Fame (1D)

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter 19

"Ali, want to help with dinner?" Lou asked as I climbed out of the tent.
"It's like 10 o'clock."
"You guys haven't eaten yet." She insisted. I sighed reluctantly, but then Josh came to my rescue as he strode into the campsite.
"Sorry Lou-Lou, we're going to the beach." Josh grinned, and I nodded before slipping on my flip flops. I was wearing plain black jean shorts, and one of Harry's grey jumpers. The sleeves were too long, but it was cozy and it kept me warm. Besides, would he really care if I borrowed it? He lends me his clothes all the time.
"Have fun then, kids." She grinned, and winked at me over her shoulder. I shook my head, but she didn't see and it just made me look like an idiot to Josh.
"Thanks Lou." Josh called as he lead me down to the beach. The pink sky reflected beautifully off the ocean water, and the sound of the waves crashing on the shore was soothing. "So. How's it been lately?"
"It's been... Good." I said, after a moment of hesitation. "I think Niall is smitten with Caity."
"I think so too, and vise-versa. They're going to date eventually."
"I personally think they're perfect for each other. Soul-mates even."
"Do you ever miss your family?" Josh asked unexpectedly.
"A lot. There's not much to miss, but I miss them a lot."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I basically only have my mom right now. My dad passed away when I was younger, and you know about what Camila did."
"What happened with your dad, if you don't mind my asking?"
"He had ALS." I said quietly, and then we sat down on a bench.
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that." He said genuinely. "I grew up without a mom. My parents were divorced, and my dad was a lawyer so he won custody of me and my brother, so we only saw our mom three or four times a year."
"That must've sucked." I said, and then covered my mouth. "I'm an idiot. Sorry."
"No, I appreciate your blunt honesty." He laughed. "It did suck."
"Can I be honest with you? I'd rather have a parent that was well and not a part of my life than to have one that was sick and a part of my life. Because he was never like my friends dad's, and I was so mad all the time over it and-"
"Shh, it's okay." Josh said, hugging me as my voice rose with hysteria. "It's alright." When I started to pull away, he held me close and simply stared into my eyes. I began to sense him moving closer, and I knew what he was trying to do.
"Josh, no." I said quietly, and then waited for him to move away before continuing. "I'm sorry. I can't..." I trailed off helplessly.
"I understand. I guess I knew what was going on before this, I shouldn't have expected anything else."
"What are you talking about?"
"Ali, you love Harry. You might not want to admit it- hell, you might not even know it. But you love him, you love him with everything you are and that's why you won't kiss me."
"I'm so sorry, Josh." I said quietly, examining my hands. I was shocked, because that was the exact realisation I had come to last night.
"It's okay, I knew. I just didn't want to believe it." He said quietly, and then when I looked up to him he was staring out over at the water. "Do you want to go back?"
"Sure." I said quietly.
"I'm not mad at you, Ali. Please know that- I totally understand what's going on with you and Harry. I shouldn't have tried to interfere, and I'm sorry."
"You have absolutely nothing to apologise for." I said as we crossed the road into our campsite, where the boys were sitting around the picnic table eating hot dogs and chips. "Did you guys save us some?" I asked, walking up to the picnic table and sitting down beside Harry.
"Nice hoodie." He joked, and then pointed to Lou who was carrying two full plates over. I blushed, and thanked Lou for the food before digging in.
"We want to go swimming." Niall announced.
"The boys, want to go swimming." Caitlyn corrected. "I'm totally fine with sitting on the beach, if you don't want to go in the water." She told me.
"It's getting dark, and the water's kind of warm." Josh said to everyone.
"If you want to go swimming, I'll go with you." I told Caitlyn. She nodded eagerly, and then politely excused herself to go change into her bathing suit.
"Are the kids coming?"
"Nope, just the big kids. The ones over seventeen." Liam smiled.
"Children between the ages of seventeen and twenty one." Louis said in an announcers voice. The boys began laughing, and I saw Lou roll her eyes.
As soon as Caitlyn got back, all the boys got up and we headed down to the deserted beach.

