Chapter 29
Rosalie's P.O.V:
2 Weeks Later:
"Rosalie, are you paying attention?" Mrs. Speake ordered.
"Sorry Miss." I mumbled back, I was too busy paying attention into my designs. We got this major work going and I needed to focus on it since my internship is coming up soon. I'm so nervous but yet so excited. I haven't spoken to Harry ever since he left my house a few weeks ago. I'm not sure if he was avoiding me we've texted a lot and skyped a couple of times but I haven't met him up yet. I noticed he was acting a little bit strange but I wasn't hundred percent sure on it. However I have been hanging out with Jeremy and Eleanor a lot these past few weeks. I've been having so many girly nights with Ele which I love and I could seriously spill all my secrets to her. Unfortunately, Danielle couldn't hang out with us due to her dancing schedules but I still talk to her a lot. I've even been texting Zayn more but he insists that they're all so busy that they can't keep up with their personal lives. Which I completely understand and accept.
A whole day of lessons came by quickly as I got ready to go home. As I was about to turn left, Jeremy reached and grabbed my arm to my shock. He chuckled at my reaction and apologised for grabbing my arm.
"Sorry babe, just wanted to ask if you wanted to go have dinner. You, me, talk about boys. You know." He grinned. I nodded excitedly and texted Amy if I could miss out on dinner tonight.
To: Amy
Hey Aimzzz! I'm going to have an early dinner with Jer, is that cool with you? :)
From: Amy
Sure hun, but if you call me 'Aimzzz' again, you are NOT going ever again. Bring me take-away xx
"She said it's fine, where do you want to go eat?" I asked, throwing my phone back into my bag.
"Nandos?" he replied, "Great" I smiled. We walked arm in arm as we strolled around London. It was quite cold so Jer even gave me his Eskimo-like hat for me to wear. We were both wearing similar trench coats and similar satchels; we looked like one of those fashion couples who wear the same clothes. It was hilarious.
"Can I take a picture of us?" I asked.
"Sure, how do we take it?" Jeremy asked, I stopped and waited for a friendly looking person to take a photo for us. A woman at around the age of 40 reluctantly accepted to take our photo. We stood in front of a wall, since it was still quite bright at this time. We smiled and held each other's waist and looked at the camera. My phone made a click noise and the lady gave me back my phone.
"You guys make a wonderful couple.." she said and walked away..
"Thank you! But we're not..." I couldn't reply as she placed her earphones back in her ears and walked off. Jeremy looked at me and cracked up and looked at the photo. He smiled and wrapped his arms around my shoulder.
"If I wasn't gay, I would totally have a crush on you, just saying.." he replied cheekily into my ear. I nudged him into the ribs as he groaned in pain "Hey, that was a compliment!" he shouted but laughed it off as it took a couple of minutes to walk to Nandos. I decided to tweet up the photo since the fans constantly ask me where I was..
Loverosalie: Out and about in London with my twin J, xx twitpic/23434
Jeremy smiled and immediately retweeted it off me. I got lots of mentions of people saying they liked what I was wearing and some were asking if that was my boyfriend. I even noticed I went up to 60,000 followers.. surreal. We took the long route and I noticed that we walked past the Milkshake City store.
The place where I first met Harry.
"Hey, isn't this the place you met lover boy?" Jeremy said as he pointed to the bright banner.
"Shut up, he is not my lover boy" I groaned as I dragged him along to pull him away.
"But you love him don't you..?"
"He has a girlfriend"
"You always say that. You never admit it.."
"Because I don't want to.."
"It's because you're scared, aren't you?" he muttered, I flickered my eyes at him but stared at the ground.
It never hit me until he said it in the face. But he was completely right. I contemplated many times if I should tell Harry, straight up the face. But I'm scared, I'm not scared of telling him, I'm just scared that he'll reject me or that he doesn't feel the same and end up dating me because he felt sorry for me. I've had my fair share of rejection in the past years but I never thought I'd feel like this after George. Harry made me happy. But I was scared.
We walked into the Nandos store, the heat hitting me in the face as I opened the door. I took of my trench coat but decided to eat outside to enjoy the street view. Jeremy went to order and came back. He looked at me sympathetically and frowned.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that before.." he murmured.
"What? No you're right. 100% right, I'm just thinking y'know. If maybe this whole thing with him was a waste of time.." I mumbled.
"Trust me, by the sounds of it. I think he feels the same."
