Look After You

He was English, wet and nude. Noelle saw him, more than what she wanted to see for someone she's never met. In a panic, she covered herself tighter with more clothes, securing them in the back.

"Who are you?" Noelle croaked out and stared ahead, her eyes big, face too red to function. "And what are you doing in my room?" She rushed out.

She looked at the boy up and down, he was very tall and sort of intimidating looking. She stared at him with wide eyes wanting some answers.

He looked at her perplexed. "What? This is my room. I was supposed to get a roommate today but I signed up late. So I rushed here when they gave me the key."

Noelle's face changed in complete disbelief. "No, the administration office said I was going to get a roommate at the last minute…" She found herself staring in his eyes, she cursed herself mentally and looked away, holding the fabric tighter around her torso. "But they never said it wasn't a girl."

The boy rolled his large green eyes as water dripped off his arms. Noelle averted her eyes when he readjusted his towel more securely around his lean waist. She found herself staring again and moved her attention to the wall, sighing awkwardly, almost losing grip on her clothes.

Nothing was said for a few moments until he spoke up suddenly, nearly making her jump.

"I think we got fucked over." He said, with a hint of laugher.

Noelle said nothing, she was too afraid to say more after what she just saw and who saw her just now. Plus he was right. She couldn't waste anymore time talking about the confusion. She turned her back to him, putting on the thin top over her naked half, pulling it over her torso and grabbed her jacket.

"Fine, I'm fixing it." She reached for the door when she heard him make a noise and stopped.

"You're not going to wait for me?" The boy chirped; she could feel him inching closer to her and sighed before she did anything.

"Fine." She said and huffed, throwing her purse onto the bed, sitting on the mattress with her arms folded.

Noelle looked at him just standing there, looking at her blankly, she nodded her head impatiently. "What are you waiting for?"

He smirked slyly; he looked mischievous if Noelle didn't know any better. Rolling her eyes in place she didn't have time for this. He found all of this funny; none of this was what she had in mind coming to California for college.

"I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding, love."

Noelle rolled her eyes. "Just go get ready; I want to find out what's wrong with my living situation."

"Relax babe, it's my situation too." He said assure of himself and started laughing before finally turning around.

Noelle lifted her brow in confusion and slight annoyance at his behavior. How could he think all this was a joke? Not where she was concerned.

The boy took up some clothes and disappeared behind the bathroom closing the door. Noelle took that as her cue and busied herself with putting away some of her clothes inside the dresser. Whatever happens there was no chance in hell she would leave this room. The boy goes and she stays. She can't handle the first quarter living with the opposite sex. She doesn't even know his name and already she can tell what kind of person he is. Someone she already wants nothing to do with.

When he opened the door, steam came from the inside of the bathroom as she looked at him dressed in long sports shorts with a crisp white polo shirt blue collar cuff. His damp hair remained messy as he shook it ravenously, ruffling the curls out. Noelle felt annoyed that he was basically trying to dry himself the same way a wet dog would.

He approached her and she stiffened up. Looking down he trailed his eyes to meet hers, smiling at her and reached out his hand in front of her. "I'm Harry Styles."

This was odd. She just saw his birthday suit and now they were going to be formal? She wondered why he didn't seem as upset as she was about this as she stared at his hand.

Her manners got the better of her, he seemed sincere.

Noelle took his hand, shaking it slowly. "Noelle." She felt his large hand hold onto her. Harry had a strong handshake, like he meant it.

"We should go." She whispered.

They pulled away and Harry opened the door for her politely. She gave a thin smile, walking ahead of him only to turn back when she grabbed her purse and ID. She shared another look with Harry as he stared at her while she gathered her things. He didn't have anything on him and she made him aware of it.

"I've got my ID, no worries." He flashed another bright smile. Not this again, she thought.

