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THE DEATH OF ME

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I decide to go shopping Monday after school since I spend Sunday doing homework, not up to leaving the house. I was hoping to hear from Harry but there was no word of him.

I am running late once again, getting to class a moment before the last bell. I sit down next to Liam and he winks at me as the teacher asks everyone to open our books to page 67.
"How was your weekend?" Liam whispers to me.
"All right, yours?"
"It was good," He glances at me for a moment before turning his attention back to the teacher.

"This is you isn't it?" Liam opens up a newspaper in front of me at the end of class.
It is a photo of Harry and me on his bike, though you can't really tell it is because of the helmet concealing my face.

There is photo right next to that one, of Harry and Lola walking together off the field, the paper's claiming her to be the woman on the bike, even though I am in dark jeans and she is in white trousers.

I push back my chair, getting to my feet, the paper in my hand reading over the article to make sure I am not mentioned.
"It is you, I'll notice those Dr. Martens anywhere- Why didn't you tell me you were going to the race?" Liam exclaims.

"Shhh! Keep it down! I didn't know I was going, he picked me up from work and just drove there," I explain in a hushed tone, not wanting anyone hearing us.

"What do you mean? You just got on his bike without knowing where he is taking you?" Liam was judging me with his eyes.
"Oh come on, it wasn't like I had a choice, if you had gone through what I have just before, you would have got on as well," I go into a long explanation of the way I got fired and Perrie quitting after that.

"Wow that is just mad," Liam is gobsmacked by my weekend.
"Yeah well, who's this Lola woman anyway?" I decide to find out since I am claimed to be her.
"She is one of the ladies that is constantly on Harry's arm,"

My ears pick up on the words 'one of' understanding that there are more.

"Are you going to attend any other races then?" He questions.
"I don't know.. We'll need to see," I shrug, not wanting to get my hopes up, remembering Harry's 'next time'.

When school is out I run to the bathrooms since I wanted to go straight to the shop to get the things Nan asked of me.
I step out and hurry to a waiting Liam and pass a group of girls whose heads were close together.
"Look, look- there she is," One of them says, and for some reason I know she is speaking about me.

"Cassie!" My name is called, and I miss those days that I walked these halls unnoticed.
I stop and turn slowly. The circle of girls opens up and I cringe when I notice who they are.
Dafni and her gang.

"There was this rumor going around about you and the racer, but then today I see this," Dafni holds up the same newspaper Liam showed me before.

I wait for her to get to her point, so I can hurry up to Liam who was waiting outside.
"How does it feel to be in the spot light for just a moment before its back on the real people?" She asks in a sly tone.
"Real people?" I repeat, since she was so pure with her fake curls and fake lashes.
"OH come on, you didn't really think Harry Styles would stick with you right? God love, he is 21.. and you- well you look 12…" The group laughs out loud. I have had enough of this. I roll my eyes and turn back without another word to the group of plastics.

"Come on Cassie, it's for your own good after all," Her words remind me of Zayn's, and I can feel my cheeks flush.

Great, they are following me.

I pick up my pace and rush to the door, passing it and looking for Liam in the crowd.
I hear the girls giggle in back of me just as I spot Liam talking to someone with his back to me and a beanie on his head. There are a bunch of people around them, and it was weird to see Liam in the middle of it. Liam notices me then and points, making the beanie turn.

I hear the gasp escape the girls behind me when they see Harry, and I can't help but smirk, happy he is here at this moment.

Without another pause I pad over to both of them. Harry's eyes scan the girls in back of me before they find mine.

"All right?" He asks, his eyes glancing at the girls again.
"Yeah," I say looking at Liam who's looking at Dafni and her friends as well. I know Liam already picked up that something has just happened with that group.
"Are you getting bullied?" Harry inquires, and I shake my head. I wouldn't call it bullying, but whatever.

"Well, are you ready?" Harry asks, his head bent down to me like always.
"Ready for what?" I furrow my brows.
"I promised I'll help you get a new job," He says as if we made plans and I stood him up.
"Oh, I just didn't know you where coming today," I glance from him to Liam.
"Well I'm here, so come on, let's not waste anymore time," He says taking my hand in his.
I am annoyed with him thinking he could just come and decide for me that I will be going with him now, but on the other hand I know the girls are watching, and it is a stab to their chest's to see Harry here holding my hand just after they dismiss me the way they did.

