PART ONE - âSometimes you are going to miss a person who was an almost to you. And feel sad because there is no name for that feeling. You just feel it in a way that makes you tired to your very bonesâ
The concert was very loud, but she was having a good time. She almost forgot that Nicole stood her up to go on a date, after making a huge case about how this was the concert of a lifetime and that she should get tickets with Jorge, the security guard at the venue she worked out with. She was really anxious at first, not being a fan of concerts in general, but it helped that Jorge was right in front of her, on the other side of the fence she was leaning against, and she could talk to him to distract herself from the screaming crowd behind her. It made it easier, as well, that the tiny blonde girl next to her was so entertaining. She had a lot of energy for someone so small, sure as hell screamed louder than anyone at the venue. She kept complementing Lori all night about her jacket. It was a pink satin bomber jacket. With black stripped cuffs and collar and a few embroidered details along the sleeves.
When Only Angel started, Lori couldnât help but rock it out. She just âfelt it outâ with the song, singing to Jorge and dancing with Aimee, the short girl. At the end of it, Lori closed her eyes and danced to herself, it was her favorite part of the song. Suddenly everyone got very loud around her, she felt a tug on her arm that made her open her eyes and look at Aimee. She was very excited about something pointing to the stage. Lori looks up and sees Harry right in front of them, singing. She could feel her cheeks burn, but didnât keep her from singing right back to him, since it was too dark for anyone to notice her anyway. Harry smiles and prances off to the other side of the stage and Aimee hugs Lori.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â HEâS SO FLUFFY!!!! â screams Aimee
Lori laughs. Aimee definitely reminded her of Agnes from Despicable Me, but with blonde curly hair.
Once the song is over, Lori ducks down to pick up the water bottles Jorge brought her to take a sip. She looks up at the stage, where Harry was now chatting with some fans, still crouching down, taking a sip of water. He looks over and squints at them.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Are you ok? â he said, trying to see them in the dark.
Lori, not realizing he was talking to her, just keeps staring, enjoying her water.
-         No? Yes? YouâŠon the floorâŠ.you need something? â he says pointing at Lori and Aimeeâs direction.
-         I think heâs talking to ya⊠ - says Aimee poking Lori on the shoulder.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Me? â she says pointing at herself.
Harry walks over to where they were.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Are you alright, love?
Lori jumps up, hitting her hand on the bar at the fence, making her water splash all over everyone around her.
Harry just stares at her, unfazed.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Are you ok? â he asks.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yes! Sorry. Yes!
She gives him a thumbs up, since it was obvious he couldnât hear her.
-         Thatâs my job, ya know? With the waterâŠdonât do it again.
Everyone laughs around her, while she stays silent, not quite understanding why. Harry starts to go back to the center of the stage and stops, turning around to face them again.
-         I splash you, yea? JustâŠya knowâŠif you steal my bit thenâŠ.ehmâŠwell my ego gets hurt and then I need to get louder to make up for it. â he says, gesturing with his hand.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Maybe you should get louder then.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Eh?!
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â MAYBE YOU SHOULD GET LOUDER! â she screams.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Get louder? â he says through a smirk.
Everyone at the venue screams.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Shouldnât be a problem, since your fly is open.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â What? â He says getting closer.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Your fly is open.
Harry frowns, takes another step closer and removes his ear monitor.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â YOUR. FLY. IS. OPEN. GELLER! â she says, trying her best to mimic with her hands the information.
He looks down and turns around to zip up his pants. He raises both hands to his face and rubs his left eye.
-         Sorry if anyone got an eyefulâŠGee! I was talking right to ya, why didnât ya let me know? â He says to another fan center front.
Lori smiles looking at the fans talking to him.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Canât believe he talked to us â Says Aimee, grabbing Loriâs arm.
-         I wouldâve rather not making a fool of myselfâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â You didnât!!!
Lori smiles, rubbing her right hand. Now that the rush of having to talk Harry passed, she realized it actually hurt a lot.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Thatâs a wonderful jacket by the way. â he says, trying to put the microphone on the stand.
She looks up at Harry pointing at her.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Oh, YES! I TOLD HER THAT â Says Aimee jumping up and down.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Great color. Where did you get that?
-         Ehm⊠- says Lori looking at her own jacket.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Can I have it? For a sec? â he says going in their direction again.
Lori looks around, trying to understand what was going on.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â You want my jacket? â she says, pointing at her own jacket.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yea â he says smiling cheek to cheek.
She looks at him for a second and ponders that Aimee would probably kill her if she denied Harry anything. So she takes the jacket off and hands it over to Jorge, who passes over to Harry. He takes and places in front of him with an impressed expression. He then walks over to the drums, puts the microphone between his legs, takes his suit off and puts the bomber jacket. Then takes the microphone on his hand, turns around with a giddy smile on his face and prances off, showing off the new acquisition.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I feel pretty! â He says to Mitch, that gives him a thumbs up.
He looks over at Adam and Sarah, both seemed pleased as well.
-         Oh, so prettyâŠ
Harry says, to the melody of âI Feel Prettyâ, from the West Side Story, which makes the entire audience cheer. He twirls around a bit while humming to the music. Then he finally stops, laughing, and walks back to Lori and Aimee, starting to remove the jacket. Lori raises her hand, stopping him from doing so.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Keep it.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â What? â He says halfway through taking the jacket off.
