Illicit [Harry Styles]

Chapter 25

"I j- I just do. I can tell, I guess."

"Okay then," he hummed in suspicion. "Do you think he's obnoxious?"

"Mmm... he's more, outspoken - I'd say it's more the crowd he's associated himself with."

To that, Niall only nodded in thought. Shortly afterwards we pulled up at McDonald's and got out, finding Harry leaning against his car waiting for us. We rejoined him and walked inside, choosing a table in the corner of the restaurant and sitting down. It took us a couple of minutes to discuss what we wanted to order before Harry stalked up to the counter and ordered for us, insisting he'd pay as usual. He surely wasn't afraid of flaunting the money he - or rather, his parents - had.

After our conversation in the car, I couldn't help but think about Harry's parents. I'd only met his mum, but I imagined his dad was just as kind and as classy as she was. Judging by their house they obviously had well-paying jobs, and they were clearly very sophisticated but rather down to earth people being so accepting of their son, but I wondered what they thought about the decisions he made and the type of person he is. He wore skinny jeans tighter than anyone I knew, and shirts that were hardly even buttoned up. He seemed to low-key rebel against society whether he knew it or not, and he failed his first attempt at college, he got himself and his friends into a lot of trouble - trouble that costed his parents thousands of pounds - so what did they think of him?

Speak of the devil - Harry interrupted my thoughts as he came back with our drinks, placing them on the table with a sigh as he slid gracefully into the booth next to Niall, immediately taking a sip of the piping hot coffee. I never did understand how people could drink their beverages right after the water had boiled, I had to wait for mine to cool first.

"So, J, you liked Cardiff?" Niall asked.

"Ye-"

"Why would anyone like Cardiff? What's there to do in Wales?" Harry spoke up numbly, cutting me off mid sentence.

"I liked it," I shot back, looking at him with narrowed eyes, "There's lots to do there, it's a great city."

Harry tried not to let out that condescending laugh he does by bringing his cup to his mouth, which only wound me up even more. He can never go a full day without taking the pïss, can he?

"The university is one of the top twenty in the country, as well, but I guess you wouldn't know that since you're almost twenty and still in year twelve at school - not something you've had to think about."

Niall's eyes widened at my comment and he nearly spat his drink back into the cup. Harry's eyes did the opposite, however, seemingly getting smaller as his eyebrows furrowed downwards over them. For what I imagine had to be the first time ever, Harry Styles was speechless, maybe even embarrassed.

Once he'd regained his composure, and taken a moment to think up something smart to say, he finally spoke up, "See, brutal."

I somehow managed to look him in the eyes as I shrugged. I always seem to be extremely nervous and shy around Harry, but this weird confidence came in random bursts and it's like I'm a different person, not being able to stop myself when a witty comeback or insult springs to mind.

"So, Mckenzie's party?" Niall choked out, still taken aback by my outburst and trying to ease the tension.

"You're going?" I questioned. I'm not surprised Mckenzie invited Niall since they're pretty good friends, but it hadn't even crossed my mind that my brother would be going to a party that I'm going to.

"Yeah, who else is going?"

"I am," Harry announced, and the devious look in his eye was like he was trying to send me some frightening message through telepathy, but I didn't catch it so I just gave him a quizzical look.

"See you both there!" Niall laughed, looking between the two of us.

And that's when it clicked. Harry knew that we'd end up... having an encounter, so to speak, and my brother would be there. My brother would be somewhere in the house therefore making the whole situation much more risky, and for some terrifying reason Harry was amused by this. It's as though he knew I was going to be that bit more difficult to crack and he wanted the challenge and excitement, but the idea made me sick to my stomach quite frankly.

"Excuse me, kids," our attention turned to a scruffy old man that was approaching us, holding a beanie hat in his hands like he was trying to be polite by taking it off to speak to us, "Could you spare any change?"

The man looked timid and sad, and I assumed he was homeless. His clothes were worn and dirty and his rugged facial hair made me wonder when the last time was that he'd had the privilege of enjoying a long, hot shower.

Before I even had the chance to process the situation playing out before me, Harry was grimacing at the man as he simply spat, "No."

"Not a penny?" the man frowned, looking for a longer time at me than the others.

"Harry, don't be horrible," I scolded, delving in my pocket, "I'm sure I hav-"

"No. We don't have any money," Harry glared at me, then at the poor man standing beside me who was now looking hopeful.

"But she just said she did!"

Something in Harry's complicated head made him snap, and he stood abruptly from his seat and faced the man who dared speak back to him. "She's not giving you anything."

"Harry!"

"Shut up, Jess!" he growled, still staring at the man. "How dare you come up to us whilst we're in here minding our own business and beg us for money? Go."

His harsh tone made me stand up and step forward to defend the man, but Harry shot me a death glare and pointed his finger at me like I was a child. "Stay there."

"I don't want any trouble! I'm sorry, sir, I'll go."

And with that the man scampered away like a frightened mouse. Harry immediately sat down next to Niall, who hadn't said a word throughout the whole thing.

"Sit down."

"No, that was disgusting!"

"He looked like he hadn't showered for about a year and he comes in here - a restaurant - to beg for money? That's disgusting, not me telling him to leave."

"You're unbelievable," I snapped, storming out of the booth and towards the door.

"Jess! Get back here!" Harry called after me angrily, his footsteps approaching me when I didn't listen, his hand grabbing my wrist in a tight hold. "It's not safe. Go back and sit down. Now."

"Don't tell me what to do."

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Q: _hiiiiharry: What could you see yourself doing as a career one day?

A: Rather unsurprisingly I'm interested in law, so I'd like to have a career doing something to with criminology but I'm not sure exactly what yet!

If you have anymore questions for me, highlight this paragraph and ask away! :) I like answering these questions.

My question for you is: where are you from? I always see people I follow commenting on stories like, "It's 1am why am I reading this" when it's 8pm or something where I am, so I'm interested to hear where you guys are from! I'm from the south coast of England :)