Different (4) (Patreon)

He kept his eyes tightly closed as he savored the moment. Silence had taken over. She never imagined she would fall for someone like him. Harry was humble and kind-hearted. He was ridiculously shy and stuttered continuously, which only made him more attractive. She already found him very peculiar, and she had only known him for a few days. 

He listened and observed her. He noticed things that the average college boy wouldn't. He paid attention to the little details, and she liked it. It made her feel special. 

“Harry” She whispered as she leaned in and kissed his lips again. Y/N pecked his jaw as soon as she detached her lips from his. Harry gulped and finally opened his eyes. He was confused, he opened his mouth to say something, but his phone ringing interrupted him. He picked up, but his eyes never looked away from hers. 

“I've got to go” He apologized with an evident frown displayed across his features.  Y/N nodded ad pulled away from him. She grabbed her keys and her tray and placed them in their proper place. Harry followed, keeping his head down.

“It's freezing!” She acknowledged as she rubbed her legs, multiple times trying to create friction, so she could heat up quicker. The seats were cold enough that they felt like they were wet. Y/N rested her arm over the consult and allowed her hand to hang as she started the car and maneuvered her way out of the driveway and into the busy streets. 

Suddenly, she felt something warm brush up against her fingers. She looked momentarily at her hand and realized that Harry had rested his hand right beside her. The source of the warmth was the side of Harry's hand brushing up against hers due to the constant movement of the car.

She looked back at the road as the light turned green. She wanted to tell him how much she liked him, but she felt like it was too early to share her feelings. There was the possibility that everything could go wrong, and he could turn out to be not as good as she thought him to be.

Y/N lived comfortably. Her only issue was her family dynamics. She traveled to places that she sometimes couldn't pronounce. Her family spent money without needing to look at price tags. Surely, her parents were always traveling, and she was always home alone. She was privileged and there was no denying it. Y/N was thankful and graceful. Although she always imagined how nice it must be to go home and have someone waiting for her. 

Y/N grabbed his hand. She went for it without even thinking about it. His hand was bigger than hers, but they were still soft. She intertwined their fingers and tried her best not to look at him. He looked down at their hands and a smile appeared. He kept his attention focused on the window, clearly too nervous to speak. 

“Harry” Y/N called out as she neared his dorm. “Is everything alright?” He shifted on his seat and turned to look at her. She could feel his intense gaze on her. 

“Did yeh mean it?” He said with no sign of hesitation and in a profoundly serious tone. 

“I wouldn't have kissed you otherwise, Harry” She cleared her throat and sat up. “But if you didn't like it then I guess we can forget it ever happened” 

“No” he objected quickly. She could sense that she had slightly offended him with her assumption. “It’s jus’ I never considered that someone like yeh would be interested in someone like me” he finally admitted aloud. 

“Someone like you?” She repeated, offended by the way he referred to himself. Y/N wished he could see himself through her eyes. Harry had opened the door for her today and had offered to carry anything that was the slightest heavy. He was a gentleman and there was no denying it. Harry treated her like she was made of glass, yet there he was undermining and tearing himself down. “Harry, I think you are wonderful. You are no less than me. Don't ever say that to me ever again” Y/N firmly asked him. 

“O-ok” Y/N finally pulled in front of the dorm, but this time he didn't jump out instantly like last time. He unbuckled him and turned to her. “Wha’ now?” He asked referring to what was blooming between them. 

“Let's see where this takes us” She shrugged and kissed him. “Now get out of here before I get you in any further trouble” She whispered against his lips. 

His lips tugged upwards, forming a beautiful smile. 

“Goodnight” 

“Goodnight” she smiled. 

“Text me when you get home” There it was again. Those were the kinds of comments that made her want to kidnap him and take him home and never let him go. She responded with a gentle nod, and he shut the door. Y/N sat back in the car and waited until he entered before starting the car and driving home. 

Y/N was no saint, and she was scared of how his opinion of her would change when she introduced him to that phase in her life. She used to drink a lot, and consequently, she would find herself in strangers' beds the morning after. This had been mostly during her freshman and sophomore years. She still managed to attend class and keep a high GPA, but things drastically changed one very particular night. Where things had gotten out of hand at a house party. 

She tried her best not to remember the events. Although she found it particularly hard when Brian kept showing up and reminding her. They had met during her sophomore year. He was in her creative writing class, and they had been paired for writing. Things were great for a while, but then she started noticing weird things, especially during their junior year. 

She parked the car and waited until she reached her floor to text Harry. 

“I am home. Sweet dreams” Y/N got a few things ready for the morning and went to sleep. 

