Picking up a cute, yet classy dress I couldn't help but think how lonely the next ten hours were going to be. You see, my family had arranged to spend three weeks in Los Angeles and my life being awkward, my prom, which I didn't want to miss just so happened to be during our vacation, which meant my flight had to be rescheduled and I had to make the nine hour flight across the pond, alone.
"I think I ll take this bag as well." I smiled, placing the dress I had first seen on the counter of one of the airport's duty free shops. "Thank you," I said to the woman who happened to be grinning behind me. Well thanks a lot, I thought. Just look straight through me without even a "your welcome" or a "goodbye". Deep in thought, and struggling with one of my many bags, I tripped, landing head first into what I thought was a young male. "I am so sorry, I'm." I paused in shock. "Wait a second, aren't you, Harry Styles?" I contemplated. "Why yes, yes I am. I'm guessing you re a One Direction fan?" He questioned me, his ocean blue eyes sparkling and those dimples that stopped me from functioning. I stuttered, "you could say that." I returned Harry's infectious grin and ruining the moment, the four other members of One Direction had appeared before me. "Well, its been nice meeting you. What s your name?" Harry inquired. With five famously good looking guys in a boy band stood in front of me, it would be a struggle to even speak let alone move. "I'm Emily," I said crazily grinning. "You probably get this all the time, but could I get a picture with you all?" I managed and felt the corners of my mouth curl into a smile, not that it was a bad thing. I would have so much to tell my family when I arrived.
"Flight 50218 to Los Angeles boarding in gate 21," shit, that's my flight, I thought as I gathered my many bags together and ran towards the gate that lead me to my plane. Soon enough, I would be reunited with my family and in the sunny state of California. "Can I see your boarding pass please?" A foreign woman with slicked back hair and wearing thick red lip liner asked, well more like demanded. I handed her my boarding pass and passport, where she ripped one half of the ticket and handed it back to me. "Thank you," I sarcastically sneered and made my way to the plane. Los Angeles, here we come! Just before stepping onto the plane an unknown hand touched my shoulder. "Harry?" I questioned, feeling confused. "I take it you re going to Los Angeles as well?" He asked me, trying to hide the fact that he was happy about it. "Yeah, what about you and the boys, why are you going there?" I nosily asked. "Just a holiday, we have been working hard lately and we needed a break. Simon, being well, Simon paid for everything." A smug Harry replied. "Hey, how about I get your seat upgraded to first class? You seem like a laugh and I'd like to get to know a bit better." What the fuck? Did Harry Styles really just say that to me? I felt my cheeks heating up, "Are you sure? I wouldn t want you to think that I'm using you." I pitied. "Well then, you ll just have to think of it as a gift." Harry responded, touching my arm lightly when he noticed the rest of the group heading in our direction. "If you insist." I smiled.
To me, everything felt like a daze; it didn't feel real. I was sitting in first class seats with One freakin' Direction. Slowly opening my heavily closed eyes, I stretched and scanned the plane. Louis: asleep, Niall: asleep, Liam: asleep, Zayn: asleep and Harry; carefully watching me acknowledge the bodies that surrounded me. He waved in a childish manner, causing me to snort quietly. He then, unbuckled his seat belt and perched on the arm rest of my seat. "Hello again, did you know you look so cute when you sleep?" Here we go, red faced. Yet again. "Thank you for that useless piece of information, that to be honest I didn't want to know about myself." I sarcastically remarked whilst pouting at Harry. "Anyway, how long were you watching me for?" I inquired. "Not too long, maybe fifteen minutes." He replied, still perched on the arm rest of my seat. Well that s embarrassing. I laughed at myself. I didn t really take myself too seriously and I never have, I m one of the few people that doesn't give a damn what anyone says about me, I just brush the rumours and remarks off and carry on with my life.
