LOVERBOY [harry styles]

prologue

    "Rose, do you see what I see?" My words barely audible, voice cracking, and my heart feels like it completely stops. I have to ask my coworker to assure my eyes aren't deceiving me, that this is actually happening. Our eyes caught each other's for a maximum of two seconds but it was surely enough to send me into a full blown panic. I do my best to stay calm, though. I would never lose myself at work, I needed the money more than anything. Losing the job would leave me devastated to say the absolute least.

    "Hello, what brings you in today?" I say a bit too confidently, my voice too loud and my smile too wide.

    "Erm, just need to get into the gym here." He points through the window behind Rose and I, "I've got a membership already." His smile is warm, comforting. He holds his card up and I fumble with the scanner, embarrassing myself beyond belief. "No rush, love. All is good." He leans over the counter to whisper, easing my embarrassment. I look past to see the line behind him but only met with the sight of men holding cameras.

  "Thank you, just a bit nervous is all." I admit, tucking my hair behind my ear and handing him back his card.

  "Don't be!" He almost laughs, setting his gym bag on the ground beside him. "Nice to meet you, I'm Harry." His hand reaches across the counter and I feel like I might be sick. This surely couldn't be real, could it?

I hesitate a bit, wiping the sweat from my hands onto my pants before going in for the handshake. "I'm Rhea, it's nice to meet you Harry."

  He holds a smug look on his face, looking behind at the men with cameras and then back to me. "By the looks of you, I'd say you already knew of me?"

  "Yes, of course. I've been fond of you for a very long time." I smile, feeling more confident. "The rest of the band too, of course." I ramble on and he tries to hide his laugh. "I mean not much of a band anymore, I guess-" I continue on, my face hot from embarrassment. This time I'm met with a full-on laugh and a wide dimpled smile, it might as well have been the most heavenly sound to ever bless my ears.

"Relax, you're fine. You're sweet, really. From what I can tell, you're a good time." His smile fades into a sly smirk, his eyes meeting mine for what feels like much longer than the prior two seconds. "Before I leave today, I'll be sure to get your number." He whispers again and pats the counter before moving on past the counter into the gym.

I have a massive grin plastered onto my face, I'm so sure of it. "Did that really just happen?" I do my best attempt at a quiet squeal, trying not to disturb the environment.

  "Yes, duh! That was the hottest shit I've ever seen Rhea. So fucking honest, he has it hot for you!" She shoved at my shoulder playfully, laughing and covering her face. "I can't believe that just happened!"

  "I can't either, how does he have a membership already? I haven't seen him here once in the past year and a half!" I think out-loud, shaking my head. "Who cares? I just met Harry-Fucking-Styles! I can die happy."

  I look back to take a peak at the gorgeous man, I really tried not to but I just couldn't help myself. His eyes were on me as he lifted the weights, his chest rapid. I smiled shyly at him and waved, a smile spreading across his face.

"Rose, I might actually die." I bite into my lip and try to contain my smile.

  "Hold that thought, we've still got a job to do." She laughs and motions to the crowd of people with various needs.

All of it seems so little and worthless the moment I open our bedroom door, met with the sight of the girl from across the hall's naked body straddling Harry's.

  My body goes rigid, it feels like every bit of oxygen has left my lungs and my mind goes blank. The next thing I remember is falling to my knees in the elevator, a sobbing mess. My shaking hands grasping at my chest as if it could possibly make it easier to breathe.

  My hand slams on the button to stop the movement, I just need to breathe. I need to relax, collect myself, breathe. Breathe, Rhea. The sight is burned into the inside of my eyelids, the sound of their syncing moans haunts my ears. I feel as if I could be physically sick. The sight alone of him with her in our bed could end me.

  My phone seems to be ringing constantly for what feels like years as I sit on the hard floor, leaned up against the freezing metal. So much so that I throw it against the wall in front of me until it stops; until bits of glass litter the floor in front of me.

  I sit and sit for what seems like hours, my eyes burning and my heart aching. I've swallowed down the same bile that threatens to spill at least ten times before I stand up and resume my ride down. I leave the phone, staring blankly in front of me as I leave the lobby. Once I'm far, far away I let myself spill the contents of my stomach onto a less crowded part of the sidewalk. I hope and pray that all of the pain and sorrow will leave with this mornings breakfast but I have no such luck.