A Shot in the Dark: Chapter two

Harry Styles became famous at quite a young age. At sixteen he was the front man of his band, A Shot In The Dark, and was called a musical prodigy shortly after that. His life was perfect, he had everything; a perfect career, perfect friends and a perfect girlfriend. It all changed when his girlfriend died in a car accident. He lost the love of his life, but he also lost the child he was yet to have. Completely broken he gave up on everything. Alcohol and drugs became his new best friends and his career now existed of getting snapped when leaving clubs. Could his number one fan change his life?

A/N: Second chapter, because I was in the mood to write :) Thanks for reading, and again, if you see any mistake, let me know! I’m still (after five intensive years) learning English! :) And any other feedback is welcome :)

Chapter one|Chapter two|Chapter three

“Zayn… pick up the phone…” Harry mumbled as he walked through the room, “Come on… pick up the damn phone…”

“Hi, Zayn here. I’m not in. If you’re special I might call back…” Harry hung up the phone and threw it on the couch. Every time Harry went out he pulled Zayn along. Only because he knew he would get home if Zayn was around. After one time when he woke up at some girl’s place, he was scared to go out alone. He couldn’t do that to Kacey. It felt like he cheated and he was disgusted with himself. So he never goes out alone. But he needed to. He needed to get drunk. The day with Charlie broke his heart. He was the sweetest kid, but he just remembered what he couldn’t have.

He rubbed his forehead trying to figure out what do. Of course! He could just buy beer and drink it at home! Maybe the alcohol was affecting his brain. It wasn’t like Harry really cared. He was never the brightest, so a few more brain cells killed couldn’t hurt. He grabbed his wallet, jacket and keys and left the house to get some booze.

***

Harry grabbed a six pack of beer and went to the check out.

“And a pack of Camel?” the guy asked. Harry nodded and the guy grabbed the pack of cigarettes.

“That’ll be 11 pounds 15,” the cashier said before even scanning the products.

“Seriously Liam, you know how much it costs before scanning?” Harry asked.

“You buy this combination quite a lot,” Liam said as he takes the money from Harry.

“I do not,” Harry huffed.

“You do, at least three times a week,” Liam said and put the stuff in a bag, “I guess I’ll see you in a couple of days.”

“Yeah… I guess…” Harry said and took the bag, “Wait, what time do you get off?” Harry asked.

“Um… seven. Why?”

“Would you enjoy spending an evening drinking with the one and only Harry Styles?”

“Um, I don’t drink… but if you really want, we can hang out?” Liam said, but it sounded like he asked it. Liam wasn’t sure what Harry wanted.

“All right then. I’ll be here at seven.”

“Sure,” Liam said a little bit confused as to why Harry Styles would want to hang out with the clerk Liam. Sure, they saw each other a couple times a week and they had a couple of quite interesting conversations, but they were so different. And Liam found himself not good enough to even be talking with Harry. Sure, everyone knew the Harry that lost control, but Liam couldn’t help but think about the Harry before all of that. He was seriously talented and he just had a rough couple of months. Liam still saw the talented kid, but maybe that was because of his best friend Louis. His best friend was possibly the biggest fan of Harry ever. Liam grabbed his phone as he texted Louis.

To: Louis
From: Liam
u know how i said dat harry styles shops in our store? he came in 2day & he invited me over for 2night. thought to tell u :P –Li

Louis was walking around the class as he looked at all the paintings the kids made. “And what are you making Deborah?” Louis asked as he bent down to take good look.

“Flowers. My mommy loves flowers,” she smiled.

“They’re very pretty. I’m sure your mom will love the painting,” Louis smiled. He stood up and felt his phone buzz. He walked back to the front of the room and sat down in his chair. He grabbed his phone and checked the message. He then rubbed his forehead.

To: Liam
From: Louis
First: prick. Second: learn English. I’ve got children in this class who can spell better than you. Make sure you put in a good word for me! x Louis

Louis watched from his chair in the room to make sure that nothing went wrong. He can still remember the incident of a couple of months ago. One of the kids made fun of another kid’s painting and as a reaction he threw paint at him. So since then Louis made sure to not lose the children out of his sight again.

