The Reinvention of Harry Styles

On their way to get their hair done, Gemma and Molly stopped by Harry’s place to drop off Molly’s suitcases and pick up her house key. Harry was busy enough that day as it was, but he spent his morning turning one of his guest bedrooms (the one closest to his own room) into Molly’s new bedroom. He hoped to finish up before Molly and Gemma arrived, but his manager made an unexpected visit, which was not out of the ordinary.

“Come in, Jeff,” Harry shouted down the stairs before returning to work. Jeff eventually joined Harry and watched him with suspicion as Harry threw some new sheets on the mattress. “Can you grab that corner?” He asked, and Jeff obliged. As the two made the bed, Harry heard the unmistakable sound of his sister’s laugh outside.

“This is the back entrance, no one really uses the front door, except Harry when he actually wants the paps to see him,” Gemma explained and Molly followed her inside. “Where is that brother of mine? Harold?!” She shouted, and Harry appeared at the top of the stairs, Jeff slightly behind him.

“Sorry, I was just getting Molly’s...office set up,” he explained.

“Office?” Jeff asked, and looked over the room, which contained a bed, a dresser, a closet, its own bathroom, but no desk or chair.

“Molly’s a writer,” Harry answered, and downstairs, Gemma’s eyebrows shot up.

“Yes, that’s how we met,” she turned to Molly. “And became friends.”

“Molly, I wanted it to be a surprise,” Harry lied on the spot, “but I’m going to let you pick out a desk for your office.”

Molly’s eyes shot open and she squealed with semi-mock delight. “Thank you Harry!”

“Harry, get down here and carry your girlfriend’s heavy suitcase up to your room!” Gemma shouted, and Harry jumped a little before rushing down the stairs. He felt Jeff’s eyes on him as he gave Molly a hug and kissed her on the cheek before grabbing both of her suitcases and rushing back upstairs to place them in his room.

“I’ll get out of your way soon, but I just stopped by because I needed to know Molly’s middle name,” Jeff asked Harry. “For her visa, of course.”

‘Right.’ Harry thought, and tried to recall what Molly had said her middle name was. ‘Anne? No Harry, that’s your sister’s middle name. But it begins with “An..”... Andrea, Anthony-no that’s not a girls name. Antelope-that’s not even a name…’

“Annabelle,” Harry remembered. “It was her grandmother’s name.” He smiled back down at Molly, proud he’d remembered, and then back at Jeff.

“Thanks. I’ll see you later for the premier,” Jeff stated, and descended the stairs, nodding politely to Gemma and Molly on his way out.

As the door clicked shut behind him, Gemma burst out laughing. “Who spit in his tea?”

“We kinda did,” Molly answered and exchanged amused glances with Harry.

“You two are killing me.” Gemma rolled her eyes and laughed. “So you’re a writer? Me too!” Gemma asked Molly as they climbed the stairs to check out her ‘office.’

“Kinda. I have a deal to ghostwrite a book. I’ve done something like it before, and I occasionally write articles for a few sites. That’s how Harry and I met, actually,” Molly explained. “So this is my room?”

“Yes, I hope it’s suitable,” Harry asked as he retrieved her suitcases from his room and put them in hers. “You’ve got your own bathroom, too.”

Molly peaked through the bathroom door. “That is a massive bathtub!” She walked up to it, leaning on the edge of the tub. “Oh yes, this is definitely suitable,” she cooed and turned back to Harry.

“I wasn’t joking about the desk, though I played it up a little for Jeff,” Harry smirked. “I know you have actual work to do, other than pretending being my ‘girlfriend’.”

“That’s a full time job on it’s own,” Molly teased.

“Let me show you the rest of the house.” Harry led Molly back downstairs and pointed out the kitchen, dining room, living room, etc. before ending in the entry way.

“So is that it?” Molly peaked through the doorway to the dining room. “Is that the dining table from the song?”

Harry laughed and felt a little embarrassed considering the first few lines of the song, though Molly’s teasing smirk eased those thoughts. “No,” he shook his head. “We wrote that one in Jamaica.”