-         KEEP IT. YOU LOOK BETTER WITH IT ANYWAY⊠- she screams so he can hear her.
Harry gives her a big smile and turns around, looking rather happy with himself.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â A-ok! Thank you, mâam!
Lori smiles giving him a thumbs up. She thinks that Harry mustâve really liked the jacket, considering he didnât fight her that much on the decision of giving him her only coat. A decision she regretted immediately, considering it was a February night in London.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â HARRY STYLES HAS YOUR JACKET!!!! â Says Aimee all of the sudden, snapping Lori out of it and scaring the shit out of her. â Oh, sorry!
After a couple ballads, Kiwi stars. Lori was shaking her hair to the song when she sees Harry picking up a water bottle and walking up to them. He leans as close as he can, at the edge of the stage, and dumps the entire content of it on Lori, splashing Aimee and the girls around her a bit. She stays put, thinking how the hell the water in a plastic bottle under stage spotlights could be so cold.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Why are you so happy? â She says at Aimee, clearly enjoying the water.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Everyone wants to be splashed by Harry.
-         WhâŠoh ok that sounded a bit offâŠ.but why? I mean I know whyâŠbut Itâs freaking cold!
Aimee laughs at Lori. It was rather impressive how much of the bottle Harry actually managed to drop on her head, considering he was a bit far away. She let her hair loose and starts to run her hand through it, feeling the water running down from her scalp, into her shirt.
After the song is over, Harry thanks everyone and says goodnight. Before leaving the stage he comes over, and throws a towel to Lori, waving to her and thanking her again for the jacket.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Oh, heâs really keeping your jacket â Says Aimee smiling at him leaving.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yep. Sounds like it.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Regretting that decision, mami? â Says Jorge smiling at Lori.
She was using the towel to cover her shoulders, since now that everyone started to leave the venue was getting colder. Jorge lends her his jumper and both girls wait around for a bit, before going outside with Aimee, to wait for her ride with her. Lori explains to Aimee that she liked Harryâs music, but didnât know that much about him. Aimee promises to fill her in on the marvelous encyclopedia of Harry Styles, making Lori laugh.
After almost an hour, Aimeeâs ride shows up. They say their goodbyes with the promise to meet up at the end of the week. It doesnât take long before Jorge drives up to Lori, on his Harley.
-         Oh, greatâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ready to freeze a little more, mamacita?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Te odio, Jorge!
-         Te quiero también, mama!
She jumps in the back and hugs Jorge, that drives off.
A couple of weeks later, Lori is sitting by the bar at a cocktail party she was forced to go for work. Being a culture photographer for BBC was her dream job, but these BBC parties she really did not like. Or any parties. She was a home bug for sure.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Heeeey doll!
Sheâs jumps, taken by surprise by the familiar voice.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Shit!
-         Gee, what a greetingâŠ
He rests his hand on the counter, the other holding a martini glass with a pink drink in it. She looks at him and his sparkly black ensemble, shirt unbuttoned down to his bellybutton almost, revealing his chest.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Uh, you got it going on today, eh?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Like it? â He says giving a twirl.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yes! Maybe button up just one button?
He looks down at his stomach.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â What? And keep everyone else the joy of checking my abs out?
Lori laugs.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Itâs good to see ya Grim. How youâve been?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Good. Fancy seeing you in one of these gatherings. â he says, closing one of his shirt buttons.
-         I know. James bugged me about coming this timeâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Well you look fucking hot! â he says, making her do a twirl.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Heeey, cheers to that. â She says lifting her champagne glass to Nick.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Amen! You should prance around the room. With a dress like that, everyone will be eyeing ya. â he says looking at her dress.
The satin dark teal dress really hugged her curves quite nicely and she had made the bold decision to wear it with bright yellow heels.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Precisely why Iâm staying put â she says, taking a sip of her champagne.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Shouldnât have put that on then. Cause sister, everyoneâs eyeing you anyway.
Nick says twirling around and leaving her.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I will take you out dancing after this shitshow is done, though.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â No you wonât!
-         Ha ha! Just waitâŠ
Nick walks off, before he bumps into someone else he knows and makes a fuss about it. Lori smiles watching him. He was a great friend to her since she moved there. BBC was scary for a newcomer and, even though he didnât work on her department, they met on occasion and he really took her in as a pupil.
She looks around at all the people enjoying the party. It was a rather formal gathering, with a lot of top ladder executives from the network, along with a bunch of hosts and presenters. Truth be told she was way too intimidated to be in a room with all these people, so enjoying it was a rather difficult task, even with all the champagne she kept sipping. She decides to get up and walk around the room, at least make an effort to be seen. After nodding to a few people she knew and shaking hands with a couple she knew she needed to introduce herself to, she felt exhausted. Social interaction took so much out of her that it almost made her feel like she ran a marathon. So she doesnât even think twice before leaning against the bright magenta sofa, near a window. She goes to take yet another sip from the glass, but realizes itâs empty and the bar was all the way around the other side of the room. She takes a deep breath feeling defeated. She feels a awkward poke on her shoulder and a very quiet âexcuse me, missâŠâ. She turns around and freezes at the sight of the familiar face. Harry was looking at her dead in the eye. However, he looked a lot different from the night of the concert. Not only he clearly had a haircut and a shave, but his expression looked almost like it belonged to a completely different person. It was looking at a lost dog in the rain, big puppy eyes, crouching a bit. She was certain he didnât recognize her.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yes? â She says with a shaky voice.
