the supernova london party | mirry + ella + orlando
Miranda was pretty excited about tonight. Parties were always kind of fun, and it was a party about her, so it was bound to be fun, right? She supposed. It felt more like a label push, getting celebrities around to celebrate her album, network, the like. She preferred the events with fans, really. It was just a big show. But that was the industry. At least sheâd have quite a few friends there. She thought it was funny that sheâd had to invite Harryâs entire band, but whatever worked. âDo you think your bandmates are gonna come?â she asked Harry. A few people were here already, so it wasnât too weird that he was, right? She wasnât sure, but she didnât care either.
Harry liked that their schedules had lined up just so. It couldn't be more perfect really. He was thrilled that he'd ended up in London during the same time as her event. He couldn't wait to go. And he could be open about it since she'd invited the whole band! Plenty of other famous UK artists would be in attendance as well. It would be the perfect way to keep their cover. "Niall's coming," he told her. "Liam mentioned that it sounded fun but I'm not holding my breath on that," he shrugged. "Louis might, though," he added with a smile. "He's friends with a lot of people that were invited, I guess."
Miranda knew that she should be grateful that her label was being so supportive of her and pushing her music, but she was still bummed about tonight. Sheâd rather just spend the night with Ella or Harry or both of them, and while they were both obviously invited, she also knew sheâd have to talk to everyone. She couldnât wait for her intimate album party. âI figured Niall would come. Heâs the only one of your bandmates Iâm actually friends with,â she admitted with a laugh. âWell, I hope he comes, honestly. It should be fun,â she said with a hopeful smile.
Harry looked around the room a bit, noticing a few more people had arrived. Soon he'd have to share her with everyone but for now he wanted to enjoy the few minutes he had. "Niall loves you. He wouldn't miss this for the world," he chuckled. "He told me off for monopolizing all of your time at the show," he added with a grin. "It will be fun! Your friends are coming too, and we'll just party the night away," he smiled. He tugged her hand a bit, leading her out of view. "I got you something to celebrate this event and your new album and all the hard work you've done."
Miranda wasnât sure about that, but it was cute. She smiled and shrugged a little. âI love him! Heâs such a nice, laidback guy,â she said with a smile. She laughed at that. âSounds like our future,â she teased. She nodded a bit. âThey are. But I also have to make the rounds, and make a toast, or speech, or something, and sit with people while they eat,â she said with a laugh. âItâll be lots of fun for you, though,â she said with a wink. She walked with him to a bit more private place. She smiled a bit, sort of surprised. âWhat? You didnât!â
Harry chuckled a little. "He is all of those things. He's a good one. He'll be thrilled to spend time with you," he told her. "He better get used to it," he grinned. He thought that sounded like a lot of work, honestly, and he was glad that he didn't have to do it. "I bet it'll be a beautiful toast," he told her with a smile. "I'll try my best not to have too much fun without you. Won't be hard, since I'll be missing you the whole time," he said, sneaking a kiss. He pulled a thin box from his inside pocket and handed it to her. "I did. I hope you like it," he said with a smile. Everyone liked bracelets, right?
Miranda would enjoy spending some time with him, too. She actually wanted to talk to him about setting up sometime for them to go out just the two of them. If people thought she was hanging around the band because she and Niall were friends, theyâd maybe be less suspicious of her and Harry. âHeâll just have too,â she said with a grin. âOh, thank you,â she said, smiling fondly. âLikewise,â she said, kissing him back quickly. She smiled brightly at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly, albeit, quickly. âYou are so sweet. I love it,â she said, pulling away and slipping it on.
Harry wanted her to enjoy every moment of her party. This was about her and her accomplishments. He wanted her to really soak it in. He'd patiently wait for his turn to have her attention again. Just so long as she was enjoying herself. He hugged her tightly, kissing the side of her head before she could pull away from him. "Yeah? You like it? I thought it'd serve as a nice reminder of how far you've come. And of a night that was spent just celebrating you and your work. I'm really proud of you, Miranda. I hope you are too."
Miranda smiled brightly and nodded her head. It was so sweet of him to get her a bracelet. It wasnât even her birthday, or Christmas, or an anniversary. God, he was so thoughtful. It made her feel so fluttery. She smiled fondly, feeling a little choked up. âYou are the sweetest. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I promise I am. Iâm so proud of this album. And Iâm so glad youâve been here for so many of the celebrations of it. I love that Iâve gotten to share this with you.â
Harry looked down at her wrist where the bracelet was resting. "It looks really pretty on you," he said with a smile. He thought she deserved a little something. It was a big night and this was a big album for her! She deserved to have a token to remember it. "You're very welcome, love," he promised. "I'm happy to hear you're proud of yourself and this. I'll be here to celebrate every step of the way, I promise." He wanted to kiss her again but he held back. "Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it."
Miranda felt like she couldnât stop beaming. She must look so silly. Everyone was going to wonder what had gotten into her. âThank you,â she said with a smile. She couldnât put into words how much it meant to her that he felt this way, that he wanted to be here with her for every little thing. She put her hand to her face, partially covering her smile. âThat means the world to me. You have no idea.â She nodded a bit as she snapped out of it. âOf course. Of course. Iâm thrilled to have you be part of it.â
Harry loved how happy she seemed. He felt like he'd really gotten this right. He'd been worried that it'd be too much but she seemed thrilled and that made his heart happy. He was just so proud of her. She'd really been through so much and come out better and brighter. He loved that for her. "I'm glad. You mean the world to me. You really, really do," he admitted. The room was filling up more and he gave her a half grin. "I'm thrilled to be in it. But for now, I have to share you. People will start looking for you."
Miranda smiled brightly. She wanted to kiss him so badly, it was kind of driving her crazy. She just wanted to put her hands on his face and kiss him until she couldnât breathe. But she had to control herself. There were a lot of people around, and sheâd like to hope none of them were run to the tabloids to gossip types, but it was hard to tell with some people. âYou mean the world to me, too,â she promised. âYeah, okay, I should go,â she said with a sigh and a small laugh. âIâll see you out there,â she said, leaning in to kiss his cheek quickly before going out to greet people.
