She chats away, explaining her situation. He lies next to her, listening to every little detail she has to talk about. Her brothers are there, too, sitting, listening. She wouldn’t have it any other way now that she thinks of it. She would have had to forgive them sooner or later anyway.

“What about James?” her friend asks.

Darren shakes her head. “I haven’t even told him about Harry. I would, but he hasn’t called me, or even texted me, in a while. I wouldn’t want to bother him otherwise.”

“And where is he exactly? How do you know he isn’t… I don’t know – cheating on you?”

Darren laughs. “Are you for real, Caspar? James went to the States to visit his sister; he’s not cheating on me. Just help me out here; stop talking lies about my boyfriend and give me some advice.”

“That’s what you think,” Caspar says in a high pitch voice to her brothers. He clears his throat before speaking again. “I don’t think you should meet him.”

Darren drops her jaw. “What? Why not?”

Jack and Finn also look inquisitively at Caspar, in shock of his thoughts. Both boys think it would be okay for Darren to meet Harry; he seems like a nice guy. Of course, they will be spying on their sister, making sure he isn’t actually a creepy old guy.

“I-” Caspar starts, but cuts himself off with a sigh, “I don’t want to be replaced. I thought I was you best friend, not some Harry kid you haven’t even met in person.” Caspar’s true frown and sad expression make Darren sad as well. She has never seen Caspar’s sad, emotional side before, and she doesn’t think she ever wants to see it again.

She cautiously wraps her arms around him, squeezing him tightly with no intentions of letting go. “I could never replace you, Casp. STFWE: sluts, together forever without exceptions.”

~

Harry walks out of the bathroom with a towel hanging low around his waist and a spring in his step. He bounces in rhythm to the music blasting through his speakers all the way to his closet where he quickly dresses in some sweats and a shirt.

As he walks out of the closet, his phone rings, and he answers it without checking the caller ID. He says hello but is only met with a steady breath coming through the line. Harry furrows his eyebrows, waiting just a few more seconds until the person speaks.

“Hello, Harold.”

Harry gasps. “Gemma…”

Gemma lets out a shaky breath on the other end. “That’s me,” she tries to make a funny, but the call only becomes more awkward. “Um… so I got your message.”

Harry nods, only to realize she can’t see him. “Oh… yeah, the message. About that-”

“I’m just going to say it. I really miss you little bro. You may have fucked up, but I’m really glad that you’ve called me,” Gemma interrupts Harry to speak what’s on her mind. Truthfully, she had been waiting every day for Harry to call her, contact her in any way regardless of him pushing her away like everyone else. She knew that he would come through. Family is family after all.

Harry let a single tear trail down his face. He hadn’t realized how much he missed Gemma until now; he hadn’t realized how much he hurt himself for pushing, not only her, but also everyone in his life away. Pushing people away was the easiest thing for him to do at the time, but he’s truly starting to regret it.

“I-” A knock at his door interrupts Harry. “Hold on one minute.” He takes the phone away from his ear and makes his way to the door. He swiftly unlocks the door and opens it, unprepared for who stands behind it. His phone drops from his hold as well as his jaw, looking at the teary eyed girl whose appearance hasn’t changed much from the last time he saw her.

She laughs through her tears and smiles. “Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to let me in? It’s freezing out here in the hall!”

Harry steps aside and allows her to walk inside. She makes herself at home instantly by shrugging off her coat and shoes as Harry shuts and lock his door. He turns to face her, unsure of what to feel. When she turns around, she gives him one meaningful look before burying him in a hug.

“Please don’t shut me out ever again. I miss teasing you and making fun of you and having mum scold me for it. I miss seeing you on Christmas and New Year. I even miss the stupid pajamas you get me every year for my God damn birth, though you very well know it drives me crazy.” By now the tears are streaming down these siblings’ faces. “But really what I miss the most is that my little brother didn’t want me anymore; you don’t need me, but I need you, no matter how much you drive me insane.”

Harry steps back from his sister’s hug, taking in her confession. He hadn’t ever seen Gemma cry. Gemma is a strong woman, and crying like this just isn’t like her. He never meant for her to be hurt by him leaving; he never thought that it would hurt her even, that her brother wouldn’t be in her life. He may have been the one hurting, but he only hurt the one’s around him by allowing the hurt to push them away.

“Gemma,” Harry says, “I don’t know why I ever thought pushing you away, or anyone for that matter, was going to help me. I’m so sorry. I never meant for you to get hurt as well.”

Gemma sniffles and wipes her tears, then laughs. “That’s quite alright, Harold. I forgive you.” Harry chuckles and picks Gemma up, spinning her around in a circle. “Now, about that advice…”

~

“And you’re absolutely sure that she isn’t some psychotic old guy as well? I mean, sometimes guys pretend to be girls to kidnap vulnerable guys on the Internet as well. You never know…” Gemma trails off.

Harry shakes his head. “I’m absolutely sure that she isn’t a creepy old man. You read the messages; that can’t be fake! Besides, it’s not like she isn’t thinking the same. I mean-”

“So she doesn’t know you’re ‘The Harry Styles’, internationally famous boybander in One Direction?” Gemma asks. Harry shakes his head no. “So what exactly is it that you’re asking of me?”