-         EhmâŠhi. Iâm Harry.
-         YeâŠ.yeah, hi. Lori⊠- she says lifting her hand to shake his.
Harry, however, just looks at her hand with an awkward smile and lifts his eyes back to hers.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Iâd love to shake ya hand, but unfortunately itâs in ya bum.
She stares at him for a second, trying to understand what that meant. Was that a line? Is he THAT blunt, barely says hi and comes right in with a hit? Or did he want to touch her bum?! Well that would be a little bit rude, to be quite honest. A lot, actually.
-         EeeehmâŠ.did I lose ya? Maybe that wasnât clearâŠ. â he says, snapping her out of it.
-         Iâm sorry, I donât⊠- she says, interrupting him.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yâre sitting on my hand, love.
She looks at the back of the sofa she was sitting, and realizes that, in fact, his hand was right below it.
-         OH MY⊠- she says jumping up.
Harry smiles.
-         Sorry. I wasnât sure how to take it off without making it look like I wasâŠermâŠ
-         Poking my ass? â he smiles â YeahâŠnoâŠIâm sorry. I didnât see your handâŠ.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Itâs ok. Who in their right minds puts a hand on the back of a sofa, yea?
Lori blushes a bit by the obvious irony of that statement. After all it was sitting on it that made little sense, opposed to leaning against it like Harry was.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Now I can shake ya hand. â he says giving her his hand to shake.
She takes his hand. It was very soft, despite the almost too many rings for fingers in it. And oddly moist. Was he nervous about something?, she thought.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sorry again, Mr. Styles.
-         No problem. Iâm pretty sure I introduced myself as Harry, thoâŠ
-         Ah, wellâŠIâm a rookie, still need to pretend like a respect big names in the industry, yeah?
Harry raises his eyebrows.
-         PretendâŠ
-         No, thatâs⊠- she says, realizing the bad joke â okâŠcan we start over? Put your hand there so I can sit on it.
Harry laughs and takes a sip of his drink.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I like your dress, Lori!
-         Thanks Harry. I like your⊠- she stops to analyze what he was wearing - âŠtrouSHOES!
Harry tilts his head, smiling.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Troushoes?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Shoes. I meant your shoes. Theyâre awesome!
Harry looks at his black and gold boots.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Thanks.
-         I was going for trousers, but theyâre actually quite plainâŠthe shoes howeverâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Plain??? â he says in shock.
-         Yeah, likeâŠI meanâŠtheyâre just pleated pants, yeah?
-         Theyâre just⊠- he says with a fading away high pitch voice â Iâm so offended! â says putting his hand over his eyes.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Theyâre nice, but with shoes like that youâd expect something else up top, ya know.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Says the girl in sunny yellow heels.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hey! Iâm bringing it up top! â she says gesturing at her dress
Harry smiles. Lori gives him a smile back and he frowns before some guy calls Lori. She looks over.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Oh, thatâs my boss. It was nice offending your trousers, Harry.
Harry nods, smiling, a hint of a frown still on his face. She walks off to talk to her boss.
A little later that night, she was getting her clutch to leave when sheâs startled by Harry.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I robbed ya didnât I?
-         GAH! Jesus!!! Whatâs up with people up in this city with the sneaking up on ya⊠- she says catching her breath.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sorry! â he says putting his hand on her shoulder.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Itâs ok. Hi again.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hi. I stole from ya, didnât I?
Lori blinks a few times before looking at her own clutch.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Your jacket. â he says.
She looks up at him again.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â What? â she says genuinely confused.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I thought I knew ya from somewhere.
-         OhâŠOHâŠ.yeah! â she says realizing what heâs talking about
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â You were on my show.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I was, yes.
-         Why didnât you say so? I kept trying to figure it out why you looked so familiarâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Is that common for ya? People coming over and hurling âI went to your show!!!!!â
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â More often than youâd think â he says after thinking a bit.
-         How lovelyâŠ
-         I tried fetching ya at the end of the showâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Fetching me?
-         Yeah, to go backstage. But they couldnât find yaâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yeah I went outside with the girl next to me to wait for her ride with her.
-         I felt bad about your jacketâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ah, itâs ok. It suited you better.
Harry smiles.
-         You donât want it back? Itâs a nice jacketâŠ
-         No, itâs fineâŠplus, it was thrift store, soâŠ.cost me like 20 quid. â she says.
-         What a dealâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yeah, I love thrift stores.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I can keep it then?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yeah, consider a gift.
-         WellâŠIâll buy you coffee to make it up. Were you leaving? When I came over⊠- he says pointing at her clutch.
-         AhâŠyeah
He takes a sip of his drink, looking at her over the glass.
-         Iâm starving, reallyâŠthe food theyâre serving is so small that I think it disintegrates before reaching my stomach.
Harry laughs.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Can I join ya?
She looks at him, surprised.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â What?
-         Yeah, Iâve already fulfilled my duties to some friends coming here. And I agree with the food commentâŠalso, I have to make it up for the jacket. So let me buy ya dinner.
-         OâŠok?! â She says stuttering a bit
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dâyou have a place in mind?
