Pairing Hearts |louis tomlinson|

Chapter Five

Things changed drastically for me as I started college. Between the workload of my new classes and my new manager's constant need for perfection, I had no time for myself. If I wasn't studying or in class, I was at the gym or halfway across the world for a photoshoot.
"Kate this shoot next week is a big deal," my manager, Trent told me. "If you want to continue in this business you need to impress these people. You can't support this exercise line without abs. At least try to work out this week."
"You know I don't want to be in this business right?" I asked crossing my arms. "I'm going to school for a reason."
"Honey you should just be happy for where you are and take every opportunity you get because if it wasn't for your sister you would still be in whatever middle of nowhere trailer park you came from," Trent replied. "Your little innocent charm act isn't going to last long, people are going to start seeing just how ugly you are, so at least try to milk it while you can."
I frowned, but the truth was I knew he was right. Ashley had always been the prettier, better sister. All I wanted was to make her proud and become half the person she was. "Here's your diet and schedule for the week," Trent said handing me the paper. "Follow it to a tee if you want a chance."
I nodded taking the schedule and leaving his office feeling defeated.
--
"Kate, I haven't seen you in weeks," Ashley said through the phone. I had just canceled our dinner plans for the fourth night in a row.
"I'm just so swamped with homework and I have a photoshoot this weekend. I'm just trying to keep my head above water," I answered with a sigh as I looked down at the textbook.
"How are your classes going?" Ashley asked sympathetically.
"Good, I have all A's," I answered. "And I haven't missed a class yet, so that's reassuring."
"You are so crazy smart," Ashley said her voice swelling with pride. I just shook my head. I knew that in order to be anything special in our family it wasn't about how you did in school.
"Maybe we can get together in a few weeks during my thanksgiving break," I suggested.
"Kate if I don't see you on Thanksgiving, I will send out a missing person report," she laughed. "Will Harry come home for Thanksgiving or will he still be on tour?"
"I'm not sure he's coming home at all," I sighed. "I talked to him last week and he was telling me they're already almost done with the next album. He said they're thinking of going straight to a press tour after the shows and then back on tour again."
"Jeez that's insane," Ashley said. "Is he alright? I know you said he wasn't doing great when you went to visit."
"He pretends that he is, but I don't think he's happy anymore. I think he's tired and being worked to death, but I think he just doesn't want me to worry." The only thing I really knew about Harry for certain was that he had "dated" three girls since I last saw him.
"I'll call him and talk to him sometime this week. Let him know we're both thinking about him," Ashley replied.
"I think that's a good idea," I nodded.
"You're still coming to my premiere, right? You're taking off for winter break?"
"Yes, I promise I won't miss it," I laughed. She asked me every time we talked.
--
At Thanksgiving, I was the skinniest I had been, but I still had a ways to go because I had a lingerie shoot right after winter break and swimsuit season was just around the corner.
"Kate!" Ashley grinned wrapping me in a tight hug as soon as I walked into her home. There were already people filtering around. So many celebrities didn't have time or families to go home to, so Ashley invited them all over for a big meal together.
"I've missed you," I grinned holding her tightly.
"You're too skinny," Ashley said stepping away. "We need to get some food in you. Come eat some appetizers."
"Is your boyfriend coming tonight?" I asked with a little smirk as she dragged me to the kitchen.
"No, he's home with his family," Ashley answered. "We had our own little Thanksgiving last weekend."
"I wish you would let me meet him," I sighed sitting at the counter as Ashley handed me a plate of appetizers.
"Speaking of boyfriends, I talked to Harry yesterday."
"Oh, how is he?" I asked rolling my eyes at her boyfriend's comment.
"He's sick," Ashley answered. "Said he threw up yesterday, but he has to perform tomorrow."
"He told me he was too busy to talk this week, clearly he just didn't want me to know he was sick," I said with a sigh. "I hate that he doesn't tell me things."
"He knows your busy with school. He told me he doesn't want to distract you."
"Don't ever do that to me," I told her. "I don't want you to think I can't take care of you because I'm in school. Don't hide shit from me."
"I know you're stronger than anyone else. You can handle pretty much anything thrown at you."
I spent that night talking with Ashley and her friends. Despite being almost twenty now, they still treated me like the timid seventeen-year-old they met two years ago. My life was so different now and I had been an adult since I was ten years old, but sometimes it felt nice to just be taken care of.
