Trace of Innocence (No Control Book 3)

Chapter 21

(No Control - 21. Story Of My Life)

By the time we're ready to leave the restaurant a crowd of photographers has gathered outside.

I'm on a week off! I want to shout at them. Give me one evening's peace and quiet!

But instead I usher my mum outside and try not to glower at the paps, and we scurry back to my car, avoiding the shouted questions, requests for pictures and general hysteria. Once we're safely in the Range Rover I start the engine and turn to Mum.

"I'm sorry about that," I tell her. "I hope it didn't ruin the evening."

"Of course not," she smiles, putting her hand over mine on the gear stick. "It wasn't your fault."

"I know but I hate it when they hassle you," I grumble.

Sometimes I feel like shit for the whirlwind I brought to my family's door the day I auditioned for X Factor. They have never once complained, and that somehow makes it worse. I would hate for it to bother them privately, and them be too afraid to tell me.

"I'm quite capable of coping with it," she tells me firmly. "I am so proud of the way you handle it. You're always so polite to everyone, even though I know you get fed up with it sometimes. You don't know how it feels to see your boy, your child, doing so well and being so lovely. One day when you've got children of your own you'll understand."

Uh oh - she's getting emotional. That'll be the wine talking.

I squeeze her hand and we begin the drive back to Holmes Chapel. "Thanks for always being there," I say after a minute.

She sniffs and smiles at me, and nods. I know she understands. I don't know what I'd do without my family.

~~~~~~~~

When I come downstairs the following morning Gemma is eating breakfast in her pajamas at the kitchen table. My Little Pony pajamas.

"And you're worried about my mental age?" I remark as I shove some bread in the toaster and begin to make a cup of tea.

"No, I worry about the underage girls you like to seduce," she fires back.

"Oh my God, stop saying things like that!" I protest. "It only takes one person to make a throwaway comment in jest and there'll be a fucking story about it on Sugarscape, and I really will be arrested!"

Gemma laughs. "Relax, Harry. I know you're not into the barely-legals. And I've had enough experience of your celebrity lifestyle to know how it works by now, thank you."

"I know. I'm sorry," I sigh, and turn back to my toast.

"Are you alright?" she asks after a minute, and I turn around to see concern in her eyes.

I hesitate. I've already spoken to Mum about this, but it would be good to get Gemma's perspective, being my age and all, and a girl.

"You're a girl," I muse out loud.

"Yep," Gemma nods. "Thanks for noticing."

"OK, I need some advice."

She looks like she's biting back a sarcastic comment. "I'm listening."

"OK. Don't take the piss, though."

"Can't promise that. Kidding!" she adds hastily as I turn away again. "I promise I won't. Much. Go on, spill. I've been dying to ask you about this girl anyway, but Mum made me promise not to."

What the fuck?

"How do you know it's about her?"

"Please. Your face was a picture yesterday when you got that tweet. You look like you'd slept with a hanger in your mouth."