-         Yeah, I was going to a pizza restaurant I always want to go, but itâs too far away from my placeâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ok, sounds good. â he says putting his glass down and fixing his suit.
He just stays there, staring at her, hands on his pockets.
-         Ok  - she says smiling, realizing that, yes, she was having dinner with him.
They leave the party and get in the backseat of a black car, not before Lori has a little meltdown by crossing paths with David Attenborough at the exit. The restaurant was an Italian pizzeria, very small, intimate, with dimmed lights and a wonderful smell of bread and olive oil in the air. The cherry wood tables didnât have covers on them, just red and beige linen placemats, with white plates and wine glasses. In the very corner, there was a pool table. There was barely anyone there, since it was a cold Wednesday at 10h30 pm. Harry looks around the place and seemed pleased by it. So they pick a table near the pool table, Harry takes his black overcoat and suit off and hangs them in the back of the chair and sits down.
Out of that formal environment of the party, without the fancy suit and with his hair a bit messed up, since he ran his hand on it like 50 times, it was rather comfortable talking to him. Lori was surprised by how approachable he was, without all the âHarry Syles, rockstarâ hanging all over him. She really enjoyed talking with him. Or TO him, since she did most of the talking while he was very attentive to everything she was saying.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Do you play? â he asked, getting up and taking a sip of his white wine.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â What? Pool?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yeah
-         No? I meanâŠ.I played before, but not, like⊠- she says getting up.
Harry walks over and takes the cues and the chalk.
-         I justâŠhit the balls around, ya know? â she said taking one of the cues from Harry.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Wanna learn? â he says chalking the cue.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yep. Sure. â She ponders for a second â What happens if I win?
Harry raises his eyes to her.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Oh, you wanna bet something?
-         Sure, I meanâŠwhatâs the point of playing otherwise.
-         I like the way you think, miss. â He says with a smirk. â Hum...how aboutâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Your boots!
He looks at her, surprised.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â My boots? â he says looking down at them.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â If I win.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Itâll fit ya?
-         Probably notâŠbut theyâre so pretty.
Harry laughs, sitting on the pool table.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ok, if you win, Iâll give ya my boots.
Lori raises her eyebrows, surprised he agreed.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â But if win I get to take ya home.
The older man sitting with a friend in a table near by just looks at them, interested.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Take me home? Ok. I mean, thatâs a bad bet, youâd probably take me home anyway.
Harry bites his upper lip, surprised.
-         Donât cheat on teaching me wrong, thoâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â See that ball over that? The eight. â he says leaning near Lori â You have to pocket that one as soon as possible to win.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Thatâs a lie â says the older man raising his hand.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sheesh sir! â says Harry, laughing.
-         Thanks! That much I know thoâŠIâll lose if I pocket that one. â says Lori crossing her arms, judging Harry.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I can only try, yeah?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I thought better of ya, Harry!
He smiles.
They start playing while Harry goes on about the rules and tricks of the game. Harry starts winning, but Lori begins getting a hang of it, turning the game around. The two older men and the waiters of the restaurant end up gathering around the pool table, since Lori was killing it, making Harry very competitive. Lori ups the bet to if she wins, Harry would have to pay a round of limoncello to everyone there, making everyone root for her. When itâs down to Loriâs final ball, Harry crouches down at the side of the table, just peeping over it. She ends up winning, which makes Harry blur out a bunch of fucks. He buys the liquor to everyone, they cheer âsaluteâ and drink up. Harry invites Lori to go for a walk, since the restaurant was closing. So they say goodbye to the older men â that they found out to be the owners â and the waiters and leave. They start walking down the street.
They walk for hours, talking, as the streets begin to empty and the night begins to bite the tips of their extremities making Harry take his overcoat off and give it to Lori.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â What time is it? â She says, realizing how empty the streets were.
Harry turns his wrist to check his watch.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2:25 am.
-         OhâŠmaybe we should call it a nightâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yeah, Iâll call the car. â He says going through his phone.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Youâre blue. â She says looking at Harry, that was leaning against a park fence.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â What?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Your lips are blue â She says taking off his overcoat.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â What? No, no. You can... â says Harry between chattering teeth.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â No. Youâre clearly freezing, just take it, I donât need it. â She says handing him his overcoat.
-         Youâre fucking crazy if you think Iâll let you freeze out hereâŠ
She huffs and throws the overcoat over his shoulders.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â What the hell, woman!
Before he can take it off, she uses both hands to shut the coat over him.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â You canât be cold. I can. â She says holding the collar around his neck.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â What? Why???
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Because if you get sick, youâll get a sore throat. If you get a sore throat, you canât sing. If you canât sing, someone, out there, will KILL ME!
He looks at her for a second and puts the coat on.
-         Good! â She says wrapping her own arms around her and looking around. She looks back at him and heâs standing there with arms open. â WhâŠwhat are you doing?
He grabs her wrist and pull her in, wrapping his overcoat around her as well.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â What are you doing? â She says leaning her head back, to avoid bumping their faces together.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Keeping ya warm. Until the car arrives.
-         WowâŠsmooth, Mr. Styles.
He laughs.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I promise ya itâs not a move.
She looks at him, his face less than 3 inches away from her. His arms around her, holding the coat shut as much as he could. She opens her mouth to speak and sees a tiny speck of white falling behind him.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Oh, you got to be kidding me.. â She says looking at the sky. Harry looks up as well.