She nodded strongly and went to the door a few steps ahead of him. Of course with his long legs he caught up to her in no time. He tried to make small talk with her but she kept ignoring him and continued walking to their destination. Noelle wasn't sure if taking Harry was a good idea. She dreaded the idea of being stuck with him for the remainder of the quarter let alone in the past 10 minutes she's known him. Who was she kidding? She doesn't know a thing about him. Other than his name, he has a penis and he's English.

She began to think about all the weird scenarios if they did live together but none of it compared to what she was feeling right now. She fixed her glasses from nearly falling over on the staircase, leading to the main office doors. The long lines had dispersed since and now students were only to wait behind a couple people before being called. It looked like all the workers were being called to lunch Noelle gathered from only 2 station windows open.

Harry was close behind, she could feel him. She really wanted to get this over with and be rid of this guy already. She looked back at him slightly smiling at her and rolled her eyes for the thousandth time.

"Relax." He whispered in her ear quietly. "No need to be so—"

Noelle held her hand up and that stopped him. She heard him laugh and moved forward when the next student stepped up. From the looks of the pace of the line, there weren't very many students in queue but it wasn't moving as fast as she liked. She checked her watch; it was half passed 5pm, figures. She couldn't believe how long this day was. Since the plane ride, she hadn't gotten any sleep in two days of the trip to California. She rubbed the corner of eye feeling tired beyond the meaning and did her best to suppress the yawn that wanted to come out.

She wasn't a rude person and whatever Harry thinks of her, she wanted to make that clear. It's nothing against him, her lack of sleep and frustration were getting the better of her more than she thought. She told her conscious to shut up and cleared her throat.

"Harry, it's just; can we just not talk right now?" Noelle said quietly, looking at him halfway, avoiding complete eye contact.

"Fine, I won't talk." He cleared his throat, adding more, "It's not that bad you know? I think it's a little bit funny but that's just me."

Noelle turned around, staring forward, smiling slightly but she didn't let him see it and instantly removed the positive expression from her face. She looked back at her papers just to make sure for the millionth time she had everything in check. For the most part, things seemed to make sense. She may have been only 2 weeks off the deadline of the first come first serve rule but she didn't feel it was so last minute. UCLA was a popular university, she kept this in mind but it wasn't IV league. The other colleges she was accepted into were brash and all too close to home. She wanted to be far away from Pennsylvania as she could.

She clutched her folder binder to her chest, erasing those thoughts just as soon as they came out. She closed her eyes, shutting it out, then opening them up again. She felt cleansed, but not entirely. That was until she moved up again, her eyes looking at the next student at the window. Noelle looked at her with a raised eyebrow. She looked at the worker, cracking jokes with the student who looked like a poor man's Victoria Justice; seemed annoying and a big waste.

When she fixes this weird situation she's going to take a long, hot shower and go to bed early. "This is just what I get for leaving." She said under her breath.

"Huh? What are you talking about? Leave where?" Harry asked behind her, he stepped from behind her and stood next to her, looking at her face.

Noelle shook her head, staring down on the ground. "Can this line move any slower, seriously?" She tried to change the subject fast. She didn't think anyone would hear her because she said it so softly.

Harry stared at the one window that was open and shrugged. "Beats me, love."

She looked at him as he licked his lips and ran his fingers through his hair. It had since dried from his shower. He smelled decent now that he was clean. Judging by the wardrobe he had to be a sports nut, probably more addicted to psychical activities over academics. Noelle guessed he didn't even have a major, maybe it was Sports writing or some vague Business guys sign up for. Whatever the subject was it had to be low on the totem pole. Harry didn't seem like the smart type; then again Noelle wasn't valedictorian either.

Finally as if bells where sounding off, they were called forward. The worker, again like the previous one had done with Noelle earlier, held her finger up and gave some papers to the person behind her. Noelle gawked at the scene and how terribly rude the worker was already.

Harry started to talk now, oh no, Noelle thought, she hoped this wasn't going to be a disaster.

"Can we have a moment of your time, love?" Harry asked, with a dash of charm. Moving closer, practically touching Noelle's hip.

