Permanent
Chapter 24
Harry Styles
I woke up to the sound of light outtakes of breath beside me and faint bird calls outside the clear glass doors. The curtains served their job well, keeping the majority of sunlight out of the room, but the brightened white fabric made it apparent the day had started.I got up and grabbed my shirt off the chair near the door before looking down at the messy bed, which still contained a small sleeping beauty. Ellie’s dark hair was scattered across her pillow as her body held on to the very edge of the right side of the mattress. After the second night, Ellie had convinced me to sleep on the bed; my aching back did more of the convincing. Of course I wouldn’t let Ellie sleep on the couch and after a light argument that had been dragged out throughout the day, we met on a middle ground and decided to sleep in the same bed. She stayed as far away from me as possible every night though and I could not deny the fact that I was disappointed each time we went to rest. I knew I was still in a relationship but I couldn’t control my notions or sentiments surrounding her. I felt like she was keeping her distance from me a little more, especially after only a couple days ago.
I walked out of the room, quietly shutting the large doors behind me and entered into the kitchen. I turned on the stove to heat up the kettle, which was already filled with water; it was the first thing I had been doing the every morning. Ellie made me a tea drinker, to be honest. I stood by the kettle, anticipating the screams from the spout so I could grab it before it would wake Ellie. After the kettle sounded for a quick second, I poured the hot liquid in one of white coffee cups and added a tea bag. I took a seat in the outside patio with my cup in hand and let my body succumb to the weakening air, the flexible waves in the distance, and the propitiating impressions each bird and crashing wave sent me. I could feel my body slacken a bit more, if it was even possible.
The past couple of days had been more than I expected. The days were spontaneous, exhilarating, but relaxing all the same. We went on hikes and explored the city among man other activities; however the night of New Year’s Ever was by far my favorite.
I guess the city was big on the new year so we went to the beach where there was a large celebration.
We entered the bar, hoping for a fulfilling dinner before a quiet celebration together in the suite with champagne and the telly.However, we were greeted with a large amount of local faces who were all overjoyed and continued to supply us with drinks. The bar was packed, taking on the role of a small club. I could tell El was on the bridge from a very good buzz to a splotchy drunken state, as was I. I figured now would be a good time to leave, considering I also did not want to walk back too drunk too late in the city.
“You are going to watch the fireworks?” A accented woman purred into my ear as we were walking in the direction of the door.
“I don’t think so…” I said, looking back at Ellie who was holding onto my hand tightly, but watching her surroundings intently with amusement.
“We have one of the best shows in the world,” she licked her lips. “And you’re bound to have an amazing New Year’s Eve in a place like this,” she finished, winking.
“I, we might go to the beach and watch them.”
“Good boy. You know where to find me,” she left with a final kiss on my cheek.
My eyes scanned back to Ellie who was in hysterics. I dragged her out of the bar and checked my watch. 11:30. We saw looked at the crowded streets, holding enthusiastic natives and foreigners.
“Let’s go down to the beach,” Ellie’s soft voice drifted to my left ear. I nodded and we made our way to a bigger sight on the sandy stretch alongside the water. Drink after another, we soon found ourselves dancing with each other after joining the others. People were going crazy; some were dressed in odd costumes or some were barely dressed at all.
Loud vibrations shot through the atmosphere and were followed by a drastic change in the sky. The dark blue shade was illuminated and made out to be colors of all sorts as fireworks shocked the midnight stars. The Chilean shore was filled with a joyous crowd, shouting and acting nuts. A couple people ran into the water and I pulled Ellie down with me after I observed them.
A small amount of cold water washed over my head, leaving my hair and spots on my shirt soaked. I looked up at Ellie, who was standing beside me with an empty glass in her hand and my phone in the other.
“I called your name about three times. In another world, were you?” Her brows rose.
“Why the hell did you pour water on me? You could have just tapped my shoulder.”
She smirked and god did that look so right on her. “It was conveniently in my hand. Anyways, your phone kept ringing and I think it is important because it looks like they have been calling all morning,” she said before placing my phone down on the table.
I switched out the tea in my hand for the phone and looked at the numerous missed calls as it lit up.
“Fuck,” I mumbled, seeing many unanswered calls from my manager, management team, and even band members.
As I was about to unlock my phone, the screen switched over to an incoming call: a high sitter on management.
“Dan,” I answered, unsure of his reasons for calling.
“What in god’s forsaken name do you think you’re doing?”
“Nice to talk to you too. Well I am currently sitting outside, looking into the ocean, and peacefully taking in this wonderful winter weather.”
“Cut the crap, Harry.” I smiled at his frustration. “What the hell are you doing in Chile and why are you with some girl alone?”
