Karmina's POV

Karmina was awoken by the blinding light of sun rays across her face. She turned to look the other direction. Where was she? Oh crap, she had fallen asleep on on Harry's bed. Karmina then heard boys laughter outside the door. One of them sounded like Harry. She mentally cursed herself for not insisting on her clothes last night. She was much to embarrassed to open the door now. She scanned Harry's spacious room and noticed an on suite bathroom by the closet. Harry hadn't mentioned that when she undressed last night; she condoned him for this. After all he was a young male. Karmina went into the bathroom and decided on a shower. As soon as she shut the faucet off she heard a knock on the door.

"Yes?" Karmina answered a loud as she could muster.

"Karmina, it's Harry. I have your clothes," Harry shouted through the door. She quickly wrapped a towel around herself and opened the door.

"Thank you," she rapidly shut the door again.

"Will you be needing help with your zipper again?" Harry asked from the other side of the door.

"No, thank you. I got it," Karmina laughed a little. What was she doing? He was flirting with her and she liked it. She liked the attention he was giving her. Karmina decided she needed to leave quickly.

"Good morning," she said to Harry as she began to gather her things.

"Morning," he replied from his relaxed lounging position on the bed. "You don't have to go," he said after a few minutes.

Karmina didn't dare glance him knowing his stare would make her want to stay. "I really must go." Harry nodded and called her a cab. Karmina walked out the front door and Harry followed.

"Can I call you?" He asked as she opened the cab door.

"I don't think that's a good idea Harry," Karmina answered honestly.

"It doesn't have to be like that, we could just be friends?" His eyes looked hopeful.

"Friends? Yeah, I could do that. Just call me at the hotel," Karmina shut the car door.

When she got to her room she had a message from Charles. She decided to call later, she could use a much needed nap. A few hours later she woke up to the phone ringing.

"Hello?" she answered sleepily.

"Karmina? You're alive, you abandoned us last night," Charles began.

"Sorry, I met a friend and we decided to get a bite to eat," she wasn't really lying. Harry and her were friends now.

"I didn't know you were friends with Harry Styles," he gushed. "This will be great for publicity."

"Publicity? Wait, how did you know I was talking about Harry Styles?" Karmina was struggling to catch up.

"It's all over the Internet girl!" He laughed some more.

"How famous is Harry?" Karmina was still confused.

"One direction is huge right now. They are the modern day Beatles. They are as famous as its gets, my dear," he added. Karmina was shocked to know she met someone so famous but the fame did not change her opinion on Harry.

"I did not know that. But I don't want to use anyone for fame. My book will make it if its meant too," she responded.

"Alright I got it. But watch out for Harry, he changes girls more often than he changes his sheets." Charles warned.

"Don't worry, we are strictly friends," Karmina reassured him and herself.

"Mmhm. I'll call you tomorrow okay? Bye," he hung up the phone.

Karmina sat alone trying to piece everything together. Harry was a nice guy and her friend, but Karmina could not deny her attraction to Harry. This scared her, she had came to California to work and work only. She had to push these thought far from her mind. She felt guilty to want to talk to him or anyone for that matter. She yearned for a connection to another human being but she had made a promise. She promised herself she would honor Derek the way a wife should honor her husband until she was fully healed. Harry said they were friends and this she could manage.

The phone rang again later that night but she ignored it deciding that she needed a night alone to remind herself of her priorities.

The next morning Karmina decided to check her message from the night before and noticed there was two. She was a bit surprised to hear the English boy speaking.

"Karmina, it's Harry. I was calling to see if you would like to go to dinner tomorrow night, alright bye," Harry hung up the phone. The next message played.

"Karmina, it Harry again," Karmina giggled. "I realized I hadn't given you my phone number it's 555-0219. Bye again."

Karmina replayed all that had happened the night they went to the club. Harry had wanted her and he made it obvious. Though he was a ladies man, she still found him to be a gentlemen never forcing her or kicking her out for not giving it up. He had even called the next day. For that alone she decided that she owed it to him to be his friend.

Karmina called Harry back.

"What?" Answered a sleepy husky.

"I'm sorry, is this Harry Styles?" Karmina wondered who would ever answered the phone so rudely.

"Yes, who is this?" He sounded a bit more awake now.

"It's Karmina," she awaited his response.

"Pardon me, Karmina. So how are you?" He asked.

"I'm fine, so about dinner tonight?" She pondered.

"Yes?"