Harry couldn't believe how lucky he was to have her in his life in any capacity, let alone this one. He felt truly blessed to even know her. The fact that she actively wanted him to be in her life was a dream come true. He was so in love with her that it actually hurt. He wanted to tell her but he knew he had to wait for the right time. He wanted it to be perfect. "Go," he laughed. "I'll see you out there. Don't worry about me, I'll find someone to mingle with," he promised. He smiled at the cheek kiss and watched her walk off before he followed.
Miranda knew heâd be fine and find someone to talk to, but sheâd miss him a lot, honestly. She greeted the guests, talking a bit about their upcoming projects and chatting about her album. She posed for pictures with them, smiling and laughing before moving onto someone else. She missed Harry already. It was so hard to stay away from him when he was in sight. She got a drink, and then was back to mingling. She flirted playfully, smiling charmingly.
Harry stayed near the edge of the event, waiting to see if there was anyone around he wanted to see and speak to. He recognized a few people here and there but they all seemed busy. That just gave him time to admire Miranda from afar. A voice to his left startled him and he laughed when he realized it was Niall. The two started to mingle more, greeting old friends and making new connections. Every so often, his eyes would travel to Miranda and see her smile and he would beam. "Have you said hi to her yet?" he asked Niall. When the lad said he hadn't, Harry took his opportunity and led him over. "Hi! Great party, Miranda! Thanks for having us!" he grinned.
Miranda glanced around to find Harry every so often, smiling at him when she could. She hoped he was having fun and wasnât just wasting his day being here to see her. She looked away from him when Charlie approached her, talking to him for a bit. He wanted to meet up at a studio to talk about the song heâd told her about at the VMAs afterparty. She gave him her number and told him to call her before they both left town. When Harry and Niall came over, she smiled brightly. âHey! Iâm so glad you could both make it,â she said with a bright smile, leaning in to hug both of them and pecking their cheeks. âHave you guys met Charlie?â she asked, introducing them. âCharlie, Harry and Niall, Niall and Harry, Charlie,â she said, putting her hand out to present them. Charlie stepped forward and extended his hand. âSo nice to meet you both. Iâm a big fan.â
Harry would be the first to admit, he wasn't the biggest fan of Charlie. He didn't know him but he'd heard a few things that had tarnished his opinion. He hugged Miranda back, holding her for a second too long. "Of course we made it. It's all Niall could talk about for weeks," he joked. "It's true. I've missed me favorite pop star," Niall told her with a grin. Harry held his hand out to Charlie and shook it. "Oh yeah? Thanks man. We appreciate it. You're pretty talented yourself," he managed. He could be polite. "Are you and Miranda close?"
Miranda let out a delighted giggle. âSince we had brunch, hm?â she teased. âIâve missed you, too. You guys are so busy all the time, Iâm so glad you had a chance to stop by,â she smiled at Niall. Charlie grinned and raised his eyebrows a bit. âWow, yeah? Thanks. It means a lot,â he said. âNot real close. We met at an afterparty at the VMAs. I have a song I was wondering if sheâd like to feature on,â he explained, smiling at her. Miranda smiled back, then looked to Harry. âYeah, weâre going to see if we can make something work with it while weâre both in town.â
Harry watched as Niall nodded. "Oh, absolutely. And what a good brunch that was! Is Julia here tonight?" he asked, somewhat out of the blue. "We really are busy but there was no way Harry and I were missing this," Niall grinned. Harry nodded a little at Charlie, thinking maybe he wasn't so bad. "Oh? You're doing a song together? That'll be interesting. I can't wait to hear it. Miranda's voice adds so much to any song, so you picked a good feature," he said.
Miranda shook her head with a sad smile. âNo, she unfortunately has work stuff back in L.A.,â she explained. She grinned at Niall and Harry, leaning in and hugging them both. âIt means a lot to me that you could both make it,â she said. She really did appreciate that Niall came. He didnât have to. Charlie nodded. âYeah, it should be. I think her voice would be great for it. Her upper register will do it justice for sure,â he said with a smile. Miranda waved a hand. âYouâre both too sweet.â
Harry thought that was unfortunate. He would have loved to see Julia. "Ah, shame. I was hoping for a chance to talk to her," Niall said but he brushed it off. "Of course, of course," he grinned. "Sorry the other lads didn't make it. Liam had a thing," he explained. Harry tried not to roll his eyes. "Oh yeah, well I can't wait to hear it. She really has the best voice of the generation," he said, smiling at her. "You're very talented! This party proves my point!" he insisted.
Miranda wouldâve loved to have Julia here. It was her accomplishment, too, really, what with her having helped on so many songs. âMaybe we can all get together again sometime,â she said too Niall. She shrugged, but smiled. âItâs alright,â she said. She didnât wanna see him, really, anyway. âShe does!â Charlie agreed. Miranda gave Harry a dazzling smile, sort of amazed he thought she had the best voice of the generation. âYouâre too much,â she said softly. Charlie continued on, though. âHer upper register and my perfect pitch, it should be a great collab. I canât wait for everyone to hear it,â he grinned. âOh, I hear my name. Iâll catch you guys later,â he said, patting their shoulders as he walked past them.
Harry watched as Niall grinned. "Yeah, that sounds like fun! Might drive the paps absolutely mad to see us all together again. Bet they'll fuel their own rumors," he chuckled. Harry was mostly focused on Miranda, as if he focused on Charlie he might knock the drink from his hand. "Ah yes, perfect pitch. How could I have possibly forgotten," he droned. He rolled his eyes as Charlie walked off, shaking his head a bit. "He's obnoxious. I'm not the only one who noticed that, right?" Niall asked. "You're definitely not."
Miranda laughed a little. âWe should go out just the two of us, thatâll really drive âem mad,â she said playfully. Miranda bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing when Charlie mentioned his perfect pitch and Harry rolled his eyes. She laughed after he walked off, leaning into Harry a bit. âYou were barely holding it in there,â she teased. âHe can be a bit much, but heâs nice, and heâs new to all of this, and his song is good. Iâll show you my part after I record it.â
Harry rolled his eyes, just glad that Charlie was gone. "He was driving me up the wall! My perfect pitch, oh this song I wrote, oh her upper register. He's flirting with you, love," he told Miranda. "He certainly is," Niall chimed in. "But I'm very interested to hear this song." Harry grumbled a little but he was too. He wanted to hear every song she ever sang on. "I'll listen to your parts," he said playfully.