I sat up straight as I heard each word through the phone. My feet left their spot on the table and found a place hitting the stone floor.
“How? I’m no-“
“You have been all over twitter with pictures of you walking around, on the beach, restaurants. And now there are stories headlining you as a cheater. I need you in the United States, where you are supposed to be might I add, by tomorrow. What the hell were you even thinking, Harry? Chile, really?” He interrupted me.
I looked back at Ellie, who was sitting at the bar counter reading a book she had recently purchased.
“I’m sorry. We were just- I wanted- I don’t know. When and how bad does this look?” I asked.
He sighed. “It looks bad. You just showed up in the middle of a random country with some random girl. The fans are going crazy and I’m sure your girlfriend is as well. Have even you talked to her, Harry?”
I rose out of my chair and walked to the end of the patio, leaning over the black railing.
“I’ve only talked to my mom and my travel agent. Other than that I haven’t had my phone.”
There was a long silence; I stared off into the open water and thought about the mess that was created over something so simple and small.
I heard Dan take a deep breath before he spoke. “Are you cheating with this girl?”
The water was cold, but the outside air seemed colder. My body was heated at the tightness of Ellie and my close seal.
“Happy New Year,” she said lightly as a water drop dripped from her nose from the light dunk we took moments before.
“New Year, so many firsts,” I winked.
“Cheeky as ever.”
We stared at each other, unable to break our concentration even though the party on the beach and the party in the sky still erupted in the background. It seemed like hours of us sitting there, holding each other tight in the water’s sway.
I couldn’t stop as I caught myself leaning in closer to her profile. Our noses barely touching and warm breath hitting each other, El opened her mouth, but not for what I expected.
“You have a girlfriend,” she whispered, barely audibe and looking down at my lips.
“Sorry,” I forced out. She caught the inside of her lower gums in her teeth and escaped my grasp. I shamefully watched her as she emerged fully from the water and continued to walk on the sand.
My throat grew tight. “No, of course not. Ellie is my best friend. Just my best friend. She was going back home after Christmas and I wasn’t thinking. I just got the tickets and it happened so fast. We’ve just been having so much fun...” I trailed off.
“Harry, just get to Los Angeles and we will clean up your stupidity once you get in.”
“Okay,” I mumbled before I ended the call. I stood still for ten minutes thinking how out of hands this stupid trip had gotten. We were just having a good time, nothing bad. But, like always, the media and the fans piped it up to be something that it wasn’t. Oh god, I thought, I had to call Hallie. She was probably thinking the worst. Why the hell did I ever think this would possibly be a good idea? In what world would I be able to sneak around and act like a normal person? Especially in a tourist town.
I walked into the kitchen, slamming the door behind me. Ellie looked startled at my sudden frustration.
“Is everything okay?” She asked slowly, closing her book.
“No. I need to catch a flight. I need to get back to LA tomorrow.”
“Oh,” she twisted her mouth. I pulled up twitter on my phone as I sat down on her left. I looked at the update accounts that had already spread numerous pictures of us. I gave the phone to Ellie and she proceeded to scroll through. There were photographs taken of us at the beach, at tables in restaurants, scrolling around, and some of us New Year’s Eve night, but luckily none of them captured our almost kiss-my awkward disappointment.
“Oh,” Ellie muttered understandingly.
“Yeah,” I whispered.
“They think I’m your new girl,” I heard her slightly chuckle.
“Yeah,” I said again. Did she mean that in a bad way, I thought. “It does look like it I guess,” I noted at our close proximity and facial expressions. I hoped no one would be able to notice my inability to hide my emotions. “What’s so bad about being my new girl?” I grinned.
She rolled her eyes up at me in response. And got out of her chair to empty the rest of her tea in the sink.
“Must I remind you, you have a girlfriend?” She had her back towards me as she washed her cup. Maybe she did need to remind me, considering I couldn’t even remember myself anymore, especially every time I was around her. I swear she was just tantalizing me.
“So I am guessing you’re taking a flight tonight? You need to pack and, well, you have to get luggage to take all your new things back.” She said finally facing me with her hands resting on the edge of the counter in front of the sink. “You can set up your travels and get ready to leave while I go out and buy some luggage for you.”
“Uhh-“
“Wasn’t a question,” she shot back before heading to the bedroom.
I barely had time to register her cold change in moods as she came back out of the bedroom with her shoes on and purse in hand.
“Alright I’m off. You better get a move on, Haz. It’s already 10,” she yelled as she walked out of the suite, leaving me to stare at the wall. After staring at the wall, I made an extremely stressful call to my travel agent.