"Then why doesn't he tell me?"
"Maybe he's scared as well..."
"You should seriously be my personal therapist."
"Shout me Nandos very week, and I'm yours.." he grinned back.
I laughed at him and day-dreamed whilst I stared at the countless people walking past and the cars zooming away. The cool air brushed me lightly against my nose as I cuddled up in my sweater. I started running my fingers along the infinity logo on my bracelet as I smiled softly to myself. Every now and then, Harry would come up into my mind. But I didn't want him to be, because I wouldn't expect to fall in love with a famous boy band member. I didn't expect I'd fall in love with my best friend.
"Order's up!" Jeremy grinned as he rubbed his hands warmly together. There on the table laid out a massive plate of chicken and a separate bowl of chips. I drooled just looking at it and adjusted my hair and clothes to make sure it didn't get dirty. As I just stuck the fork into the chicken and was about to put it in my mouth, I heard squeals and people shouting at my name. I turned around and saw about 4 girls, around the age of mine who I knew instantly were a massive fan of One Direction, due to one of the girl's shirt saying: Future Mrs. Malik
"You're Rosalie, right?" A girl squealed. I smiled and nodded as I stood up to talk to them properly.
"I love you, and Harry. And your fashion sense, and your hair, you're just perfect.." a girl mumbled, I beamed a great smile and thanked her.
"Do you like Harry?" A girl asked suddenly, I pulled on a fake smile and shook my head.
"In that sense, no... Just friends you see.." I chuckled nervously, she looked unconvinced but nodded anyway.
"Well, we all think you would make a super couple!"
"You are so sweet, thank you"
"Do you think we can take a photo of you?" she shouted as she smiled with her coloured braces in display.
"Really, with me?" I replied, very flattered.
"Yes! Directioners love you" A girl giggled. I nodded reluctantly and asked Jeremy to take the photo.
"Is he your boyfriend?" The girl asked as she pointed directly to Jeremy.
"She wishes..." Jeremy muttered as the girls started laughing. I shook my head and explained that he's in the same classes as me. They insisted for me to stand in the middle as I lightly held the girls waists on the side of me. I was towering over them in my heels that I wore to college so I tried to bend down a bit to look like the odd one out. They are stood cosily next to me and smiled. Jeremy gave back the phone as the girl squealed in delight.
"Thank you thank you thank you! My brother is going to be so jealous, he thinks you're hot.."
"Hmm.. tell him... thank you." I chuckled lightly, the girl asked if I could follow her on twitter which I accepted straight away.
"Ok, this is embarrassing. It's MrsEvannaStyles" I laughed softly as the rest of her friends cracked up.
"I'll follow you now.." I got out my phone and followed her as well as the rest of her friends as they hugged me.
"You're really pretty by the way" She said, "Like really, much much more than Caroline..." she whispered softly.
I caught her last sentence which she didn't want me to hear and blushed embarrassingly. I smiled and told her I won't tell anyone what she said and they all ran off. I smiled and sat back into my seat, to get back to eating.
"Wow, aren't you famous.." Jeremy laughed.
"Shush you..." I stuttered as I dug in my meal.
I hope no one else would spot me because when I eat, I can only eat like a pig in front of my closest friends and I was really hungry. Me and Jer chatted about boys. He talked to me about his problems with his boyfriend and he let me vent out all my feelings and frustrations that I had upon Harry. I told him how guilty I felt whenever I was jealous but then I felt angry that 'she' was getting in the way. Which made me feel guilty. Which makes me a terrible person.
"My advice, hang on to it. The greatest relationship always starts off by being friends." Jeremy replied in a posh tone.
"And who said that?"
"Uh, I just made it up. But honestly, you're lucky you're in love with your BEST friend."
"Lucky? No way, I'm sure he friend-zoned me" I sighed as I drank a sip of Coca Cola.
"Ha.. bullshit." He scoffed. "You just have so many illusions in your mind that you make up because you're afraid and because you are, you tend to make up excuses in your brain so you can find some reason to push him away. I know you don't want to feel this way but why stop something that has a potential to be something special? I understand you have been hurt before over your previous relationship, but Harry wouldn't do anything to hurt you."
"And how are you so sure about that?"
"Because I know that he loves you back."