Harry thinks for a moment before shrugging. He, himself, isn’t too sure exactly what advice he needs. All he knows is that he’s confused and wants someone that he can just explain everything to. Gemma had always been that person, and no one, in Harry’s mind, could replace that spot.

“I dunno. I just… I don’t know what to do. I’m scared that if I meet her, she’ll either be a psychotic fan girl who I’ll have to push away for my safety, or completely hate One Direction with a burning passion and push me away.” Harry sighs and runs a finger through his fringe in frustration.

Gemma laughs at Harry’s nervousness. She missed the moments she’s had like this with him where he’s so clueless and lost, needing his sister to tell him what he should do. Gemma would simply keep asking him questions until he figured it out for himself, or ask questions until she decides what he should do.

“Why don’t you just ask her?” Gemma laughs at Harry’s weird assumptions. “Don’t be too forward. Ask for her opinion on your silly band. You can decide what to do from there.” Harry just looks at Gemma with a why-didn’t-I-think-of-that face. Gemma laughs yet again at her brother. “I should probably be going now. I don’t want to hit any traffic on the way back.”

Harry nods. “Well thank you, Gem, for everything. I’ll see you soon?”

“You’re always welcome, Harold. And yeah. Bye!” Harry waves as Gemma walks to the elevator until he can no longer catch sight of her. He then closes the door and takes out his phone.

‘Here goes nothing. I just hope she’s sane and doesn’t think any different of me…’

~

Darren’s phone buzzes shortly after Caspar leaves with warning not to replace him. She sighs, pulling out her phone and sliding the new kik notification open. It’s Harry.

JustYourNormalGuy: hello. :)

Darren wiggles her thumbs over the keyboard, unsure of what to say still. Her best friend hadn’t helped out much, and her brother’s weren’t any help either. They just warned her to be safe then left with video plans. Instead of bringing it up, she decides to just say hi and let the conversation get going before figuring out how to bring it up.

JustYourNormalGuy: Can I ask for you something?
ThatInvisibleGirl: Sure?
JustYourNormalGuy: Do you like One Direction?

At this question, Darren’s nose wrinkles up and her eyebrows crease together. Clearly, this isn’t the question she would have expected Harry to ask her. In fact, she’s starting to wonder if what Blithe predicted in the mall is true.

ThatInvisibleGirl: Is this your way of telling me your “the” Harry Styles?

She ends up staring at her phone for the next few moments waiting for a reply. Ten minutes pass before Darren starts to panic. ‘What if he is the Harry fucking Styles? I hope I didn’t scare him off. He’s probably already blocked me… Damn me!’

ThatInvisibleGirl: it’s okay if you are. I’m not going to freak out and tell everyone or act any different. Best friends, remember? But if you’re just messing with me I swear on my life that when I meet you for reals, I will chop your dick off and shove it down your throat.
ThatInvisibleGirl: sorry if I come off as a little aggressive. It’s just that I’ve already lost a lot of people in my life.
ThatInvisibleGirl: now you probably think I’m really clingy, which I’m not. I should probably just stop right now before I say anything stupid. Well… anything else that is.

~

Harry stares blankly at his screen. He can’t tell if Darren is just kidding, or if she’s being serious. Emotions aren’t the kind of things you can get in a text message, but Harry wishes they could. He starts to hear more whoosh sounds from his changing screen, displaying new messages from Darren.

He feels relieved at first, but gulps when he reads the first one, instantly feeling his palms starting to get sweaty. He breathes out a sigh of relief at the second message, and frowns at the last bit of that one. At the third message, he somewhat laughs. ‘I guess I should just tell her now… but I really didn’t mean for it to go down like this…’

JustYourNormalGuy: and if I tell you that, would your answer for my question change?
ThatInvisibleGirl: damn you. I seriously thought you would have blocked me or something. My answer to your question? One Direction is okay. I don’t like them, but that doesn’t mean I hate them… However, we’re going to have serious problems if you are Harry Styles, because I’m friends with some pretty big Directioners…

Harry noticeably relaxes more on his couch when he read the message. At least now he knows that he can trust her, and she doesn’t hate him. ‘Well… she doesn’t hate One Direction, but she doesn’t know that I’m him, who is me… Damn it; I’m just confusing myself now.’


Now, it’s all a matter of what Harry is going to say. ‘If I tell her, will she really be telling the truth when she said she wouldn’t freak out?’ Harry processes his thoughts for a moment before recalling some old advice he once took when he first started to like Leanna. It’s not that he likes Darren, but the advice is perfect for this situation.

“What do I do, Lou?” he asks his stylist after explaining the situation.

Lou shrugs. “Sometimes, Harry, we all have to take a leap of faith and let time tell us how things will work out. But you will never get anywhere if you don’t take the risk first.”

Harry smiles, “Thanks, Lou. You’re a life saver.”

~

JustYourNormalGuy: I think… no, I know I can trust you when I tell you this… but yes

Darren reads and rereads the message, creasing her eyebrows closer together. She doesn’t really understand this anymore, but she has an idea of where it’s going.

ThatInvisibleGirl: yes what…
JustYourNormalGuy: I am “the” Harry Styles

Notes

I finally finished These Chapters of Our Lives, so I am now able to focus more on this story and update - hopefully - more often. Thoughts so far?

comment. rate. subscribe. thanks for 50 votes! ~A