Simon's Secret (One Direction FanFiction)

Chapter 18

  My hand was tightly intertwined with Harry's as we walked down the sidewalk. We had just finished eating lunch at the hotel, and now we were simply adventuring. Over lunch I had explained to him that I wasn't mad about what had happened on Ellen's show. He told me that he was getting over the whole fight at Starbucks, and then we had discussed what to do during the day.

  We decided that today we could just look around. Tomorrow, we would go to Disneyland. All afternoon I had been avoiding the subject of what had happened last night - not necessarily the fight, but what he had said.

  "Alex, I think I love you."

  His words still echoed around in my mind now, like some sort of guilty conscience. I really did feel awful about ignoring Harry and pretending to be asleep. Things were just so confusing right now, what with everything that had been going on. When he had said those words last night, though, I realized something.

  I wasn't in love with him. Sure, I liked him, but more as a friend than anything. I couldn't break up with him, he might be upset. What if I never broke up with him and we ended up getting married? What if I was never happy because I didn't have the guts to-

  "Hey Alex, that looks like a store you might like to check out," Harry said, snapping me out of my thoughts. I blinked up at him then looked to where he was pointing: American Eagle. He was totally right, I loved that store and sometimes ordered it's clothes online. I guess Harry knew me better than I had thought he did.

  "Yeah," I replied, smiling. "Do you mind if we go look around a bit? I know shopping can be kind of boring for guys..."

  "No, no, I love shopping! Come on, let's go check it out." Harry grabbed my hand and began to lead me towards the store. I beamed at him. Maybe I wasn't in love with this boy, but I sure did love him. Does that make sense?

  We rushed into American Eagle and began looking around. We separated for a couple of minutes as he looked over the men's clothes and I went to women's, but we soon unexpectedly met at the accessories section of the store. I laughed as Harry tossed a large hat on my head, then placed one on his.

  We continued doing this with other hats, necklaces, and whatever else we could get our hands on. It was actually really nice to just let go and have fun for a while. We even tried on some clothes and did a fashion show type of thing, until...

  "Guys, over here! I see them, I see them!" a man's voice yelled from outside. Suddenly the store was filled with adults dressed in black and carrying large cameras.

 Microphones were shoved in my face as flashes went off, so bright that I had to squint my eyes. Harry pulled another hat over my head, this time a beanie that went low over my face. I realized that he was trying to block me from the cameras.

  "Alex, Alex!" many voices called. "Alex, how do you feel now that your true identity has been exposed?" "Has the news affected your relationship?" "Harry, do you feel bad about spilling the beans?" "Alex, have you been in contact with your father? Is he mad at Harry or you?" "Will Simon be making any comments on what has happened?"

  Harry tossed me a jacket and told me to hold it over my head. I followed his orders, then he grabbed my wrist and tried to push through the crowd. They don't know about the fight, I silently reminded myself. They can't see the scratches. They can't know about the fight. Head low, head low, head low.

  Suddenly the jacket was yanked from my hands. Harry dropped my hand, turning to face whoever had taken the jacket. It was a man; he held a microphone in his hand and a camera on his shoulder.

  His jaw dropped when he looked at me. His eyes darted between Harry and I, then he asked in his reporter-like voice, "Alex, where did those marks on your face come from? Has Harry been abusing you?" This time my mouth was left unhinged.

  "What?!" I exclaimed. Harry placed a hand on my shoulder, trying to calm me down, but I shrugged him off. "You think Harry abuses me? Look, I don't know who you are, but you have no right to assume that! I may not be all too smart, but I'm not idiot enough to stay in an abusive relationship. Screw off." I turned to leave.

  The man smiled. He was getting exaclty what he wanted, and I was giving it to him. He wanted answers, whether they were helpful or not. Unfortunately enough what I had said to him good enough to be a story itself. I could see it now - Alexandra Cowell, Mad at Reporter for Suggestion of Abuse.

  "I'm not done with you, Alexandra," he said, using my full name because he knew it would tick me off. It worked. "You do not just walk away from someone when they are talking, you little brat.Tell me more about those scratches, dear, and I want details."

  He seriously thought of this as some sort of game, didn't he? Well, a game was a game. And I was going to win.

  I swung around to face him and grinned, "Would you like to find out?" He nodded enthusiastically. "Well, let me just show you." I stepped forward angrily, shoving him lightly as a challenge. Harry grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

  "Harry, leave me alon-"

  I didn't finish the sentence when I saw Harry's fist swinging towards the man. He stepped back, his camera and microphone falling to the ground. Harry stared at the man, who was now clutching the side of his face in pain. I covered my mouth with both hands, shocked with Harry's actions. He looked just as surprised as I felt.

  "Come on, Alex," Harry said roughly. "We're leaving." I didn't argue, following him out of the store. A couple of paparazzi people followed us, but most of them stayed behind to help or take videos and pictures of the man Harry had hit.

 He rushed down the street, and I had to jog to keep up with him. Harry was obviously upset about what had just happened. Neither of us said anything as we hurried toward our hotel, and eventually the people with cameras fell behind. The only time I was actually caught up to Harry was when we were in the elevator, but it took me a minute to get my breath back.

  When I finally did, I sighed, "I can't even believe that just happened... I have no idea what to say right now. You really didn't need to do that, Harry, I can defend myself. This is going to be really bad publicity for you and-"

  "I don't really want to talk about it, Alex," Harry said firmly. "He was being rude and it made me mad. Not mad enough to... I just don't understand... Can we not talk about this?"

  I nodded, saying nothing else. I didn't want to push Harry any further than he had already been pushed, and judging by his actions, that was pretty far. Out of the corner of my eye, I say him rubbing his temples frustratedly.

  When we made it to our hotel room Harry and I went into our separate bedrooms, still not saying anything to one another. He was mad. He was so mad, and I needed to talk to someone.

****

Louis' POV

  When my phone rang I was surprised to see that it was Alex. She had been out with Harry, and I had guessed that she still was. Why would she be calling me? I shrugged, tapping the button that would answer it.

  "Al Berry!" I said into the phone. She didn't laugh, like she usually would. I immediately knew something was up. "Hey what's wrong, girl?"

  She sighed, "I screwed up, Tommo. Harry and I... I guess you could say we're not getting along too well right now." This really worried me. I knew that Harry liked Alex a lot, and that if they broke up I might never speak to her again. I couldn't have her knowing that, though.

  I groaned, "Don't you have any female friends to whine to?" In my mind I could see her rolling her eyes.

  "Shut up," Al commanded. "Eleanor and Emerald are in England, and you're the closest thing I had to a female friend out here." I made an offended squeak, and Alex laughed. "I'm kidding, Louis. I really do need your help though."

  Suddenly Sugar, who had been curled up on the couch beside me, walked onto my lap. She began pawing at the phone, and I swatted her away.

  "Your cat is being a real nuisance, Alexandra," I said, using her full name to sound more accusing.

  "Oh my God, Sugar!" Alex exclaimed. "Alright, grab the kitten and meet me in the lobby in half an hour." Before I could respond, Alex hung up. Sugar scratched my arm, begging for attention.

  I scooped her up and smiled, "You ready to go see your momma?"