The Hotel - H.S.

Chapter 29

Zoey's POV

The week flew by, it was mornings of trying to catch a kiss, if possible, days busy with our own things and nights of showing each other that we missed the other during the day. In the evenings we shared beds, showers, dinners, dances, walks, music and sleep, then scurried off the next day to keep up our own missions. 

I was beginning to be able to read him like a book this week. I saw that I was making him happy, that I was exciting him. I gave him everything in me, I wanted to make countless memories with him while we were together. As I sat in the hospital during the days, I wrote songs about him and poems about my changing heart. I just waited until I was back at the hotel with him, counting down the minutes until I could breath his air again. 

Finally on Friday I had my PET scan done, biting back my frustrating that I had to wait until next week to find out any updates. I tried to push down my pissy attitude as I walked back to the hotel, chatting with my sister on the phone. As we caught up, with me purposefully holding back details and keeping things light and positive, trying to mainly listen to her, I ran into Harry getting out of his chauffeured black SUV out in front of the hotel. He wiggled his fingers at me and I gave him a wink as I approached. Without thinking about the fact that we were out front of the hotel, it was daylight, and he was....him, I quickly zoomed right to him, leaning up and to give him a quick kiss, still holding my phone up to my ear. 

His driver froze first, then looked around quickly. Harry seemed to realize a second later, taking a big step back and looking at me with wide eyes before looking around the sidewalk as well. There were a few people around at the front of the hotel, but Harry was wearing a hat and hooded sweatshirt so I at first I didn't think anyone noticed. I saw both his eyes and his drivers eyes train on three girls across the street who had stopped walking and were huddled together excitedly, looking down at their phones and then repeatedly glancing back up to him with squeals. I dipped my head down, letting my hair fall around my face and quickly walked into the hotel without hesitating. Harry stayed outside, not following me. I rushed to the elevator, making an excuse and getting off the phone with my sister quickly. 

I was already swallowing tears as I shifted from foot to foot and anxiety was rising in my throat. The elevator opened and I slid in, pressing the close door button immediately. I glanced back across the lobby as the doors closed, but Harry was still outside. I saw his SUV pull away and wondered if he was back in it. If those girls had spotted him I would imagine seeing him leaving the hotel might suggest he wasn't staying here? My mind immediately began reeling with the possibilities that they may have caught the kiss on camera. They could post it online, they could draw attention to the hotel and his stay here. They could ruin everything. 

I stepped out of the elevator at floor 13 and basically ran to my room. I was openly crying now, thinking about my stupid, careless kiss. I stepped into my room and I began stripping off my clothes as my breathing quickened. I was panicking. I was picturing every worst case scenario, each one more detrimental than the last. I turned on the shower, cranking it as hot as it would go as I sat on the closed toilet and pulled my knees up to my chest. I tried to regulate my breathing as I cried, and the bathroom filled with steam. I stepped into the shower, letting the water scold me as I sat down in the tub and let the stream beat down on my head. How could I be so stupid? I knew how important this time was for him.

He had openly talked with me, on multiple occasions, about how his privacy during this time working on the album was so vital, so valuable, so amazing. He was enjoying his time here so much, and the freedom it represented. I had thoughtlessly sacrificed that, without even thinking. I was caught up in my own problems and my own concerns and just reacted to him without actually taking him into consideration. I was deeply disappointed in myself. I hugged my knees as I wept, finally getting tired and moving into the fetal position on the floor of the shower, my body pink and tender from the relentless hot water. I heard the phone ringing in my room but just stayed where I was, feeling so disappointed in myself.