CAROLINE'S P.O.V:
I went to grab a wine bottle and tipped it into my cup. Harry just left my place about a few hours ago, we've been together a lot recently. I really missed him and his hectic schedules were getting in the way but I found some time to hang out with him. Though I have noticed how close he's gotten with Rosalie. I've meet her a few times, seems like a lovely girl, but I fear that one day he'll just get over me and go with her. He insists they're not together but I have my suspicions. He would bring her up about once every time I see him and it kind of kills me but I know some day I am going to crack.
I went on twitter to see me getting bombarded with hate from Harry's fans. It hurt. A lot. I hated that people wouldn't accept it and what made it worse was that a majority of the fans were telling how much they loved Rosalie more than me. She's gorgeous, she's young, she's intelligent, she's what all young boys would look for. I frowned and immediately went off and threw my phone, I try not to get it to me. I love Harry, but I admit, I am not hopelessly IN love but I love him. Never thought I will, I mean, he is a lot younger and I get criticized a lot about it but we both love each other, so why can't we? I noticed my phone ring as I ran to pick it up, it was one of my best friends; Kate.
"Hello?" I called as I took another slurp of my red wine and got snuggled in my couch with the laptop on my lap.
"I know you don't like to read gossip about you..." she mumbled, "But I think you need to see this.."
She immediately texted me a link to the website so I typed it out on my computer to see because it would be much clearer. It loaded up and the headlines made my heart stop beating. The website was a well known gossip site and I was embarrassed. I bit my lip in both anger and frustration as I read the article.
HARRY STYLES' LOVE TRIANGLE, THINGS JUST GOT HEATED.
Harry Style's is widely known for his charming ways, he has a girlfriend that is nearly half his age! Heck, we don't even know why he is still with his Xtra Factor Presenter, Caroline Flack, 32 when he could be locking lips with a very attractive young lady, his 'best-friend', Rosalie Vanetta! This girl has been given a lot of hype as word on the street is that she just got a major internship of design with fashion major, TopShop. After a few weeks of digging up dirt and images, we can reveal that maybe our cute, curly hair boy isn't so faithful! One Direction fans are seen to love the gorgeous, brunette as she is seen talking and chatting with fans. There has been a lot of hate being directed to Ms. Flack on twitter too:
EvelynTxx: Ew, why can't Caroline just let Rosalie and Harry be! They are made for each other..
MrsStyless: As much as I love Harry, Rosalie is the only girl I'd let him be with.
Rachel_1D: HarryStyles, go out with girls your age. Someone with the name..starting with R...maybe? ;)
RosarryShippers: Flack off Caroline, H+R!
Oucccccch! I would be very annoyed if my boyfriend's fans wanted him to be with someone else. We tried to contact people close to Caroline but they unfortunately put a no comment on the table but still insist the pair as still much very together. But a little birdie told me that Rosalie already met Harry's family. Say what?! That's true. Pictures emerged from several sites such as Twitter, and Tumblr as fans outside his house saw him and Rosalie spending Christmas together. Christmas? Isn't that supposed to be a day for romantic couples, not for... just friends? Word appears that Rosalie met his family and they love her! Even Harry's mum, Anne, seems to have a close-knitted relationship with her.
[ Anne42Cox: loverosalie, we have to catch up on lunch, miss you so much. Love you! :) xx ]
So Harry already introduced his maybe-cheating-behind-caroline's-back lover to his mum? And Mumma Styles seems to have a big stamp of approval. Even his older sister seemed to be fond of her after posting up several tweet pics of her and Rose enjoying a day out. This is quite suspicious, first, spending Christmas with his family. What next? They also have matching bracelets. Not sure if they're friendship bracelets but it looks like sus! The picture below shows the pair taking a photo with a group of fans outside their house and look at their wrists. Same. Matching. Bracelets. And do you see a Tiffany & Co infinity bracelet? Highly doubt Rose got it for herself, unless maybe a successful-high-paid artist got it for her? Not confirmed yet, but we believe he did!
Not only there, the boys of 1D seem even fonder of her. Each boy has either tweeted about her or to her or even posted up a pic of her! In recent interviews, they all expressed their close friendship with the aspiring fashion designer/stylist and even Harry had a small smirk to himself. Several images below are of the brunette beauty. She is seen leaving one of the most prestigious fashion schools which she's won a scholarship from, seen shopping with Zayn Malik, seen here hanging out with Louis Tomlinson's girlfriend, Eleanor Calder and here having lunch with Mr. Styles himself. Amazing, she's actually a beauty with brains! Close sources from Australia claim she was a straight A student who focused on her work but had a pretty good social life too. There have been a billion requests of fans wanting us to interview her and to get the scoop but we have no way of contacting her! Caroline Flack, eat your heart out because I think your toyboy may be falling for someone else.