The little snowflakes were slowly filling up the air above them, dancing their way down, until it reaches their faces, shoulders and everything around them.
-         WellâŠit was weird not snowing in February anyway. â Says Harry looking at the snowflakes resting on his shoulder.
Lori takes a deep breath, uncrosses her arms and wraps them around Harry, under his coat, hugging him tight so he could close the coat completely. She rests her head on his shoulder, mumbling incomprehensive words. Harry gives a short low chuckle.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Whereâs the car?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I canât reach him. Iâll just get an uber or something.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Oh, Harry Stylesâ driver went a-wall?? Someoneâs getting fired tomorrow.
Harry smiles, going through his phone with one hand, while the other firmly held the coat shut.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Your hair smells nice. â He says without taking his eyes of the phone.
-         ThanksâŠyou smellâŠ.
Harry looks at her with the corner of his eye, waiting for the answer.
-         âŠvanilla...ishâŠ. â Harry smiles â andâŠlime? Is that lime?
-         HehâŠI donât know. Maybe? Vanilla makes sense, my cologne is vanilla. LimeâŠ.must be me.
Lori chuckles.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â How fancy of you. âYou know Harry Styles? Yes! What does he smell like? Zestyâ â she says, getting a timid chuckle out of him.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Your hair smells like coconut. Is that your perfume or shampoo or is it you?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Well, Mr. Styles, Iâm going to lie and say itâs me.
Harry laughs.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Where do you live?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â What?
-         I asked for an uber, but I put my address in. I need yours to add before my stop. Or maybe if itâs around me we can just⊠- He gets interrupted by Loriâs chuckle. â What?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Trust me. I live no-where near you.
-         WhâŠhow would you know that?
-         Youâre Harry Styles. I canât afford wherever you liveâŠ
-         Ok, first of all letâs settle something straightâŠstop calling me Harry Styles.
Lori unwraps her arms from him and takes a step back, looking shocked.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Youâre NOT Harry Styles??? What the fuck? Who have I been talking to all night? You imposter! â She says in an outraged tone of voice, raising it at the end of the last word.
Harry smiles, rubbing his nose.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Why? Itâs weird? â She says smiling and going back in to hug him.
-         Itâs not weird, justâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Puts a persona on ya?
-         Yeah. I donât like when friends call me Harry StylesâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Whatâs your middle name?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Edward.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Iâll call ya Harry Edward, then.
Harry chuckles.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hey!!! â She says smiling and looking up at Harry â Iâm your friend?
-         Oh, yeah. Thatâs rightâŠyou CAN call me Harry Styles.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ah, fuck you.
Harry laughs as the Uber drives up to them. Â They break from the hug and get into the car. It was pleasantly warm inside the car and, as they sit, the driver offers them blankies before it drives off. Halfway through the ride, Harry remembers theyâre not going to the same place, but finds out that, as Lori pointed out before, they do live in completely opposite parts of the city. So Harry proposes that they go to his house, get a cup of hot tea to warm up, and then heâll drive her home. She objects at first, but he convinces her that it would be a lot easier than turning around to drop her off and coming all the way back to drop him. And he was very firm about not dropping him first, because it was late and she shouldnât take the whole ride back alone.
His house, as expected by Lori, was big and luxurious. Not too much, to the point of excess, but enough to notice whoever lived there had money. And good taste in styling. The décor was gorgeous. A mix between contemporary and old classics, and everything was spotless. Lori felt almost uncomfortable on how clean everything was. Everything that was white, like the fluffy rug at the living room, the pillows, the kitchen marble counters, was SO white that it almost sparkled. The throw blanket on the couch was neatly folded. Lori felt that just breathing in there would dirt the place up.
-         ItâsâŠ.veryâŠâŠclean.
Harry turns around, putting his overcoat on a chair.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Do you ever have people over? Did you ever? Do you actually live here?
Harry laughs.
-         ItâsâŠsooo clean! Iâm pretty sure my aura is messing up the place.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â You want tea? â says Harry putting the kettle on.
-         Yes pleaseâŠI mean, no? Isnât that going to stink up the place?
-         Ok. Iâm clean. I like things organized and cleanâŠwe established that. Can we move on or you need more time to circle around it?
Lori smiles.
-         Sorry, Iâll stop â she says smiling â But itâs not a criticism. Your house is amazing. You should be organized and clean to own a place like thisâŠotherwise is pointless. I meanâŠIâm a Virgo, so I can appreciate all of this.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â As a Virgo?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yeah, big perfectionist here! â She says raising her hand.
-         UhhhâŠOCDâs?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Oh, major!
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Like flipping the light switch multiple times?
-         No, not that much. But likeâŠorganizing everything neatly on a table, ya know? Everyone made fun of me when I was in school, âcoz I would lose a good amount of time putting everything on my desk. Notebook, pencils, pens, ruler, rubbersâŠeverything likeâŠperpendicular to each other.
Harry chuckles.
-         And likeâŠI would change the order of things like three times, because it had to âfeelâ neat, ya know?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Youâre worst than me. â Says Harry laughing, leaning in one hand on the counter, the other one resting on his hip.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I blame astrology.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I donât. Iâm an Aquarius. Theyâre usually messy, yea? â He says taking the kettle from the burner.