Miranda couldnât help but laugh again as he went on about how annoying he was. âOh, he wasnât! Heâs just obnoxious, like you said,â she said with a smile. They hardly knew each other, and he wasnât even talking to her! Surely he wasnât flirting with her. âIâll send you my parts before it releases. I donât know when itâs supposed to release, but Iâll send it to you both first,â she promised. She laughed, hitting Harryâs arm gently. âHarry! You really donât like him, huh?â
Harry rolled his eyes again but he let it go. He still thought he'd been flirting. "Yeah, yeah, if you say so," he said reluctantly. Niall gave Miranda another hug. "I see someone I've been meaning to introduce myself to but I'll come back and spend more time with you later," he promised before he disappeared. "And then there were two," Harry grinned. "I didn't like his vibe! He seemed... too much."
Miranda leaned in and hugged Niall back, smiling and waving for him to go. âYeah, go, have fun! Iâll see you around later,â she said. She was glad he was enjoying himself and the party. Miranda smiled up at Harry, tilting her head to the side a bit. âAnd then there were two,â she repeated. She nodded a bit. âYeah, he comes on strong. I think heâs a bit nervous, maybe, but what do I know? Really, though, itâs just for the song,â she promised. She got all excited when she noticed Ella on the other side of the room. âOh! Itâs Ella! I have to go say hi. You can come with,â she said, heading towards her friend.
Ella had been a bit hesitant to come to the party. She'd wanted to, of course, because she'd never miss a chance to support her best friend. But when she'd been fighting with Douglas, the very idea of putting on a brave face and smiling for pictures had sounded exhausting. Luckily, everything was perfect. "There you are!" she beamed, greeting Miranda with a tight hug. "You look beautiful! I love this bracelet. Hello, Harry," she greeted him next with a hug. "What'd I miss?"
Harry was just thrilled to have a moment alone with her at last. He'd been expecting to have to share her with Niall for at least another ten minutes. "He's into you, Miranda. Trust me. As someone who's into you, I can spot it when someone else is," he told her. "But I trust your judgment. Just let me know if he tries anything. You're my girl," he said quietly. He almost kissed her but luckily she spotted something that took her attention. He followed the direction she was going and noticed Ella. He hoped she'd made up with Douglas by now. "Hey, Ella. You look nice," he said politely, leaning in for a hug.
Miranda gave him a look, a slight smirk on her lips. âOh, yeah? Youâre an expert, huh?â she teased. She raised her eyebrows, shushing him quietly. âHarry!â she said in a hushed tone, laughing a little. âDonât worry, Iâll tell you,â she promised. She smiled brightly when Ella spotted her, pulling her into a tight hug as she hugged her. âHey! Iâm so glad you came,â she smiled. âThank you. It was a gift,â she said with a sly smile. âWe just talked to Charlie Puth, and Harry canât stand him,â she laughed. âHow are you? Are you good?â she asked, trying not to be too obvious.
Harry nodded seriously. "I'm such an expert. He's into you. Mark my words, he's going to make a move," he warned her playfully. If people knew they were together then Charlie wouldn't but alas, they were still a secret. "That's all I ask," he said. He waited while the girls spoke, smiling to himself. It seemed like she'd made up with Douglas and that was excellent news to him. He'd have to text the guy later. "I'm so glad you worked it out. Doug had me worried."
Ella grinned. "A gift, huh?" Her eyes flicked to Harry then back. "Well, he has good taste!" She let out a laugh at that, unsurprised. "Really? He's kind of a lot. He means well, I think. I spoke to him once. He told me he has perfect pitch," she laughed. "I was like, did I ask?" She nodded at the question, her smile softening. "I'm good. We're good. We talked it out earlier. There was a lot of hugging and apologizing and please don't ever fight with me again," she laughed. "Did he tell you?" she asked Harry. "Not surprised."
Miranda rolled her eyes and smiled fondly at him. âWell if he does, I will politely turn him down,â she said, putting her hand on his chest for a moment. She laughed loudly when Ella said he mentioned his perfect pitch. âHe said the same thing to Harry!â she said, finding that wildly amusing. âIâm so glad you made up. I was really worried about you. You were so upset last night, poor babe,â she said, taking her hand and giving it a small squeeze. She paused as she thought she saw someone by the door, but shook it off a little. âHow long can you stay tonight?â she asked Ella with a smile.
Harry smiled when she touched his chest. It was such a simple gesture but it felt like a lot. It was fleeting but he'd remember it for the rest of the night. "Please do," he smiled. He laughed loudly. "What is with that guy?" he chuckled. He nodded a little, making note to text Douglas soon and congratulate him on making up with his girl. "Is he working tonight or is coming by?" he wondered. He let the girls talk, not wanting to interrupt too much.
Ella rolled her eyes playfully. "He's just a kid. Isn't he? He looks so young," she shrugged. "He seems nice enough, though." She nodded a little, her smile widening. "I'm glad too. I was originally planning on going to his place after this to make up but he beat me to it. With tacos," she grinned. "I feel much better today. Thanks again for coming over last night," she added with a smile. "Oh, I'll stay for a good long while but I didn't sleep much last night. But I want to hear your speech!"
Miranda smiled fondly when she said they made up. âIâm so, so happy. You two are such a lovely couple, Iâm so glad you found a way to make it through this,â she said, taking her hand with both of hers and giving it a squeeze. âOh, I donât think thatâll be too long from now,â she promised. âYou said he was working so couldnât make it when I invited you, right?â she asked, cutting off a bit when she felt a hand on her back. She turned to look at who it was just as Orlando spoke. âWell hello,â he said. She smiled brightly, leaning in to give him a hug with one arm. âHi! I had no idea you were invited! Itâs been like a year! You look great,â she said, pecking his cheek. âI wasnât, actually, but I was in town and heard you had an event and thought Iâd stop by and see you. You look incredible. Your spirits seem much higher than the last time I saw you,â he said with a smile, hand still on her back, keeping incredibly close to her. âYeah, itâs been a really good year,â she said, letting out a deep breath. âOh, Iâm being rude! You remember Ella,â she said. âAnd this is Harry!â she said. Orlando extended a hand and smiled charmingly. âNice to meet you, Harry.â
Ella smiled back at her. "I'm happy too. I think I would have died if we hadn't worked it out. I'd have to go home with you to California," she joked. She nodded a little, looking forward to that. She was about to answer when Orlando showed up and she looked to Harry to see his reaction. It wasn't good. "Hey Orlando! Long time," she waved when Miranda mentioned her. She shifted a little, unsure of what to say. "Gosh, I haven't seen you since that one night we all went to that, like, club. Then I lost track of the two of you. I mean, because I was drunk not for any other reason. Anyway! It's good to see you."
