Trace of Innocence (No Control Book 3)

Chapter 37

(No Control - 37. Clouds)

Lou wakes me up by knocking on my door the following morning around 10am. I'm like a zombie after only a few hours' sleep, but she convinces me to get up, get showered and get outside for some fresh air.

By the time I am ready it is nearing lunchtime, so we head to a cafe for some food, accompanied by security. A few fans stop and say hi, and want pictures. I oblige, even though I'm not in the mood, because it isn't their fault I'm feeling like shit. And besides, they are all so polite (and excited), it makes a refreshing change. Some fans are so rude, honestly.

While we eat lunch (or rather Lou eats, and I push my food around listlessly on my plate) I tell her the latest episode of the Jess saga. She listens dutifully, and watches me with concern as I check my phone glumly for the tenth time that hour.

"I've never seen you like this before," she says tilting her head to the side to look at me. "I mean, I've seen you miserable over a girl, but never like this. What's so special about her?"

"I can't explain it," I sigh. "She's not like anyone else I've ever dated. She doesn't treat me like a celebrity. She just treats me like a normal person. Do you have any idea how rare that is, for someone I've just met, let alone a bloody fan?!"

"Are you sure she's a fan?" Lou asks dubiously. "Maybe she just said that at the start to humour you, and then couldn't admit she wasn't?"

I picture Jess sitting at the breakfast bar in my kitchen, beating out Little White Lies with her fingers.

"Trust me. She's a fan," I insist.

We wander around some shops for a bit, and then stop in another cafe in the afternoon for a drink. I'm just sitting down in the sunshine when my Twitter notification sounds. I pull my phone out and my heart lurches.

Jess has tweeted.

@jessie_braddy: Get out, get out, get out of my head, and fall into my arms instead. I don't, I don't, don't know what it is, but you've got that One Thing

Oh my God, she's tweeting One Direction lyrics. Is that aimed at me?

Am I being really egotistical thinking it might be?

I tweeted '#littlewhitelies' about her though. Maybe she's doing this to get my attention.

Fuck it. I'm going to ask her.

No I'm not. What if it isn't about me?

I've got a feeling it is, though.

For fuck's sake.

Who are you tweeting about so early in the morning? x, I type, and press send before I can change my mind.

Lou comes over to our table with a latte for her and a smoothie for me.

Maybe I'm just listening to One Direction x, comes the reply a minute later - AND THERE'S A KISS ON THE END.

I grin stupidly, and of course Lou notices.

"Who are you texting?" she asks nosily, and when I don't answer but carry on grinning she rolls her eyes and smiles. "Let me guess - Jess."

Are you? x, I type to Jess.

"Yeah," I tell Lou, and put my phone on the table next to my hand.

No x, Jess replies.

What are you doing? x, I ask.

Texting you x, is her answer.

I chuckle.

"Whaaaat?" Lou moans, jiggling in her seat impatiently. "Don't be having secret conversations! Fill me in!"