Rebuilding Zerrie

Secrets

DAY 17

ZAYN'S P.O.V.

"That can't be legal, can it?" The girl asked after telling us, word for word, what Simon warned her. "I mean," she turned to her brother, "Don't they have to make me sign something to accept being in their contract? The just did that without my consent?"

My hands were abnormally shaking. I looked at Niall who was biting his nails. He was nervous as well. We took a glimpse at Liam, looking down at the ground, literally considering 'fessing up. "Psst," the girl's brother caught our attention. His eyes were wider than the Pacific Ocean and his lips were pursed to a straight line. He violently shook his head, still trying to be subtle.

Once we reached the studio, we dispersed, trying not to be so obvious. Harry hadn't spoken a word. It was unusual that he was so obsessed with his pride just because of some girl. He normally got over it after a day or so. We concluded that he was either overreacting or guilty about what he did to her family. It had nothing to do about his feelings for her. Harry would be back to normal once we get this whole things sorted and she'd be out of his life for good.

Kiefer pulled me to the corner when everyone went inside the interviewing room, including the girl. "Whatever you do," he ordered, "Don't tell her. Nothing. Not one word." It was so hard to engage in such a promise. It was too big of a secret. "Not even to Harry," Kief added. "Not to the interviewer. Don't even speak about it to each other."

Seconds, minutes, years passed and I nodded, still a bit skeptical. I entered the interviewing room with every intention of telling the girl everything but once I saw her having a good laugh with Louis, not thinking about everything that could go wrong and everything that already has gone wrong, I had second thoughts. She was brave. Braver than myself, I had to admit.

"Alright, is everyone here?" The cheery Asian interviewer asked, smiling so wide her eyes weren't seen anymore. "Okay, we'll be on air in two minutes." Why was it only now that the girl was there that she talked like that? Or was it just me, now caring about how the interview talked now that the girl was with us? I wanted, I hoped, I prayed that she wouldn't pressure the girl. We needed her. Not just me.

My heart paused for about two seconds just as the ON AIR light went on and the interviewer spoke into the microphone in front of her. "Good evening, Philippines!" She greeted them with delight. "DJ Sarah here and today we are joined once again with the one, the only One Direction!"

"Yay!" Louis cheered. "We're so glad to be back and--" he turned to Harry-- "Complete this time." Harry didn't bat an eye. It was like he wasn't even there. Still, we were incomplete.

"But wait," Sarah kept the mood going. "Not only are we joined by the most successful band of our time but we've also got a special guest with us today! Woooooh!!" She cheered, hyper like a three-year-old who ate sugar for the first time. "Can any of you guess who it is?"

Liam raised his hand. "Ooh! Oh!" He waved it around as if it would catch the listeners' attention. "I think I know!"

"Alright, Liam," she called him. "Who do you think it is?"

"Kloe!" He yelled cheerfully, wrapping an arm around the girl who was sitting in between him and Louis. Liam messed up her hair very brother-like as she laughed and tried helplessly to break out from his grip. The rest of us watched them, entertained by her hopelessness. The rest us meaning except for Harry.

Sarah giggled. "That's right!" She said, "Here with us tonight is Kloe Sutherland. I'm sure some of you have heard of her. If you don't, well, let's let her explain, shall we?" All eyes and ears pointed to the girl, both here and in Asia. But she didn't look nervous at all. She looked excited, even, trying not to make anyone sense her fear.