Crossroads of Life

Chapter 16

Bailey’s POV:

Louis kept my secret pretty well. At least from what I could tell. And aside from him checking up on me more often and helping me do silly things like walk up the steps onto the bus, or grabbing my clipboard for me, things went basically back to normal after that night when I poured my heart out to him.

I did catch him giving me worried glances now and then, even from on stage. He also started biting his nails more often. Sometimes during interviews a certain question would come up and he’d shoot me a glance, or he’d be caught staring into space.

Not that Louis didn’t stare into space before I told him my promises; it’s just… now he did it more often. Or maybe I just noticed more than before, I had often caught myself checking on him. I think I needed to assure myself that I hadn’t hurt him too much.

Niall acted differently now too. He sort of stayed out of my way for the next few weeks. He’d only talk to me when we were in a group, and even then he wouldn’t direct a statement towards me. He was still his normal, goofy self…just not with me. I know that’s what I wanted, that’s what I asked for. But it hurt, it hurt to know that we were growing further apart.

Even if he needed something or had a question he’d be sure to ask Paul before coming to me. Actually, he’d be sure to talk to anyone before me.

I had decided it wasn’t worth not loving him during the time I had left; he was gonna get hurt either way now. I decided to let myself love him now…but the problem was, he had decided not to love me.

The boys put on a number of great shows as we worked our way through the UK. After Manchester we packed up the bus to Belfast, where there was a major audience, as always. I oversaw a number of photo shoots, signings and interviews; each one holding a new memory.

One interview stood out particularly in my mind. It was after Belfast, we had moved onto Birmingham and the boys had a radio interview to attend. Paul sent me along to oversee things so that he could stay and set up the stage, apparently there had been a major technical malfunction (which may or may not have been the result of me and the boys sneaking, in a game of manhunt, backstage).

I stood against the far wall, chatting with Harry’s ‘mum’ who had met us earlier in the day. The boys were in the radio booth, all set up with separate chairs and microphones. I had managed to get them there ten minutes early, with the help of Harry’s mom that is. They were now twirling in their seats, chatting and answering questions.

I was talking about the tour with Anne, showing her pictures on my phone and telling her about all the different arenas we’d been to. We could hear the questions being asked and the boy’s answers. It was late afternoon, but the boys were still yawing and the questions were even beginning to bore me. They were asked the same things at each interview so I decided to bring some life into this one.

I put my phone away and crept up to the glass. Anne followed and we began making funny faces at the boys. Harry saw us first, as his vision was in the direct line of the window. He was mid sentence when he began to smile, dimples forming on his cheeks. I looked over at Anne and we laughed, but instantly drew our attention back to trying to make Harry crack up.

Eventually we got him laughing and slowly the other boys noticed, joining in on the giggling. The radio man grew more and more confused as the other boys caught on.

The interviewer kept looking in our direction but when he did, Anne and I would duck our face the other way, so that he didn’t suspect us. I began bobbing up and down, poking my head in and out of view of the glass, pulling a new face each time.

Sooner or later the interviewer must have spotted me because I heard him ask, “Who is that?” over the commotion.

“That’s our manager’s intern and Harry’s mum,” Zayn said, stifling his laughter. Sensing that we were about to get in trouble Anne and I acted casual, waving politely at the radio man in response. The boys laughed harder at this, Niall almost falling out of his chair, but luckily Louis caught him.