Harry narrowed his eyes when he saw Orlando approach. He felt his hands clench into fists and his jaw set. His eyes were focused on the hand the older man kept on Miranda's back. He was too touchy. He watched the exchange with annoyance, both at Orlando and at himself for being so jealous. Orlando was just so handsome and established and older and it bothered him. His eyes were still narrowed when Orlando offered a hand and he took it begrudgingly. He made sure to squeeze it extra hard. "Charmed," he managed. He looked at Ella when she rambled and found himself even more annoyed. So it was all true. They were exes.
Miranda made a slightly sad face, but smiled a bit. âWell, as much as I would love for you to come home with me,â she said with a playful wink, âIâm glad you worked it out.â Orlando moved away from Miranda to give Ella a hug, laughing a bit. After he shook Harryâs hand, he moved back by her, his hand around her shoulders this time. âOh gosh, I forgot about that night!â he said with a laugh. âYou got so drunk, you sang on a tabletop, do you remember that?â he said to Miranda, shaking his head. She noticed the way Harry seemed a bit, off, but shrugged it off. She laughed and nodded, touching her forehead. âOh my god, I remember that. Then I broke a heel getting down,â she added, laughing some more. Orlando squeezed her shoulder a bit, still laughing, before he turned his attention to Harry again. âYou have a show here in town this week, right? From what I understand, itâs been quite the tour,â he complimented with a smile.
Ella kind of regretted bringing it up. She knew what jealousy felt like and she could practically see it radiating off of Harry. "Ha, I remember that too!" she cut in. "And then you and I danced back to back thinking we were starting a new trend," she said to Miranda. Anything to move the subject along. She tried to signal to Miranda that Harry seemed off but she wasn't sure what to do. Was she supposed to grab Orlando and drag him away? "Yeah! Your show! I was going to ask you for tickets!" she supplied, trying to bolster him.
Harry did not like this at all. He hated how Orlando was touching Miranda. He trusted her, of course, but the man was far too familiar for his liking. It wasn't right. "Sounds like a pretty wild night," he muttered. He folded his arms across his chest, irritated at how this was going. He couldn't focus on anything other than Orlando's arm around his girl. "I do have a show. It's been a crazy tour. Kind of a farewell so the fans are going especially crazy," he said. He wasn't sure what to make of this. "Yeah, sure. I'll get you and Doug in if you want," he agreed. "It's a really big show, actually. We're planning on making it the best yet," he lied. He needed something to make himself sound cooler. "You know, Miranda came to our show earlier this week at the Apple music thing. You enjoyed yourself, right?"
Miranda raised an eyebrow slightly at the body language Harry was exhibiting, but quickly turned back to a smile. He was so jealous, it was kind of weird. She nodded and smiled when he mentioned the show recently. âYeah, it was incredible. Iâm planning on going tomorrow, too, actually. Iâm off to Paris after that, but Iâm really excited. Harryâs a great performer,â she explained, looking Harry in the eyes in hopes heâd remember how much she cared about him. âWow, well, congrats, mate. Sounds like youâre well worth the hype,â he said with a wide grin. âIâm going to get going, but it was nice seeing you again,â he said, leaning in and pecking her cheek. âIt was nice seeing you,â she repeated, smiling as he walked away.
Ella waved goodbye to Orlando. "Well, that was nice. Cool of him to show up, right? I'm gonna go get a drink and a bite of some snack because I know there's food here somewhere. I'll say goodbye before I leave," she told Miranda. She leaned in to give her a hug. "I think your man needs attention," she whispered into her ear. "Harry, it was good seeing you. Let me know about those tickets." She walked off.
Harry relaxed a little bit when Miranda seemed to catch on. He was embarrassed that he was so bothered by this, especially since she was now trying to boost him up a little bit. "Oh, thank you. That's a kind thing to say," he said to her. He hoped she wasn't too mad at him. "Yeah, thanks mate," he managed, trying to keep the bitterness out of his voice. He didn't want to be jealous. He just couldn't help it. Especially when he kissed her cheek. "Oh, right. See you. Tell Doug I said hey," he told Ella. When he was alone again with Miranda he shifted uncomfortably. "So. Orlando Bloom."
Miranda nodded a bit. It was nice to see him, even if it clearly drove Harry crazy. âYeah, it was. There should be lots of good food, yeah,â she said with a laugh, smiling at her. She hugged her back. âI know,â she whispered, smiling a bit wider as she walked off. She let out a soft sigh. âYeah,â she said, nodding for him to follow her to a more secluded area. âWe sort of dated a bit last year. His ex-wife and Justin slept together, and uh, yeah, we had something in common. It wasnât serious, or exclusive, for that matter. You got real riled up there. Are you okay?â she asked, a hand on his arm, moving a bit closer to him. âYou know I have to act the way I would if I werenât with you, right?â she added.
Harry followed after her, rubbing the back of his neck. Maybe he needed to give her some space. He'd stuck to her like glue since he'd dragged Niall over to say hello. Maybe he was being too obvious. Especially after that Orlando display. "Yeah, I kind of figured out the rumors were true," he admitted. "It's cool. I'm not, like, shaming you for having something with him. I know you've been with other people," he said. "I just didn't like seeing him touching you. There were rumors about the two of you for ages and he's still showing up and touching you and people are going to talk about that. And I get that I should want that to take attention off of us but it's just not fair."
Miranda let out a quiet breath, but smiled up at him. âI donât exactly like confirming rumors this way. I wouldâve rather been able to tell you myself, but I didnât know heâd be here,â she said. âIâm a flirty person. Iâm sorry. I can try to tone it down a bit, though,â she added. She leaned forward a bit, putting her lips to his ear. âNo one gets to touch me like you do,â she said, dragging out the word âtouchâ. She pulled back a bit, touching his face softly. âFor now, we have to let people think weâre with other people. Both of us. If weâre with other people, we arenât with each other. But at the end of the night, you are the one whoâs going to be touching me. Only you.â
Harry understood that. He wouldn't like to confirm something this way either but it had happened. There was no taking it back now. "I know, and it's fine. It's not your fault. I don't want you to change who you are. I just didn't think it'd bother me that much. Maybe if I'd expected it," he shrugged. He smiled a little when she leaned in close, a quick intake of her perfume filling his lungs. "I know. I'm sorry. I know the plan and I fully support it. It just is hard to see you with him and he thinks you're single. I'm sorry to ruin the night like this, I feel like an asshole," he admitted. He touched her arm softly, letting his hand trail down to her bracelet. "Promise me when we go public I can be as obnoxious with touching you as I want."
