-; finally falling

-; six

She lands in New York City with 29 missed calls, at least a hundred unread texts, a hundred thousand Instagram notifications and a flock of reporters swarming their bus outside the hotel.

Her teammates were kind enough to shield her from the questions and all the shoving and, you know, overall just helping her get through everything and everyone at once.

So it wasn't a surprise when Perrie released a deep breath she's been holding, leaning to one of their centers — Dwight, who doesn't say a word and just lets her lean on him as the rest of their security team ward off the press.

"Are you holding up okay?" He asks, pushing her off gently as they begin walking towards the lobby. The blonde shrugs, forcing a smile, "I got myself in this situation. I'm fine."

"Alright." He smiles back, patting her back and walking away when Perrie clears her throat, "Thanks, by the way, for protecting me."

"It's nothing, kid."

She ignores the nickname, nodding her head and putting her hands inside her pockets, waiting for her key when she hears a familiar voice approach her, "So that's what dating Jade Thirlwall would get you. I should take notes."

Her mood suddenly brightens and the smile she was forcing earlier was now short of forced. It was genuine.

"Daya, always a pleasure seeing you." The girl gives her a certain look, something between impressed and flustered, "You see me once a month." She points out, hugging her little notepad to herself closer as the blonde smiles at the hostess, taking her keys and walking towards the elevators with the younger girl behind, "Which is terrible, really."

"Anyway, Tom called and gave me a list of your schedule."

Zendaya Coleman, or well, Daya, has been the team's intern for a while. Well, she's been an intern since Tom recommended her to the team and she just became everyone's runner. Which was kinda bad but the tips were great.

"Hit me with it before I have the energy to say no." Perrie yawns, looking at her watch — it's 3 in the afternoon.

"You have an interview with Inside the NBA today, then a British UK radio station." Reading through her notes as they enter the elevator, the blonde nods at those, her mind wandering to different places, "What else? Vogue?"

"No. You're done by then."

"Oh."

"Then you're getting dinner with the team. Tomorrow's practice and then the next two days are back to back games with the Knicks and the Nets."

"I'm listening."

"Then Cleveland, Detroit, Indiana, Oklahoma and you're back home in no time."

She really can't be arsed. She doesn't care. She just wants to go back to Los Angeles. She misses Tom, she misses her dogs... she, maybe, kinda, she misses Jade.

"Will you be back home with us or are you going to pop up like a ghost every time we go on the road?" The blonde asks, stepping foot outside the elevator and looking around to search for her room when Daya shrugs, "You know my situation."

"Part time and barely getting paid by the team. I told you, work for me. Tom can't handle me on my own, especially with the Jade situation." She sighs, smirking a bit. "Perrie, I just can't..."

"Z, come on, you've known me since college. Why not?" She pouts, slotting the key on the door and walking inside the room, flopping on the bed when Daya shrugs, "I don't know. Pride, I guess?"

"Swallow it. You're working for me now." And look, she knew there was a process to this but she really needed another manager and she knows this girl so...