Deception - H.S

Chapter 11

I spend the day with Ayla, talking to her about playing for Deception. She thinks it's a great idea but I need to think about it more seriously. I do want to take a year off, I want to do something for myself, maybe travel too so this offer is everything I've been thinking about in a complete package. I get to tour different states, I get to play music, which is what I want to do and maybe this will help me be more confident about myself.

Another thing making me consider this is Kyle. He has been trying to get in touch with me, calling me constantly but I blocked his number. I didn't tell anyone about it because although what he did was horrible, I don't want to be the reason he gets hurt again. He won't stop trying to get in touch, maybe if I leave, he will eventually stop trying.

I don't want to make a decision and regret it later but this is a really big opportunity for me. What if I go on tour and Harry tries to make my life miserable? I know he told me if I stay away from him, things will be fine but there is a limit to me staying away from him. I will have to spend time with the band to practice and with his behavior, I could be dead by the end of the tour.

I want to go but I need to talk to Harry first. I send him a quick text, asking if this is a good time to talk.

Harry: What do you want?

Me: I am considering accepting the band's offer. I need to know we will be okay and you won't try to do anything.

Harry: Come on now Whitlock, I haven't done anything.

Did he forget he almost killed me? Why does he call me by my last name?

Me: You told me to stay away from you and I will. I just want to make sure what applies under that because I will have to be around you for practice and maybe parties and of course the actual shows.

Harry: It depends on the circumstances but yeah, practice and interviews and maybe parties are fine, I might occasionally try to fuck you. In general, don't try to talk to me otherwise.

Me: I'm not interested and yeah, I won't try to talk to you.

He doesn't bother replying and I don't try to text him back. I hope he keeps his word about not trying to do anything because I'm going on tour.

I drive back to the penthouse, confused to see kegs when I step out of the elevator. "Niall?" I talk into the empty space. "Up here!" he yells from upstairs and I make my way to him. I stand by the door of the spare room, "Are you having another party?"

"Yeah, we have less than a week before we go back on tour, wanna party hard for the last time before getting busy. Did you... make a decision? Do we need to hold more auditions?" He leans in the doorway.

I bite the inside of my cheek, resisting smiling, "I think you should hold more auditions just in case but I am leaning towards coming with you."

His face glows up, "Seriously?" His big smile only making me smile too as I nod at him. He wraps his arms around my back, giving me a big hug, lifting me off the ground and I wrap my arms around his neck.

Harry steps out of his room, eyeing us as Niall lets go of me. He huffs, walking past us. "What's his deal?" Niall looks at me and I shrug my shoulders, "Trust me, I wish I knew."

By the evening, all the boys knew I was leaning towards saying yes. Niall was particularly excited saying we should party even harder now.

People start to flow in around 10, the smell of alcohol mixed with sweat and tobacco throughout the house. These parties are always the same, people doing drugs, hooking up, getting high and it continues until their brains shut off. I wonder what it would feel like to escape reality for once, feeling free of everything and everyone around me.