--
I had two weeks off for spring break. The first week I was traveling for a few different photoshoots. But the second week was Christmas and Ashley's premiere, which I had promised her I would be in town for. On the first day of that second week, I went on a run and then spent the rest of the day in bed. I was so exhausted. At about five pm someone knocked on my door. I got up with a groan. When I opened the door my eyes widened with surprise.
"Harry!" I grinned immediately jumping into his arms my legs wrapped around his waist. "What are you doing here?" I laughed resting my head against his neck.
"Thought I would come and surprise you. Ashley asked me to come for her premiere and I couldn't say no."
"How long are you here for?" I asked as he held me tightly and brought me back inside.
"I have to be home for Christmas, mum begged me to come home."
"I'm so happy you're here," I grinned not really willing to let him go yet. "I figured you would be spending time with one of your girlfriends."
"Haven't had a girlfriend since eighth grade," Harry mumbled into my hair. I unwrapped my legs and smiled up at him.
"I know," I said taking a step back.
"What were you doing before I so rudely interrupted you?" Harry asked me.
"I was in bed," I answered.
"At five in the afternoon?" Harry laughed.
"I'm still jetlagged from all the traveling last week," I answered biting my lip.
"Did you have classes?" Harry asked.
"No, I was on break," I answered.
"Let's get you back in bed," Harry said taking my hand and pulling me back to the bedroom. I climbed into bed and watched him take off his boots before following me.
"What are all these?" I laughed noticing the tattoos now decorating his body.
"Got one with the whole band and then I got addicted," Harry laughed as I traced my fingers over the lines.
"Which one is your favorite?" I asked.
"This one," he grinned lifting up his shirt to reveal a big butterfly.
"It's beautiful," I replied tracing my finger over it. Harry took my hand and kissed it lightly before pulling his shirt back down.
"Go back to sleep," he said.
"I can't now that you're here," I said looking up at him.
"Yes, you can because I'm going to sleep too." He closed his eyes and at first, I thought he was joking, but then he started snoring and I knew he was dead asleep.
--
The next day I was getting ready for the premiere letting the hair and makeup artist do their work. Harry was sitting next to me.
"How are you doing?" I asked.
"Good," Harry replied.
"I heard you were sick on Thanksgiving," I answered.
"Had the flu," Harry nodded.
"I don't like that you keep those things from me," I said softly. "I want to know about your life even when it's bad."
"You're too busy to worry about the flu," Harry laughed.
"No, I'm not," I answered. "I'm never too busy to worry about you. When you keep stuff from me I just worry more. Last time I saw you, you were crying because you hated it all so much, so yeah I'm going to worry about you."
"I'm doing okay. I hate all the girls that management keeps putting me with. They aren't like you. They're models and famous people with like literally no personality. Luckily though management is off my back about talking with Louis in our hotel and backstage. I'm tired, but they said after this second tour they're going to give us a little break."
"Good," I answered. "I'm worried you're going to work yourselves to death."
"Me too," Harry replied picking at his hands.
"Alright, Kate go change," the woman said standing up to admire her work. I nodded giving Harry's hand a squeeze before going to my closet. I was wearing a black jumpsuit with a deep v. I hated wearing dresses to these events, so I just made jumpsuits my thing.
"You look hot," Harry winked when I came out of the bathroom.
"Don't I know it," I smirked doing a little spin. "Come on the car is here."
Harry grinned following me downstairs. We were meeting Ashley at the event because she had lots of interviews to do as one of the head stars of the movie. Harry and I took our red carpet photos that night separately because Harry's managers only wanted him to take pictures with famous girls he was dating. After posing we made our way towards the entrance of the theater where Ashley and a tall muscular blonde-haired boy stood.
"Is this?" I asked a big smile on my face.
"This is my boyfriend Alec Mench," Ashley grinned looking up at him with love in her eyes.
"It's so good to meet you, Alec," I said immediately wrapping him in a hug. "I have heard so much about you."
"I could same about you," Alec laughed as Ashley let out a groan of embarrassment.
"I knew you were going to embarrass me," Ashley said.
"This is exciting for me," I laugh rubbing Ashley's back. "And I can't wait to see how great this movie is."
"It's good to see you, Harry," Ashley said letting him wrap her in a hug.
"You too," Harry replied. "And it's good to meet you, Alec."
"Same," Alec nodded shaking Harry's hand firmly.
"Come on let's go inside," Ashley said. I nodded letting Harry put his hand on the small of my back and lead me inside. We sat down in the back of the theater. The boys on either side of Ashley and I. Harry leaned in resting his head on my shoulder for a minute.
"I'm worried about you," he said softly.
"Why?" I asked looking up at him quickly.