-         YeahâŠI guessâŠ
-         WellâŠyou take milk on your tea?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Do you?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â No.
-         Then itâs fine, no milkâŠDo you like Haribos?
He stops with the kettle on his hand and stares at her for a split second.
-         InâŠ..tea?
-         No â She says chuckling â JustâŠHaribos⊠- She says taking a baggy from her clutch and giving it to him.
He puts the kettle on the counter and takes the baggy, opening it and checking inside.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â You walk around with candy on your purse?
-         Yeah? I meanâŠyou need snacks during the day in general. When it involves office parties, I tend to bring guilty pleasures instead of the usual healthy ones. Last time I had Cadbury Fingers.
-         Well I know who Iâll be calling to join me at my next events. â He says pouring the hot water in the mugs. â You like English Breakfast? I didnât even ask beforeâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â No, no. English Breakfast is fine. â She says, interrupting him.
They take their tea cups and sit on the couch at the living room. Â They talk about music, movies, their pet peeves, what their lives were like, especially for her that had just moved to London. They had a lot in common, which made talking with Harry very easy. They liked the same bands, almost the same movies. All that while sipping tea and eating Loriâs Haribos. Before they notice, the birds are chirping and the skyâs night darkness begins to fade into sunrise.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Lori? â Harry says in a low deep voice. â Love?
It takes a second for her to realize her eyes are close. She jumps up to find Harry in front of her, with his head resting on his fist, smiling.
-         Sorry, I didnât realize⊠- she says rubbing her eyes.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Itâs ok. It was only for a sec. You want to take a nap?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â What?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stay here, sleep for a couple of hours and Iâll drive you home when we wake up.
She stares at Harry, processing the information for a bit.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Guest room. â He says, smiling, realizing her concern.
-         AhâŠwellâŠno, itâs ok. I can get the tubeâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â No, absolutely not. I promised to drive ya home. Iâm a man of my word. You want me to drive ya now?
Lori could see how tired Harry was on his face. She was pretty sure he was resting his head on his hand because otherwise it would just fall to the couch.
-         No, you look too tired to driveâŠplus thereâs probably snow everywhere out thereâŠ
-         Letâs do that then. Just so we can restore a bit of energyâŠitâs ok, I really donât mind you staying here.
It was a tempting offer, Lori thought. She rubs her eye, thinking about it for a second. She finally agrees and Harry guides her to his guest room. It wasnât a âguest roomâ, it was a full ass master suite. It was a big room, huge bed with a closet and a spacious bathroom. She could only imagine what his bedroom looked like. Harry asks to excuse him for a second and leaves. She places her clutch on the nightstand, drops her shoes by the bed, looking at the fluffy duvet, thinking about jumping on it and just falling asleep there. She sits on the bed, looking at the whole room and running her hand on the soft duvet. Harry comes back with a shirt on his hand.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Here, so you donât have to sleep in that dress.
-         Oh itâs fine, donât worry abâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Just take it. You can give it back tomorrow. â He says interrupting her and handing over the shirt.
-         OâŠok...
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Itâs clean, I promise.
Lori smiles.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ok, thanks Harry.
-         No problem. Rest for a bit and Iâll see ya in a bitâŠweâll grab coffee on the way to your place.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yeah, ok.
Harry turns around to leave and Lori grabs his arm. He turns around.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Thanks Harry.
-         You already said thatâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â No, for the night. I had a lot of fun today. Youâre a really nice guy. â She says without realizing sheâs holding his hand. Harry smiles.
-         Itâs ok. It was a fun night for me too. Youâre easy to talk toâŠI need people like that in my life.
She smiles and looks down, realizing sheâs holding his hand for some reason. She gently let go of it.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Good night then. â She says leaning in for a kiss on his cheek, making him blush a little bit.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yea, good night, love. â He says rubbing her shoulder.
He leaves and she stares at the empty threshold for a few seconds before closing the door and turning around to face the bed. She puts his shirt on it and goes to the bathroom to wash her face, thankful that she always carried a travel tooth brush and paste wherever she went. After cleaning up, she goes back to the bedroom, taking her dress off. Â She takes his shirt and looks at it for a second. It was greenish grey long sleeved shirt, very soft and, as Harry promised, it smelled very clean. She takes her bra off and puts the oversized shirt on, crawling into bed.
She wakes up with the sound of her cell chirping. Waking up felt like the hardest thing sheâs ever had to do and her eyes refused to follow the order to open. The bed and her felt like the same thing, and if she tried to move, the whole bed would as well, like a Disney fairy tale with princesses and beasts. She finally cracks one eye open and peeks her phone, finding out it was 11 am. She gets up, goes to the bathroom to clean up and brush her teeth, comes back, fixes the bed neatly, gets dressed and folds Harry shirt, placing it on the bed. She gets her stuff and walks silently out of the bedroom to find the house dead quiet. She realizes Harryâs still asleep, so she writes him a note, thanking again for everything and leaving her number.
Later that day, sitting at her desk, going through some of the next events sheâd have to go to organize her schedule, when she hears a loud slurping sound. She turns around to find Nick Grimshaw with a black floral shirt, riped jeans and sipping coffee, holding another cup in the other.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Same clothes, huh? â he says offering the coffee to Lori.
-         Oh, jesus Grim⊠- she says with her hand on her forehad.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Uuuh, that bad, huh?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â No, not bad, Iâm fine.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Who did you ditch me for?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ditch ya?
