Lights, Camera, Action [N.H]

29

this is probably the shortest chapter ive done in a WHILE, but it's because i want the next events to be all consolidated into one chapter, and if i did 29+30 it would literally take me weeks to edit and HOURS for u to read! so enjoy this small filler x

The flight took it's time, the three of us bunched together in the highest class that money could buy. New York was busy, any time of day. A select group of people from Niall's team attended this event. Everyone except Claire was in the dark about it. The second the plane landed and we were escorted off, the drive to our hotel was filled with nagging. The city was dark in the sky but bright everywhere else. Even side-streets glowed, I'd never seen a city so populous and lively at such a late hour.

"Plan?" Niall simply asked in the car as we drove in silence. Claire didn't answer him, but it was clear the question wasn't directed at me. She still didn't know about us, but she was also still annoyed with him. It was like she didn't need that information to still be frustrated.

"Claire, get off that-" he snatched her phone, the light of it dimming as he repeated his question, "Whats the plan?"

She sighed like he was annoying her. The whole trip here was intended to get back at him for pissing her off, but so far he was making it pretty even between them. The air was so hostile between them, I wished desperately they would just get over this little fight. It had never been so prolonged. I hated being in the middle of it, even if Claire didn't really know I was in the middle of it. But Niall and I's recent sexual encounter had lead me to care about him, far more than I would have prior to this. So him being on edge had me on edge, too.

"First thing in the morning. Lobby, car."

"That's it?"

"That's all you need to know." She stated.

"This shit's getting old, Claire. We're already here, why not just tell me? I clearly have to do it either way."

"Exactly. So just shut up and be in the lobby tomorrow morning."

"If I do it without complaining, will you stop being mad?" He bargained. Claire rolled her eyes.

"At some point, yes. I'll stop being mad," She grabbed his ear, pulling his face closer, "But you will do this without complaining because you have to. Because I will make your life worse if you do."

"You're very demanding."

"Quiet."

He shut up for a couple of minutes. It didn't last long. I kept quiet the entire time, it didn't feel right to speak or get involved.

"Where are we staying?"

"The Ritz."

He groaned.

"I told you if you wanted to feel comfortable in New York to buy yourself an apartment here."

"I didn't think we'd be here often enough." He protested.

"Wouldn't be your first. Or last." She sighed, "Oh well. Not my issue. You'll live."

I couldn't sleep when we got to the hotel room. It felt cold, this one. Everything was marble, the rooms were so high up. Both mine and Claire's rooms were adjacent to each other, Niall's just down the hall. We all stayed on the same floor, for a change.

The next morning when we collectively piled into a dark SUV, there was still no hints as to our location and next moves for Niall. It was torture for both of us, the attitude that Claire carried the entire way through this experience. She really didn't care how annoyed he was, it was part of her plan. She wanted him squirming, and maybe me too. I still wasn't convinced she didn't know.