"You're too thin," he replied. "Have you been eating enough? You look like you could blow away any minute."
"I promise I'm healthy," I whispered back feeling my stomach flip a bit at the lie. The truth was, I knew I wasn't eating enough. I was exercising like crazy, so I knew I wasn't getting enough nutrients to make up for everything I was burning off, but it just felt so good watching the numbers drop every week. I knew that once swimsuit shots were over for the season I could stop working out so much.
"Alright," Harry said softly. He didn't lift his head though.
The movie was amazing. Ashley had always amazed me with her acting skills and you could really see the chemistry between the two.
"What did you think?" Ashley asked with a little grin. She knew it was great.
"You're amazing," I replied wrapping her in a tight hug. "Mom and Dad would be proud of you."
"Fuck them," Ashley said rolling her eyes. "All I care about is you."
"I'm proud of you too. I'm always so proud to call you my sister."
Ashley grinned and squeezed me a little tighter.
--
I stood at the bathroom counter in my pajamas taking off my make up. Harry sat on the closed toilet watching me.
"You know no one would believe the world-famous model, Kate Pardeck, lives in a one-bedroom apartment with a bathroom sink that doesn't even have counter space for a toothbrush," Harry said watching me rest my elbows on the sink because there wasn't a countertop.
"People wouldn't believe half the places I lived," I answered rubbing the cotton roughly against my skin.
"I would," Harry answered. I had been thinking about my past a lot in the past few weeks. My manager loved to bring it up. He loved to remind me of who I would be without Ashley or him. Thinking about how proud my parents would be of Ashley just reminded me how disappointed they were of me.
"For the first five years, we lived in foster care houses because our parents were both in jail. After my dad got out of jail we went to live with him and his mom. Then when I was six my mom got out of jail so they got a one-bedroom apartment and my sister and I slept in the living room together. My dad got sober and my mom didn't. When Ashley was ten he took her out to LA to try to get into Hollywood. I stayed with my mom. She couldn't afford the apartment on her own and my dad couldn't send money because he was broke too. I don't really remember any part of where we were until I was ten and my dad started sending money because Ashley got famous and my mom started dating men, so we would stay at their houses. Luckily I had a really good friend through middle school until my senior year of high school, so I could study at her house and get a good meal and sleep there if I needed to. But she moved my junior year, which is when my mom got the boyfriend..."
"Where is your dad now?" Harry asked softly.
"Back on drugs," I answered softly. "Ashley kicked him out as soon as she turned eighteen and we haven't heard from him since."
"Does Ashley know..."
"We talked on the phone every night," I answered. "We knew everything about each other's lives. She knows where I was and that I don't remember about a year. She told me I'll remember on my own."
"You're the strongest person I know," Harry replied taking my hand and squeezing it lightly.
"I'm not," I replied. "I had people who cared and didn't let me slip through the cracks. Lots of people don't have that."
"Don't downplay your success," Harry said shaking his head. "You worked hard and clearly fought through a lot of shit to get here."
"I still have ways to go to get where I want to be," I answered. Harry frowned but gave my hand another squeeze.
"I'm proud of you," he shrugged.
--
The next morning I woke up to the smell of someone cooking. I got out of bed and found Harry standing at the stove. "What are you doing?" I laughed.
"Making you breakfast before I leave," Harry answered peeling pancakes off the pan and sliding them on a plate.
"You didn't have to do that," I grinned sitting at the table.
"Yeah, I did. I just surprised you out of the blue and you let me stay at your place."
"You know you can do that anytime," I grinned.
"I have a surprise for you," he replied placing plates on the table and sitting across from me.
"What?" I asked skeptically.
"This is the Midnight Memories, our third album," Harry grinned handing me his phone. There was a long list of songs and I felt the familiar sense of pride as he pressed play.
"It's so good," I grinned when the last song played. "It's like a lot more rock than the other two. You sound less bubble gum pop and I love it."
"Thanks," Harry grinned. "You won't be able to visit on tour this time though."
"Why not?" I asked crossing my arms.
"We're starting after the break and going until the start of summer. You'll be in classes and I'm not letting you miss a single class, got it?"
"But what if you have a show on the weekend?" I asked with a pout.
"No way. I know you have homework," Harry laughed. "Try and tell me I'm wrong."
"I can't," I laughed watching the glint in his eyes.
"Want to know what song is about you?" He asked with a little smirk.
"Of course I do," I grinned. It was like our little tradition and it made my heart full to know he thought about it even though it was a joke.
"Little black dress," he smirked. "You know I know how much you love dresses."
"Shut up," I laughed.