I turn and give Dafni a slight wave before following after Harry.

When Harry stops the bike, it is in front of the shack where I first met Zayn.
We get off and I look around not understanding what we were doing there if he was going to help me find a job.

"What did those girls say to you?" Harry questions, glaring at me with angry eyes.
"Nothing," I shrug.
"Cassandra! Tell me now!" He demands.

"No! You answer this though! How dare you think you can just keep showing up and ordering me around?! Like now! Demanding me to tell you what they said? You can't demand of people things! That is not the way the world works!" I shout at him.

"It does in my world," Harry says calmly with a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Did you ever think of asking instead?" I ask in a calmer voice.
"Can you PLEASE tell me what just happened with that group of girls?" He shoves his hands in his pockets.

I sigh before answering, not really wanting to tell him, but I know he won’t let it go.
"They asked how it feels like having the spot light for a moment before it is shining back on the 'real people'," I use my fingers.

"Fucking sluts! What does that supposed to mean?" He questions angrily.
"Nothing, I didn't pay attention, they all saw you in school and thought something was going on, but now that there are those photos of you and Lola then all is good, and I am back to being a nobody, well, until you showed up again today," I kick at the dirt with my shoe.

"Cassie, you are not a nobody!" He says sharply, which makes me look up at him.
I am about to answer but decide I am better off leaving it. Instead I point at the Shack.
"Why are we here? I thought we will find me a job today?"
"Yes at the bar," He gestures to the shack.

"Are you joking?" I ask my mouth open in shock.

"No, come on," He pulls me after him.

"Harry! I am not working in a bar! I am not legal to ever drink yet!" I exclaim.

"It's fine really, don't be a child, come on,"

I swat at his arm, hating being called a child, but I mentally remind myself that I basically am.
Harry holds the door open for me, and I look around. The air is cool and it smells like beer. There is soft music playing, but I remind myself it is the middle of the day, it probably gets much louder.

"Oi Louis!" Harry calls out to the lad behind the bar, leading us to him.
"Harry! Where is the new waitress you promised me?" Louis high fives him.
Harry points at me with a wink, and I see Louis' eyes go wide.
"No way! Not happening! She is what? 14?" He shakes his head.
"I turned 17 a few months ago!" I hiss defending myself.
"Well you look much younger," Louis says, wiping down the counter.

"Look mate, she needs the job, and she is a good waiter! I vouch for her," Harry is- begging.
I don't know if to feel hurt or proud of Harry groveling for my job.
"If I give it to her, you need to make sure she does not show up looking like that," Louis points at my uniform after a while of silence thinking.
"Don't worry, she won't," Harry promises him.
"Fine, you start tomorrow at 10:00," Louis tells me.

"I can't I have school," I find my voice, knowing I should turn this job down all together, this is a bad idea.

"Fine, then at 16:00, Styles, you better make sure she's on time," Louis turns back to Harry.
"Sure will," Harry smiles, shaking his hand.

"And Harry, you know where to take her from here," Louis nods his head towards me.
"Is she there now?" Harry questions.

"Yes, what is your name again?" Louis glances at me.
"Cassie," I reply with a frown, not liking him at all.
"You have one shot, so don't screw it up," With that, he turns to the other blokes sitting at the bar.

I follow Harry out and back to his bike. With every step I can feel the anger in me rise, and by the time Harry hands over the helmet I am fuming.
"Why on earth would you want me to work at a place like this? With people like him?!"
"Cassie calm down! This will be good for you, give it few days, you will thank me," He waves me off, climbing onto his bike.

"Are you getting on or what?" He turns when he notices I am not moving.
"Where are we going now?" I demand, and it makes him chuckle.
"Why is it so funny?" I snap, the anger rising even more.
"You're without a doubt the cutes thing when you're cross," He grins before pulling on his helmet.

I feel the anger leaving me, which just annoys me, not wanting him to have this effect on me.
"Where are we going?" I repeat my question.
"Easy, we are going to get you new clothes," He pets the seat behind him, ready for me to get on.

I am not sure if he is kidding me or not, but I get on nonetheless, not wanting to be left behind in this middle of nowhere place.