The Weeks Between • HS

Week 9 • Nola *

***A/N: THANK YOU for 4K reads!! I keep saying this, but it is unreal the support y'all are showing this story.

The sun is hot this morning and it's not even 8am. Then again, it does hit the bench fairly straight on this time of day. I lean my head back to take a break from squinting my eyes through the brightness when a certain British neighbor of mine announces his presence. I tilt my head down, shielding my eyes with my hand to take in the full image of Harry, backlit by the morning sun. He steps between me and the light, shading my face in the process. "You headed out?" I ask.

"Yeah," he replies, messing with the bottom of his shorts. "I'll probably be gone until late, if I don't just stay at Mitch and Sarah's.

"Say 'hi' to them for me," I say. Somewhere in our conversation, I start to notice that we have an audience of two little ladies. They work together to get the door open, but Mia makes a run for Harry, as usual. I don't see it coming until it is too late as Mia's head smashes rather violently into Harry, and he makes a face that causes me to chuckle.

"Careful, Mia," I get out between laughing about the fact that my daughter just head butted Harry Styles in the crotch. He recovers and bends down to pick up Mia and properly greet her.

"I am going to write some songs with Mitch today. What are you ladies doing?" He ask her and then she does want Mia does best. Starts talking.

"Well, mama is gonna do our hair and make-up" she says. The Lottie interrupts. "Yeah, and she is painting our toes and fingers. They talk over one telling him about our special robes and slippers and the plans to watch the Trolls Rockstar Movie while eating Trolls fruit snacks and coloring pictures of Poppy and Branch.

"That sounds really exciting."

Then, little miss Lottie asks, "Harry can we use your polish? Mommy doesn't have blue."

Though he probably needs to get going, he replies with, "of course. Why don't you girls come and pick what you want."

After ten minutes, I start to get a little concerned that he is being held hostage. At the very least, I'm sure he is being manipulated into letting them borrow every bottle he has in his possession.

----- Message to Harry -----

Nola: You alright over there?

Harry: I had no idea this could take so long.

Nola: 😂

Harry: Are you laughing at me?

-I sure am.

Nola: No, with you.

Harry: We are coming back now.

----- End of message -----

Another ten minutes pass and they finally round the corner to the front yard. "We're back." Harry says and hands me a plastic bin, the he no doubt got from dismantling some organizational kit in his bathroom. It is FULL of nail polish. Not the cheap stuff, either. This bin probably contains hundreds worth of nail polish. For two-year olds to paint their nails. "We had a bit of a decision making problem," he adds.

"Clearly," I laugh as I sit the bin next to me on the bench. "Did you girls thank Harry?"

They both scream, "THANK YOU, Harry" before running inside to play with something more interesting now that their manipulation is complete.

He reaches into his back pocket and produces a single bottle of a really unique coral-colored nail polish. "I brought this one for you."

I study it in the sunlight. He has good taste. "I will take it into consideration." An awkward silence falls over us, so I stand from my spot and give him a hug. "Bye, H," I tell him, inhaling the scent of freshly-washed Harry.