You Make Me Strong - A Harry Styles Short Stories

“Aaaahhh!!” Mia screamed and laughed as she ran around the park trying to get away from me who was chasing her.

“Mia, come back!” I shouted but my voice was drowned out by hers. Seriously you could go deaf with her high-pitched voice screaming. “Give me back my necklace!”

“Try and get it from me then.” If she was a runner in an Olympic game, she would've won. She’s like a human cheetah! Then, an idea struck me out of the blue. Even though my lungs were almost out of air, my brain was still working up there. So, I snuck in behind some bushes and watched her running around by herself, calling for me to get her, like a maniac. Thank goodness no one was there or else people would think she’s crazy. Then, she realized that I wasn’t there, running after her anymore. She stopped and turned to look for me.

“Harry?” Her wide smile slowly faded as her face started to look worried. I covered my mouth to stop myself from laughing out loud. But she does look cute when she’s worried. “Harry?!” She called out even louder. “Harry, don’t play a joke on me!”

She was turning round and round, looking for me and when she turned her back on me, I snuck out from my hiding spot and tip toed towards her.

“Gotcha!” I tapped her shoulder and she screamed in fear.

“Gosh, Harry! You scared the crap outta me, you evil curly-haired monster!” She play-punched my chest as I burst into laugh that I was holding back just now.

“You should’ve seen your face.” My tummy hurts from laughing.

“Fine!” She snapped. “Laugh all you want and you won’t get your necklace back,” she was playing with my airplane necklace under my nose.

“Okay okay I’m sorry,” I apologized.

“Saying sorry ain’t gonna make me give it back.”

“Tell you what,” I stepped closer. “Since you love to snatched this necklace from me, and I’m tired of running around everytime to get it back, why don’t you just keep it to yourself?”

She smiled. “Oh my Gosh, are you serious?”

“No. Of course I’m serious, silly,” I replied as I pinched her nose. “I was about to give it to you anyway.”

She smiled even wider and her eyes looked like it’s going to pop out of her face. “Really?!”

“Yes. Really.” Now watching her smiled made me smiled too. I took the necklace and walked behind her. “As a symbol of our friendship.” I said as I put the necklace round her neck and secured it safely.

She turned around and gave me a hug. “Thanks, pumpkin.”

“You’re welcome, cherry.” Yeah we gave each of us a nickname that only we knew about. I don’t know how I came up with the cherry nickname for her. Maybe because she had the most red, chubby and soft cheek like a cherry.

She pulled back from the hug and scrutinized the necklace that was now round her neck. “Hmm it looks better on me.”

“Yeah right,” I rolled my eyes. But the truth was the necklace really looked better on her. Like it was meant for her. Like how I was meant for her. Stop it harry! You’re nothing but a friend to her, I thought mentally slapping myself. Everyday my feelings grew deeper and deeper towards her. I’d started to like her and probably a little too much that I think I was in love with her.

Suddenly, her phone went off. She pulled it out from her jeans pocket and clicked the answer button without looking at the ID. But I already knew who it was.

“Hello?” she paused. “Oh hi, Ethan.”

Ethan. Thought so. He always got between me and Mia. He was everywhere we were. Either by call or he would be here himself. I hate that guy! Now, Mia had totally ignored me. She was already on the phone with that ever-disturbing-Ethan guy. So, I dragged my steps away from Mia, walking my way home and didn’t even bother to tell her. She wouldn’t care anyway. She was already with Ethan on the phone. Ugh! I would vomit if I said his name one more time. On my way home, I started questioning myself. Should I tell her that I’ve started to love her? Or should I keep it a secret and let friendship be the title of us.

I woke up to the sound of someone knocking on my door. I tried to ignore but the knocking continued. “Harry? I know you’re inside.” Margaret? What was she doing at my house this early morning? Margaret was a psychotic girl who considered herself as my girlfriend at my college. She did asked me once to be her boyfriend but of course I said no. Who would want to be with a psychotic like her? But the more I said no, the more she stuck to me like glue. I got off my bed and shuffled towards my apartment door. The moment I opened it, she hugged me so tightly I couldn’t breathe!

“Gosh Harry I was so scared!” she cried into my shirt, soaking it. I tried to pull her back but I couldn’t. The hug was too tight. “There’s a rat in my room and I’m too scared to stay there alone.” Finally she pulled back. What if there’s more in my room and I’ve no idea that I’ve been living with rats all along! What if it bit me and I suddenly become a rat?” I’d be the happiest person on Earth if that ever happen, I thought. Then she hugged me again. “I’m scared, Harry.” And do I care?

“Oh I’m sorry to interrupt your session here,” I suddenly heard a voice from the doorway. I turned and saw Mia standing there, having whatever false thoughts about me and Margaret from what she saw. “I’ll just…um…” she went off without finishing her sentence.

“Mia, wait!” I pushed Margaret and once I was free from her embrace, I ran out the door and chased after Mia. 

“Harry, come back!” she shouted. “The rats might be coming for me.” I ignored her. All I cared about right now was Mia. I don’t know why I cared so much. She probably didn’t care at all. She’d probably be on the phone with Ethan. But my legs wouldn’t stop and couldn’t stop from running. And there’s a voice inside my head telling me to go after her. My heart was convincing me to do what the voice in my head said.

My legs had led me to the park where we usually hung out. I saw her on a swing playing with the necklace with her finger. And she was, crying?

“Mia!” She turned around abruptly and when she saw me, she quickly wiped her tears off with the back of her hand.

“Harry, what are you doing here?”

“Mia it’s not what you think. I…”

“No it’s okay, I understand.” She cut me off.

“No you don’t. Mia, I...” I hesitated but then I took a deep breath and let it go all at once. “I’m sorry if I say I need you, but I don’t care I’m not scared of love. Cos when I’m not with you I’m weaker. Is that so wrong? Is it so wrong that you make me strong?”

“No,” she was looking far into my eyes and God-knows how beautiful her eyes were, shining in the sunlight. “No, it isn’t wrong.” She said as though she was lost in her own words.

“I know you don’t love me and I know you never would. I was nothing more than just your friends but I want you to know that…” Before I could finish my sentence, I felt her lips crashed on mine. I saw sparks flew all over in my mind and the kiss was the best kiss I ever had. I tilted my head and pulled her even closer. We stayed that way for a few seconds that was probably the longest I’d ever had.

“I love you, are those the words you’re gonna say?” she asked when she pulled away from the kiss. “Cos if it is, then I love you too, Harold. And I need you too to be strong.” She smiled as I tucked some strands of her hair behind her ears. “And I never said I don’t love you. You made your own conclusion. I’ve always love you, Harry. Always will and always have.”

“Sshh,” I shushed her as I put a finger on her gorgeous lips. “No more talking.” Our lips met again and I pulled her even closer. Her arms wrapped around my neck and my arms around her waist and the airplane necklace that she wore round her neck was dangling in between us. And it wasn't the symbol of our friendship anymore but our love. That day, we planted our love at the park and let it bloom until the last breath of ours.