Hurting Kind//Del Water Gap

Chapter 5

Holden

Today I am meeting with Niall Horan. He wants me to open for him. How could I say no. It's a big opportunity for me to get my music out there. Plus it's going to be a chance for me to see the world and meet new people. His cousin, Ivy, is going to be working for me. I'm really excited to see her.

"Holden!" I hear is accent call out.

"Hey Niall how are you?" I ask as I shake his hand

"I'm great mate. How are you!"

"Amazing. Thank you so much for having me open!"

"Of course mate! You're amazing and I can't wait to work with you!"

Before I knew it, I was sitting in a conference room with Niall and a few producers and tour managers. We were talking about the set and what instruments would be needed. We have all our tour workers on contract and all we need now is to sign Ivy. She hasn't shown yet. Niall said she was supposed to be here. I can feel my heart sinking lower and lower. I was really hoping I'd get to see her.

"Holden, are alright mate?" I hear Niall whisper.

"Yeah yeah sorry." I reply

He looks at me and you can see skepticism in his eyes. We continue on with the meeting. Niall offers to take our contract home so he can have her sign. We leave in 2 weeks for the first day of touring and I still haven't gotten to see or talk to her.

When we got out of the meeting, Niall walked up and sat next to me. "Holden we're going to a pub would you like to come?" He asked me

"Not tonight. I've got music I want to finish up. Thank you for inviting me."

"Ivy will be there" he looked at me and wiggled his eyebrows.

I laughed, "okay well tell her I'm excited to work with her."

"Okay well see ya soon" he said and walked away

Ivy Horan was going to be the death of me and I haven't even held a full conversation with her yet. I sighed and started walking home. I wanted to walk. It's therapeutic for me. I don't like to walk when it is raining. Which is exactly what happened. It started pouring. Great. I went into the nearest coffee shop hoping to stay sheltered until the rain stopped. Looking around it was basically empty. I got a coffee and went to sit in the corner.

A few minutes later. Out of the corner of my eye, I got a glimpse of the chestnut brown hair. She came in stumbling and giggling with Niall. Before I could sneak away I heard Niall yell my name.

"Holden!" He slurred

"Niall! What are you doing here?" I questioned

"Well we were drinking and Ivy here wanted a coffee," he said rather loudly, "why are you here?" he questioned.

"I was walking and it started raining so I came in here." I answered honestly.

"Mate come party with us!" He put his hands on my shoulders.

"Niall I really need to get back."

"Fine fine. Oh! Meet Ivy!" He called

"Ivy, come here." He turned and saw she wasn't there.

Niall started to panic saying something about her ex. He began stumbling around looking for her. He was wasted and people were starting to stare.

"Holden I have to go find Ivy. Have a good night." He turned to me with a panicked voice.

Right as he walked away she came out of the bathroom. It was obvious that she had thrown up. Her hair was tied back and her mascara was running down her face. She had tears in her eyes.

Niall saw her and called out to her, "Ivy are you alright?"

"I'm great" she said as she stumbled to us.

I decided that the best thing for me to do was to make sure they got home safe. I sighed and walked up to them.

"Hey guys why don't we start walking back home?" I asked them

"Holden you're so smart" Niall laughed

"Okay so do you know how to get back to your place?" I asked them

"Yeah duh" Ivy giggled. It was the most glorious sound I've ever heard

I smiled, "Okay let's go then."

The three of us started walking back to wherever Niall lived. He had already mentioned that Ivy was staying with him so that made it easier. As we were walking, both Niall and Ivy were getting tired. Niall started throwing up on the side of the road.

"How much longer" Ivy wined

"Yeah how much longer" Niall agreed

"Guys, I don't know where you live so how am I supposed to know?" I questioned

"Wait you're right" Ivy said and they both laughed

By the time Niall stopped and we started walking again, I had figured that we weren't going to make it back. Instead of trying to find out how to get to their place, I took them and started walking to my hotel. When we got there I got them a separate room and started walking them to the elevator.

"Why are we here?" Ivy asked

"This is my hotel and where you'll be staying because you are too drunk to stay alone." I answered her

We made it to their room which was down the hall from mine. Ivy had on an uncomfortable looking dress that had throw up all down the front of it. Niall had already crashed on the bed. I walked over and rolled him on his side so he didn't choke. Ivy walked to the bathroom and while she was in there I ran back to my room to grab her some clothes.

When I made it back she was laying on the floor with a towel. "Ivy?" I asked

"What?" She said in a sleepy tone

"I have clothes for you to change into," I added "do you want them?"

"Yeah" she smiled at me and my heart did a backflip

I gave them to her and she went to the bathroom. After a few minutes, I heard a thump come from the bathroom. I knocked and no answer. Niall was no help at all.

"Ivy are you alright?" I called through the door

"Yeah I just fell!" She called back before she said, "can you help me?"

"Uhh yeah" I coughed

I opened the door and she was sitting on the tub with her dress unzipped. I don't know how she got it unzipped by herself. I closed my eyes and she pulled her dress up.

"How are you helping if you are just going to stand there with your eyes shut?" She questioned me

"Right sorry" is all I managed to squeak out

I opened my eyes and looked at the floor. I found her shirt and picked it up. I slowly helped her put her arms through . The shirt was big enough on me but it went down to her knees.

"There we go. I don't need the pants." She said as she looked in the mirror.

"Okay I'm gonna go back to my room." I said as I started to leave. She smiled and went to lay on the other bed. Niall was sound asleep.

I left and went back to my room. All I could think of is her in my shirt. How was I going to work with her?

So much for finishing up a few songs.

____________________________________

I don't really know how I feel about this one!!

Why wasn't she at the meeting??

I love you all

-Cami <3