Through this new reaction, the boys started to create a new bond. They weren’t expecting him to actually give in to what they had in mind, but they had never tried to help him before. What they hadn’t known before is that Harry would have gotten moved on faster if they had only been there for him. When they started to give him space to drown in his sorrows, it only made him become more distant from them, thus resulting in a new kind of bond.

This bond is helping them to grow stronger. You see, when Harry was a cold shoulder all the time, part of the group was missing, but now that Harry is starting to lighten up, the group is slowly coming together again.

“Let me get this straight, you want me,” the lad pointed to himself, “to go on a blind date?”

The other lads exchanged quick glances before replying in unison. “Yes.”

“Whom are you even setting me up with?”

“Well, it wouldn’t be much of a blind date if we told you.”

“That and it isn’t much of a blind date because you know her…” Niall, the little Irishman who can’t seem to keep a secret, spilled. Louis lightly slapped Niall’s shoulder.

“Well, that makes me feel a lot better about this,” Harry rolled his eyes.

“Hey! You agreed to whatever we said. You are going on this date,” Liam threatened.

“Fine…”

“Good. Now get ready. You’re date is at seven, and you’re taking her out to dinner.”

“You already got me a date today? You guys work fast.” Harry is surprised that the guys already found him a date though he just agreed to do this an hour ago. He wasn’t even sure how they knew he would agree to this at all. This was all too sudden for him.

“Yeah, and don’t be shy on the deodorant. You smell like you haven’t showered in a month,” Louis gagged.

Harry wasn’t too happy about his date, but nonetheless he went along with it. ‘If this is what it takes to make a change,’ he thought, ‘then I’ll go the distance to make everything go right.’

So off Harry went to take a long, nice shower and for once didn’t skimp on the deodorant. After dressing up nicely, he even added a spritz of his old cologne. The one that she always loved…

He shook all thoughts of her out of his head. The boys judged his outfit a bit before deciding it was ‘good enough’ and gave him directions to the restaurant he was meeting his date at.

Harry was surprised at how fast the guys could set up a date for him, especially with it being the first of the year. At the same time, he was nervous, and he wasn’t exceptionally happy about the first date he’d be going on in two years.

After, heartbreak and promises he has yet to keep, he isn’t sure whether he’s ready to move on or not. However, he’s going to try for everyone that seeks change in him. Normally people don’t like change, but if he must, he will for her.

As he approaches the restaurant, he seeks a familiar face standing outside in the cold air. Her arms are wrapped around her torso, though she has a heavy pea coat already over her formal dress that reaches just above her knees.

Harry parks his car in the nearest parking slot before getting out to meet his date for the night.

“So I’m assuming you got set up too?” he asks shyly.

“It would seem so, my friend. I wasn’t expecting you though. After all of… you know…”

“Yeah. I’m trying to move on. It’s hard, but… yeah,” he trailed off awkwardly. “Shall we?”

She shyly takes his arm as he leads her inside. The pair requests a table for two in the back of the restaurant, and the shocked waitress happily obliges to their request.

Once they reach their table, Harold plays the gentleman by pulling out her seat for her and removing her coat, so that it sits on the back of the chair.

“So, Jade, what brings you here?” he breaks the silence as they both glance over the menu.

“Well, Perrie, Leigh-Anne, and Jesy have been trying to set me up for a while, so I’m pretty used to meeting unknown guys at fancy restaurants now. I didn’t know that this time it would be you.”

“Well, I too wasn’t expectant for my lovely date this evening.”

She giggled and hid her now red cheeks at his cheesy remark. The two friends had a lively conversation filled with stories upon stories about one another’s tour lives. Jade seemed very drawn to the past years of Harry’s life.

He shared a side of him that most people would love to know the details of. Normally, Harry wouldn’t dare tell anyone what he had been feeling in these past years, but Jade is a trustworthy person that Harry trusts when telling his story. He hadn’t even told the boys what his thoughts had been in this time of separation, so Jade was honored to be the first to hear.

However, Harry didn’t express the truth how he should have. He left out major details in his life story. He hoped that no one ever found out what he was keeping from her, or surely he would never move on.

As dinner closed to an end, our dear Harold felt obligated to tell her what was currently going through his mind.

“Look, Jade. You’re a lovely girl, but I really just want us to stay friends. I think there is someone else out there that can be better for you than I. No hard feelings right?”

“Of course not, Harry, but tell those friends of yours no more set ups. You didn’t seem very open to this idea. Try a different route if you must. It’s kind of hard to just jump back into dating. There is someone out there for you, but you’re going to have to try harder to find her.”

Her words were really soothing to Harry. They spoke to him in wonders. She could really understand him as if he was her best friend, or brother.

“Thanks, Jade. Need a ride?”

“No, my car is just over there. I’ll be fine. Good night, Harry.”

“Good night, Jade.”

The duo bid adieu to the other with a friendly hug, and a promise of a phone call when they each find a person to suit their other half of their heart, a piece that fits into theirs like fate. They didn’t know when or how, nor whom, but they did know that it would happen. That was good enough for the both of them.

As Harry made his way back to his friends, he thought of how he would tell the guys. Surely, they would be fine with it. Jade and him are close friends, nothing more. They had both agreed on it.

So as Harry was bombarded with questions the second he opened the door, he stood there waiting for the barrage of questions to finish before telling details of his date.

“Guys, we’re just friends. I can’t believe you set me up with her,” he said somewhat in disbelief.

“We thought it would be better if you went out with someone you knew first…”

“Well, can we try something besides blind dates? I like to get to know the girl before I actually go on a date with her.”

Everyone agreed. Usually they would wait to get to know the person before the first date. Jumping straight into t things was not a smart option, so they thought up new ideas to contribute to the fixing of Harry’s heart and keeping of his long awaited promise.

“How about we try speed dating?” Eleanor, Louis’ girlfriend, suggested. It wasn’t a bad idea, but he didn’t like the idea that anyone could have a chance to talk with him. It could end up being a crazy fan causing a mess for him. The events he was imagining were not in favor to this idea either.

“How about no?”

“Well, what else is there?” Perrie whined. She is Zayn’s girlfriend. The boys thought it would be good to have some girl opinion here, so the two girlfriends of the group were invited. Liam and Niall were like Harry. Both single, without girls, but it is Harry that needs girl help, not them.

You see, Liam and Niall, although single, still loved the life they lived. They both shared the same idea of living life to its fullest and waiting for love to come to them. They didn’t need a girl at the moment, and they would wait forever to get that one girl.

They all exchanged glances here and there thinking of a new way to get Harry a girl. There had to be a way to get to know a girl before you met her for a date.

Suddenly, a light bulb went off in Louis’ head.

“I’ve got it!” he said emphasizing his point by using pointing his finger towards the ceiling. The boys, Perrie, and Eleanor furrowed their eyebrows in confusion, but nonetheless leaned in closer to the odd child who may or may not have the best plan in the world.

Louis sat there for a moment, leaving them anxious and waiting for his so called “idea” he had. Then, Louis grinned a devious smile and looked straight to Harry.

Harry was about frightened by whatever Louis was thinking about. His facial expression was that of total maniacal disaster ready to be produced in the near future.

‘Whatever he’s thinking,’ Harry thought to himself, ‘I have a feeling this won’t end well.’

“Louis, just hurry up and tell us your idea. While I’m still young!” Niall complained.

“Well, it’s not the best idea, but I guess it’s worth a shot.”

“There are no stupid ideas Lou,” Eleanor told him.

“What if…”