Harry Styles

I sat on the rose armchair by the window with Robin and Dan in the living room. The two men were speaking, but I was too focused on trying to listen in on the women in the kitchen. The aroma trailing in from the room across the hall was enough to make my mouth water, but it wasn’t as enticing as a girl that sat in the same very room, probably quietly taking everything in while her mind was the exact opposite. I had noticed she had a tendency to over think; she had a tendency to overanalyze everything. She had a trait most people would overlook. She was observant, too observant and I was able to see how the gears in her head were constantly churning. Somehow though, she was oblivious to many things. For example, hat bloke she apparently brought-Ben. Just looking at him I could tell he couldn’t possibly appreciate all of Ellie and give her all she deserved.

I excused myself from the room and entered the kitchen. I received unwelcome stares from all except the brunette sitting at the farthest end of the island. Her eyes remained on the cup of nearly empty green tea sitting in front of her.

“Is there a reason you interrupted us?” Gemma finally asked with her facial expressions letting me know she knew exactly why I came in.

“I-“
“Merry Christmas,” someone called from the direction of the staircase. Ellie’s head perked up and the rest of us turned to the entrance of the kitchen. I looked at the man, still in sweats with his hair disheveled. Out of instinct, I could feel my facial muscles contort at his tardiness and unkempt appearance. Not only that, I hated the guy. I couldn’t believe they had been a thing for so long. When she told me that last day in Liverpool, I was beside myself. Ben did not deserve her. End of story. I did.

Ellie came into view from the side of my focus.

“Ben, I’d like you to meet everyone. They are great friends, I guess practically family, uh with my family.” Her sweet voice soothed the feud that was starting to stir in my mind. Her hand wrapped around his bicep and he dragged him fully into the kitchen to introduce him to everyone. Robin and Dan walked in while I stilled against the door post.

“And you’ve met Harry, I believe,” Ellie and Ben approached me and the center of her eyes making it in every direction except mine. His unshaven face surfaced a haughty smirk, taunting me with his control on Ellie. He knew I wanted her. My face remained as still as stone as we both went in for a handshake.

“I think we did. Underage at the club huh?” His grip tightened almost as a warning. At least we both shared the same feelings toward each other.

“Yeah, I remember having to take Ellie home and away from a drunk bastard who needed to get his elbow from his arse.” I replied, giving him the same pressure in his hand as I received.

“Harry,” Ellie warned, still not looking at me.

“Nice to see you again though, man. Real pleasure,” I quipped and moved to Hallie’s side.

“So,” Beth’s smiles and good nature interrupted us. “The food is almost ready. Ben if you would like to get ready, we will be ready to eat shortly.”

“I am ready enough to eat,” the bloke replied.

“Ben, let’s go get dressed,” Ellie said, dragging him up the stairs before he could say
anything more. She was already dressed in a white turtleneck knitted sweater and a pair of black ripped jeans, tighter than mine.

We were left with an awkward silence, but I knew everyone was thinking the same thing.

“Anything you need help with, Beth?” Hallie asked.

“Oh yes, can you start setting the table, please hun.”

“Of course,” Hallie smiled. She was one of the sweetest people I had ever met, but I didn’t think we could make it much longer with all the feelings Ellie was giving me. I didn’t know what the hell was wrong with me at that point. I had a girl everyone was dreaming about and yet I was dreaming about someone who wasn’t interested in me whatsoever. And I couldn’t stop it.

Gemma had volunteered and was helping Hallie set the table.

“How long have they been together?” Mum asked, referring to the two who previously headed upstairs.

“They aren’t. He shouldn’t even be here.” I had no problem voicing my opinion on the bastard.

“Harry,” my mom warned in the same way Ellie already had.

“No, I agree with Harry. The boy is no good for her. They’ve been doing whatever since university. He cheated and she still hasn’t learned,” Beth turned, placing platters of food on the island. “Harry, dear, can you put the food on the table?”




I sat at the table with my hands hovering my elbows, which were resting on the delicate white tablecloth. Everyone sat quietly, waiting for Ellie and Ben to join us around the table. We could faintly hear remnants of an argument ongoing in the overhead floor. Everyone in the room stayed silent, not because we were trying to eavesdrop, but because we were all thinking, but no one knew what to say about the situation. He just did not deserve her.
After a while of waiting, we heard the two walk down the stairs. I looked up to see an anxious, beautiful brunette with gray eyes and pure pale skin beside the man I had already came to hate. I guess it was partly jealousy. They both sat in the vacant seats across from Hallie and me, in between Gemma and mum. Beth began to say grace before we started serving each other an amazing Christmas meal.

“So I heard you are doing really well for yourself in the states with a clothing business. We are so proud of you,” mum said. Everyone directed their attention toward Ellie. It was one of the first thing anyone had said all meal.