Noelle couldn't ignore the color in his tone. Perhaps he used this voice before. The worker turned her attention to the two students in front of her, she smiled at Harry and semi-frowned at Noelle. Could this worker be any more bi polar, Noelle thought.

Harry seemed to do all the talking for the both of them while Noelle, who tried to get a word in edgewise, inadvertently kept behind Harry the entire time. The worker seemed to be more interested in listening to Harry and it looked like it was going their way. Though, she didn't know what Harry's intentions were. Maybe he was taking control and at the same time saying all the wrong things in the process.

Noelle tried again to bring her papers forward but the worker told her to wait. She looked at Harry and the adviser's eyes. Were they flirting? Both of them seemed more interested in each other than actually fixing the situation. How disgusting, Noelle thought. So she walked away from the help window and went to the various paper packets that were organized in cubby holes looking for dormitory documents if there were any. She looked with bored eyes to the several majors in front of her and shook her head. There was no way she was going to change her major since it was already too late and she'd paid this semester in full as well as the dorm rooms. Her supposedly new home which wasn't hers to call anymore.

This was the problem. She wanted nothing to do with Harry right now; all she wanted was her bed and maybe a warm cup of soup to calm her tension.

Harry looked to be almost done as he began to ask closing questions. This is when Noelle stepped forward to say something finally.

"Wait a minute, this concerns me too, umm," She thought quick on her feet, "what about applying for a room change?"

Noelle glanced on the worker's campus tag that read Nancy, had smiled at her, but it faded quickly, "We certainly have those—"

"Great! Can I have—" Nancy shushed her by holding her hand up.

"But there's a long waiting list. The University never accepts late approvals but this year, because of the abundance of students who were actually accepted, admissions made a waiting list, so you can fill out one right here." She handed Noelle a packet to which she accepted handing one to Harry as well.

"There anything else I can help you both with?" Nancy asked with an impatient monotone voice, looking mostly at Noelle.

Noelle and Harry shook their head; Harry excused himself and reached over Noelle's head to get back his ID. Noelle looked at him strangely but he just smiled back. He still thinks all of this is hilarious. Noelle made a mental note to not look so much in his direction from here on. She gathered her things and turned around without a word to either of them. Noelle didn't feel thankful or grateful, now she just has to wait, it's all up to the school now. With a roommate like Harry Styles, she was going to have to do some serious arranging.

"Wait up, Noelle!" She heard Harry say behind her but shuffled herself to the elevator but she was too late, it closed before she can get inside.

She cursed under her breath, looking anywhere but at Harry. "What?"

Off the corner of her eye she could see him smirking again. He looked like he was up to no good, like he was unpredictable. She checked her watch when he laughed again.

"This doesn't have to be as bad you're making it. We can both fill out the same thing; hopefully the waiting list isn't too long. Besides, I came here to make friends and—"

"I didn't." Noelle said quietly. She looked at Harry giving her a sympathetic glance. "I mean, sorry, just I wasn't expecting this. I haven't, um, gone to bed since I came here 2 days ago."

Noelle wasn't sure why she was telling him the truth, or telling him anything for that matter. She didn't have to, but she did. Too late to take it back.

Harry nodded carefully as the elevator came to them, making a ringing sound. The building was incredibly old; you could hear the creaky noises of the chiming before the elevator doors opened. They both walked in silently, Noelle firmly in her corner and Harry in his. Things were a little awkward. She opened up and she didn't like it. In fact she really didn't like it. Now she's putting herself on the chopping block to be judged and possibly ridiculed. It seemed like high school all over again. She remembered high school, that time where all she did was read, write and listen to the teachers. She remembered the cliques and cringed. Every school, practically every institution had their predictable cliques.

She'd confessed something pretty recent and deep to someone she just met, that was so surreal of her. Normally when people try talk to her and ask her anything personal she handles her words well because she's rehearsed everything several times. With Harry it didn't seem staged; it felt raw and natural. What was she so worried about? She doesn't know this guy and frankly he doesn't care about her so it's ludicrous to believe anything further. She came here to go to school, forget the issues of her past and get her degree.

