella...you really need to hear me out once. Please." His eyes held guilt and worry but I was determined and said.
"Says who? I don't have time right now I have to be somewhere. "

He slightly nodded and said
"Okay. Let me drop you then. "

"Are you being serious right now? How can you even think I'll go with you in your car?"

"Okay then you don't go with me. I'll go with you?"

"No need."

"Bella please try to understand this place doesn't seem to be so welcoming to roam about here alone."
He said while exploring the area.

"You're saying I can't take care of myself?" I asked implying my offence.

"No thats not what I said. " he said with a straight face.

"Thats what you meant. "

"Thats what you think . Anyways lets start moving I have to talk to you about something ."

"I don't want to talk to you. "

"Well...I'm in no charge to fulfil your want." He said with a ridiculous smirk on his face.

"So you'll force me?"

"No I'll just talk to you its your choice to listen or not."

I sighed out of frustration, rubbed my head and began to walk.

"You're going to meet Gia?" He asked amidst walking beside me.

"Don't act as you don't know, you've been following me till here."

"Believe me I didn't plan to follow you this way...I..just wanted to get a moment with you. When I reached your college, I saw you were going somewhere alone so..."

"Why are you doing this?" I asked him irritatedly , I couldn't handle him being so close to me , walking by my side.

"What?"

"You know what! Why are you after me don't you understand I don't want to talk to you? Don't you get it why I wasn't accepting any of your calls yesterday? Don't you understand why I don't want to go with you?I just don't want to be near you. "

I didn't realise I just blabbered what ever came to my mind without thinking about him. I instantly regretted that when I looked at him.

Hurt was clearly visible in his face.
He looked every where but me, trying to hide the emotions that were clearly visible in his eyes.

I so wished , I could take my words back.

But what was I supposed to do? What I said was indeed harsh but thats what I wanted right now, to stay away from him.

I took a deep breath and asked
"This.........was your 'Queer lil secret'?"
I didn't know why exactly I asked him that, I was the one who wanted to avoid any sort of conversation with him and now I was only initiating a conversation with him.

He stopped walking and nodded lightly "I should have told you before."

"Before what?" I asked him not sure what I expected from him before asking this question, but it definitely caught him off guard.

"Before...all this.." he couldn't give a proper answer. It was no surprise for me. This relation that we had was still unknown to both of us, we didn't know what to name it. However I really wanted to know what he thinks of this.

"Before we became so close.." after a long silence,he finally said it, but it scared me that he was right .

"Before you started to invade my thoughts......"
He continued, I could sense he was now no more scared to display what he was feeling, to speak out loud what he wanted to say with no filters.

But I wasn't ready for it. Maybe we accelerated a bit too quick that was not good for any of us.

"Before..." he was about to say more when I stopped him
"Say no more." I almost whispered. I couldn't help it, I had to stop him before things went to far that it would be impossible to come back.

He obeyed me and didn't say anything further. But I'm not sure if I feel glad about that, I don't know why some part of me wanted him to continue but a larger part in me was relieved.

"I'm...sorry I got carried away....I uh..."
He began to explain when said.
"It's okay." I assured him.

"Bella... believe me I wanted to tell you this long before but just....couldn't bring myself to...the situations got twisted and just one thing happened after another and......I know it doesn't explain anything but it is what it is and I am ready to accept any punishment you give me."

"I am no one to punish you."
I said slightly shaking my head.

"Not exactly,,, I lied to you about my identity, I kept you in dark for so long and what you did? You trusted me ."

As he said that, the moment when he asked me if I trust him replayed in my head and how blindly I said yes to him.

He was genuinely sorry, one could see in his eyes how sincerely upset he was. Though he didn't commit a big sin by lying to me. I mean I was just a stranger to him and he is a big singer , it was not a big deal of him not revealing his real identity to random strangers. But what hurts the most was, that he was the first boy I trusted, I crossed to many boundaries for him, I did things with him , I never thought I could do. I even developed some unknown feelings for him that I can't decipher but it feels so good to have a person like him in your life. That all just developed in such a less time. Just two months and it seems like we've come so far .

But turned out, it all started with a lie? What am supposed to do? Think it never happened and move on?Or never face him again? I'm in a dilemma.

"You earned it. As a person, from being who you are and not from what your name is." This brought a beaming smile on his face. I didn't know why exactly I said this but something in me wanted to console him so badly.

"But I don't know the person who earned my trust is the star singer Harry Styles or just Harold?" I questioned myself more than him, continuously staring at the ground.

"I am the same person Bella just the world pictured Harry Styles as a whole different person and he to started believing them . He too started to become the person the world pictured him to be but he was always the Harold you know. Its just that you revived him."

For the first time since this conversation I looked at him, straight in his eyes, with tears of compassion in my eyes.

There was some foreign emotion reflecting from his eyes. His eyes were glossy but had a pinch of hope in them.

" Stop confusing me!" I blurted out.

Actually I was confused wheather to remain angry on him or just forget everything and console him.

"Don't be confused, just close your eyes and listen to what your heart says as someone once told, 'the heart is always right'."

I did what he said and all I could sense was that my heart didn't want to leave him.
_________________________________________

AN

Hope you are enjoying the story.
Next chapter will be posted real quick.

Till then Happy Reading.
Xoxo.