A Note from the Author:

Disclaimer: This story revolves around the theory that Harry's solo image was crafted by his management over the course of several years. As in most fanfiction (or RPF - real person fiction), this story presents a fictional version of a real person. I do not know the real Harry Styles, (or anyone else mentioned in this story), so I am guessing and filling in the blanks in many cases. I do not claim anything mentioned in the story is true, unless it can be backed up by reliable outside sources.

I was not originally a 1D fan; I came into the fandom this spring after seeing Harry on SNL (and from him discovered the rest of 1D), so my perspective is perhaps a bit different. All I knew about Harry beforehand was that he was the one with the hair, and he'd dated Taylor Swift. To me, solo/rock star Harry came across as arrogant, aloof, and overall fake; it looked like he was trying hard to be someone he was not. I do not think this is who he really is, so I support the theory that he was selected to be the 'Justin Timberlake' of 1D and had this image built around him over the past few years, and this is where most of the plot of this story comes from. Not all of the opinions presented in this story are mine, but I do support most of them.

I'm not trying to change anyone's opinion of Harry, and I know not everyone believes the theories presented in this story, and that's fine - this is just a story. I am not trying to drag Harry or his reputation (or anyone else's). This story is just for fun, and kind of my way of dealing with Harry's somewhat disappointing (to me, at least) solo career (thus far). I like Harry, and I think he has a lot of potential to do much better than this.

I also want to remind everyone that fanfiction is meant to be entertaining. I write for fun (not to make fun of anyone, just for fun) and I hope it is fun for you to read. If it isn't, maybe don't read it? In the last 10 years or so that I've been writing fanfiction, in all the fandoms I have been involved with, I have never come across a fandom that takes fanfiction so seriously. This goes for any story, not just my own - if you don't like a story, don't read it. I'm not going to tell anyone what to read/not read, but I want my readers to have the best reading experience they can - yet it ultimately comes down to the reader to decide what they read.

Lastly I would like to clarify that I do not know much about Harry's manager Jeffery Azoff, and have presented a fictionalized version of him in order to fit the story (because someone has to be the bad guy, sorry).

Thank you for taking the time to read this!

-Lila

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Harry and Fionn sat patiently waiting for the next interviewer to take the seat across from them. They glanced at each other before both grabbing their phones from their pockets and checking for any new texts, etc., while they waited.

"She's running a little late, sorry guys," someone informed them. "But at least this is your last interview of the day." She smiled, and Harry and Fionn both nodded and returned to their phones.

A clacking of heels indicated someone was coming, rather quickly, and Harry glanced up to see if it was their last interviewer. He and Fionn were a bit tired of answering the same questions over and over again all day, and wouldn't admit it, but they were glad the 'Dunkirk' press junket was almost over.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry," she said out of breath and pulled down her pencil skirt, which had ridden up her thighs as she ran. Being what is commonly called 'pear shaped' Molly often had this problem with tight skirts, but she wore it anyway because she liked the way it made her ass look. "My last meeting ran late, and wow, now I am late to interview Harry Styles! My 16 year old self would be screaming right now, except I just signed my first book deal! Well, I'm going to be a ghost writer, so it's not really 'my' book, but still! I'm very excited!!!" She chattered at an assistant who was trying to go over the interview process with her.

"You only have five minutes, so pick the most important questions." The assistant stated, and someone else walked up to her with a long list.

"These are subjects you are not permitted to talk about," he said and handed Molly a list, which she read through quickly.

"You're Jeff, right?" She glanced back up at Harry's manager. "So, these are topics I can't ask Harry about? What about Fionn? Can I ask him about 1D?"

Jeff shook his head. "Just don't talk about anything on this list, if possible. If it does come up, edit it out afterwards."

Molly rolled her eyes. 'Why did they have to be like this?' She thought and masked a grimace. Harry's management was not her favorite thing right now, and as a former 1D fan, she hated to see what they were doing to his career. At least she hoped it was his management, and not Harry who actually wanted to distance himself from directioners and create a fake new image of himself as a modern wannabe rock star. An idea flashed through her mind, and she knew this was probably her only chance to ever talk to Harry, so she had to go through with it.

"So, have you got any plans later?" Harry asked Fionn conversationally as he watched his manager talk to the interviewer.

Fionn shrugged. "I'll probably just head back to my hotel and sleep. This time difference is really getting to me." He took another sip of his coffee.

"I know this great sushi place if you want to check it out-" Harry started, but was interrupted as Molly click clacked over to the two in her heels. She introduced herself and explained what website she was writing for, while mentally trying to decide exactly how she was going to say this to Harry. It had to be quiet enough that the cameras didn't pick it up, so she had to get close. She held out her hand to shake, which Harry took, and Molly leaned in for a hug without thinking about it too much.