To: Louis
From: Liam
i type how i want 2 type. & i kno better english than thoz kids. ill tell him bout you, but will props tell funny storys. –Li

To: Liam
From: Louis
My head seriously hurts from your messages. And no funny stories! And please don’t tell him I fangirl about him! x Louis

To: Louis
From: Liam
thx 4 reminding me. def gonna tell him youra fangirl. Lov you, bro. –Li

To: Liam
From: Louis
I love you too, though I kind of hate you right now. Don’t have too much fun. x Louis

Louis looked at the clock and saw it was 2 pm already. “How far are all of you with the paintings?” Louis asked as he stood up from his desk. He heard all kinds of reactions and he walked around to see the paintings. “If you’re finished with the painting you can go clean up. Remember, put the lid on all the pots, lay your brushes by the sink and empty the pots with dirty water in the sink.”

A couple of kids stood up to clean up and some others were still busy with painting.

“You all have 10 minutes left to finish the painting. That’s when the big hand of the clock is on the 2. If you’re not finished then, you can continue tomorrow if you want.”

Louis helped some of the kids with cleaning up and then he heard that someone started crying. Louis’ head shot up to the noise and saw it was Charlie and from the looks of it he spilled the dirty water over his shirt. Louis walked to him and crouched in front of him.

“Hey Charlie, it’s okay. We’ll get you cleaned up okay?” Louis said. Charlie looked at him with teary eyes.

“You’re… you’re not mad?” he asked.

Louis smiled and shook his head. “I’m going to tell you a secret. Yesterday I spilled tomato soup all over my favorite shirt,” Louis said, “It happens to everybody.”

“But… I always spill… and my mommy gets really mad…” Charlie said.

“I bet your mom also spills stuff,” Louis said, “I’m going to grab a shirt for you, okay? Will you stay here?”

Charlie nodded as Louis went to grab a shirt from the closet.

Louis went back and helped Charlie change.

“You’re really nice, Louis,” Charlie said, “You’re my favorite teacher.”

“Thank you very much, Charlie,” Louis smiled, “That is really nice of you to say.”

Charlie smiled proud and went back to his table.

Louis walked around again and looked at all the paintings and listened to all the stories the kids had to say. Louis looked at the clock again and saw it was almost time.

“Well kids. We had a lot of fun today, hadn’t we?” Louis smiled.

The kids reacted enthusiastic and Louis couldn’t help but feel proud to see all the happy faces.

“It’s time for our goodbye song,” Louis said as he grabbed his guitar.

He started strumming, counted to three and started playing the chords for Mary had a little lamb.

All day long we worked and played,
Worked and played, worked and played.
All day long we worked and played,
Now our day is done.
Wave goodbye, to all your friends,
All your friends, all your friends,
Wave goodbye, to all your friends.
Until we meet again.

Louis smiled as all the kids waved.

“We will see each other tomorrow again. Have a great afternoon everybody,” Louis said and all the children stood up to leave the room.

Everyone made fun of him for teaching such young children, but for him it was an incredible job. The gratitude that these children showed was amazing.

***

Harry walked to the shop and saw a colleague taking over from Liam, just as he arrived. Harry found himself kind of pathetic, asking the guy who served him at the shop to hang out. That was the moment he realized he actually lost all his friends. Liam saw him and motioned him to come in. Harry opened the door and walked in.

“I’m just going to change, I’ll be right there,” Liam smiled. Harry nodded and Liam walked back to get rid of his uniform. Shortly after he came back in a flannel shirt and with his bag, “I’m ready to go!”

“Okay,” Harry said and they left the store together.

“I’m curious…” Liam said as they walked in silence for a couple of minutes.

“Yes?” Harry said.

“Why do you want to hang out with me?” Liam said.

Harry put his hands in his pockets and bit his lip, “I guess I’m just friendless,” he said eventually.

“But… you have a lot of friends. You go out with them all time,” Liam said.

“They’re not real friends,” Harry said quietly and stopped in front of a house, “Welcome to casa di Harry… or something like that.”

“This is your house?” Liam asked surprised, “No offense, but I expected a big ass mansion.”