Miranda smiled up at him. She understood. Sheâd be jealous if one of his exes weâre all over him. She could imagine how sheâd feel, and it didnât feel good. âI get it. Iâd feel the same way,â she admitted. She shook her head, her hand on his face. âBabe, you donât have to apologize. You didnât ruin the night, and youâre not an asshole. I just wanted to make sure youâre good,â she promised. She laughed and nodded, leaning in and kissing his cheek. âYou can grab my ass if you want to,â she said.
Harry wished he was more mature and didn't have this jealous side to him. He wanted to ask if she still felt anything for Orlando. He knew she'd never do anything to hurt him. He knew she was into him and they were exclusive. He just couldn't get the image of Orlando being all over her out of his mind. "I'm good," he promised. "Just overreacted a bit, is all. Ignore me," he smiled. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Okay, I will do that when we're public. All the time," he said playfully. "We should probably split up a bit, I can't be hanging off of you all night."
Miranda nodded a bit. She really did understand. âI get it. I canât promise I wonât do the same at some point,â she admitted. âI donât think I could ignore you if I wanted to, though,â she added. She squeezed his hand back, smiling up at him. This wasnât easy. âYour hand can just always be on my ass,â she teased, flashing him an amused smile. She let out a sigh and nodded. âYeah, I know. I probably have to give my speech soon, anyway.â
Harry smiled at her a bit. "It's hard but it's worth it. It's better we keep this quiet a little longer," he said. "You're very sweet," he laughed. "But seriously, ignore me. This isn't the impression I want to leave on your night." He chuckled at her, shaking his head slightly. He really did love her a lot. "Okay, I'll do that then," he grinned. He looked out at the crowd and nodded a bit. "Yeah, probably. Go, give your speech. Knock 'em dead. I'll get some food and go mingle. Maybe I'll keep Ella company for you."
Miranda stared into his eyes for a moment and then nodded. âItâs so worth it,â she agreed. Sheâd never felt like this before. This was the kind of feeling sheâd thought sheâd felt, but she hadnât. It was what people wrote movies about, and sang songs about. She had it. She laughed and nodded. âOkay, Iâll ignore you,â she teased. She let out another sigh and nodded. âSheâd like that, Iâm sure. Iâll see you after all of this?â she asked. She leaned in and gave him a quick hug, then went off into the crowd again.
Harry didn't want to part ways with her. He just wanted to stay by her side all night and watch her bask in her success. He wanted to share every moment with her. She was so special and talented and he wanted everyone to know about it. He just wanted everything for her. "You'll see me after all of this," he confirmed. "Go. Go celebrate you," he grinned. He hugged her back and watched her go off before heading off to find food and her friend.
Miranda thought it was pretty cute how he really wanted her to be happy and enjoy this. He was so behind her. He really pushed for her and celebrated her and appreciated her and sheâd just never really experienced that before. She smiled back at him one last time before going to talk to someone else. Shortly after, she made her little speech, thanking everyone for being there with her and sharing her excitement over the album.
Harry wandered around the party a bit before settling himself with his food. He kept looking for Miranda in the crowd and smiling every time he caught her laughing. He was so thrilled for her. She looked so happy. He spent some time with Ella, keeping her company until after Miranda finished her speech. He wanted to go to her and congratulate her again but he knew it wasn't the time. She had a room full of people there to talk to. He'd manage.
Miranda mingled with people until they all slowly left. She said goodbyes as they went out, smiling and hugging and waving and telling people sheâd see them again here or there. She had a really good time, honestly. It was fun seeing everyone and it didnât feel as weirdly about her as she was worried it would. Once everyone except the people that worked with her had left, she made her way over to Harry at the bar, sliding onto the stool next to him. âHi.â
Harry felt a bit odd lingering by the bar alone. He obviously wasn't going to leave without Miranda but he felt a bit silly being one of the last people to leave. He'd made excuses when Niall and his friends had left and then again when someone else had asked. He just didn't want to get in the way. He finished off his drink and turned when he heard a voice. "Hi! I loved your speech. I wanted to come tell you but you were busy," he said playfully. "So I'm telling you now."
Miranda smiled brightly when he immediately complimented him, laughing a bit. âYouâre so cute. Thank you, though. I appreciate it,â she said. âI missed you,â she said, nudging his foot with hers. She sat with him for a moment, considering whether she wanted a drink. She did, but sheâd rather have it at his place. âCan we go home now?â she asked. She was so exhausted from being on, and she wanted to take her shoes off and be with him in private.
Harry smiled back at her, always so charmed. "I'm serious! It was a great speech! You looked so good and so happy up there," he told her. "I missed you too, though. There's only so much small talk I can make with people I don't know very well. At least Ella talked enough for the both of us," he shrugged with a laugh. "We absolutely can go home if you're ready to go. Did you need to grab anything?" he wondered.
Miranda smiled fondly and nodded. âI know you are. Thatâs part of what makes you so cute. Thank you, honestly. It means a lot to me,â she promised. She laughed a little, nodding along. âYeah, my experience was pretty similar,â she said. âEllaâs so much fun, isnât she?â She thought for a moment and stood up. âYeah, probably. Let me go see,â she said, laughing a bit. âIâll be right back,â she added.
Harry grinned at her. "You're very welcome. I was so proud of you the whole time," he promised. He leaned over to kiss her on the cheek gently. "There was so much small talk. So many people asking me how I know you and why I'm here. I started making things up," he admitted. "She is fun. I see why you like her so much," he smiled. He nodded a little bit and stood up as well. "Okay, I'll be right here waiting for you. I won't go anywhere, promise."
