a/n: hi again! hereâs another piece of writing for ya, a little longer than my last. i hope this one is as well-received as my last (definitely did not expect the amount of positive feedback that i got!!), because this is actually one that iâve played out in my head so many times LOL. anyways, please feel free to leave feedback (comments, likes, reblogs, messages, the like) or just come talk to me (iâm always up for a chat or a new friend!!), and thanks in advance for reading! much love to all of you- paige xx
song rec:Â âinto you- alex ghenea remixâ // ariana grande, mac miller, alex ghenea
There are a lot of places that you imagined yourself to be after the release of your first single, which was sweeping the nation through every major radio station and climbing its way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. You couldâve been at an early-morning radio interview, chatting with Nick Grimshaw over your morning tea, or maybe laughing with Ellen as she pulled one of her infamous scare pranks on you. Maybe chatting with your manager about the drop of your next song, building up to your first ever album being released later that year, or hosting a meet and greet to thank your fans for supporting you so wholeheartedly on your new venture. Among all of these possibilities, though, you never, ever, in a million years, thought you would reach such a level of success in the music industry that youâd be able to climb into the passenger seat of James Cordenâs car for your own episode of âCarpool Karaokeâ.
âThank you so much for helping me get to work; trafficâs a real pain in the ass here in LA, you know?â James asked, putting the car into drive and making his way out into the streets of Los Angeles with you sat comfortably next to him.
An uncontrollable grin broke out onto your face at hearing his infamous greeting, avoiding direct eye contact with the camera perched up in front of you on the dashboard and instead looking at James. âOf course! Anything for you, James.â
You saw him smile coyly at you, glancing at you quickly before turning his eyes back on the road. âDo you mind if we listen to some music? See whatâs on the radio?â
A small giggle left your lips at the staged introduction to your song, nodding coolly as if you didnât know what was coming. âSure, sure.â
At the first notes of your song filter through the car speakers, you couldnât contain your full-blown smile at the fact that it was your song that you wrote that James was singing along to. While you took the melody, James began to harmonize with you during the first chorus and tapped the beat on his steering wheel, and the only thing that you can think is that you were so incredibly lucky to be where you were.
After your song ended, you and James began chatting about your rise to fame, discussing your childhood and the process of writing your album. You exchanged the kind of banter that only James could facilitate, joking back and forth about your quirky habits (which, in your defense, you considered making up dance routines in your bathroom to your favorite Katy Perry songs completely normal) and then jamming out to âCalifornia Gurlsâ as a result, throwing in a few of the moves that you remembered choreographing in your shower when you were ten and, of course, rapping Snoop Doggâs verse flawlessly.
âSo, I donât know if this is a rumorâŠâ James began, reaching to turn down the volume of his car stereo.
