🤍💌 『 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓕𝓲𝓻𝓼𝓽 𝓗𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓸 』 💌🤍
Harry settled into his seat beside Sarah, laughing along as stories from the tour bounced around the table.
“Oh, Harry would love that!” Lorren beamed to Sarah, Harry joining the tail end of the conversation.
“What would I love?” He questioned, a faint smirk crinkled his features as his green eyes sparkled in the low lighting.
“I’ve actually got someone I’d love you to meet tonight,” Sarah said casually, taking a sip of her drink.
Harry looked up with a grin. “Do you now?”
“One of my best friends. Her name’s Alda. She's 27 much younger than me though!,I figured you could use a warm welcome home from another Londoner.”
Harry shrugged, smiling politely. “Sounds lovely.”
“You’ll like her,” Lorren promised.
“I’m sure I will,” he replied, brushing it off without another thought before turning back to another side conversation.
To Harry, it was simply another introduction.Sarah had plenty of friends, and he’d met countless people over the years. During his time away, he grew comfortable with a close circle of friends but now on tour, it was introduction after introduction. Harry didn’t mind, he’d always make room for more.
A few minutes later, the restaurant door opened. A small gesture that Harry didn’t catch onto but Sarah’s face immediately lit up.
Harry glanced over absent-mindedly, ready to welcome the new company.
Then he saw her and he couldn’t stop his heart from swelling.
Alda Hayes stepped towards the table, a bright smile on her face. She wore a simple outfit, a white crop top with baggy gray jeans and converse that somehow stood out without trying. Her smile lit up the dark room and the moment she spotted Sarah, and there was something effortlessly genuine about it. She greeted the staff as warmly as she greeted her friend, thanking them as they showed her to the busy table.
Harry couldn’t explain it.
She wasn’t trying to impress anyone. She wasn’t demanding attention.
Yet somehow, she had all of his. Harry tried to tear his eyes away from hers but he couldn’t help himself. He outwardly followed her movements, his green eyes dancing on each new feature he was desperate to learn.
“Alda!” Sarah stood to hug her tightly before guiding her over. “Everyone, attention please,”Sarah commanded the room like usual. “This is my best friend, Alda.”
Alda smiled around the table.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you all, Sarah brags about your company all the time.” Alda grinned as a few others greeted her back.
When her eyes landed on Harry, she offered her hand, small and stretched out.
“And you’re Harry. I’ve heard you’re lovely.”
For a split second, Harry forgot how conversations worked. His brain began mush as the pretty girl in front of him directed her attention his way.
“Oh… um… I hope only good things.”
She laughed softly. Harry took her cold hand in his, warming it for a moment. His touch was soft, gentle-like as his long fingers wrapped around her palm.
“Only good things,” Alda promised.
Harry didn’t pull away first, he settled on the weight of her hand in his for a few seconds before Alda pulled back. He couldn’t even grasp how nervous he was by her presence, his finger picking at his nail under the table to keep his anxiety at bay.
He knew himself, he knew how to work the room when attention was on him. He could command the room, get lost in conversations with loads of people who were influential and those who trusted him with their whole heart without hesitation. He powered rooms with his voice and drew the attention of whole stadiums but right now? What caused the anxiety, bubbly feeling deep in his chest?
One kind smile from a stranger apparently did.
As Alda took the empty seat opposite him, he found himself glancing up more often than usual. Harry tried to school his interest without hinting at his attraction but he found himself preoccupied by the woman across from him. Every time she spoke, she listened just as much as she talked. She asked everyone questions, remembered names instantly, and somehow made each person feel included. Harry was taken back, feeling a small weight off his shoulders that he’d often hold in these quiet rooms. She easily fit in with the group as if it was a piece of cake. A part of Harry was used to people feeling intimidated by him but he didn’t sense that energy from her; it was comforting, if anything.
Harry watched as Alda complimented the waiter on the food. She laughed wholeheartedly at Mitch's terrible joke. She thanked someone for passing the bread.
Nothing she did felt forced, conversations landed smoothly. Harry was quietly captivated.
When the conversation turned to him, Harry got lost in thoughts of her, itching to know more than she revealed in the last few minutes over warm bread and dark wine.
“So, Harry,” Alda asked, bringing her glass of wine to her lips. “What’s been your favourite city on the tour?”
Harry blinked, his mind preoccupied by the subtle red-stained cherry color against her lips.
“What?” He whispered, noticing how he must’ve missed his cue.
“I asked what your favourite city’s been.”
“Oh. Right. Sorry,” an embarrassed smile crept to his face.
He rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly aware everyone had been watching him.
“I… uh… probably London.”
Harry stumbled through an answer that was far less smooth than usual.
Normally, words came easily to Harry.
Tonight, they seemed determined to disappear.
Across the table,Sarah watched the exchange with growing amusement. She bumped Lorren next to her, checking if she could see exactly what was blatantly obvious.
Harry wasn’t dominating the conversation like he usually did.
He wasn’t his effortlessly charming self.
Instead, he was fiddling with the label on his water bottle, downing too much wine, smiling to himself whenever Alda laughed, and occasionally losing track of what he was saying whenever she looked his way.
Sarah had known Harry for years, surely enough to notice how unusual his behavior was.
She had seen him perform for tens of thousands of people without a flicker of nerves. Hyping up the crew when their nerves came crashing into the stage floor. She had watched the way he handled interviews, award shows and impossible situations with complete confidence.