Harry was timed out 25 hours ago
Miranda thought he was just the cutest thing ever. He was just so proud of her all the time. She felt so lucky. âThank you,â she said, beaming. She laughed a little. âOh no! I canât believe they asked when Niall was here, too. Heâs really been great in helping us cover our asses. I really appreciate it,â she said honestly. âSheâs great,â she said again, so happy he liked Ella so much. Justin had not been fond, and she wasnât fond of him either. She ran and told a few people she was leaving, said her goodbyes, and grabbed a few things, and then came back to him. âAlright! Letâs head out.â
Harry laughed when she did. "Well, it was when I wasn't with Niall. I guess some people hadn't seen him and only saw me hanging around. I made up the strangest connections to some people, but they were all quite drunk," he said playfully. He smiled at her again, thinking it was great that she had such good friends. She deserved to be surrounded by things that made her happy. He waited around for her and grinned when she came back. "Let's go. I have a bit of a surprise for you at my flat," he said brightly as they walked out.
Miranda nodded a bit, thinking that made sense. She laughed a bit, shaking their head. âTheyâre going to wake up tomorrow and eventually remember some of the nonsense you said and be like âdid that really happen?ââ she said, laughing some more. She raised her eyebrow a bit and smirked, hitting him lightly. âWhat did you do?! Youâre so sweet to me. Youâre just so cute,â she said with a laugh, bumping into him a bit as they walked.
Harry shrugged slightly. "I mean, probably. I told someone that our assistants have shared custody of a cat and we both served on a jury to set the visitation rights," he grinned. "Hope that gets printed somewhere, actually. Some of my best work," he teased. He laughed when she hit him. "Nothing that special! It's just a little something. Don't get your hopes up, I already gave you the best surprise and you're wearing it," he grinned. He let their hands connect for a moment before letting go. "It's really nothing."
Miranda couldnât help but laugh at that. âShared custody of a cat?! You really got creative, huh?â she teased. âGod, so do I,â she said, laughing a bit. She smiled and nodded a little. âOkay, I wonât. I promise,â she said playfully. âThank you again for that. I really like it,â she said, holding her wrist up to look at it. She smiled at the brief hand holding. It was nice getting to touch him. âPeople love the bracelet, by the way. So many compliments,â she noted. âWell, I still am excited, so.â
Harry nodded with a grin. "A cat. I got bored! It was like, the tenth time someone asked! I had to have some fun with it," he laughed. "It'd be a great headline, wouldn't it?" he teased. He smiled when she held up her wrist, grabbing it so he could kiss her hand. "I'm glad you like it. And I am glad that other people like it." He let go of her completely as they reached the door and let her head out to the car first. "It's really not that big of a deal, love," he promised.
Miranda let out a laugh. She couldnât help but think of all the different people potentially talking and sharing the stories they heard. Theyâd either find it suspicious or think Harry was super wasted. Assuming they were sober enough to remember what he said in the first place. âOne of the best Iâve ever seen about myself,â she teased. She smiled at the kiss on her hand. âThank you for getting it for me,â she said honestly. She laughed a little and nodded. âOkay, okay. Itâs not that big of a deal,â she said, climbing into the car.
Harry had to agree, honestly. He couldnât think of a single headline heâd read about himself that could possibly be better. Then again, most headlines about him werenât great to begin with if he was being totally honest. This would be a change of pace. âMaybe Iâll leak it to the press myself,â he teased. âYouâre very welcome. You deserve pretty things, love,â he said with a sweet smile. He shut her door after she was in and went around to his side. âI just donât want you to set your expectations too high and be disappointed,â he said as he started the car.
Miranda laughed a bit and shook her head fondly. âI donât know if thatâs the best course of action,â she teased. She smiled at him. âThank you,â she said honestly. She waved a hand. She wasnât worried about it. âConsider my expectations very low,â she said lightly, winking at him. âIâm going to miss you a lot after this,â she said honestly, letting out the softest sigh. She hated that they wouldnât see each other for so long.
Harry figured she had a point. It was probably best to just let it die out. It was safer that way. "Good idea. It can just be a funny anecdote for us," he said with smile. He leaned over to kiss her cheek quickly and then grinned. "Good. Super low. Like easy to step over low. So low they could be tripped over," he teased. He put his hand on her thigh as he drove, smiling to himself. "I know. I'll miss you too. We'll see each other soon, though. I promise."
Miranda smiled when he kissed her cheek. He made her so happy. She was so happy she could share this night with him. It meant so much to her. She laughed and nodded. âSo low, you barely even notice theyâre there at all,â she said playfully. She put her hand on top of his, giving it a little squeeze. It was going to be a while, and she wasnât looking forward to it. She hated how much their relationship felt inhibited by their distance. âI know.â
Harry laughed, the sound filling the car. He always had the best time with her. It was unreal. How could anything ever be better? How could something top this? He didn't think it was possible. "Perfect. That's the exact right amount," he said playfully. He squeezed her leg a little but kept his focus on the road. "And then, soon, I'll be completely free. I'll be all yours, all day, all night. I'll just be hanging around like a little puppy waiting for a scrap of attention."
Miranda raised an eyebrow at him, a playful smile on her lips. âIâm kind of feeling like you may as well have not mentioned anything at all,â she teased. She smiled to herself at his hand on her thigh. He made her so happy. She laughed a little and shook her head. âYou say that, but youâre gonna find yourself busy with things, just wait and see. Iâd never make you wait for a scrap of attention, anyway,â she said honestly.
Harry grinned over at her. "See, that's the spirit. Now you can't be disappointed at all," he told her playfully. He kept his eyes on the road, though his smile never faded. It was impossible not to be happy around her. She lit him up. "I don't know, I don't plan to be too busy for a while. I talked with Douglas about doing a little trip at some point which would be fun, I never really get to holiday anywhere," he shrugged. "But I'd have more fun on one with you."
Miranda smiled fondly, pretty amused by him. He was so cute. She was just so charmed by him, by everything he did. She gave his hand a squeeze and smiled at him. âThatâd be amazing for you both! You donât get to spend enough time together, and youâre both based out of London, which makes it really wild, but youâre always so busy. Heâd enjoy that, and so would you,â she smiled. She laughed a bit. âWith me, or in bed with me?â she teased.
Harry thought so too. He really rarely got to see Douglas. It was sad, actually. He was his best mate but their lives were so busy it felt like they were never able to get together. "I know, it's crazy. You'd think we'd have more time to see each other but we really don't. I can't wait to not be so busy," he smiled. "It'll be a lot of fun. Maybe we'll do a week as a lads' holiday and then you and Ella can meet up with us for the next one," he suggested. "Maybe both," he grinned.