Harry's eyes were on her the entire time. Noelle knowing this, looked away on purpose. You can tell someone is a liar just by looking into their eyes. Noelle didn't want to give her new roommate the pleasure of figuring her out in this last half hour. Plus, they didn't have to spend time together. They aren't sharing rent, food or utilities. This was college; school is for education and nothing else.

She glanced over at Harry who was still looking at her. It looked as if he was waiting for her to talk. His big green eyes focused on hers. She found herself staring back, unable to look away. She couldn't tear her eyes from his until the bell chimed, shaking her concentration. A bunch of students looked at her impatiently and she rushed out of there without waiting for Harry back to her room.

She hated herself for staring back, even worse for holding his gaze. No one had ever looked at her like that before. She had to keep reminding herself that they don't know each other at all. But a piece of her thought of the way he just looked her right now. At the last seconds just now she saw so much compassion in his eyes that not even her family gave her. Harry looked at her as if he cared. But it can't be. How could you look at someone without knowing them and just care? That is not how the world worked. Least it's not how Noelle saw it.

She rushed to the end of the room, fumbling for her key and opened the door, practically pushing herself inside. She took a deep breath, looking around the room. This was her home. She was going to make the best of it and not complain, not worry or over think. She had to throw away the look Harry gave her and focus on herself.

"You have a habit of leaving me behind." Harry said, she closed her eyes as she heard the door click, biting her lip, staying still. "Let's just make ourselves at home now, shall we, love?"

She moved to her side and threw the papers on her bed and stripped off her jacket, trying not to freak out. Suddenly she was feeling hot in the room and opened the window. When it didn't open she gave up.

Noelle sat on the edge of her bed flustered at everything that's happened the past couple of days. How was she going to function at this school? How was she going to live with a boy? How was she going to avoid everyone in the process? So many questions swirled around in her mind as she felt a strong breeze on her face. Sunlight beamed over face, she looked at Harry walking over to his things, moving them aside to sit on his mattress, staring across at her.

Neither of them said anything until Noelle made movement in her throat.

"Thank you," She looked outside but briefly moved to look at Harry.

"Don't mention it." Harry sat up straighter then hunched his shoulders when he caught her eyes again.

He stood up, reaching for something out of his bag, pulling out his wallet. Noelle hated to admit it but she watched his every move. People from England were scary too. She kept this in mind that not all of them are gentlemen. She caught herself staring when he turned around.

"Are you hungry?" Noelle shrugged but her stomach made weird gurgling noises at that moment. "I see, hmm. I can get something quick and we could eat. I'm starved."

Noelle hitched her shoulders, rubbing them with nerves running down. He proposed to eat with her. It's not a date. It's not anything. Just two people eating the same food together. No pressure. She told herself all of this before speaking. Still, the shiver down her spine never ceased to remind her how to be with people.

She feel the stammer build up in her throat before saying anything. Still, did he really have to eat with her?

"You don't have to Harry—"

"It's no problem love, I want to." Harry smiled at her; it was different than his other smiles, rather then the culmination of smirks he gave her.

It seemed genuine, again. His demeanor was laid back. She bit back her doubts, maybe she can do this, maybe.

Against her better judgment, more specifically her usual routine, she nodded in a small way.

"OK, um," She started reaching for her wallet to hand him some money. "I don't know if I have enough or I don't know, here's what I got…" She took out a 20 and looked up, alarmed, she then stood up.

He left before she had time to think.

"Well fuck." Noelle said, clutching the money in her hands.

She looked at it and sighed, she'd pay her half when he'd get back. Her phone vibrated on the nightstand, starling her. Not many family members get in touch with her and she didn't keep in close contact with people from back home. She'd suspected it was the usual. When she went to check it, her suspicions were correct.

She deleted the text and turned off her phone.

Notes