Trace of Innocence (No Control Book 3)

Chapter 33

(No Control - 33. Steal My Girl)

Our rehearsals take most of the afternoon, and we take turns in the studio, warming up, harmonising, doing individual parts and singing as a group. It feels good to be back together again, and by the time we're finished everyone is in a good mood.

"I'm in the mood to go out and pissed!" Louis sings as we leave the studio and walk towards our cars.

"I don't think so!" a voice sings back from behind us, and I turn around to see Tori, one of the production team, walking across the car park behind us. "Not the night before a show," she says, wagging her finger at Louis who grins like a naughty schoolboy.

"I'll let you come with us," Louis tries to bargain.

"And get me fired?" she retorts, with a wink at me. "No thanks. I want you safe and sound in bed by 9 tonight."

"Nine o'clock?" Louis echoes. "You're fucking taking the piss, girl."

We all laugh at his sass as he struts to one of the cars and pulls open the door.

"Seriously though," Louis says as I jump in behind him and shut the door, "when are we going clubbing? I need some action."

"I dunno, whenever," I mumble, vaguely. "Save yourself for Thailand. That's gonna be incredible."

"Yeah, good idea bro," Louis says enthusiastically as we pull out of the car park. "You reckon Niall will be up for it?"

"Niall's always up for it," I remind him.

"That's true, that's true," Louis nods.

"Zayn seems chirpier," I remark.

"Yeah he does." Louis looks round at me. "Perrie's been giving him some serious shit, you know. Like, nagging him constantly, whining at him..."

"Zayn's the worst nag in the world," I argue. "I'd rather hear Perrie's side before we jump to conclusions."

"Yeah but he's whipped."

"This coming from the guy who was in a long term relationship for three years," I smile.

Louis smiles in acknowledgement and keeps quiet.

....

I manage to squeeze in a game of golf on Wednesday morning with Niall, and we discuss Zayn. His view is similar to mine: that we don't know the full story without hearing Perrie's version of events, but we are both in agreement that Zayn's spirits seem to have been lifted. Hopefully things will start to run a bit more smoothly from now on. If we can just get through these next few weeks, we have two months off.

"You heard from your girl? Jess?" Niall asks as we return our clubs.

"No," I said flatly.

"No way man. She's blown you out?" He's looking at me in disbelief.

"It would seem that way."

"Fuckin' hell. If Harry Styles is having trouble with the girls we should all be worried," he laughs.

"Very funny," I mutter.

"This one's really got under your skin, hasn't she?" he says looking at me curiously as we turn and walk to the black BMW that is waiting in the car park to take us back to the hotel.

That's one way of putting it, I suppose.

I shrug. "She's hot."

"There are plenty of hot girls out there."

I don't respond to this. Instead I slide into the back seat of the car next to Niall and lean my head back on the seat.

I'd been doing really well not thinking about Jess, and now she's back in my thoughts again. I'd really hoped she would have seen my tweet yesterday and been in touch. I guess she genuinely isn't interested.