Illuminate

Kelly

Kelly sighed heavily as she set her latte down on the table at the café, making Parker peer up at her.

“What’s on your mind, baby?” he asked, reaching forward to grasp a hold of Kelly’s hand. She’d been upset the entire morning thus far.

“Did you not even see the way Simone glared at us all day? The venom just dripping in her voice when she actually did acknowledge us? And the way she left with Harry like-“

“None of that is your fault,” Parker interrupted, a slight scowl on his face at the mention of his sister’s new friend. “She’s known this whole time about my feelings for you and if she’s being immature because she didn’t even remotely expect anything to happen then that’s her own fault.”

“I guess,” she shrugged. “It still doesn’t leave a good feeling in my stomach, though. If this… whatever we have-“

“Relationship,” Parker boldly interrupted with a slight smirk on his face.

“If our relationship,” Kelly continued, ignoring the furious blush on her face, “were to ruin either one of our friendships with her I’d never be able to forgive myself.”

Parker stared at their entangled hands for a minute, pondering what his girlfriend had just finished saying.

“It’s different for me. She’s my sister. I mean, yeah, we’re close but… nothing can change her status in my life. She’s my family, whether I fall for her best friend or not. As my sister and as your best friend she should be happy for us. We’ll give her some time to digest all of it but after that it’s not our problem anymore.”

All Kelly could manage was a nod and a small smile, but she couldn’t help but think that they could’ve gone about everything in a much better way.

*

Simone

Harry and Simone had their hands stuffed in their jackets for extra warmth as they slowly toured the Museum of Modern Art, located right in the heart of the city. So far they were having a fantastic day together, effectively pushing all thoughts of Kelly and Parker to the back of Simone’s mind, which is just what she needed.

“I really like this one,” Harry murmured, stopping in front of a piece.

“Why is that, Harold?” Simone raised a brow at him, earning a quick glare in response.

“You can clearly see the artist’s anguish and internal struggles,” he began, not taking his eyes off the canvas. “The way the colors contrast represents how he feels like an outcast in the world, the proportions further emphasizing how alone he really is. He’s a humanitarian, however, not fully giving up on the world, which is why he chose the color green-nature,” he said the last word slowly.

“You’re kidding me,” Simone snorted, biting her bottom lip to keep from bursting into hysteric laughter. “It’s a seven-by-seven foot white canvas with a little green dot in the center. That’s literally it.”

“And this is why you’ll never understand the arts,” he huffed dramatically, stalking off in the opposite direction to a different exhibit.

Simone couldn’t help but giggle, chasing after the crazy boy and linking arms with him after doing so.

“None of these pieces compare to you, Mr. Styles. You’re truly the most beautiful work of art here,” she admitted playfully, poking his cheek, making a dimple form underneath her fingertip from his newly formed smile.

He turned to her and flipped his hair sassily. “Thank you, I know.”

“Want to grab some dinner before we had back?” She asked him, smiling brightly.

“You sure know the way to my heart,” he replied smoothly, placing a hand on the small of her back to lead her out of the museum.

*

The duo had decided to go to Red Bamboo, a small vegetarian restaurant that defined the term “hole in the wall”. The place, though lacking in size, was absolutely incredible, hands down one of Simone’s favorite places in the world. She had made it her mission to go when she first visited Kelly in New York years prior, and has held a piece of her heart ever since. It was truly an amazement that she now lived walking distance from the place.

“Hey, guys, just two for you?” the hostess greeted, her eyes for the most part staying on Harry.

“Yes,” Simone said, attempting to keep her voice even. She rolled her shoulders, reminding herself that she was in no place to get jealous over him. It wasn’t like that.

The brunette lead them to one of the small tables lining the wall, a cushioned bench going all down the side of it. Simone sat in the chair across from it, making Harry squeeze between two tables to sit across from her.

Harry grabbed a menu that was set in front of him but peered over it to glance at the girl in front of him, playing with her hands.

“Aren’t you going to look at the menu?”

“I don’t need it,” she replied simply with a smile. “I get the same thing every time.”

Harry smiled before looking at the menu once again. Everything sounded amazing and he immediately felt the urge to order one of everything they had. He was perplexed at how someone could stick to the same regimen when there were so many options.

Suddenly Simone’s phone vibrated in her pocket, making her pull it out to read the text from Kelly under the table.

This morning was awkward… Want to get some dinner tonight, catch up? We’re headed to Red Bamboo, your favorite. Meet us there! Bring the boy. ;)

“Who is it?” Harry asked with slight worry, observing how Simone’s body stiffened and her eyes went wide.

“Looks like we won’t be dining alone tonight unless we leave while we can,” she explained, setting her phone on the table in front of her. “Kelly just texted me and said she was on her way here with Parker and offered to have us tag along.”

“What a coincidence,” he muttered, almost seeming… annoyed, maybe? “We can stay or go, love. I’ll stay with you either way.”

The comforting tone of his words made her wonder if he was talking about more than the potential awkward and all-too-soon reunion with her roommates, but the thought of Harry being as much of a hopeless romantic as her made her shake her head slightly.

“We’ll stay, if that’s okay,” she smiled softly. “I’ll have to build a backbone someday or another, right?”

Harry said nothing but nodded, smiling back at her. With a small sigh she picked up her phone to type back a response.

What a coincidence. We’re here already and will save the table next to us. See you soon. <3