“I bought this house with Kacey when she was 5 months pregnant…” Harry said softly, “We wanted a small family house.”

Liam didn’t know what to say to that. “I’m sorry,” he said then, thinking that was the best way to reply.

“It’s okay…” Harry said and opened the front door. They walked in and Liam felt excited to see the interior of the house of someone famous.

“It’s not really that special…” Harry said and looked around himself, “It’s kind of empty actually…”

Liam noticed this, the walls were an empty vanilla and there were two couches, a small table and a TV in the living room.

“Yeah… it’s nothing special,” Harry said as he went to the kitchen. Liam looked around again. He couldn’t imagine that someone could actually live in something like this. Liam lived in a small apartment, but he decorated the whole place. Pictures and paintings hang everywhere, he had a couple of plants, a rug… this place was actually quite depressing. Harry walked back in with two beers.

“I don’t drink…” Liam said.

“O yeah, right,” he said and put one beer on the table, “I’m afraid I only have coke… or water.”

“Coke is good,” Liam smiled and Harry went back into the kitchen. He came back with a glass and gave it too Liam. Harry then opened his beer and took a sip, letting the alcohol roll over his tongue. He sat down on the couch and motioned for Liam to join him.

“Why did you want to hang out with me? Honestly,” Liam said.

“I just want to make sure I don’t take it too far,” he said nodding to his beer.

“You could always just not drink,” Liam said and looked at him.

“I can, but I won’t do that,” Harry said and took another sip. He looked at Liam and then got confused. “How come you don’t hate me like all the others?”

“Um… well, you talk to me sometimes and you seem nice. And… um… you’re just going through a bad time. You’re still the talented guy you used to be,” Liam said and took a sip of his coke.

“But how can you not hate me? Everybody does… the media talks complete shit about me,” Harry said. He was confused and even started to get angry. He was a terrible person who drank too much, smoked and did drugs. He deserved to be hated.

“My best friend is a fan, probably your number one fan. He’s been defending you, even before everything happened. When media said they didn’t like your new song, my friend would go on and defend you and say that you were growing up and had to try new sounds. Or when you got a new car and people would say how you were spending way too much money. My friend would say that the car was a good investment, and that you needed a car to transport yourself… and the last few months he has also been defending you. So, it’s hard to think negative about you, when I hear him talking about how great you are.”

Harry was quiet and looked at his beer, “there are actually still fans out there?”

“Yes. I don’t think he will ever stop being a fan,” Liam said, “There are people who still care about you.”

Harry kept staring at his beer. People cared, so maybe… maybe he didn’t need to do this to himself. He wasn’t completely miserable, there still were people who like him. He wasn’t completely alone. No, they’re lies, he was alone. He then brought his bottle of beer to his lips and emptied it in a couple of sips.

“So um… did you just invite me over so you can drink?” Liam asked.

“Basically,” Harry said and grabbed the bottle he brought for Liam.

They sat in silence as Harry drank his second beer.

“I want to show you something,” Harry said as he finished drinking. He stood up and Liam followed him as they walked up the stairs. Harry opened a door on the right which had stars all over it. They walked in and Liam was speechless at what he saw. It was a nursery.

“It was the first room Kacey and I started on…” Harry said and looked around, “We got this really cute crib, and made a mural, we got everything ready…”

Liam walked to the closet that was in the room. He opened it and saw it was filled with baby clothes and boxes.

“You really had everything…” Liam whispered.

“We were ready to have the kid…” Harry said and also walked to the closet. He grabbed one of the boxes and opened it, “Look, the foot and hand prints of the baby.”

For Liam it was beginning to get too much. Now he really understood how Harry felt and why. It was hard to go on when you had all the memories.

“And these are the ultrasounds,” Harry said and showed the pictures, “It was going to be a girl.”

“Oh Harry…” Liam said. What else could he say? There were no words to make Harry feel better.

Harry closed the box and put it back in the closet. He closed it and looked around the room one more time. He then left the room and Liam heard him walking down the stairs. Liam stood frozen. He understood it all. And he felt terrible. Liam also went downstairs and saw Harry in the kitchen. He just opened his beer and Liam looked at it.

“Gimme a beer,” Liam said, because he really needed a drink now.