---------------——

She woke up to her phone ringing loudly in the room. She reached out for him with her eyes still closed. 

“Hello?” 

“Hi sweetie” She instantly smiled, recognizing her beautiful and delicate voice. “How have you been?” 

“Mom! Hi!” Y/N wiped the grogginess from her eyes and pushed the comforter off her body. She pressed the light switch beside her bed and the curtains started rising. 

“I am good. How is Dubai?” She questioned as she observed the beautiful sunrise. 

“It's beautiful and the people are just as wonderful. You should be here with us” Y/N instantly felt the knot in her throat start growing. She wanted to cry and tell them how much she missed them all. 

“When are you coming back?” 

“That's why I am calling you. We'll be extending our trip for two more months. Dad has some business to take care of, and I can't just leave him on his own. He needs me” She left her heart shattering, but she knew better. Y/N always got her hopes up for nothing. 

“So, you won't be here for Thanksgiving?” She rose to her feet and made her way into the bathroom. She was over it and just wanted to hang up. She felt disappointed and not particularly with her parents, but with her own self because for a minute she thought things were going to change. 

“No honey. You should fly to New York and spend it with grandma. She said she would love to have you” Y/N nodded as if she could see her and rolled her eyes. “Dad says hi,” she said after Y/N heard him mumbling in the background. She didn't expect anything more from him. He was a man of very few words. 

“I hope you have fun. I've got to go. I need to do some stuff for school” She dismissed her, clearly annoyed by her disregard for her feelings. 

“I love you. We'll send you some more money for personal things and Mrs. Smith said she would take care of everything else” She added only making her daughter angrier. As if money was going to take care of the void that her mother and father had left. 

“Thanks. Love you. Bye” and with that, she hung up. She connected her speakers to the Bluetooth of her phone and started getting ready. She changed into some leggings and a long sleeve shirt before slipping on some sneakers and a beanie.

It was only six in the morning when she started her morning jog around the neighborhood. Jogging was her coping mechanism. She also needed to keep up her resistance for the games and practices.

After her workout, she took a shower and prepared herself some breakfast before heading to campus. She had to do some work and study for a test.

It was mid-afternoon when she finally heard from him.

What are you doing today?

Nothing, why? Miss me already?

Always. I was wondering if you wanted to hang out with me and my friends.

Yeah!

That sounds great

What time?

Like in forty minutes

Okay send me the address

A few minutes later, he sent her the address. She changed into a pair of jeans and a white sweater. She pulled her hair up into a bun and grabbed a jacket. She put some concealer on, curled her eyelashes, applied some mascara, and put some blush on, and she was out the door.

Y/N parked outside a diner. It had fluorescent lights outside that shined brightly in the darkness. As soon as she shut off the car, she began craving a giant vanilla milkshake and some fries. She sent Harry a picture of the outside of the diner, and she waited for a confirmation that she was in the right spot.

Y/N felt nervous which was not common for her. She wanted to make a good impression. His friends already assumed that she was a spoiled brat from hearing other people talk.

She walked into the diner and looked around seeking his indistinguishable head of chocolate curls. From the corner of her eyes, she spotted someone waving at her and calling for her attention. It was him. She smiled and made her way through the people that were waiting to be sat. He was wearing jeans and a graphic t-shirt with a cardigan over it. He looked adorable.

“Hi” Y/N smiled as she reached him. He had gotten up from the booth and was smiling back at her, but not as big as she was. She wrapped her arms around his torso and hugged him. She had every intention of kissing him, but she knew him enough to know that he wouldn’t like it in front of his friends.

“Hey” he whispered back as he stared into her eyes. She turned to her side not wanting to be rude or not cordial with his friends that kept staring at her. There were three boys and one girl that she recognized from the party.

“Hi, Mitch and Sarah” she waved before sliding into the booth. They smiled back, and she then turned her attention to the rest of his friends. “I am sorry. I think we haven’t met before”

“This is Liam and Jeff” He introduced them as they both stared blankly at her.

“It’s nice to meet you both. Do you guys also go to the same university?” She asked trying to break the ice, but none of them responded, only causing her to grow more nervous. She reached for Harry’s hand under the table.

“Sorry Y/N” Liam said after he cleared his throat and gulped down some water. “Can we just address the elephant in the room?” Y/N stared back at him somewhat confused at what he was referring to. “How did this motherfucker score you?” Everyone at the table burst into a laugh including the couple.

“Seriously, it seems pretty surreal to me. Is he paying you or what?” Now it was Jeff’s turn to roast Harry. She shifted on her seat and looked at Harry. His cheeks were tainted by a crimson red as he looked down at his lap while shaking his head. He was clearly embarrassed by his friends.