“So, were you just like, sitting at the dining table when you wrote the song? Is that where the name comes from?” She asked, still teasing, though slightly curious.

“Yeah, something like that,” he nodded.

“Because that’s a weird title. I just call it the masturbation song, because that’s all I can think of when I hear it,” Molly joked, and Harry blushed some more. “Doesn’t that bother you?” She turned to Gemma. “That your brother talks about himself jerking off in one of his songs?”

“No, not really. He’s a teenaged boy, isn’t that all they do?” Gemma shrugged. “Besides, I don’t really listen to his music,” she added teasingly.

“I’m not a teenager! I’m 23!” Harry corrected. “And a half!”

Gemma and Molly burst out laughing and Harry’s cheeks turned pink. “Whatever, baby bro. We have to go and get our hairs done. See you at the premier.”

Harry watched them return to Gemma’s car, and the extra pink color in his face slowly faded. He wasn’t sure why he was so embarrassed. Really, it was his own fault for setting them up as friends. He just hadn’t realized how quickly or how well they would get along. ‘But this is good, right?’ He kept reminding himself.

Several hours later, Harry was on his way to the 'Dunkirk' world premier with Jeff and his girlfriend Glenne. They were going over responses to possible interview questions, like reviewing flashcards before an exam. Molly, Gemma, and Anne were in a different car, still quite far from the premier. They chatted excitedly until it was finally their turn to get out and walk the red carpet. Nobody really noticed them, though Harry’s fans recognized Anne and Gemma, and instantly took note of Molly in her tight black dress and shiny red heels.

“You’ll be fine, just look confident and smile,” Gemma said quietly, sensing Molly was nervous. Molly took this advice to heart and smiled, showing off the red lipstick that matched her shoes. In a dress like this, she couldn’t help but feel confident. She and Gemma linked arms and made their way down the red carpet next to Anne. A couple fans called out to them, and they waved, before continuing toward the entrance.

They came up behind Harry as he was just finishing an interview. Hearing his mom say his name, he turned to greet her. He froze as his eyes passed over Molly in her tight black dress, hugging all her curves in the best way. He swallowed hard and hoped that no one had noticed (except maybe Jeff, though he was nowhere in sight). “Hi mum, glad you could make it.” He gave her a quick hug before turning to acknowledge Gemma, and her ‘friend’ Molly.

“We’ll see you in there,” Gemma called to him before the three made their way into the theater. They found a group of four seats together and sat down, putting Molly at the end next to one of the other Dunkirk actors, leaving a space between Gemma and Anne for Harry.

“Hi, I’m Molly,” she introduced herself to the ginger haired actor.

“Tom, nice to meet you,” he returned her greeting before they were interrupted by Harry.

“Sorry,” he said, and stepped over the two to get to the seat Anne and Gemma had saved for him. “Gem, why don’t we switch seats. I think you can see better from over here. I’ve already seen it, anyway.”

“But- okay,” Gemma started to protest, but obliged when she realized she couldn’t actually see very well now that someone tall had sat in front of them. However, she thought she and Molly should stay together for appearances, yet Molly seemed to really enjoy talking to Tom.

Molly smoothed out her dress as she sat down again now that Harry had taken his seat. She noticed Harry eyeing her and smiled as a thought occurred to her. “In a black dress, she’s such an actress.” She smiled, and waited for Harry to acknowledge her joke.

“I mean, you’re not wrong.” He nodded. “You are wearing a black dress, and at times, around a certain manager of mine, you are an actress.”

Molly didn’t care that Harry didn’t find it as amusing as she did that she tried to work his lyrics into everyday conversation. However, she was finding Tom a much more interesting subject to talk to than Harry, at this moment, and turned to face him.

“You play the one on the boat, right? With that lovely dark red sweater?” Molly asked him after picking out who he might have been in the trailer she’d seen.

Tom smiled, “Yes, the preppy jumper, I call it.”

“So, are you naturally ginger? Because in the movie you were blond,” Molly asked.