Miranda thought it would be so nice for him to have some time to himself, to be in control. His life would never be normal normal, but it could at least start to feel a little bit more normal. It could maybe resemble something different. âItâll be so nice for you. Youâll get to have so much more say in how things go in your life,â she said with a smile. âOh, thatâd be fun. Ella and I are always down to spend time together as it is.â She laughed a bit and rolled her eyes, though she was smirking and it was a fond eye roll. âMhm.â
Harry wondered what the future had in store for him. It seemed like such a vast opportunity. He could be whoever he wanted. It was a little frightening really. He just hoped the future included her. Losing her would really wreck him. "We'll see what happens. Hopefully I don't become awful when I'm in charge of my life," he joked. "It would be fun! You two could do a girls' holiday before. Perfect plan," he grinned. He parked at his flat and got out, going around to her door. "My lady," he said playfully.
Miranda laughed at that and shook her head. âI wouldnât let you. I promise,â she said. She cared about him too much to let him become a pain in the ass. âI would love a girlsâ holiday with Ella,â she said honestly. It was a nice plan. She was on board. She grinned at him, taking his hand. âThank you, kind sir,â she said, equally as playful. âSo, this not exciting surprise that I shouldnât get my hopes up for. Is it going to be super obvious?â
Harry was glad to hear it. He'd hate to completely lose himself just because he wasn't following some formula or schedule that was presented to him. "Thank you, love," he smiled. "I know you would. She's your best friend," he grinned. He held her hand tightly as he led her inside and onto the elevator. "Yeah, it'll be pretty obvious. You'll know it when you see it," he said with a smile. "But it's lame so."
Miranda nodded and shrugged a bit. She really was. Ella was her number one person in the whole world. She was always there for her. Sheâd drop everything for her, too. She followed him in, nodding. âOkay, cool,â she said, trying to play it casual for his sake. She rolled her eyes and laughed. âYouâre lame,â she said, shaking her head. She stepped out when the elevator stopped, letting him lead her to his door.
Harry gave her a playful look when she called him lame. He wouldn't deny it, though. He was probably one of the lamest people to ever exist. He didn't mind it so much though. He unlocked the door to his flat, letting her go in first. The place was full of flowers. All different colors of lilies. He'd covered the place. He also had a selection of fruits and chocolates in the fridge waiting and a bottle of champagne. "Surprise?"
Miranda nudged him gently, grinning like mad. She liked being playful with him. She felt a bit anxious as she waited for him to open the door. She was trying to keep her expectations low, but she was so curious about what was on the other side of the other and it made her excited. When he opened the door, she gasped quietly, putting her hand on her chest, and then on his. âOh, Harry. Itâs lovely. You are so sweet,â she said, leaning in and kissing him sweetly.
Harry smiled down at her reaction. He was pretty proud of himself for pulling this off. It had been a bit of a challenge. "I'm glad you like it. And that you kept your expectations low," he smiled. He kissed her back before leading her into the flat. "I have some champagne and strawberries if you'd like to indulge a little bit. You certainly deserve it," he said with a sweet smile. "Why don't you sit down and I'll get it for you?"
Miranda laughed a bit. âWell, itâs safe to say you exceeded my expectations,â she promised. She smiled fondly. He was so sweet and considerate. âI would love to indulge. If itâs alright, though, Iâm going to go freshen up a bit and slip into something a little more comfortable,â she said. âThank you,â she said, leaning in and kissing him quickly, her hand on her chest. âIâll be right back,â she said, putting her stuff down on his table and slipping her shoes off as she walked back to his room.
Harry nodded a little bit. "Yeah, absolutely. Take your time. I'll just get the champagne poured," he smiled. He popped the bottle open and poured two flutes before deciding to tidy up a bit. He picked up her coat to hang it up and noticed her phone had lit up. He hadn't meant to look but his eyes caught on the name and he just couldn't help himself. He picked up the device and read the message through narrowed eyes. "What the fuck," he said quietly, annoyance biting at his tone.
Miranda washed up a bit and slipped out of her dress into the much sexier slip sheâd brought with her. She grabbed her silk robe, too, pulling it over her shoulders and walked back out. She flipped her hair onto her back as she walked out, smiling a bit. âTa-da,â she said. When she saw him looking irritated, she frowned a little. âHarry? Whatâs wrong?â she asked, smiling a bit as she got closer.
Harry looked up at her, annoyed. "Why's Orlando Bloom texting you? Why's he saying you don't even like sapphires?" he asked. He showed her the phone. "I get that we're a secret but you could at least tell the people who are actively trying to hook up with you that you're seeing someone. And maybe not lie to the person you're seeing and say you like a gift when it's not even something you like."
Miranda frowned, feeling a defensiveness wash over her. âWhy are you reading my texts?â she said, taking the phone from him. âI havenât seen Orlando in a year. And I didnât invite him to my event. I wasnât under the impression that he was actively trying to hook up with me, thank you very much,â she said, giving him a look and crossing her arms over her chest. âAnd what the fuck does he know about what I like? He never bought me a gift. We were never dating. He was getting out of a marriage, and I was in and out of a toxic relationship. We werenât together. He doesnât know my favorite color, or my favorite flower, or what I like to get as a gift, or anything. Heâs just being a fucking dick, I guess, for whatever fucking reason, but as it appears, so are you,â she said, letting out a huff.
Harry let her take the phone and gave her a look. "I was hanging your coat up since you just set it down and your phone lit up. I wasn't snooping," he told her. He found it a little hard to believe that Orlando just knew to show up. "Then why'd he know about the party? He's clearly trying to get with you. You don't just hang off of a girl like that if you're not interested in her!" he said. He shook his head a little bit, still irritated and growing more annoyed by the second. "Right, I'm being a dick because I'm upset that you won't just tell your fucking ex that you're seeing someone. That makes so much sense."
