Public Sphere | H.S. | #Wattys2016

Chapter XXXI

Author's note: Well, here it is—the last chapter. But I've done it and it's out now. Thank you so much for being a part of this with me. It's my first book here on Wattpad, and I've had such an amazing time writing it. 

Special thanks to marvelment, JadieMiller, MissLGregory, 1DaddictedXOX, and trinna_. These five people have been giving me their relentless support since the first chapter of Public Sphere was posted, and I cannot thank them enough for their support. But again, thank you to EVERYONE that reads, votes, and comments because it really does mean a lot to me. 

If you read to the end, there will be another author's note (it's quite important). Thanks for reading, x.

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"How do you guys live here?" I whispered as we were navigating through a crowd of paparazzi.

"You get used to it," Kendall said back as we finally stepped inside the restaurant, which meant the paparazzi was finally off our tails.

I had only been in L.A. for a week and I couldn't wait to go back home to Chicago. L.A. was great for the sun, food, and atmosphere, but there was a crazy number of paparazzi wherever I went. Back home in Chicago, the paparazzi wasn't such a constant force.

"It probably doesn't help that the three of us are having lunch together," Gigi laughed as we all took a seat at their usual table.

"Oh gosh, did you see that ridiculous story about how I'm cozying up to you to get to Harry?" Kendall said as she frantically typed into her phone, probably to look for the article.

Being in L.A. with Harry meant that there was a lot more spotted public appearances for us. It also meant that whomever I met in my own time was recorded too. So when the media picked up that Kendall and I were pretty good friends, there was a million theories and talk about how we became friends and why we were friends.

"The media thinks that Zayn and I are donezo," Gigi complained as we read off our orders to the waitress.

"If we're going by what the media is saying, Harry and I've broken up five times this week," I laughed as we made mockery of the same thing that kept our careers afloat.

It was easy being around them because they understood. They understood what it was like to be in the media constantly, they grew up in the media and they were probably not going to shy away from it any time soon. But it was still difficult for me. Working with the media was easy when my life wasn't out there for everyone to peer in to. But now, everything was so different. Even with Harry's continual support, I still found it hard to plaster a smile onto my face when everything seemed so broken at times.

"How are you two doing?" Kendall asked as she finally put her phone away.

I stayed a bit quiet, not because something was up, I just didn't really know how to answer her question. But my silence piqued both of their interests and they continued to look at me curiously.

"Everything is good," I said with some quaver in my voice.

"Is it?" Kendall threw me a curious look.

"It is. It's too good," I said feeling slightly ashamed.

"I know what you mean," Gigi nodded in agreement. "When things are too good, it feels like something bad just has to happen."

"Exactly," I felt loads betters knowing that Gigi had felt the same way as I did. I didn't feel so alone in my predicament.

"Sounds like a happy problem," Kendall rolled her eyes as she mumbled that we had it good.