"Isn't dinner between the two of us a bit too intimate for just friends?" She was determined to be friends with Harry, and had to get her thought across.

"Uh, yeah but I invited the lads, so it should be fine." He mumbled quickly, leaving Karmina to wonder whether he really had or was just making it up on the spot.

"Great, see you tonight," Karmina hung up the phone.

Later that night Harry came in a cab alone to get her. Karmina had flat ironed her hair for a sleek pony tail. She was wearing a high-waisted flowing asymmetrical nude skirt, a white sleeveless turtleneck cropped top and white laced wedges. She noted to thank Charles for hiring a stylist.

"You look beautiful," Harry watched her walk down the steps.

"Thank you," she scooted into the cab. Once arriving at the restaurant Harry introduced her to each of the members. They spent the first half mainly eating, Karmina watched as the boys took turns talking.

"So Karmina, tell us about yourself," Louis looked over to her.

"Uh, what would you like to know?" She blushed, her shyness betraying often.

"How did you end up here with a book?" Liam pipped in. Karmina sat there puzzled. She wanted to be friends with Harry and the boys seemed like really decent guys. If she wanted a real friendship she would have to be honest.

"Well, I had always wanted to be a writer, but my parents never let me. They said I was to be a doctor. So I um... I..." Karmina hesitated and took a sip of water. "I... I ran away from home and traveled the world for two years. Meanwhile, writing my book. A few months ago I found an agent and he brought me here," she nodded. She had chosen to omit the part about Derek, deciding she wasn't ready to discuss this.

"I'm sorry to hear that your parents don't support you," Niall gently touch her hand. Karmina smiled at him. The rest of the night was spent in mindless chatter. Soon the boys had gone and Karmina was left alone with Harry. They got into a cab to the hotel, when they reached it they both got off.

"What are you doing, Harry?" Karmina was confused.

"I just want to talk," he stood on the steps below her. "Let's go by the pool."

Harry's POV

Harry watched Karmina as she walked, staring at the floor. He gently lifted her chin with his hand.

"Why do you walk looking at the ground?" Harry inquired.

"I don't know, I guess I've done it all my life," she giggled.

"It's a bit odd? No?" Harry poked her side playfully.

"Yeah it's kind of weird," she laughed. Harry loved when she laughed since she didn't do it often. She ran her hand back checking her hair, when Harry noticed; the round piece of gold around her finger. He grabbed her hand.

"Nice ring, looks a bit like a wedding ring though," he met her eyes and she turn her head away and pulled her hand out if his grip.

"It is," she sighed as she walked to a lounge chair, Harry followed.

"What are you saying? We're you married?" He tried to keep up. She nodded, still avoiding his eyes. Harry could see the tears welting up. "What happened?"

"I got married when I ran away. When I was eighteen I left to go be with my husband. He was in the military and a few months after we were married he was sent to Afghanistan and he died there," she began sobbing. Harry put his arms around her. When he her sobbing began slowing he pulled back. He watched her wipe her eyes, he had never seen a girl look so pretty when she cried. He felt shallow for thinking such a thing when she was hurting so badly.

"I'm sorry," Harry offered.

"I better go," she stood to go. Harry opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. He just watched her walk away.

Harry returned home to see the boys playing video games.

"So Harry, did you shag her?" Zayn turn to look at him from the sofa. Harry walked over to the bar poured himself a scotch.

"No," he tossed his drink back.

"Twice in a row? This girl deserves a medal I think," Niall laughed while still watching the screen.

"What happened?" Louis walked over to him, noticing Harry looked a bit torn.

"She's a widow," Harry sipped his second drink. The boys all look at Harry astonished.

"What are you going to do?" Louis asked.

"Nothing, this doesn't change anything it just means it going to take a bit longer than I planned." Harry avoided their eyes and stared at his drink.

"What? Have you gone mad?" Liam chimed in from across the room.

"Seriously, Harry. This is a bit cruel. You're going to break her heart and she's already broken." Louis said with a stern voice.

"I don't need this," Harry angrily stormed to his room. Harry just couldn't bring himself to tell the guys he wouldn't stop because he had no way of telling them. He couldn't tell them that he was beginning to fall for her. How would he tell them that he couldn't bear the thought of not seeing her again? He finally found a girl that nobody compares to and she had already given away her heart.

Notes

Sorry it took so long. I had actually finished the chapter last night but had accidently deleted it and had to start all over again! :( please comments with feedback negative or positive.


xoxo<3