Miranda let out a bitter laugh. âSnooping or not, clearly you donât trust me if you think someone hitting on me means Iâm just going to go with them,â she said, shaking her head. She couldnât believe she was actually having this conversation. âIt wasnât a secret party, Harry. He wasnât on the list, but heâs not a stranger. I doubt it was difficult for him to get in,â she said. She put her hands on her hips, raising her eyebrows at him. âOh, right, my bad. I shouldâve told him right there while we were talking to him, hey, get off me, Iâm seeing somebody. With you fucking standing there acting like you were going to explode. That wouldâve been real subtle, right?â she said, shaking her head. âI donât fucking talk to him. I told him I had an album coming out and there was a song about him on there, but that was in like, May,â she said. âYouâve just been dying to get mad at me about this. Like you have any right to judge me for how I handled the worst fucking year of my life.â
Harry rolled his eyes. "Right. Of course. I don't trust you. That's bullshit and you know it. I didn't once say you were going to go with him," he told her. He shook his head a little, turning away to dump out his glass of champagne. He wasn't in the mood anymore. Champagne was for celebrating. He'd much rather something stronger. "And why can't he just know we're together then? Is he going to go leak it to the media? Clearly you don't trust Orlando either then!" He couldn't believe how she'd turned this around. What did anything he said have to do with him judging her? He hadn't even implied that. "Oh, well fuck me then, right? I don't get to have any fucking feelings. You sure as hell do but I'm just supposed to stand around emotionless? As if you wouldn't be upset if Suki had texted me something similar after the show that night?" he scoffed. "I thought so. Whatever."
Miranda gave him a look, narrowing her eyes and tilting her head a bit. âThen why does this bother you so much? Because I didnât tell you? You donât own me, Harry. And Iâm not going to be mad at Orlando because you canât control your anger. Heâs a friend who was there for me when I was going through some deep shit,â she said. She rolled her eyes as he dumped out the champagne. He was being such a jackass. âItâs not his business. Heâs not part of my life. Things slip out, and then word travels,â she said, like he didnât already know. She rolled her eyes again. âYeah, thatâs what I said. No feelings for you!â she said. She froze, stiffing up a bit. âWhat?â she said. âWhat does Suki have to do with th- youâve got to be kidding me. Did you fucking date her? Do you think thatâs the same? Oh my god,â she said, getting a little more hysterical and turning away, putting her hands on her face as she laughed bitterly. âOh my god. I spent the entire fucking night with her, and I told you, and you didnât think I should know you two had something. And what, now youâre telling me now? Why? To hurt me back?â she said. Her chest felt heavy. âWell, Harry, if you think my having fucked Orlando makes you mad,â she said, laughing again as she walked up to him. âI fucked Chris Evans a month before we reconnected. A lot, too, actually. We only ended things like two weeks before I ran into you. And a few months before that, I was dating Anton, better known as Zedd. Oh, and I spent the beginning of the year with Justin, too. And yeah, Iâm still flirty as fuck, because itâs who I fucking am. I donât cope well, or heal well, so Iâm so fucking sorry Iâm not as fucking perfect at managing my god damn emotions as you are. Iâm sorry Iâm not so fucking mature that I can handle all of this with as much grace as you can,â she said, going back to his room to put clothes and pack her things up.
Harry let out an incredulous laugh. "Seriously? Did I ever say I owned you? Can you stop hearing what you want to hear? You're pulling shit out of your ass, here." He rolled his eyes, seriously fed up. "You're acting like it! Like my feelings don't fucking matter!" he insisted. He frowned a little, having not realized she didn't know about Suki. He could have sworn he'd mentioned it. "She's your friend! It's not like I forced you to hang out with her! And we didn't really date. It was a while ago and I thought you knew about it!" he insisted. "But she wasn't fucking hanging off of me and flirting with me at my goddamn show," he added. He shook his head at her as she went on. "So, what. You just want to be cruel now for the sake of being cruel? Is this your thing? Is this what you like?" He scoffed. He didn't even know what to say at this point. He didn't think there was anything to say. "I think you should leave," he said finally, despite the fact that she was already getting her stuff.
Miranda truthfully hadnât even meant to say all of that, but it just kept coming and she couldnât make it stop. âAm I? Am I pulling shit out of my ass?â she asked, glaring at him. âYou came at me, accusing me of lying to you and flirting with Orlando behind your back. What is that âfeelingâ that Iâm saying doesnât matter? Being angry with me? Being jealous that I had a relationship before you? What? What is it? Because Iâve been pretty understanding tonight, until you decided to start scolding me when I didnât do anything wrong,â she said. She laughed a little and rolled her eyes. âI wouldâve liked to have known. Iâm just sitting there with my fucking heart eyes, goggling at you like youâre some kind of magic, sitting right next to the girl you fucked a while ago whoâs also at your show watching you with that same awe,â she said, feeling tears well up in her eyes. âFuck that. I donât have to feel this way. I donât have to do this. Iâm not that person anymore,â she said, trying to bite back the tears. âYeah, you caught me. Thatâs my thing. I mean, since this is like an interview with Entertainment Tonight and all that matters is who Iâve slept with, figured might as well air it out. You deserve the truth, right?â she said when she came back out with her stuff. âOh, thank you for the bright idea.â
Harry didn't even know what to say to her anymore. He felt like she was really twisting his words around and he didn't want to make things even worse. He simply held his hands up in surrender. "I can't talk to you like this. You've literally made so much up as you go along," he said. "Suki doesn't watch me with that kind of awe. She's my friend. She's not interested in me at all as anything other than that. What's next? You're going to say neither of us can hang around Cara because I have a history with her too and she's staring at me with heart eyes? Don't be ridiculous." He hadn't even asked who she'd slept with so he didn't really think that comparison was fair. She'd just started rattling things off. He didn't care who she'd slept with. He just cared that Orlando was clearly still trying to get with her and she wouldn't even fucking listen to him. He shook his head a little bit and turned away. "Okay. Goodnight then."
Miranda was so frustrated and upset and angry. âEveryone looks at you with that kind of awe,â she said, shaking her head a little. She didnât want this with them. They werenât supposed to be like this. She grabbed her coat and her shoes, scooping up her stuff and left, slamming the door behind her. She leaned against the wall in the hall and cried for a moment as she called Theresa to pick her up. She hated this so much.
Harry scoffed a little bit. She was being unfair. He watched her out of the corner of his eye as she stormed out. Once the door slammed he knocked one of the vases of lilies to the ground and let it break. He'd figure out what to do with the rest later. Now, he just wanted to crack open a bottle of whiskey and have a glass before he went to sleep.
