How It's Going To Be [h.s.]

Chapter 82

{Kate's Point of View}

I watched snow falling gently outside coating the streets of London in a white powder. Store windows were decorated for Christmas with red and green. Christmas lights were wound tightly around lampposts and trees that lined the streets. Bells were attached to nearly every shop door. The air outside smelled of sugar and caramel from Christmas sweets. I couldn't remember London at Christmastime before. It was truly magical.

The bus stopped with a hiss as it lowered slightly. The doors opened and a few people armed with shopping bags climbed on. They took seats near the front as the bus pulled forward to continue its route.

I leaned my head against the cold window. I watched as my breath fogged up a small section of glass then disappeared. I blew softly on the glass and created a larger circle of fog. Using my fingertip, I carefully drew a heart. Without even thinking, I drew the letter H in the center. I quickly wiped my hand over the image and sighed. I missed Harry. I really wanted to be with him during the holidays. I fantasized about how happy we would be together doing festive things.

The bus hit the brakes suddenly and I jolted forward. My phone fell from my lap and clattered to the ground loudly. I closed my eyes and sighed. I had not owned a car in the city. When I first moved the London, I relied on public transportation. It was easy to ride the bus to work and wherever else I needed to go. Most of the places I frequented were near my flat anyway. Days like this, however, it was annoying to not have a car.

I was on my way to the Hendrix and Carter office Christmas party. It was ten days to Christmas, but Mr. Hendrix and Mr. Carter had kindly given us the holidays off. We had been working tirelessly on Zayn's launch party along with all of the other smaller projects we had accumulated during the quarter. I was looking forward to having time off. I had already booked a flight back home for Christmas.

The bus driver braked hard again and my phone slid forward along the floor out of my reach. I groaned. I would have to wait until the next stop to retrieve it. I really, really hate buses, I thought to myself. I should just buy a car.

As the thought of shopping for a car began to enter my mind, it was quickly overshadowed by a bigger, more familiar thought. It wasn't just any thought; it was another memory. I quieted my mind to let it come back to me.

____________

I rushed up the front steps of Harry's townhouse. Ice melt had been sprinkled on his front walkway. A late autumn rain had fallen over the city and a cold front froze much of the rain. The streets had turned into an ice rink. I had been given explicit instructions to just walk into the house. When I got inside, I carefully unwrapped my scarf and unbuttoned my coat. I kicked off my boots and left my handbag on the entryway table.

I could hear noises coming from Harry's kitchen. I quietly crept down the corridor and paused in the doorway when I saw him. Harry was leaned with his backside against the countertop. His arms were folded across his chest and his face looked bored. The phone was sitting in the center of the kitchen island. It was on speaker and the person calling Harry was going on and on.

"Your morning is all GQ. You have an interview with one of their writers. I'll send you the details. They'll be asking specifically about balance; they want to know how you balance work and a personal life. After GQ Magazine, you have twenty minutes with USA Today. They're doing a short feature on the whole band. Then you have a forty minute shoot for Getty Images. Lastly, you have a fifteen minute taped interview with E! News."

Harry looked up and saw me waiting in the doorway. A soft smile spread across his lips. He pushed himself away from the counter and began slowly walking toward me. The voice over the phone kept rattling off details of some busy weekend Harry would have in the future, but for now he was focused on me.