"Harry, don't take this the wrong way I'm a huge fan, or I was, but," she whispered quickly. "Your new management is causing you to hemorrhage fans. Nobody likes your new fake rock star image." Molly pulled away and they maintained eye contact for a moment, a fake smile trained on her lips. Harry did not look mad, so that's a good sign - in fact he didn't seem upset at all. Maybe a little confused, and a hint of something else....as if, he already knew that?

Molly moved onto Fionn, giving him a hug (without whispering anything ominous in his ear) before sitting in the chair across from them. She jumped into the interview and maintained her bubbly attitude throughout, despite the subtle questioning looks Harry kept giving her. Molly was given the one minute warning, and asked one final question, directing it at Fionn since Harry seemed a bit lost. At the conclusion of the interview, she shook Fionn's hand again, and this time it was Harry's turn to whisper into her ear when they hugged.

"Can I talk to you?" He said quickly and pulled out of the half hug to watch her face. Molly tried to remain calm and keep a professional countenance, but she was screaming on the inside.

"Absolutely," she answered, and watched his eyes dart behind her to where his manager stood.

"Somewhere private, though, pretend I just asked you out, or something," he whispered again.

'That won't be hard' Molly thought, and gave a flirty laugh. "I'd love to."

Harry nodded and bit his lip as he thought. "Great, I know this excellent sushi place..." he started, and the two walked toward the door, his hand gently on her arm, until they were met by his manager. "Oh, sorry, Jeff, I'm going to have to cancel our dinner plans tonight."

"But, Harry, you can't be seen-" Jeff started, his eyes glancing almost accusingly at Molly.

"Don't worry," Harry brushed him off. "They deliver takeaway. At least for me, they do." With that, Harry returned his attention to Molly and the two brushed passed his sputtering manager. They walked through a back exit and into a waiting car, and Harry put up the divider between them and the driver, hinting that they wanted some privacy to 'catch up.'

"Okay," he finally said and turned to her once they were on the road. "What exactly did you mean by that? I'm hemorrhaging fans?"

She had expected him to be mad or upset, but he seemed concerned. Molly took a deep breath before continuing. She hadn't thought about what she'd say after the interview, because she didn't think there'd be an 'after.'

"Yes, your 1D fans, the directioners, I was one at one point," she admitted, and tried to collect her thoughts. "But, point is, people don't like the new image you, or your team, is projecting. This 'rock star' thing is not going over well. Nobody is believing you're the next Mick Jagger, or Prince, or David Bowie - and I don't mean that as an insult. You're not them, because, well, you're you. People like you for being you, Harry Styles, not-" she motioned her hand at him. "Not whatever this is." She finally looked up at him and met his eyes. "I'm sorry."

He was quiet, and his face was drawn as he thought about what she'd told him. "It's okay. I'd had suspicions that that was the case, though they always assure me everything's always going as planned."

"As planned? So, did you know about this beforehand?" Molly tentatively asked.

He nodded. "Yeah, it was kind of my idea. I really just wanted to show that I was more than just 1D, that I wasn't just 'that guy' from a boyband. And rock stars from the '70s, well, the Azoffs had plenty of experience with that, so I thought it would be a piece of cake. I didn't necessarily want to leave my 1D fans behind, though."

"But it's not the '70s anymore, you can't pretend to be something you're not, " Molly said with a grimace, hoping she hadn't hurt his feelings. "Is your album even rock? Parts of it, I guess, but it's more indie, or pop, right? I've never been very good with music genres..."

Harry nodded, as if he had considered this, too, but was not overly happy with that conclusion.

"It's not too late, though," Molly started and Harry turned his gaze from the window, his green eyes fixing on hers. "It's not too late to fix it."

He stared at her like this for a moment, eyes wide and deep with thought. "You think we can fix this?"

Molly flushed slightly at the mention of 'we' (as if he implied her and him) and her mind raced to come up with a coherent response. "Yes, as my Grandma used to say, 'nothing is so broke that it can't be fixed'."

He smiled. "Your grandmother sounds very wise. You know, I wasn't joking about getting sushi, if you'd like. Maybe we can continue discussing this over some yellowfin? I think I might have a bottle of wine that would go well with that, too."

Molly nodded quickly and replied, "Sure, sounds like a date." She mentally smacked herself. "I mean, that would be great, sounds like a plan." Molly shut her mouth before she could say anything else embarrassing.

Harry laughed and pulled out his phone to order dinner for their 'date.' "This is going to be fun," he joked while Molly sat on the other end of the seat, pink with embarrassment.

Notes

I've added a disclaimer to the beginning of this chapter to explain my reasoning behind the story. I hope it makes sense?

Enjoy the story! Thank you for reading, commenting, and voting!! : D