You gave him a side glance, biting your lip out of nerves. âOh, God.â
James chuckled, waving his hand dismissively. âNo, no, itâs not that terrible. But when I spoke to your mum earlier-â You scrunched your nose in distaste, knowing that whatever stories your mum was telling were most likely terrifyingly embarrassing. â-she mentioned that you had a small obsession with One Direction back in the good old days.â
You groaned, covering your face with your hands in embarrassment. âOf course she told you that.â You peeked at James through your fingers. âYou had to ask my mom about this?â
James quirked an eyebrow. âActually, your mum did mention it, but I first figured it out when I did some digging and found your old fan account on Instagram. What was it? âdragmedownstylesâ?â
Your jaw dropped in disbelief, shocked that he found your old Instagram account that had since been inactive for three years. âJesus Christ, James, you really do your research.â You shook your head, sighing dramatically. âYeah, yeah, thatâs me. Can you tell who my favorite was?â
A chuckle left Jamesâ mouth, reaching over to pat your shoulder. âItâs alright, love, weâve all had our Harry phases, havenât we?â He sighed theatrically. âEven Iâve fantasized about having my fingers card through his thick, curly locks now and again.â
You laughed loudly at that one, reaching up and slowly lifting his hand off your shoulder and back into his own lap. âSpeak for yourself, Corden. That oneâs a little weird.â
As the car turns the corner into a residential area, James decides to slowly pull over on the sidewalk and turned fully to face you in his seat. âYou know, speaking of the man himself, I actually made a few calls before this-â You let out a small sound of disbelief, having a preemptive feeling about what was about to happen and barely registering the sound of the back door opening. â-and Harryâs actually in town right now, so just for you, Y/N-â
You spun around in your seat, meeting eyes with the one man that you never thought youâd have the luck to run into and letting out a small squeak. âShut the fuck up, Corden.â
The man behind you let out a little laugh, the sound sending your heart into overdrive at the fact that you were hearing it in person for the first time in your life. âHowâre you, love? Yâgood?â
You shook your head in disbelief, letting out a nervous, high-pitched giggle. âI-you-I jus- I hate you so much right now, itâs unbelievable, James.â You smacked James right on the shoulder, causing him to let out a small âHey!â and Harry to let out another little laugh. âGod, please, stop laughing, or Iâm gonna ask to make it my ringtone.â
âWhat dâya mean, âyou hate meâ?â James questioned jokingly, shaking his head at you. âYou love me right now.â
You threw your hands over your face again, bending forward in your seat so your head was in your lap before turning your head to the side to make eye contact with James. âHarry Styles is in the backseat,â you whispered, desperately trying to maintain some sense of sanity so you didnât send him running to the hills.
âYeah, âs crazy, innit?â Harry questioned from behind you, causing you to straighten back up in your seat and turn around to face him head on, mentally savoring his appearance so you can possibly fawn over it later. He was wearing a typical Harry Styles ensemble, donning a nearly transparent black button up properly tucked into a pair of mustard yellow flare pants, the tips of black boots peeking out from beneath the hem. Out of everything you admired Harry for, his sense of fashion was always near the top of your list, secretly vying for the ability to pull off his famous Gucci suits and stunning Alexander McQueen two-pieces.
You felt your heartbeat only pick up as you made eye contact with him again, a small giggle leaving your mouth before you could even begin to think about filtering your words. âYouâre practically the love of my life, yâknow that?â
His pink lips tilted up into one of the most attractive smirks youâd ever seen, clasping his hands in front of him. âIs thaâ right?â He turned his head to look at James. âYâcouldâve told me Iâd be meeting mâsoulmate today, Corden.â He made it a point to look down at his outfit. âI wouldâve dressed up a bit more foâ the occasion.â
The embarrassment of what you had just said hit you in the gut just then, causing you to sink down lower in your seat. âGoddammit, can I just go five seconds without saying something embarrassing?â you thought to yourself, well aware that both men in the car could hear you. ââLove of my lifeâ? Really, Y/N?â
âYâknow,â James started, suddenly unbuckling his seatbelt before looking at you knowingly. âI think this conversation will go better if you just hop into the driverâs seat, Harry, and I take your spot in the back.â
You rolled your eyes at what James thought was subtlety, facing forward in your seat as they shift around to switch spots, knowing this footage will be cut out later for timeâs sake. When Harryâs comfortably in the driverâs spot next to you with his seat belt buckled, and James is done adjusting himself in the middle of the backseat, Harry puts the car in drive and begins your journey back out on the road.
James clears his throat from behind you, leaning forward a bit so heâs closer to the cameras placed in front of you and Harry. âShall we put on some music, Y/N?â
You looked at him and sighed lightly, knowing that he didnât have to look far into your fan account to know what One Direction song was your favorite.