The lights dimmed and the captain signalled that it was time to land, if I'm utterly honest, these have been the best ten hours of my life. I mean, I don t usually do things like accept gifts from strangers, but this was different. Settling down on the ground, I followed closely behind the boys and I felt more than tired, pulling out the mirror that was lying in my handbag I winced at myself. Man, I look bad." I emphasised. Harry shot around when he heard what I had said. "No, no you don't." He touched my shoulder and took the heavy bag from it, placing it on his own shoulder. "Don t lie, Harry. I ve been on a plane for ten hours, just look at me." I barked. "Okay, I still don t think you look bad, I like the natural look. But, if this is what you look like when your tired, I can't wait to see you when you're not." He winked, implying that we would see each other again. Still dwelling on what he had said, I didn't realise that my suitcase had just passed me on the conveyor belt. "Shit, that's my case! Hey Liam, could you grab that case?" I shouted. Within seconds he had managed to grab it and return it to me. I waited for the boys to be reunited with their cases before saying my goodbyes.
"I guess this is it." I declared. I hugged Niall, then Louis, then Zayn and lastly Liam. Glancing at Harry, I guessed that he probably didn't like goodbyes. Louis approached me again. "You are a very
special girl and I can tell Harry has taken a liking to you," Louis passed me a ripped piece of paper and had written each of the boys numbers on it. "Wait," I muttered before Louis turned back around to face me. I held out another piece of paper and Louis took it from my hand. "It's my number." I whispered in his ear, hugged him one last time before I noticed my dad arriving at the airport. Harry glanced at me shyly, I never imagined him to be like that. From the magazine articles I've read he seemed like a right ladies man. "Harry!" I yelled, causing most of the airport to turn around. I could feel about thirty pairs of tired eyes digging into my skin. They had every reason to be irritated by me, it was six thirty in the morning and I know what it is like not to be a morning person. Harry faced me, "don't leave without giving me a hug!" I smirked, opening my arms for him to do the same. Those dimples appeared again and we embraced for the second and last time. "Louis has got my number, text or call me any time." I spoke, realising I sounded quite desperate. "Actually, no don t bother." I smiled, and felt my dad watching my every move. "No, I will," Harry waved and before I knew it, he was gone.
After being interrogated about One Direction, my dad and I pulled up outside the Beverly Hills apartment we were renting. "What the hell, I thought you said we were staying in a cosy apartment, not a mansion!" I shrieked with joy as I examined the Spanish style villa, overlooking the Hollywood sign. "We wanted it to be a surprise. Nine bedroom's in there" My father replied. "This is the best surprise ever, thank you." I kissed him on the cheek and ran into the mansion where my mother, twin brother, three aunts, two uncles, five cousins and my mothers close friend were waiting for me to arrive. Yes, my family is huge, my father is Italian, and his family are here too, whilst my mother is half English, half Irish and her side of the family are also here, along with her American family who aren't staying here, but live nearby. It s complicated, but that s just me. Overwhelmed with happiness, I felt that the next two weeks were going to be a blast.
For a sixteen year old teenage girl, life just couldn't get any better than this.
I heard a knock on my bedroom door, "Come in," I yelled, for once I didn't mind being woken up from the deep sleep that I was in, everything was just perfect. The door slowly opened and my fifteen year old cousin named Amy sat down on the end of my bed. "So, I just looked on your camera and, you met ONE DIRECTION?" She screamed. "Alright alright, shh." I covered my ears, blocking out her noise. Finally she quietened down and I could speak, "yes, I did meet One Direction and, it was the best moment of my fucking life!" I squealed feeling like I was fourteen again and at my first Jonas Brothers concert. "You lucky whore." She added, continuing to stare at the picture of Louis, Liam, Harry, Niall, Zayn and I. Remembering the boys, I asked Amy to pass me my Blackberry that was sitting on the other side of my room. "Thank you," I smiled when I saw the orange flashing that signalled I had either a text, BBM or a missed call.
Hello beautiful, are you free tonight? Harry X
He called me beautiful, trying not to freak out and act like an excited kid again, I questioned Amy about the plans we had for tonight. She informed me that in fact, tonight I was free. Thank god.
Yes, why? Did you have something in mind? Emily Xx
I put two kisses. Harry put one.
Buzz.
If you send me your address then you'll find out wont you? Harry XX
This time Harry put two kisses. Oh, snap out of it Emily why does it matter?