-         I told you I wanted to take you out dancingâŠI sure as hell hope it was for someone worth it.
-         IâŠI forgot, sorryâŠ. â she says taking a sip of her coffee â I meanâŠassuming I wouldâve said yes.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â You would! And if you didnât Iâd drag you out.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Thatâs harassment.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Harassment is you not shaking that apple on Evil Queenâ face.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â You being the Evil Queen? - Asks Lori raising one eyebrow.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Iâm Snow White, honey. - Says Grimmy tilting his head.
Lori smiles, drinking her coffee.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â So? Spill it. Dâya get laid?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â What??? â she says choking on her coffee â God, Grim! No! I didnât.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Whoâs the wuss?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â What????
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Who took you home enough for ya to come to work the next day with the same outfit and didnât get ya to bed?
-         Thatâs absolutely none of your businessâŠâŠ..what are you doing here anyway??? Donât you have a broadcast to do?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I came over to find out what excuse youâd have this time.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Thanks for the coffee, Grim! â she says clearly kicking him out.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dinner?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sure!
Grim kisses her head and leaves. She looks at the time on her screen and checks her phone one more time, before sighing and going back to work.
Two months later, Lori is in New York covering a story about NYFW when she get s text from Aimee. Sheâs surprised by it, since she havenât talked to her since the concert. The text was a heart emoji with a picture attached to it. The photo was Harry, walking out of a cafe, wearing Loriâs bomber jacket. She smiles at the picture with a bit of pit on her stomach, since she hasnât heard from Harry ever since that night at his house. She remembers a quote by an author she liked, that said âSometimes you are going to miss a person who was an almost to you. And feel sad because there is no name for that feeling. You just feel it in a way that makes you tired to your very bonesâ and thatâs exactly how she felt. Harry was an almost to her. Almost something. And she missed the way she felt that night she spent with him. She didnât even know for sure what she missed, she wasnât in love with him or anything like that. She just missed having him there, just in reach, being able to talk to him. And she felt silly because it was only one night. Itâs not like they were friends for years, even tho it felt like that. There was something about Harry that was very comfortable, like if she curled up to him, heâd welcome her in. So she replies Aimee a smiley face, not knowing what else to say.
She puts her phone back in her coat pocket only to feel it vibrate again. She pulls it out and there was a text from Grim. Same picture, question mark. She repliesÂ
- Â Â Â Â Â What? Why are you sending me a picture of Harry Styles? - She replies
- Â Â Â Â Â Isnât that your jacket? - Grimmy asks.Â
She thinks for a second about what to respond, last thing she needed was for Grim to get into that, she knew they were friends.Â
- Â Â Â Â Â Am I the only owner of bomber jackets in the world? - She writes.
He doesnât reply right away, which makes her think she won the benefit of the doubt. However before she could celebrate, he sends another picture, zoomed in to the jacket sleeves, with the caption âyes with the embroidery you didâ. Fuck!
- Â Â Â Â Â Weâll talk about it when Iâm done here, Iâm working - She writes after a pondering on what to say.
-      Ok, but if you hooked up with Haz without telling me I swear to godâŠ.Â
Taking a deep breath, she puts the phone in her pocket and grabs her camera to go back to work.
Lori loved covering fashion events, since she loved checking the runways and what every designer was up to that year. She had an artsy style with her work, so besides the âwork photosâ she needed to take for BBC, Fashion Weeks were a perfect place for her to play with the fabrics and make ups for her own personal work. Even though, these events were the hardest to cover, because the days were always chaotic and fast, so sheâd have to run everywhere to be able to document everything. She gets in her hotel room destroyed, everything in pain. Her feet and legs from running around all day, crouching over to get the right angles; her neck and back, from carrying her heavy CANON camera and accessories. She puts all her equipment on the chair near the bed and falls face first on the bed, falling asleep. She wakes up in the middle of the night, feeling like a truck ran over her, the discreet make up she applied earlier that day became a goth super villain mask all over her face. She goes to the bathroom, takes a quick shower, removing the villainous disguise. She goes back to the bed, sits down and picks up the phone to check her messages. One from Grim that only said âYou hoe!â, which made her frown, and another one from and unkown number. It only said âOiâ. She stares at the message for a second and puts the phone down, going back to sleep. The next couple of days, Lori barely has time to eat or sleep, because one event connects with the other from early in the morning until late hours if she had to cover after parties as well. When sheâs finally done and is getting ready to go back to London, she takes her phone to let her boss know she was going back home, that she saw that text from Grim and decided to call him.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hey Grim.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Finally!!!!!
-         Sorry, itâs been crazy here, I donât think Iâve eaten anything in two daysâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Eat something then. Youâre in New York, go to Momoya.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Send me money, then.
-         No! Youâre in New York, every corner is a potential money pitâŠ
-         Then donât tell me to go straight to one of thoseâŠ
-         Fine, get a hot dog. Thereâs plenty of those around New York as well. Of all shapes and sizes⊠- He says laughing.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yeah, no. Iâll just eat on the plane. â She says with a disgust expression â Whatâs up?
-         EhmâŠwhatâs up with you, doll?Â
-         You called me a hoeâŠIâm guessing you have something to say.
-         I donât have anâŠ.OHâŠYOU BACKSTABBING HOE!!!!
