Feels Like Falling

part 6

I had the chance to say something cool or ignore him, just brush Harry off and continue our first planning session like nothing was wrong and my stomach wasn’t trying to rip itself from my body. But I didn’t. I just fainted, like a big giant lovesick loser. I came to with all the boys looking down at me. If a hole would have appeared and swallowed me up I would have gladly welcomed it, my cheeks burning red with embarrassment.  Louis was the first to reach out his hand. I took it and he led me to one of the couches and sat beside me as all the others followed. I took a sip of the water he handed me and tried my best to regain my composure. Now I had all my issues with Harry on my mind, plus four other sets of eyes staring, waiting for some type of explanation. What did I say? Did I want them all to know; did Harry want them all to know? Sensing my discomfort, Louis placed his hand on my thigh and patted lightly.

            “Not often Harry gets that reaction from someone who isn’t 12!” Louis said trying desperately to lighten the mood with a joke.

            The boys all chuckled and looked to me for approval. Harry looked nervous, but I gave them all a sweet smile and searched for the right words to begin explaining my behavior. Before I could come up with anything Harry walked over to the couches and sat with the rest of us and addressed the other boys, “Remember me telling you guys about the girl I had been seeing before starting the show last year?”

            “Yeah Buddy! The bird with legs for days, who you cried over!” Niall said as he jabbed Harry in the arm with a laugh. “I remember all your stories about that one!” Niall said the word stories like he was letting me know Harry had been making them up. All the other boys shot Niall harsh looks, obviously catching on quicker than he had. Now it was Harry who looked embarrassed.  What exactly had Harry told them? I was surprised he would have said anything at all considering how easily he had left; I couldn’t have meant much to him. Despite his openness about me to his band mates he stood here now with nothing to say. 

            Breaking the awkward silence Niall questioned “Haz is this your girl?”

            “Lola is the girl I told you guys about, but I doubt she’d say she’s mine.” Harry answered looking at me with the same puppy dog eyes he’d used the day he left.

            What was he doing looking at me like that, like I had been the one who hurt him? Niall said he cried over me? What did he have to cry about? I put my thoughts on hold so I could speak. “I am very curious to hear what Harry has had to say about me, but now isn’t really the time.” That was good; it was simple, it sounded professional and mature but still made it clear that I wanted details.  Just then Paul came back in with a damp cloth.

            “Aaah good to see you’ve recovered Miss Lola. I guess we won’t be needing this.” Paul said setting the cloth down on the sandwich tray.  “Well lads we best be getting back to the hotel, you have to be dressed for dinner by six.” Paul turned and grabbed my hand in a quick shake and walked to the door.

            With that each of the boys stood. Niall was the first to follow Paul out of the room. “I am sorry if I offended you back there Lola, I had no idea! I assure you Harry had nothing but good things to say about you, Great things in fact.” Niall said with a wink as he hugged me goodbye.

            “This truly is going to be an interesting tour! You are lovely Lola and I am excited to be working with you.” Liam said with a light kiss on my cheek.

            “I can’t wait to be seeing more you, love, It’s funny as hell to see Harry squirm!” said Zayn as he walked out with Liam.

            “Harry I’ll give you a minute here.” Louis said. He turned to me and put his hands on my shoulders, “Here you are Lola in flesh and bone. To think our little Hazza was telling the truth after all.”