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"You bastard!" Harry cried, storming into the campsite and getting right up in Josh's face.
"Whoa, calm down." Josh said, raising his hands in the air.
"Harry, what's wrong?" I asked urgently.
"Don't talk. Just..." He stopped, and closed his eyes. "How could you do that to me?" He asked me. My eyes widened, and I held my hands out in confusion.
"What?!"
"Don't play stupid!"
"Harry, relax." Lou said soothingly. "Just explain to us what happened."
"They know. It's them." He said, his voice shaking. I'd never seen him like this, and it was scary.
"What did we even do?" Josh asked, and if looks could maim, Josh would be a basket case from the look that Harry threw him.
"You kissed him." Harry snapped, and the look he was giving me was full of intense hurt- he was heartbroken. I began choking on the water that I'd just swallowed, and as soon as it was over, I just stared at him incredulously.
"I what?!"
"Stop playing stupid!"
"I'm not!"
"Harry, we didn't kiss."
"I don't want to hear anything from you." Harry said, whirling on Josh.
"Harry, let me explain." I pleaded. "We hugged, but we didn't kiss. Someone must've photographed us at the wrong time-"
"I know you two kissed. I know that look Ali. The way you were looking at him, I know that look."
"Were our lips even touching?"
"They didn't need to. I could tell. How could you lie to me?"
"Harry, we're not lying to you."
"Josh, don't push me." He snapped. My eyes widened when Josh rolled his eyes, and I saw Harry's fury peak. The next thing I knew, Harry's fist was raised, and then Josh was on the ground. I gasped in shock, and then Liam, Zayn, Louis and Niall ran by to pull Harry off of Josh.
"What just happened?" Caitlyn asked, coming up behind me.
"I have no clue." I whispered.
"Get Lou out of here." Liam yelled after the fighting boys were separated.
"You lying piece of-"
"Harry!" Louis cried, pulling his best friend back further.
"You are so full of shit, Harry Styles!" Josh yelled back. Lou was shaking, and Caitlyn had gone over to pull her away from the fight and then pulled me along with them to Emily's campsite.

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"I want Hawi." Lux pouted. I pressed my lips together and shook my head- the was no way I was going to give him Lux. I couldn't even look at him, after what happened yesterday.
"Sucks for you!" I said jokingly, flipping her around so that she wasn't facing me. I heard Lux let out a low whine, and then she threw her doll at the window and began crying. I sighed as more than half of the boys began groaning.
"Ali, make it stop." Liam said groggily.
"Why did we agree to take her?" Niall asked, leaning his head on Caitlyn, who looked wide-eyed and worried.
"Just make her shut up." Louis said, and began laughing.
"Harry, can you pass me the doll?" I asked civilly, raising my voice to be heard over Lux's wails.
"Why me?" He asked, malice laced in his eyes. I felt myself begin to glare at him, and then Josh handed me the doll.
"Thanks." I said, tearing my eyes away from Harry's.
"Good dog." Harry muttered, before turning back to the window.
"You are such a jerk, do you know that?"
"I know now."
"Welcome to the One Direction family. Aren't you glad you could make it out?" Louis joked to Caitlyn.
"Josh, don't even bother." I said, not even looking up. Lux had stopped crying, and that was all I really cared about.
"How sweet! Got to protect your boyfr-"
"Screw off, Harry." I snapped. I was aware that the car had gone silent, but I didn't care. "We didn't even kiss, idiot."
"I saw the pictures."
"I did too. And let's not forget, I was there. Our lips never touched."
"Don't, Alison. Just don't."
"You are such an ass!" Josh exploded. "We didn't even kiss, and would you like to know why? You, Harry Styles. She wouldn't let me kiss her, because she don't want to hurt you. God knows why, considering the way you treat her all the time." Josh ranted. In the middle of it, I saw the softness in Harry's eyes return. When he turned his head to look at me, I pretended to be engrossed in Lux's doll.
Nobody said anything after Josh's outburst, so it was a long, silent and awkward drive home.

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Yay! I'm super sorry for not updating very much, I've been pretty preoccupied. But I have good news! I will now be updating two or three times a week!

Have you guys seen the trailers for TFIOS and Maze Runner? I died when I watched them, they were exactly how I pictured the scenes when I was reading and I'm beyond excited for when they come out 😱

Anyway, have a good day and don't be afraid to vote and comment! xxLena