I woke up to the sound of light outtakes of breath beside me and faint bird calls outside the clear glass doors. The curtains served their job well, keeping the majority of sunlight out of the room, but the brightened white fabric made it apparent the day had started.I got up and grabbed my shirt off the chair near the door before looking down at the messy bed, which still contained a small sleeping beauty. Ellie’s dark hair was scattered across her pillow as her body held on to the very edge of the right side of the mattress. After the second night, Ellie had convinced me to sleep on the bed; my aching back did more of the convincing. Of course I wouldn’t let Ellie sleep on the couch and after a light argument that had been dragged out throughout the day, we met on a middle ground and decided to sleep in the same bed. She stayed as far away from me as possible every night though and I could not deny the fact that I was disappointed each time we went to rest. I knew I was still in a relationship but I couldn’t control my notions or sentiments surrounding her. I felt like she was keeping her distance from me a little more, especially after only a couple days ago.
I walked out of the room, quietly shutting the large doors behind me and entered into the kitchen. I turned on the stove to heat up the kettle, which was already filled with water; it was the first thing I had been doing the every morning. Ellie made me a tea drinker, to be honest. I stood by the kettle, anticipating the screams from the spout so I could grab it before it would wake Ellie. After the kettle sounded for a quick second, I poured the hot liquid in one of white coffee cups and added a tea bag. I took a seat in the outside patio with my cup in hand and let my body succumb to the weakening air, the flexible waves in the distance, and the propitiating impressions each bird and crashing wave sent me. I could feel my body slacken a bit more, if it was even possible.
The past couple of days had been more than I expected. The days were spontaneous, exhilarating, but relaxing all the same. We went on hikes and explored the city among man other activities; however the night of New Year’s Ever was by far my favorite.
I guess the city was big on the new year so we went to the beach where there was a large celebration.
We entered the bar, hoping for a fulfilling dinner before a quiet celebration together in the suite with champagne and the telly.However, we were greeted with a large amount of local faces who were all overjoyed and continued to supply us with drinks. The bar was packed, taking on the role of a small club. I could tell El was on the bridge from a very good buzz to a splotchy drunken state, as was I. I figured now would be a good time to leave, considering I also did not want to walk back too drunk too late in the city.
“You are going to watch the fireworks?” A accented woman purred into my ear as we were walking in the direction of the door.
“I don’t think so…” I said, looking back at Ellie who was holding onto my hand tightly, but watching her surroundings intently with amusement.
“We have one of the best shows in the world,” she licked her lips. “And you’re bound to have an amazing New Year’s Eve in a place like this,” she finished, winking.
“I, we might go to the beach and watch them.”
“Good boy. You know where to find me,” she left with a final kiss on my cheek.
My eyes scanned back to Ellie who was in hysterics. I dragged her out of the bar and checked my watch. 11:30. We saw looked at the crowded streets, holding enthusiastic natives and foreigners.
“Let’s go down to the beach,” Ellie’s soft voice drifted to my left ear. I nodded and we made our way to a bigger sight on the sandy stretch alongside the water. Drink after another, we soon found ourselves dancing with each other after joining the others. People were going crazy; some were dressed in odd costumes or some were barely dressed at all.
Loud vibrations shot through the atmosphere and were followed by a drastic change in the sky. The dark blue shade was illuminated and made out to be colors of all sorts as fireworks shocked the midnight stars. The Chilean shore was filled with a joyous crowd, shouting and acting nuts. A couple people ran into the water and I pulled Ellie down with me after I observed them.
A small amount of cold water washed over my head, leaving my hair and spots on my shirt soaked. I looked up at Ellie, who was standing beside me with an empty glass in her hand and my phone in the other.
“I called your name about three times. In another world, were you?” Her brows rose.
“Why the hell did you pour water on me? You could have just tapped my shoulder.”
She smirked and god did that look so right on her. “It was conveniently in my hand. Anyways, your phone kept ringing and I think it is important because it looks like they have been calling all morning,” she said before placing my phone down on the table.
I switched out the tea in my hand for the phone and looked at the numerous missed calls as it lit up.
“Fuck,” I mumbled, seeing many unanswered calls from my manager, management team, and even band members.
As I was about to unlock my phone, the screen switched over to an incoming call: a high sitter on management.
“Dan,” I answered, unsure of his reasons for calling.
“What in god’s forsaken name do you think you’re doing?”
“Nice to talk to you too. Well I am currently sitting outside, looking into the ocean, and peacefully taking in this wonderful winter weather.”
“Cut the crap, Harry.” I smiled at his frustration. “What the hell are you doing in Chile and why are you with some girl alone?”
I sat up straight as I heard each word through the phone. My feet left their spot on the table and found a place hitting the stone floor.