I sent the address of the mansion as I like to call it to Harry and he notified me that he would be coming to pick me up at around eight. I didn't tell Amy about it though, I knew she would want to tag along. I looked at the clock, it was already two o clock, meaning that I had six hours to look much better than I did when Harry saw me last. Luckily I wouldn't look like I had been deprived of sleep as from the moment I arrived at this house at seven this morning I climbed into my king sized bed and slept right up until two this afternoon, seven hours sleep was more than enough. "Where's the shower? I yelled, hoping someone in this place would hear me. "You see that door connected with your bedroom?" My mother shouted, "yeah, I see it." I replied. "Well, open it in then. I did not raise you to be this lazy." She responded and her footsteps faded. Opening the door, it felt like I was going to Narnia, I had my own en suite bathroom and it was fucking huge. Showering, it felt like I was in heaven. Everything about this place was incredible, the floor, the lights, even the small bottles of shampoo lined up waiting to be used.
"Who wants to play volley ball?" My Italian cousin Giorgia asked, her English getting even more brilliant every time I saw her. "ME!" I screamed, bombing into the pool, waiting for the hours to pass until I could see Harry. Hours later I emerged from outside, still dripping wet. "I hear you are going out tonight?" My aunt questioned, in response, I nodded. "Who with?" She asked, "Harry Styles, it's a long story." I replied, looking at the clock that read six fifteen. "I'll tell you later," I yelled racing back to my bedroom and hopping in the shower. Fuck, I didn t think this through, what was I supposed to wear? Staring into the closet I finally decided on a pair of distressed denim hot pants, a white off the shoulder tee shirt and my army boots. I blow dried my long, curly chocolate brown hair, which luckily fell perfectly into place and applied some make up. Done. With ten minutes to spare.
Ding dong.
Oh shit, my stomach dropped.
It was Harry, he's here, for me. The reality settled in that a pop star was taking me out. Very, very strange but in a good way. "Hi." I shyly smiled, hugging him as he waited on the doorstep. "You look beautiful," He rejoiced. "You would say that, you saw me yesterday!" I laughed, punching his arm. "Are you ready?" He questioned, looking at my lips. I was mesmerised by him. "Oh, um yeah I'm ready." I snapped out of my day dream and closed the door behind me. "Where are we going?" I asked him. "You'll see," was all he said. I loved surprises, but I hated the anticipation and having to play a waiting game. Harry slid his hand around my waist as we walked down the sunset filled street. "It's beautiful," I breathed out. "I know you are." Harry turned to me, our eyes locked for a moment but Harry couldn't hold the gaze. "Here, put this on." Harry threw me a black piece of fabric. "I'm guessing you want it to cover my eyes, if so then you'll need to put it on for me." I giggled, handing the fabric back to him and closing my hazel eyes. Once the fabric was tied we had to walk for another minute and then Harry stopped. "Are we here?" I shouted excitedly. "You're so eager!" Harry laughed and pinched my bum causing me to blush. I felt the blindfold drop on my feet and before me was the Hollywood sign and underneath it lay a picnic blanket with food waiting to be eaten. I stood frozen, speechless, emotionless. This by far was the nicest thing any guy has ever done for me. My mouth hung open, thank you, I smiled and kissed Harry's cheek.
Harry and I chatted for what seemed like a century, when in fact, it was an hour, about our families, the X Factor, music and general topics. The food had disappeared mainly because Harry ate most of it, but I didn't mind. "Can I ask you something, Emily?" I nodded, "Of course." The silence wasn t awkward, not at all. You know when you go on dates and realise that you can't talk about anything and just sit their in silence awkwardly? Well this was definitely not one of those dates. The silence was peaceful and calm, I didn't feel any awkwardness between Harry and I, thankfully. Harry sighed, "I don t know how to tell you this, but," he paused. The anticipation eating me alive. "I really like you," he babbled. The awkward silence appeared, I spoke too soon. "I like you too Harry, but we ve only just met," I replied whilst trying to stay calm. "I know, but," He stopped talking when he noticed I was standing up. "I need to go, I ll text you okay? And with that, I starting running, leaving Harry sat below the Hollywood sign, alone. I was unsure of everything right now, even my thoughts.