collision // harry styles au

chapter nine

I was drowning in words. I was choking on the words on the pages in front of me; they clogged my ears and nose and mouth. That was the only accurate description I could muster for what I was suffering. I'd learned in my very first basic drawing class that the first half of the term would be Art History. I'd religiously studied tons of artists since I learned to read, but I felt like I could barely breathe with all of the information I'd crammed into my brain in the last couple of hours. I had two weeks until mid-terms and over a hundred artists to memorize.

I sat at a desk in the library, smelling of highlighter ink and crisps. I probably looked a mess, with my hair barely washed and little effort put into even looking decent this morning. I really couldn't be bothered, not with midterms approaching so quickly.

Violet and Niall both had class this afternoon while I had two this morning. I had all of tomorrow through Monday off because my Music teacher cancelled our class for personal reasons, so I had made plans to go home over the weekend. But, of course with my luck, my sculpting teacher assigned a big project due next week and there was no way, physically or mentally, that I could manage completing a project and visiting my home. The disappointment of not seeing my family was weighing on me along with everything else. All I wanted was to go home for the weekend and not have to worry about assignments or anyone in London. I wanted to see my family and lie on the beach.

It'd been three days since I'd seen Harry, making it Thursday. I'd thought about him in my very scarce free time, despite the constant accusations about him I heard from Violet.

"Jenson?" a familiar voice spoke from above me, pulling me out of my bitter thoughts of not being able to go home.

"Hi, Louis." I said, giving him my best attempt at a smile. He grinned down at me, obviously buying it.

"Study day?" he asked, his eyes roaming over my books.

"Something like that." I chuckled. "You?"

He shook his head. "No, libraries are far too quiet for me. Harry's just holed himself upstairs somewhere." I felt myself slightly perk at the mention of Harry. I hoped Louis didn't notice. "I've gotta go find him. Apparently Harry hasn't eaten all day and Niall, being the gentleman he is, begged me to bring him something to eat before my seminar which is in about... five minutes." Louis cursed. "You wouldn't have happened to see him, would you?" he asked, looking around the big room for a second.

"Actually, I did. I think he's on the second floor. I could take it to him for you if you'd like. Wouldn't want you to be late." I said, lies slipping from my mouth easily. His eyes widened, and he nodded. I couldn't deny that I wanted to see Harry, or that I was developing a miniscule crush on him, regardless of how many times I convinced myself that our time together meant nothing.

"You sure?" he said with raised eyebrows.

I nodded.

"Thank you!" Louis grinned widely. "I owe you one." He handed me a bag of fast food, rushing a goodbye and another thank you before scurrying away.

With a sigh, I shoveled my books into my bag and threw it over my shoulder. I picked up the take-away and started to wonder throughout the massive library in order to find Harry.

After nearly twenty minutes of aimless wandering, I found Harry on the third floor. He was legitimately surrounded by books. He was hunched over a laptop with the eraser of his pencil between his teeth. I approached him, pulling out the seat across from him at the wooden table. "Now this is something I never thought I would see?"

He looked up at me and frowned.

"Jenson? I know you said you weren't stalking me before, but now you've followed me to a library."