036

                                    

                                          
This chapter is full of a TON of information and a few POV switches, so be sure to pay close attention! 
                          
Oh, and it's also a DOUBLE UPDATE, so be sure you're reading THIS chapter FIRST! The next update will either be up in a couple hours or early tomorrow morning because I have to finish editing (; 
                          
Also we're at over 450k reads!!!! I appreciate your support so much. Y'all keep me sane.
                          
—

                          
December 6th, 2015
                          
Norah
                          
"Norah, this is really bad...are you listening?" She gasped. "Oh, honey. No. It'll be fine, but I think you should just stay off of social media for a while. You've seen enough."
                          
I wish he would have at least warned me.
                          
"Do not sell yourself for me, Harry."
                          
"That's exactly what I'll do, Norah."
                          
Winter put a hand on my knee. "Hey, you okay?" 
                          
I nodded numbly. I just needed to talk to Harry. 
                          
  
                          
8 hours earlier
                          
"I'm gonna have Jared and Winter take me."
                          
"I'm free. I can bring you."
                          
There were many reasons why Harry shouldn't take me back to my apartment, but it was way too early to start rattling out that list. Among the top choices was I really needed to take the time to grapple with the fact that my father somehow found out where I lived and I had no idea why he decided to visit. A phone call to my mother seemed like the appropriate next step to take. But God help me if I found out that she had anything to do with his late night appearance, I might start a war with the woman. 
                          
Besides all of those impending familial issues of mine, it seemed the entire world was trying to get ahold of Harry.
                          
"I definitely don't think you're free," I countered. "Your phone's been ringing off the hook all morning."
                          
The look that crossed his face made me believe that whatever he was needed for wasn't good. So I asked, "Is everything okay?"
                          
"Everything will be once I have the peace of mind that you made it home okay."
                          
I crossed my arms over my chest. "I can just send you a text."
                          
He grunted, pulling on his boots while sitting at the end of the bed. 
                          
"Is there a reason why so many people are trying to get ahold of you?" I pushed.
                          
As soon as I posed the question, I realized how stupid I sounded. Of course Harry Styles, member of one of the biggest bands ever, on the brink of a hiatus, would be funneling quite a lot of calls. 
                          
But that look crossed his face again--the look of concern mixed with apprehension—and I knew it was more than just business as usual. 
                          
"It has to do with the paparazzi from last night."
                          
I ignored they way my heart dropped into my stomach. "At Winter's?" 
                          
"Maybe not."
                          
"Maybe not?" I repeated frantically.
                          
My mind began racing. Was Harry in trouble now? I hadn't checked my phone this morning. It was around eight o'clock. We had fallen asleep wrapped in each other's arms after an exhausting night. It was the third time I'd spent the night in his bed, but now wasn't the time to overthink what that meant in terms of the speed our relationship was progressing in.