“Honestly?” She kissed his cheek, feeling his hot skin against her lips. “He is just irresistible”

“You are one lucky son of a bitch Harry Styles” Mitch added, taking a menu to order.

Under the table, their fingers were intertwined while his thumb had started stroking the side of her hand for comfort while they both rested on his lap.

“Okay. Enough. Poor Harry” Sarah spoke, rescuing Harry from any further embarrassment. “I am starving. Can we order already?”

Everyone in the table started speaking and dove into their own particular conversation. Harry with his free hand reached up and grabbed a menu and started flipping through the pages. She observed him silently not wanting to disturb him.

Harry looked up from his menu and turned his attention toward her.

“What are you having?” He whispered as if it was forbidden for the rest of the table to hear what they were talking about.

“A vanilla mistake and fries” He smiled at her response. “What?” she poked his side wanting to know what he found so amusing by her choice of food.

“Nothing” he shrugged; his eyebrows knitted together as he tried concentrating on what was written on the menu. “I jus’ never pictured yeh to be a milkshake and fries' type of girl”

“What is that supposed to mean?” She asked, acting offended by his comment.

“I jus’ thought yeh were one of those girls who only liked salads and soups and stuff” She gasped loudly, clearly exaggerating. Harry laughed and shut the menu.

“I am very offended, Styles” she said playfully. “I guess there is just lots of things you don’t know about me” she winked, “yet”.

They ordered after Jeff and Mitch had fought over what plate on the menu was the best. Liam sat back and shook his head at both of them. Whilst Sarah got annoyed as she was forced to sit between them.

“So, Sarah we should get together soon and do something” Y/N offered, trying to get more words out of her. She seemed very hesitant around her, and Y/N could feel her staring down at her. Although, she didn’t blame her. Y/N was someone from outside. They had barely just met her at her house and all of a sudden, her best friend was inviting her to have dinner with them.

“Yeah. That sounds fun” She answered before leaning over and resting her head against Mitch’s shoulder.

Harry was now sitting extremely close to her. He wasn’t as ridged. He was relaxed.

“So, I heard it all started with a party” Liam asked and began asking how they had all met. Everyone explained from each individual perspective.

“Ugh and fucking Brian” Sarah rolled her eyes, “he always gives me the chills” She added, causing Y/N to go cold. Her smile instantly disappeared.

“He is just the typical guy who thinks it’s the big shit and can do anything he pleases” she managed to explain, “he used to be different” she shrugged, clearly not feeling bad about his behaviors. “He is a dick so steer clear from him”

Soon the food arrived, and everyone indulged in it. Harry had ordered a hamburger that seemed awfully delicious. There was also chicken Parmesan, a BLT, pasta, and waffles. It was certainly a feast.

They talked and talked for hours. It had been so refreshing to talk to people who weren’t constantly splurging about how much their parents made, their vacation homes or their last Cartier bracelet. She loved every single minute of their evening.

“Shit! Look at the time!” Jeff said as he finally checked his phone. Everyone then realized how truly late it was, and they proceeded to pay the check. They stood outside the diner in the parking lot to say their goodbyes. 

Harry reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.

“I don’t want to go home” She whispered as kissed her cheek.

“I don’t want you to go either” he admitted as he held her.

“Harry!” Mitch called out causing them to pull away. “Hurry up. We got to drop off Sarah”

“What are you guys going to do?” She questioned clearly intrigued

“We are going to drop off Natalie at her dorm then all the boys are staying in my room” Mitch answered, “I don’t know how or where we are going to sleep, but we’ll make it work” he joked as he leaned against his car.

“Why don’t you all stay at mine?” She asked causing Mitch’s eyes to light up brightly.

“You serious?” Harry asked, looking down at him astounded by her offer.

“Yeah. I mean it’s just me at my apartment and there is enough room for all of you. I am sure you’ll be more comfortable there. Plus, I enjoy the company” Mitch and Liam were almost hugging each other, clearly very excited about the idea. “Why don’t you stay too? I could use some girl company” She asked Sarah.

“Really?” Y/N nodded back with a smile. She cheered and did a little dance causing Y/N to laugh.

“It’s settled then! I’ll lead the way” she annoyed as she unlocked the car. “Are you coming?” Y/N asked Harry as she untangled herself from the side hug he was giving her.

“He is coming with us” Jeff yelled as he grabbed him by the back of his shirt and dragged him to their car.

“Fine” Y/N shrugged, “I’ll take Sarah” She gestured her towards the passenger seat. She squealed and ran to her side. The two young women climbed in and blasted music while Y/N drove towards her apartment.