“No, I’m usually blond. I’ve gone ginger for a play I’m doing,” Tom explained.

“Oh, good, because I didn’t want to say I liked you better blond and hurt your feelings.” Molly laughed. “Though red is a suitable hair color for your complexion.”

“Thanks?” Tom laughed. “I’m actually heading out soon to get ready for the play, that’s why I’m sitting in the aisle seat.”

“Oh, so you’re double booked for the night.” Molly laughed.

“Yes, though technically the play starts soon after the movie ends, but I have to be there earlier to warm up and stuff.” Tom explained. “You guys should come.” He looked between Molly and Harry and Gemma, not really sure what their situation was. Molly had said she and Gemma were friends, yet Harry insisted on sitting next to Molly and kept giving her surreptitious looks.

“I’d love to come, but I have to go to the after party tonight,” Harry apologized. “Another time, though.”

“I’d love to go.” Molly smiled. She’d been in London less than 24 hours and already had the chance to see a play in the west end? Besides, he was cute.

Once the movie started, Molly was wrapped up in the film and almost didn’t notice Tom slipping her his number, with a note saying he’d have some tickets held for her, before he snuck out. She was also oblivious to Harry, in the seat beside her, looking tense and rigid, and slightly pissed off. His mind was far away from ‘Dunkirk’ and was startled when Molly grabbed his hand on the armrest during one of the many tense scenes.

He turned to look at her, startled, and she mouthed ‘sorry’ before removing her hand. The rest of the movie she kept her hands to herself no matter how frightening or suspenseful the film got.

Harry did not realize the movie had ended until the lights came up and the crowd was clapping. Molly leaned forward to talk around him to Gemma about going to the play, which they both agreed they should leave now to make it there on time. Playing the role of ‘besties’ well, the pair headed off arm in arm to make their way over to the theater Tom’s play was in.

Harry was acutely aware that his mother was watching him with a consoling smile. “What?” He asked. “Was it that bad?”

“The movie? No, hon, it was fantastic. You were wonderful, of course. But,” she had that smile again, like she felt bad for him, and he didn’t know why.

“We’d better go so everyone else in this row can leave.” Harry stood up, taking his mom’s hand in his own. The two posed for a few pictures before they parted ways. Before Anne left Harry, she leaned in to give him a hug.

“You looked jealous, that’s all.” she said before giving him a kiss goodbye.

“What?” He said after her, and she turned around to wave goodbye. He didn’t have time to think about it as he was rushed off to the after party with most of the cast.

When he got home late that night he expected to find Molly there, since the play had to have been over by then. He checked his phone, and saw Molly had texted him a few times. She was going out (without Gemma) with Tom and some of the cast members to get a drink after the play.

‘Wow, she certainly does make friends fast’ Harry joked to himself before heading up to bed.

He was awoken an hour later by a phone call from her. ‘Uh oh, I hope she’s not in trouble…’

“Hello?” He said groggily.

“Harry, what’s your address?” Molly asked. “We’re in a cab, and I literally don’t know where you live!” Molly laughed, and Harry heard someone else in the cab. He was just beginning to wonder who ‘we’ meant, when he heard his voice.

“We could just go back to my place,” Tom said to Molly.

“No, no, they can’t see me there.” Molly replied before laughing. “Stop that, not yet!”

“Umm,” Harry froze for a moment before giving her his address. He had to, since she needed to know where he (and now she) lived, but at the same time…. Maybe it wasn’t what it seemed. Harry tried to convince himself that as he desperately tried to fall back to sleep before Molly got home.

Notes

I keep misspelling Gemma’s name as ‘Gemme’ because I have another story with a main character named Emme (short for Emmeline). Feel free to point it out to me if you see it misspelled in a chapter : )

The Tom mentioned in the story is Tom Glynn-Carney. I considered using Fionn, since she already knew him, but Tom is just too cute! I remember hearing in an interview that he had to leave the night of the premiere to appear in a play (The Ferrymen I think).

Thank you all for reading, voting, and commenting! It means a lot to me! : )