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[ASTRID REESE]
London, England

[ASTRID REESE]London, England

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Astrid debated whether to pick up the phone, let it go to voicemail on its own, or decline the call herself. If she wanted him to think she was easy going with no interest in prolonging his heartfelt apology, she should go with option number one. If she wanted him to think she was oh so busy without a second to spare him, while also choosing to ignore him but without being direct about it, she should go with option number two. However, if she wanted him to think she was shattered yet burning red from anger after his lack of appearance for their date, she should go with option number three.

Number three seemed to be the most inviting. Purely because Astrid thought herself to be a sucker for drama, and the other person gravelling at her feet for forgiveness. To look past this one mistake, they promise never to repeat again. Either that, or she watched too many shows and films, and read too many romantic novels, therefore completely altering her touch with reality.

"Are you gonna pick it up or just stare at it?" Sofia, chewing on her pasta that the waiter brought out not too long ago, called her out eventually, grabbing her attention which she didn't even realise she focused on the screen of her phone. "In his defence, he is a surgeon and those people are extremely busy."

"So, what?" Astrid laughed while she twisted her fork into the pesto pasta she decided on. After the volume was turned off on the device, it continued to vibrate as the man kept the call on. "Are you telling me I should appreciate his time more? The effort he puts into calling me days after he stood me up?"

"Hey, I'm not the bad guy here," putting one hand in the air, Sofia defended herself then went back to minding her own business. As the vibration of the device continued on, Sofia couldn't help the sigh leaving her lungs, nodding her head towards it. "But that's getting annoying, so—," then the phone stopped ringing, and she said, "—nevermind."

Option number two, it was. Oh, so busy without a second to spare him, while also choosing to ignore him but without being direct about it.

Was it wrong to make him work for it? Could Astrid afford making him work for it? She had no idea if her claws were dipped deep enough or if they would slip out at the first bump in the road. In theory, her aim was to get involved with him so that eventually, he takes her home and she can face Derek. Making the surgeon work for it, was not.

Now that she was living through this—and she had no idea how the hell it all worked out so well so far—the playing field has changed drastically. She realised there are feelings involved here, and that Harry Styles is a real person. Someone with his own set of challenges, baggage, feelings, time, etcetera. It completely blew up in her face but she should've expected it.

But because she turned a blind eye, it flew over her head.

This insane idea came about when she was ridiculously hung up on the truth of what had happened. Astrid lacked any logical thinking but it became such a constant, and somewhat secure, plan in her head that she couldn't ignore it. She couldn't move on and forget. She had to bring it to life because this was how she chose to cope.

deceived ↠ harry styles ✓Where stories live. Discover now