“How? I’m no-“
“You have been all over twitter with pictures of you walking around, on the beach, restaurants. And now there are stories headlining you as a cheater. I need you in the United States, where you are supposed to be might I add, by tomorrow. What the hell were you even thinking, Harry? Chile, really?” He interrupted me.
I looked back at Ellie, who was sitting at the bar counter reading a book she had recently purchased.
“I’m sorry. We were just- I wanted- I don’t know. When and how bad does this look?” I asked.
He sighed. “It looks bad. You just showed up in the middle of a random country with some random girl. The fans are going crazy and I’m sure your girlfriend is as well. Have even you talked to her, Harry?”
I rose out of my chair and walked to the end of the patio, leaning over the black railing.
“I’ve only talked to my mom and my travel agent. Other than that I haven’t had my phone.”
There was a long silence; I stared off into the open water and thought about the mess that was created over something so simple and small.
I heard Dan take a deep breath before he spoke. “Are you cheating with this girl?”
The water was cold, but the outside air seemed colder. My body was heated at the tightness of Ellie and my close seal.
“Happy New Year,” she said lightly as a water drop dripped from her nose from the light dunk we took moments before.
“New Year, so many firsts,” I winked.
“Cheeky as ever.”
We stared at each other, unable to break our concentration even though the party on the beach and the party in the sky still erupted in the background. It seemed like hours of us sitting there, holding each other tight in the water’s sway.
I couldn’t stop as I caught myself leaning in closer to her profile. Our noses barely touching and warm breath hitting each other, El opened her mouth, but not for what I expected.
“You have a girlfriend,” she whispered, barely audibe and looking down at my lips.
“Sorry,” I forced out. She caught the inside of her lower gums in her teeth and escaped my grasp. I shamefully watched her as she emerged fully from the water and continued to walk on the sand.
My throat grew tight. “No, of course not. Ellie is my best friend. Just my best friend. She was going back home after Christmas and I wasn’t thinking. I just got the tickets and it happened so fast. We’ve just been having so much fun...” I trailed off.
“Harry, just get to Los Angeles and we will clean up your stupidity once you get in.”
“Okay,” I mumbled before I ended the call. I stood still for ten minutes thinking how out of hands this stupid trip had gotten. We were just having a good time, nothing bad. But, like always, the media and the fans piped it up to be something that it wasn’t. Oh god, I thought, I had to call Hallie. She was probably thinking the worst. Why the hell did I ever think this would possibly be a good idea? In what world would I be able to sneak around and act like a normal person? Especially in a tourist town.
I walked into the kitchen, slamming the door behind me. Ellie looked startled at my sudden frustration.
“Is everything okay?” She asked slowly, closing her book.
“No. I need to catch a flight. I need to get back to LA tomorrow.”
“Oh,” she twisted her mouth. I pulled up twitter on my phone as I sat down on her left. I looked at the update accounts that had already spread numerous pictures of us. I gave the phone to Ellie and she proceeded to scroll through. There were photographs taken of us at the beach, at tables in restaurants, scrolling around, and some of us New Year’s Eve night, but luckily none of them captured our almost kiss-my awkward disappointment.
“Oh,” Ellie muttered understandingly.
“Yeah,” I whispered.
“They think I’m your new girl,” I heard her slightly chuckle.
“Yeah,” I said again. Did she mean that in a bad way, I thought. “It does look like it I guess,” I noted at our close proximity and facial expressions. I hoped no one would be able to notice my inability to hide my emotions. “What’s so bad about being my new girl?” I grinned.
She rolled her eyes up at me in response. And got out of her chair to empty the rest of her tea in the sink.
“Must I remind you, you have a girlfriend?” She had her back towards me as she washed her cup. Maybe she did need to remind me, considering I couldn’t even remember myself anymore, especially every time I was around her. I swear she was just tantalizing me.
“So I am guessing you’re taking a flight tonight? You need to pack and, well, you have to get luggage to take all your new things back.” She said finally facing me with her hands resting on the edge of the counter in front of the sink. “You can set up your travels and get ready to leave while I go out and buy some luggage for you.”
“Uhh-“
“Wasn’t a question,” she shot back before heading to the bedroom.
I barely had time to register her cold change in moods as she came back out of the bedroom with her shoes on and purse in hand.
“Alright I’m off. You better get a move on, Haz. It’s already 10,” she yelled as she walked out of the suite, leaving me to stare at the wall. After staring at the wall, I made an extremely stressful call to my travel agent.
Notes
Thank you so much for the subscriptions and votes. Love you all and hope you had a lovely holiday and have a wonderful New Years. Wow. another year-time really flies too fast. Excuse me while I go have a cry.
xo.
YOU CAN'T JUST STOP HERE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE UPDATE!!!
2/25/17