And she's his age too.
I closed my laptop immediately and felt my eyes stinging. I wasn't upset. I was angry. Harry never mentioned that Rose came over his for Christmas. He didn't even mention a thing about it. Did he not want me to know? And those stupid matching bracelets, what was that about. I noticed that on his hand, it was a thick thread with a strip of blue. I thought it was just one of his collections and never questioned it. I was furious, she was getting in the way. I think what me and Harry is something. I know part of it is just mostly fun but this was a relationship.
I ran to my room and slipped on a knitted sweater and a pair of jeans. Billions of things were running through my mind, I didn't want to be bias. I didn't want to be prejudice against it; I promised I'd never believe articles unless I know the real story, but this. This seemed real enough. Harry would've told me, he said no more secrets. He is obviously in love with her. He can't just play us both. I pulled my boots up and sunglasses over my eyes. I didn't wear makeup but I didn't care.
"Shit..." I muttered as the zipper in my jeans wouldn't zip up. I groaned in frustration and grabbed my phone and put it in my pocket. I grabbed some loose change so I could catch a taxi to his place.
As I stepped outside, there were about 2 paps with massive cameras flashing into my face. I covered my face and tried to fake smile, but I knew my anger was piercing through the lenses. I walked past the paps, knowing I was being bombarded and the pictures would come up unflattering but I didn't care.
"Where you going Caroline?" "Any news of your toyboy?" "Smile Caroline!" "Where are you going? To Harry's place?" they all shouted.
The paparazzi were right. That was exactly where I was going.
And I needed answers.
HARRY'S P.O.V:
"Harry, I'm going out for a bit. Want anything?" Louis shouted from the kitchen as I sat comfortably on the sofa.
"Get me a pack of gum would you?" I shouted, Louis nodded and zoomed out of the place.
I was sitting cosily with my one-piece with the tele on though I wasn't paying attention. I just like it to be on. I was catching up on my Twitter since today was a day off. I haven't seen Rose in a while and I felt bad, but I tried to calm down my feelings a bit. Part of me was avoiding her so I could kind of... reduce liking her in that way. We texted here and there, and even skype but I guess her college timetable clashed with my rehearsals. I've been seeing Caroline a lot lately, it's good and we really do have a good time together. I scrolled down all the lovely mentions I got and noticed Rose tweeted something off on my timeline. I clicked on it and it was a group of fans with her.
MrsEvannaStyles: Omg, met loverosalie. So pretttttty and soooo sweet! Twitpic/28812 (reweet)
I beamed a massive smile as the photo was her towering over 4 fans. And she looked gorgeous as her hair was messily placed on the side. I noticed they were standing in front of Nandos and I noticed in the reflection, a male figure. I couldn't put my eye on who it was.
Then there was another picture, it was random. It was just Rose sitting down eating with a guy. Most probably a fan taking a sneaky photo. The same guy in the reflection, who is he? Ugh. I also came across a tweet off Rosalie which was rare since she hardly updates her twitter these days.
Loverosalie: Out and about in London with my twin J, xx twitpic/23434
He was still the same guy in the reflection and the guy she was eating with. They had similar trench coats and he was about her height but considering she was wearing high heels, he must be pretty tall. He was pretty good looking, not to sound ... you know... yeah. He had hair, similar to Zayn but more messy and was wearing stylish pants and oxfords. Rose told me how much she fancied guys who wear oxfords. He had a light stubble and had piercing brown eyes with eyelashes that stood out. They looked happy. He was grabbing her waist as she did the same. They did look like a good couple, a good-looking one in fact. I felt the jealousy tinge and I immediately cringed. This was exactly why I am trying to avoid her.
"HARRY. ARE YOU IN THERE?" Shouted an angered voice. I ran to open the door and noticed it was Caroline, who didn't look quite pleased. I stood at the door, confused and holding my phone out staring back at her.
"I need answers.." she replied fiercely back. I looked at her with my eyebrows perked up, "On what babe?" I answered back.