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Theeere it is.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â You spent the night with Harry Styles and didnât tell me???? - Grimmy says in an offended tone
-         I didnât spenâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â He said you did.
-         He sâŠyou talked to him?Â
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yeah, I texted him where he got the jacket, YOUR JACKET, and he said a friend gave it to him. MY FRIEND!
-         Jesus GrimâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â And then he told me everything!!!! And that YOU.FUCKING.DITCHED.HIM!!! - He screams, making Lori take the phone off her ear until he finished yelling.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I what???
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â You snuck out on him.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I most certainly did not!
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yeah you did! He was bummed out about it, too. You hurt Harry Styles feelings. Youâre DEAD!
-         Ok, first of all, stop calling him Harry Styles, heâs right, it does sound weird. Second of allâŠI did not snuck out on anyoneâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Well, deal with it yourself, âcoz I gave him your number.
Lori stays silent for a moment.
-         OhhhâŠthatâs who that was⊠- she says, realizing who the unknown number was.
-         You phone ditched him as well???? Jesus Christ womanâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I didnât know it was him.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Answer him. At once. A-N-S-W-E-R H-I-M. Youâll be dead to me if I donât hear from him in 15 minutes!
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Fine, Grim.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ok, hang up and call him now! You can eat later.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Thanks for your concern about my health, Grim. What would I do without you?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Die an old maid never getting laid, thatâs what.
He hangs up the phone, leaving Lori with the silent line on her ear for a couple of seconds. Before looking at it and going to the text Harry sent. She stared at the âOiâ for a couple of minutes, deciding on what to say. After all that pondering, she settles for âHeyâ. She puts her phone in her pocket without waiting to see if heâd respond and leaves the room to check-out. Sheâs already on the plane, having her well deserved meal, that was not so good but from the 2 days fast, she really enjoyed, that Harry replied back. She looks at his text and it was just a question mark, which made her kind of angry. Seriously? Who answers a text with a question mark? She considers leaving him on read, but remembers Grimâs threat and texts back that sheâs on a plane. He answers âOkâ.
The plane lands in Heathrow and on her way back home, in the taxi, her phone rings.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hey.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hi â says Harry on the other side of the call. â How youâve been?
Lori smiles with the sound of his voice. It was a bit deeper through the phone.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Iâm good.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â So youâre friends with Grimmy, heh?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yeah â She chuckles.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â He gave me your number, I hope thatâs ok?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I gave you my number.
-         WhâŠwhat? â he says with a confused tone in his voice.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I mean, itâs not a problem at all that he gave you my number, Iâm glad he did. But I also gave you my number.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â When?
-         That morning. Before IâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Snuck away? - He says interrupting her
-         I didnâtâŠok, I left, but I didnât mean to âsneak awayâ. But I had a meeting at 11h45.
-         HumâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â And you were sleeping. It sort of felt like a bit much to walk into your bedroom to say bye bye.
He just huffs on the other side of the line.
-         And I left you my numberâŠI just thought you didnâtâŠI donât knowâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â You didnât leave me your number. â He says firmly on the other side of the phone.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I did!
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â No, you did not.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I did! I left ya a note in the kitchen.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â What?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yeah, like a post-it. I left near the flower vase on it, with a pen I found in a drawer.
-         Sorry, but there was noâŠoh! I remember the pen. - He says, like he remembered something.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â And the note?
-         NoâŠbut the pen wasnât supposed to be there because that was a gift from a friend of mine that passed awayâŠI remember thinking what was that doing in the kitchen.
-         OhâŠsorryâŠ.I didnât know.
-         Itâs okâŠ
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Maybe it flew away?
-         I still think you didnât leave me your number and is just making this up coz I got it either wayâŠbut Iâll look for it when I get back home. â he says in a noticeable lighter tone of voice.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I was actually quite bummed out you didnât call me.
-         I was bummed out you left without saying goodbyeâŠor leaving me your contact.
-         Youâre Harry SâŠEdwardâŠ. â he chuckles on the other side â Couldnât you find out? You knew I worked at BBC.
Harry doesnât say a word, Lori only hears his breathing sound.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Youâre really upset I didnât call ya, hm? â he says with a ironic tone to his voice.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Well a girlâs gotta feed her ego, yeah?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â So does a guy.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Weâre even then, I guess.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I guess we are. Altho Iâm guessing my ego is a bit bigger...
- Â Â Â Â Â Ok, donât come out with measuring tapes now...
Harry laughs.
-         WellâŠnow that thatâs settled⊠- He says.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â We can keep in touch, yeah? - She asks in a hopeful tone.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yeah, ok. Youâre in London?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yeah, just left Heathrow.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â âK. Iâll give ya a ring when Iâm back in town.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ok, cool.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I want a rematch on that game.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ok, Iâll bring the Haribos!
Harry laughs on the other side.
-         Oh, before you go⊠- says Lori.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yeah?
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Can you let Grim know we spoke? Heâs leaving threats on my phone. Iâm afraid to wake up to a bloody decapitated Carebear head on my pillow.
Harry belts a laughter.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ok, Iâll let him know. Beware of rainbows in the meantime.
Lori laughs and they say their goodbyes. She hangs up the phone with a huge smile on her face, that slowly fades away when she realizes sheâll have to thank Grimmy in some way now.