“Thank you,” Ellie said, nodding while covering her mouth full of food with her napkin. After she swallowed her food she continued. “I really appreciate it. I wasn’t expecting to start something so big when I entered university, but I guess everything worked out.”

“If you need any models, Harry can help you out. He loves posing in front of the cameras,” Gemma joked. I sent her a glare.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Perfect to use Harry for my company’s publicity,” Ellie winked.

“I think you’re doing well enough as is,” Ben but in. Was he jealous as well? My eyebrows rose and my face showed my amused state.

“Yeah, did you know she’s even making a shop now?” I asked mum. The question was aimed more toward Ben; I wanted to show the bastard up. He looked calm though, even holding back a smile.

“In Washington?” Mum asked.

“No, I’m not sure where yet. It’s still in the works,” Ellie responded. I could tell she was beyond excited for her project.

“Very exciting. You have to keep us in the loop!” Mum smiled warmly. Everyone was happy to have Ellie back around. I wanted to keep her around forever. Mine.

“So what do you do, Ben?” I asked. My curiosity got me in more trouble than one could keep track of, but I knew everyone wanted to know about the guy.

Ben looked up from his plate, looking me right in the eyes. “Life insurance.”

“Wouldn’t have guessed that,” I replied, both of us still acting as children in a staring contest.

“Why is that? Must have bad reads on people. I, on the other hand, was spot on with my predictions about you. Smart-ass, cocky, suck up. The list could go on. I think the magazines are right.”

I saw Ellie shift uncomfortably out of the corned of my eyes. I felt my body shrug and I ended the childish play. “So you went to university with Ellie?” I asked.

Ben smiled, thinking he had won the war. “Yeah. Washington. Had the time of my life and met this one.” He carried his arm over Ellie’s shoulder. I saw her wince, if only for a millisecond.

“What made you want to do insurance?” I asked.

“Pays well and steady I guess,” he shrugged.

“And you’re from Washington?” I continued.

“Florida actually. Much better than Washington in my opinion, but this one doesn’t agree. She wouldn’t move with me,” he said, looking down at Ellie.

“Hmm, yeah. Florida is nice. I’ve been there a couple times,” I said. Wasn’t one of my favorites but it was a nice scenery.

“Must be nice going around the world, dancing around for work, scoring big, the fame, fooling around with girls, isn’t it?” Ben shot. It took everything in me not to jump over the table and grab the guy by the neck. I told myself I couldn’t ruin the food placed before us on the table; it would be rude to Beth. Beating the crap of the bastard wouldn’t be rude though because I knew everyone else already hated Ben.

“I wouldn’t know,” I stated calmly.

“Yeah, sure I-“

“That’s enough. For God’s sake.” Ellie’s chair cried against the tile as she slid back. She stood up and walked away from the table and out of site. Everyone surprisingly stayed quiet. I got up from my chair without a word from anyone, not even Ben.
I walked up the stairs with the thoughts moving around in my mind faster than my legs were even moving. I wasn’t sure if she was frustrated with me. I walked to the door that I remember used to be her old room whenever her parents were away, which was often.
I knocked on the door lightly before opening the door and saw her beautiful brown waves as a cataract down her petite structure of her back.
I didn’t say anything; instead I sat next to her on the far side of the bed. Of course her feet barely touched the ground as mine stretched almost to the wall.

“Thanks for not being a major douche,” she said.

“Am I normally a major douche?” I joked.

She breathed out a laugh. “I wouldn’t know.”

Silence was brought over us again.

“I feel so childish for walking out like that.”

“I think it was understandable.”

“Nan is probably so mad. That was so uncomfortable to sit through.”

“I think she will let it go.” I took a breath. “Ben is not my favorite. I think you can tell. But I can get over that. I just want to make sure he’s good to you.”

“He’s a guy. I don’t know. I guess I’m just comfortable with him. I guess it works. I know he’s not the best and I know he has flaws. Trust me, I know.”
I rested my hand on her knee. “Okay. I am here as your best friend to kick his ass whenever. In fact if you need me to right now I can.”

She turned to me with a bright smile. “Best friend? Our friendship is pretty weird.”

I scoffed. “Duh. Let’s go back down there. Smile and be happy. It’s bloody Christmas!”

She laughed and shook her head. I can’t explain the feeling I got in my heart, throughout my whole body at that moment. Her pure happiness. And I caused it.

We walked down stairs to join the others for the rest of Christmas Day.

Notes

I am so sorry. I have not been on the site in two weeks and I just noticed my error in uploading the chapter. I have been so busy but I have more free time on the weekends especially now. I will update you on a few things a little later. But thank you so uch for reading!