Chapter 23
I don’t remember if I’ve already posted this but here …
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After emptying the contents of my stomach into the toilet bowl, I somehow managed to stumble into bed. I woke up relatively early, but I was too afraid to see anyone. I waited until I was sure they had all left the apartment before leaving my room, and I tip-toed my way to the kitchen.
My phone was sitting on the kitchen counter, where I had left it the night before. I was too afraid to look at it, and my stomach began to churn at the thought of my missed calls. So I pretended it wasn’t there, and went to get myself some breakfast. There was no note this morning, not even a clue that the boys had been there at all. I was sure they were in for a rough day too.
Just as I was about to finish my cereal my phone rang. I answered it as a reflex, before even remembering I was supposed to be ignoring it. “Hello?” I answered, my mouth full of cereal. I braced myself for yelling from any number of people I was expecting to call.
“Melody? It’s Ryan.” I breathed an immense sigh of relief. Out of all the people in the world, he was the one person I actually could stand talking to today. He was calling from work and wondered if I was still up for coffee. Classes at NYU were done until after the holiday, which meant I didn’t have to go back to the campus for another week. I immediately said yes to Ryan, and agreed to meet at a café’ near the grocery store.
I took a look at my phone for a moment, after hanging up, before tossing it back across the counter. I considered looking at my messages or calls, but I felt worse enough as it was. Plus, I had to put on a happy face for Ryan.
I dragged myself back into my room and into the shower. As much as I was in hangover hell, I managed to find some enjoyment in my usual ritual of getting ready. I took my time getting dressed, making sure to look like the put together girl I used to be, and even put in the effort to do my hair. It was strange to be doing things that seemed so ordinary, after the far from ordinary past couple weeks. And Ryan was ordinary too, which made it all the better.
As I walked the couple blocks to the café, I pushed all thoughts of One Direction out of my mind. I thought about NYU and my classes, and all the things that had been important to me. I tried to become the girl Ryan thought I was, the girl I had wanted to be, the girl I thought I was.
I walked into the café expecting Ryan to be late, but he had gotten there early. He had saved us two comfy chairs in a secluded corner, the kind that were always taken, and I knew he must have been there for a while. He stood and waved, and I gave a slight wave back, while I ordered a drink. As I made my way back, I took the time to take him in. He was still wearing his work polo, over a pair of khakis, and a light jacket. His combed hair, and energetic smile made him seem very boyish. And I had no doubt that he was.
“How was work?” I asked, as I slid into the seat across from him. We fell into an easy rhythm of small chat, exchanging pleasantries and compliments.
“How’s the new living situation?” he asked, and I was forced to remember how he helped me move out of my dorm, just after Dominique had kicked me out.
“It’s alright I suppose. I’m currently staying with those five guys I brought to Alex’s party.” He choked a little on his coffee, and was caught off guard. But he caught himself, and gave me a wry smile.
“How’s living with foreigners?”
“Messy,” I replied, and we both laugh. With the slight awkwardness broken, we begin to talk more naturally. He tells me about his family, and his favorite places, and I tell him about my favorite books and my classes. He laughs at all the right times, and asks encouraging questions. It isn’t until halfway through the conversation that I realize he genuinely wants to know more about me.
“Favorite song?” he asked, and I could tell he was getting ready to gauge my answer.
“Anything by Katy Perry,” I joke. He knows me well enough by now to laugh.
“Come on. Give me a real answer.”
“Fine. It’s a Hard Knock Life from Annie.” He laughed again, even more this time, and I laughed along.
“I’m not going to get a real answer from you am I?” I shook my head, holding my stomach from laughter.
“Probably not. What’s yours?”
“Promise not to laugh?” He made me pinky swear, which I found difficult to do, because I’m still shaky from laughter. “Payphone by Maroon 5. I know it’s girly and all, but it makes me feel like a rockstar.” I must have reacted more than I intended, because he gets nervous and starts rubbing his neck. “I know it’s pretty bad but-”
“No!” I interrupted. “No, it’s not that.” He raised an eyebrow. “I just know the person who wrote that song, that’s all.”
“Who?” he asked, looking more intrigued, and less panicked. He was still blushing a little, but his confidence was slightly restored.
“Some guy named Clark Wayne.” I didn’t offer further details, and he was more than happy to change the subject. It turns out Ryan is a bit of a pop junkie, and is much more Top 40 than I would have anticipated.
An hour later Ryan offered to walk me back to the apartment, since he still had time before he had to get back to work. I protested, but he insisted, and I gave in. It’s not a long walk, and when we reach the building, he stops to give me a lingering peck on the cheek. I’m relieved Frank isn’t standing in his usual post.
“I’ll call you?” he asked, but it’s not really a question. I nod, and he walked off, leaving both of us smiling. I walked inside the building, cherishing the fluttery feeling in my stomach. I made my way to the elevator, walking with a light and airy step, when Frank pops in out of nowhere.
“I feel the need to warn you,” Frank said with a frown, “there’s some kind of commotion going on upstairs.” I pictured the boys getting yelled at, fans showing up out of nowhere, and a thousand other horrible scenarios. I considered turning and walking back out of the building, but I nodded stiffly and closed the elevator doors. I was going to have to face it eventually. When I got to the door, I heard commotion and panic happening inside, but no strict voices, or girlish screams. I took a deep breath in, and unlocked the door.
