Matchmaker

Matchmaker: Chapter Seven

We were in Orlando, Florida for a couple of days. The boys were to do two shows, and some press, but really I think we were only there so long because management wanted to take a break and go to the beach while the boys continued to work their asses off.

I was napping on the couch in the boys’ greenroom, my legs propped up casually across Harry’s lap, as he puttered on his computer in a dull lull in the schedule, when I saw her for the first time.

Of course, I knew she was coming, management hadn’t shut the fuck up about it for the past week.

‘You’ll love having another girlfriend around Kate.’

‘Some pictures of you two, as friends, would be awesome.’

‘She tweeted you saying how excited she was to meet you, you should tweet her back.’

It was Louis who had remained oddly silent on the matter, even when Zayn brought it up in the back of the tour bus the other day, asking if he was excited, Louis had brushed it off with a slight shrug and smile.

Of course it was Louis, so the behavior wasn’t all that shocking.

She pranced in, dark, beautiful hair flowing behind her, and kind, bright smile and my stomach clenched nervously. Louis was right behind her, and Harry glanced up from his computer as they entered, slowly pushing the computer away and standing up, shoving my legs off his lap.

“El! It’s so nice to see you!” Harry greeted, walking and throwing his arms around her, in a way that hid any glimpse of resentment I knew he had towards the girl. He motioned for me to walk over and I forced a bright smile on my face, walking over to the infamous girl with my hand held out, but she ignored it, pulling me into a friendly hug.

“It is so nice to finally meet you!” She said, and my stomach clenched even tighter. Fuck. She was actually sorta nice.

“Ah, Eleanor,” Liam’s voice drifted from the doorway and she let go of me and bounced over to where Liam was standing. “Lovely as always. Your flight good?”

“Absolutely grand!”  She exclaimed, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear and turning to lean against Louis, who put his arm around her.

An arm suddenly creeped around my shoulders, mirroring Louis’ and I leaned against Harry as the four of us faced each other, bright, plastic smiles on our faces.

Liam, Zayn and Niall stood in the doorway and I caught them all share a long look between each other.

Well this was awkward.

“Boys, sound check. Kate, Claire needs help with some drink orders. Eleanor, welcome,” Paul suddenly poked his head through the doorway, and I barely held in my sigh of relief as I flashed Eleanor a last toothy grin before pulling out of Harry grip and hurrying through the door, pushing past Liam and Niall, in search of Claire.

I found her in the hallway, waiting for me, with a small smile on her lips. Which was new, she’d been sulking and avoiding me ever since the whole ‘Harry and I’ thing had hit the newsstands.

“You look chipper,” I noted and she shrugged.

“I’m in a forgiving mood,” she grinned and I eyed her curiously.

“Why?” I asked suspiciously and Claire smirked, biting her lips. “Oh lord. Who was it.”

“I don’t kiss and tell-“

“It’s a boy-“

“I don’t-“

“Wait,” I declared, rounding on her as we exited the arena. I stopped and reached for her arm, pulling her to  a stop, eyes wide, “It’s one of the boys.”