You were proven correct when Harry reached over to press play, the first notes of âStockholm Syndromeâ filtering into the car and prompting a cheeky, almost proud smirk onto Harryâs face. ââs this your favorite?â
You smiled at him in response, singing along with the recorded version of him just to show him how much you actually loved this song, one of the most underrated ones off the album, in your opinion. âWhoâs that shadow holding me hostageâŠâ
It was a surreal experience, singing along to âStockholm Syndromeâ next to Harry freakinâ Styles with James Corden shouting out the chorus of âoh!ââs in time with the beat. You couldnât stop giggling between lines, feeling as if it was an out-of-body experience that youâd conjured up out of the deep recesses of your imagination.
Just as the song faded into the bridge, you turned the volume down and slightly turned to face James. âYâknow, Iâm kinda disappointed. No matching denim jackets for this one? Am I not special enough for you?â
Harry laughed at your comment, obviously catching your reference to the Carpool Karaoke with the rest of his bandmates. âYouâve failed us, James.â
Jamesâ jaw dropped in mock offense, throwing his hands up in indignation. âWhat exactly dâyou expect from me for this song? Iâll lock yâboth in the basement, if yâwant.â
âKinky, Corden,â Harry responded, ever the quick-witted one.
âIâd prefer handcuffs, actually,â you added in unthinkingly, only understanding the implications of what you just said after Harryâs eyes go comically wide and a disbelieving little laugh escapes his lips.
âSave that for the bedroom, darling,â he admonished you, your complexion going unbelievably red at the fact that maybe, just maybe, Harry Styles just flirted with you. He then continued, smirking as he said, âThis is a family show, Y/N.â
You ignored your palpitating heart to raise your eyebrows at him, knowing what response he wanted. âOr is it?â
You both take a second looking at each other before bursting out into laughter, and Jamesâ amusement died down into a lost look of confusion. âAm I missing something?â
Harry scoffs quietly. âFake fan.â
âJust turn on the next song, Styles,â James jokingly demanded, slouching back into his seat as the opening notes of âOnly Angelâ began to play.
Harry smiled at the choice of song, watching you out of the corner of his eye as you air-drummed to the beat and sang every word without fail. He mightâve been your musical idol, but he couldnât help but think that you were a force to be reckoned with in more than just the music industry.
As the music faded back into the chorus of angels singing, James leaned forward to ask Harry a question. âWhat kind of woman prompts this song, hm, Harry?â
You giggled at the insinuation, knowing how many interviewers would kill to have the inside scoop on who Harry used as a muse for most of the songs on his album, and you decided to join in. âYeah, Harry, who do you know thatâs a âdevil in between the sheetsâ?â
He smirked in response to both of your inquiries, turning to look at you with a suggestive glint in his eyes as he stopped at a red light. âThat I know? Or would like to know?â
You blushed again at the insinuation behind his words, and James let out a gleeful (almost evil) cackle at the footage he was getting. âThisâll be great for the documentary Iâm making for your wedding, guys, truly.â
You turned to hit James on the shoulder, laughing while your blush became even more prominent and Harry merely chuckled at the two of you as the car began to move again. The banter continued between you and Harry throughout the rest of the car ride, including an interesting game of âWhoâd You Rather?â (âNot that I donât love you, Harry, really, but would you say no to Chris Hemsworth?â) followed by Harryâs impeccable impression of Julia Roberts (âDo I really have to be Julia again?â), so much so to the point where James felt like a third wheel and did not hesitate to verbalize it (âLetâs all agree that neither of you would be here having so much fun if it werenât for me, yeah?â). By the end of the bit, no one could ignore the little smiles passed between the two of you, and the Instagram picture you posted that day ignited a wave of questions about how you met, what he smelled like in person, and if you were still alive (âJames is sly, Iâll give âim thatâ, âBoy-ish? Is that a Bath and Body Works scent?â, and âNo, no Iâm not.â). Fans started collectively applauding James for his matchmaking abilities, but when later asked about his intentions of ringing Harry up about the episode, James could only shrug with a, âI guess I can add Cupid onto my lengthy list of accomplishments.â