I was immediately greeted with a body hurling itself at me, pulling me into the tightest hug I’d ever received. The head of blonde hair gave away that it was Niall. He kept muttering ‘thank God, thank God’ over and over again. I looked up past Niall to see the other four boys, all standing up in the kitchen. They were each staring at me intently, with mixed looks of relief. “I’ve only been gone a couple hours,” I choke out, hoping to break whatever tension was in the room.
“We’d thought you ran away!” Niall says, letting me go, only slightly. His hands were still holding my shoulders, but he was looking at me dead on now.
“You didn’t answer your phone,” Zayn says, picking it up off the counter. I realized I’d never remembered to grab it again after the call with Ryan.
“Shit! I forgot it here. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you guys. Is that what all this is about?” I asked. I felt my mouth beginning to smile because I couldn’t help but be relieved. They’re all here, and they’re worrying about me for a change.
Liam’s face fell a bit, and he hung his head dejectedly. “She doesn’t know,” he muttered. Niall turned to look back at Liam and then looked back at me.
“Shit.”
“Don’t know what?” I asked, panic beginning to set back in. It was clear by my voice that I was now nervous, but no one starts to explain. “What don’t I know?”
Zayn pulled his phone out from his front pocket, fiddled with it for a moment, and turns the screen to me.
Harry Styles Gets into the Empire State of Mind
Below the headline is a picture of Harry and I from the alley way the night before, in a very compromising position. The picture is slightly blurry, and my face is partly hidden, but it’s definitely us. If I hadn’t been there myself, I would have thought a lot more was happening between us than actually did. I imagined everyone I know seeing it. My mom, my uncle, Dominique, Ryan. What would they say? I find I’ve lost my voice, and even if I still had it, I wouldn’t have known what to say.
“It’s not so bad,” Niall rambles. “The article doesn’t give your name, and most Americans don’t know much about us. The only thing that changes is that everyone knows we’re in New York. Management’s kind of happy because it makes it look like Harry is over -” Niall cut himself off, noticing the glares of all of his bandmates. He gulped guiltily, clearly aware that he had stepped over some kind of line.
“Over who?” I asked, glancing at Harry. Now no one would look at me, and everyone seemed guilty. “Caroline?”
Harry’s head turned so quickly I thought his neck would snap. At least now he was looking at me. “How the hell do you know about Caroline?”
“Remember when I admitted I’d done a bit of research?” Bit of research was a bit of an understatement. When I’d begun my internet search, the top articles were about Harry and his break-up. All I knew about her was that she was older, and he had been heart-broken. But the shocked stares I was getting lead on that there was more to this story than what I knew. “I didn’t think it was a big secret.”
“What matters,” Liam interjected, “is that this picture isn’t the worst thing the world.”
“Right,” Harry agreed sarcastically. “Nothing’s changed.” There was bitterness in his voice, but the boys pretended not to hear it. But I couldn’t pretend not to notice it, and tried to catch his eye. He was avoiding looking at me again.
“So everyone’s seen it?” I managed to ask, despite the huge lump I felt forming in my throat. My head feels fuzzy and time seems to be moving at a dizzying pace.
“I told your uncle that nothing happened,” Harry said. I silently prayed that he’d look up, but he didn’t.
“Your uncle knows how the press gets,” Liam comforted, but I didn’t find it very soothing. I knew my uncle wouldn’t look at me the same either way.
“So, what now?”
“We move on.” Harry looked up, but only for a millisecond, and quickly left the room. Louis shot me a sympathetic look, and ran after Harry.
“He’s right you know,” Niall said. He was still standing the closest to me. He gently pulled Zayn’s phone out of my hand. “Life goes on.”
Liam and Zayn nodded, and moved into the living room. I saw them pulling out video game controllers, but I was really just dazing out into space. I wasn’t sure how to just move on. What was I doing before this all happened? I couldn’t remember.
I felt Niall place something in my hands, and I looked down to see his gloved hand covering mine. His jacket was slung over his arm. “Why don’t we get out of here?” he suggested. He nodded his head towards the door. I nodded, because I hadn’t the slightest clue what else to do. I wanted to ask if I should talk to Harry, but I didn’t know if Harry would even let me talk to him. He held the door open for me, and I stepped out into the hallway.
We made it all the way to the elevator, before I realized something. I told Niall to hold the elevator, and ran back into the apartment. I grabbed my phone off the counter, and ran back to Niall. “I think I learned my lesson,” I admitted, still feeling too shaky to give him a real smile. He nodded, and pressed the lobby button. As the doors shut, I turned on my screen.
16 missed calls
Shit.
Cutest moment in the video of TMH tour’s Undercover Interlude.
AU Meme > Going to Disneyland with Liam.
It’s all my dreams in one
Niall Horan is all sorts of cute….
Fetus Cute
Cute Cute
Silly Cute
Cute while being called cute
Sexy Cute
Flirty Cute
Jumping Cute
Laughing Cute
Swagful Cute
Awkward Cute
Simply Cute
Niall Horan Cute
And Niall girls are like :