"Don't call me that ok.." she muttered. I looked at her and I could literally see steam coming out of her ears... eh... She walked over and grabbed my phone and stared at it, her eyes bursting open as it was a picture and tweet of Rose. She looked at me and pushed it back at me. "I knew it" she muttered softly to herself. I locked my phone and threw it on the table and focused my full attention to her, quite confused on her outburst.
"What's going on?" I said.
"YOU TELL ME. When were you going to tell me that Rose spent Christmas with your family? Huh?!" Caroline shouted. How did she know that... I stuttered as I didn't know what to answer. I didn't want her to know, because I knew she was going to react like this.
"Uh...What...Uh..."
"Exactly. And when were you going to tell me about those stupid matching bracelets? Huh? I've had my suspicions before but...seriously, I never knew it was going to be this harsh. I'm YOUR girlfriend Harry, you have to treat me like that more often. I know you may be embarrassed because of my age, but we're in a relationship together. I don't even know if we're serious then you thought, but I think we are. I love you Harry but I can't deal with this."
"I...I...can explain Caroline. We're just friends.." I stumbled back a response. Caught back at her accusations.
"No Harry, that's what you ALWAYS say. And this Tiffany and Co. Bracelet, did you get it for her?" There was a silent pause, I could even hear the sound of a tap running from next door. "ANSWER ME, Did you get it for her?!" she shouted.
"Yes... Yes... I did." I said firmly.
"You're unbelievable.." she said.
"Excuse me?!"
"That's right. You know how much those things cost? I don't recall you spending that much on me. And I'm your girlfriend.." she sighed.
"What so, you want me to splurge and spoil you. I WILL THEN, but this was just a nice gesture because I never spoiled her before.."
"So you're saying you only spoil on your girlfriends. So you spoil her, does she make you her girlfriend?" she answered smartly.
"What...No.." I shouted, "You know she's a good friend of mine, you can't just come barging up with accusations.." I muttered.
"Really? REALLY? Do you know how MUCH it hurts when I get countless mentions each day of your fans saying how much they love Rosalie more than me? Do you know the amount of competition I have to go through to be better than her. She's young, smart, gorgeous, fun and I ask myself EVERY day, why are you in a relationship with me?" She pointed to her chest, clearly distraught by the situation. "There's always a stupid spark in your eye when you talk about her and those pictures of you too, the way you look at her. You don't look at that with me. And as much as I love you, I can't put up with it."
"You're not breaking up with me are you? Please...don't.." I sighed as I grabbed her arm. It was true, I didn't want to end it with her. She was my celebrity crush and she was one of the nicest people I know. If she left me, she'd break my heart.
"Then tell me you love me.."
"I love you Caroline, more than anything."
"Do you love her?"
"No.. not in that way. N...No..." I stuttered, my heart feeling quite weird. I wasn't even sure really, but I felt like I was lying, even to myself.
"Would you do anything for me?"
"You know I will baby, you're mine." I grinned cheekily. She smiled softly back but put back on her angered face, damn. She didn't fall for that one.
"Then you have to promise me this."
"Sure, anything."
"You have to choose. If you want to continue being in a relationship with me, you have to stop seeing her. You have to stop contacting her and you just have to stop being her friend in general. You just have to put me in your priority rather than her. But. If you choose her" she sighed quietly, "Which I hope you don't." She cleared her throat and looked at me with her eyes, clearly sadden. "We are over. You won't speak or hear of me again. We can't be friends, we can't be nice exes. I went into this relationship looking for something serious and I'm at the age where I need to be settled down. SO I ask you this Harry..."
She paused for a second, grabbing my handing and squeezing it tightly. I felt emotionless, dead, my heart torn in two separate pieces. I bit my lip to stop me from crying, a billion things running through my mind. I didn't squeeze her hand back, I didn't have the energy. I was...shocked. She flickered her eyes to the matching bracelet I still had one, pain flashing through her eyes. It killed me.
"You have to choose. Me. Or Her."
She let go and rubbed the tears off her eyes, she told me she won't speak to me until I have made my decision. She ran off and slammed the door, leaving me sitting on the chair. Speechless. How could I honestly choose, there can't be a negotiation because I'd end up losing both of them. Why did I have to be stuck in this situation. Why. Why. Why. How was I meant to choose? I only had two options who I loved in two complete ways. But I ask myself, who can I live more without? Who do I love more? Who do I depend on more? Who do I think has a more significance in my life? What do I do?
Do I push-away my girlfriend... or my best friend?