Rescue Me [H.S.]

4. Meeting Niall

“So you’ve never seen a tennis match before?” Harry asks, looking at me expectantly.

I just shake my head in reply. We are sitting side by side in a VIP box at the Wimbledon Stadium. Few other people are sitting in the box as well, but mostly elder businessmen, so no danger of Harry being regonized. It's only two days after we made our deal, but we've already spent a lot of time together; he took me to a fancy restaurant and a musical, but I still find it hard to be myself around him. When we're out, he's never really that relaxed and neither am I. He's probably looking out for the paparazzi, not wanting to be caught on camera with me (I don't blame him at all for this), and I'm just not good at being social. I wonder when he gives up on this stupid mission… Trying to show me the beauty in the world... Impossible.. Humpf…

Harry babbles on; “… it’s between world number one, Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal.. They are both amazing, but Djokovic.. . You’ll see. It’s like art when they play…”

He continues and doesn’t even notice that I’m not listening at all, not until I hear a familiar name being said.

“… and Niall got us these tickets, so he’ll be joining us soon. I hope you don’t mind.”

He says it with an apologetic look on his angelic face. So far my stare has been directed towards the tennis court though the match isn’t even started yet, but looking at Harry and how perfect he is with his long, brown curly hair, a smile that can light up the room and sparkling emerald eyes causes me to have a minor panic attack. Not to mention his lean, muscular, tattoo-covered body. Why is he hanging out with me? I know we made a deal, but still. Why hasn't be backed out of it yet?  

“I don’t mind at all.”

Why am I not able to say more than a few words at a time to him? I bite my lip; even if I can’t cut right now, at least I can inflict pain in other ways, I think, as I dug my only fingernail that isn’t completely bitten down into the palm of my hand. Why does he have to be so damn perfect? We sit in an awkward silence for a few minutes. His feet are tapping the floor and I turn my attention to the empty court. The players might not be out yet, but slowly thousands of people are filling the stadium. They're smiling, eager people dressed in mostly white, expensive clothes.

“Hey mate. And you must be Victoria!” beams a cheerful voice in an Irish accent. Niall. I stand up to extend my hand, but he’s already hugging me, causing me to flinch. I don’t think Niall notices, but I see a glimpse of amusement in Harry’s eyes. I’m glad that something about me amuses him. Even if it is my poor social skills. Niall, who’s almost as perfect looking as Harry with his blue, innocent-looking eyes and perfectly styled blonde hair, sits down beside me with a bowl of nachos in hand. He is dressed in a casual white t-shirt and skinny jeans, not overly fancy, but it looks so good on him.

“Want some?” he offers and hands me the nachos. 

* * *

“Come ooon!!!!” Niall stands up with superhuman speed and yells when what I assume is his favourite player looses the set. I must admit, tennis is not that boring to watch. Especially not with Harry and Niall who are quite into it. Apparently there’s a break now, they have both been trying to teach me the rules. Niall turns to me and Harry and we small talk for a while. Well, mostly Harry and Niall to be honest.

“Uhm… sorry for interrupting…”

All three of us look up towards the sound and my heart drops as I see a beautiful woman smiling at Harry. Her blonde hair is curled flawlessly and she must have used hours on her make-up. Her shoes must be hard to walk in, I think, as I notice her heels and her dress is showing off her amazing, well-developed curves. What an outfit to wear at a sports event, I think to myself and fight the urge to roll my eyes.

“I couldn’t help but notice that you’re the guy from One direction, and I was just wondering if I could get a photo?” She continues, smiling seductively at Harry, and blinking with her long, black eyelashes.

“Of course,” answers Harry and stands up immediately, taking her phone in one hand and places his arm around her waist. They take a few photos, posing together; Harry kissing her cheek. “Should we go out into the hallway? The light is better there.” he suggests and out they go, leaving Niall and me behind.  

“So… does this happen a lot?” I ask mostly to avoid the silence. A beautiful smile appears on his face as he laughs and nods.

“Yeah. I don’t think we should expect them to be back anytime soon.”

Harry’s POV:

As me and this fan, Charlotte, I think her name is, go out into the hallway, I look over my shoulder to see Niall laughing at something Victoria says. Sometimes I wish that I could make a move on Victoria, but it wouldn’t end well. She needs a friend that she can trust more than she needs someone like me as a boyfriend. Plus, if I make a move on her I might screw up our deal and whatever progress I've made with her so far. I’m no good as a boyfriend; my lifestyle simply doesn’t allow it with the paparazzi following my every move, jealous fans, and a manager who prefers when I'm single. 

“So, instead of taking pictures… I have an idea to what we could do…” the fan says, pulls me close and kisses me before she drags me towards a bathroom.

* * *

“So did I miss anything?” I ask as I sit down next to Victoria. My hair is messed up and I notice that I didn’t button my shirt properly. 

Victoria and Niall exchange a glance with a smirk on their faces. I feel a pang in my chest. Shit, so it is obvious that I just had sex.

“Not much, no. You weren’t gone that long. I hope her pictures turned out good,” Victoria says with a teasing look on her face, a smirk plastered on her innocent-looking face. I feel my cheeks turn a bit redder as Niall and her burst into laughter.

“Ha-ha,” I sarcastically join their laughter as I steal some of their nachos. I glance at Victoria who still has a smirk on her face, deep blue eyes shining bright. Before this, I hadn't made much progress trying to open her up and relax around me, but right now, the hope, that this deal would work for both of us, burns bright inside me.