She had never, not once, seen him so shy.
She caught him, grin wide enough that his dimples seeped deeper into his face, all to himself
as Alda jumped into storytelling about her dog which is a miniature Australian Shepherd
Harry didn’t even realise he was smiling so hard.
Sarah bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing.
She said nothing. Sarah sat back and continued to observe quietly.
She simply took another sip of her drink, hiding the knowing smile that grew on her face. The contentment that pooled in her chest as she studied the exchange from her seat.
Some things didn’t need pointing out.
Harry would realise soon enough.
As the night winded down, Harry’s cheeks hurt from smiling so much. Some of the band members and crew had dispersed, threatening that they might miss rehearsal the next day if they didn’t get to bed. Harry usually was the first to go but he stayed glued in his seat, immersed in quiet conversation with the woman across from him. The conversation grew a little easier but Harry found himself being cautious with his words, forcing himself to relax his mind as the conversation continued to flow with the small group.
“Alda named her puppy “Cherry.” Sarah half teased, earning an instant playful eye roll from her best friend.
“Hey,” Alda chuckled, a beautiful sound coming from her lips. “I always wanted a dog named Cherry as a child and when I adopted her… it just felt like fate. She has the sweetest face,” Alda said like a proud dog mom. “I’ll show you a photo,” she pulled out her blue clad phone case that carried her device, flashing the lockscreen with a picture of Cherry.
“Oh, look at that face.” Harry coo’d, “Definitely Cherry if y’ask me,” Harry agreed.
“She loves Cherry too,” Aysia laughed, “always barking to your song,” she remarked which caused Alda to cover her face in embarrassment, another thing to tease her about.
“Oh, so she’s a proper fan?” Harry leaned back in his chair, smirking. “And what about her mum?” Harry adjusted his body, easing closer to the table with his elbow propped up. His green eyes flickered around her features — brown eyes, small freckled skin, rosy cheeks, pouty, playful pink lips that broke into a genuine expression.
“Y’caught me,” she raised her palms up in a half mocking gesture. “I’m a bit of a fan myself,” she admitted.
“Come to the show,” Harry found himself saying quicker than he’d ever realized. He quickly corrected himself, “A friend of Sarah’s is a friend of mine, I’d love to have y’there.”
“Oh —,” Alda faltered right as she was about to protest.
“Yes, that would be perfect!” Sarah nodded to Harry, “Harry will get you the best view and you can come see me dance,” she replied happily.
“Oh, I don’t want to —,”Alda started but was interrupted by Harry.
“Consider it sorted,” Harry was already imagining it, hoping to spot her in the crowd — dancing and singing along to his songs. “It’s no problem but Cherry might feel a bit jealous,” Harry easily teased.
Harry couldn’t help but to engrave the soft, endearing sound of her laugh that had been music to his ears the whole night. As Harry excused himself, taking care of the bill — his eyes landed on Alda from the entrance of the establishment. He peered over his shoulder, observing how she flickered her blonde hair over her shoulder, blushing as Lorren whispered something in her ear that made her giggle, a sound he could hear faintly from the front of the restaurant if he listened closely — which he did. Harry got shy for a second when their eyes locked from across the room, a small knowing exchange. Harry offered her a private smile, a subtle flirty gesture that he couldn’t quite resist.
He found himself picturing her backstage, he’d tell himself that Alda is there for Sarah but he knew better — he’d secretly wish she was there for him, maybe even only him. A tinge of jealousy ran through him as Lorren whispered and drew those intoxicating giggles from her as he rounded back to the table.
“What did I miss?” Harry dared to ask, he couldn’t help him.
“Oh,” Alda tried to keep herself calm as she stumbled over her words, “just girl talk.”
“Right,” Harry smirked. “Uh.. Everything is taken care of here, stay as long as you’d like… I should probably head out,” Harry could stay, he could definitely stay in her presence for another hour or two but he knew himself well enough. Any more time with the woman who intrigued him and he’d make a fool of himself.
“Aw Harry, you’ll be missed.” Sarah teases, wrapping her arms around her friend.
“You’ll see more of me,” Harry promised. His eye fell to Alda’s again, “it was lovely to have you here tonight,” he reassured, offering his hand again. When she took it, a spark ran down his body — or was he imagining things?
“Lovely to meet you, Harry.”
They reluctantly broke contact as Harry rolled his lips inward, contemplating asking for her number.
“Uh, should I send the details to Sarah?” He asked, pointing to his drummer. “For the show,” he added.
“Oh,” Alda looked towards her friend. “I can give you my number,” she said slowly as if it would be easier — because it would be. Harry secretly hoped she’d come to that conclusion anyways. Harry didn’t protest, hitting a few buttons on his yellow cased phone with the contact information open.
“I’ll text you,” he told her as she handed it back with her full name and number. “That way.. if anything comes up, you can always contact me.”
Sure, he meant for the concert but he secretly hoped it was for other things too. He typed a simple, “This is Harry,” watching the blue message sent and her phone buzz next to her on the table.
“Well, that was easy.” Sarah teased openly, causing Harry to scoff.
“Goodnight, ladies.” Harry turned reluctantly, grabbing a few takeaway boxes from the wooden table. “you two, don’t stay up too late!” He half yelled over his shoulder pointing at Sarah and Lorren as his legs carried him through the restaurant.
As Harry walked down the private pavement, he wondered if Alda’s heart was racing as much as his.
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