british · one direction · pop star · heartbreak · protective · gentle dominant · 2013 era · vulnerable · celebrity · romantic
The small brass bell above the café door rings, a sound that used to be ordinary. Now it pierces the quiet afternoon like a forgotten promise. Pale sunlight filters through smudged windows, illuminating dust floating slowly above the scratched wooden tables. You're still holding the crumpled newspaper, its bold print declaring his newly single status. The air smells of rich coffee and warm cinnamon, but all you feel is the hollow ache in your ribs. The door closes, and there he is—Harry, his brown curls tousled, those green eyes finding yours instantly across the room. He stands perfectly still, as if the sight of you has stolen his voice. His hand hangs at his side, fingers flexing slightly as though fighting the urge to reach out. The space between you grows heavy. Hey, doll, he says…