Meant For You

Cheese Balls

Chapter 26: Cheese Balls

--- Hope POV ---

I’ve been listening to the concert for the past hour and a bit now and no matter how many times I watch Harry perform, it still blows me away. The pure delight shining from his face makes me swell with joy in return. And when he’d look across the platform to where I was standing side-stage, the love and widening smile that he shoots me is enough to get me in a good mood for the rest of the month. All I’d have to do is think of his smile.

I was slightly nervous because I’d be performing in little less than five minutes. The guys are singing Live While We’re Young. The last song in their set list for tonight. Or so everyone thinks. I don’t think it’s common knowledge that I am performing for the boys tonight. I know that everyone knows I’m here because Harry mentioned it while he was talking, I didn’t come out though, just settled for glaring at Harry from behind the curtains, shaking my head as he turned back to their adoring fans saying, “And now my love is glaring at me. Hope baby, don’t be so mean.” All of the other boys booed good-naturedly and I’m ashamed to say I gave them the finger. To which they all laughed hysterically.

I’m snapped out of my thoughts when the crowd screams as Zayn held onto the last note of Live While We’re Young. I don’t notice much else apart from the steady increase in my breathing. I’m almost at a full on panic by the time Harry runs off stage and smiles at me, not that I notice the smile, nor the frown that follows when I don’t acknowledge him.                                     

I jump when I feel his hands on my cheeks, stroking my jaw and turning my head towards his, so he can stare into my eyes. I’m still breathing heavily and I’m sure my eyes are wide with panic. He stands there for a while, just staring into my eyes, his hands still slowly moving a soothing rhythm around my face and neck.

“I love you.” He tells me. I don’t know why he told me in that precise moment but I’m glad he did. “I love you and I know that as soon as you step out there, all you fear right now will go away and you will be truly amazing.” I just stare straight back at him for even longer until I finally close my eyes, sighing out a breath and leaning into him, so that his hands are forced to move from my face to wrap around my body. I feel his lips brush my hair and I can’t help but let another sigh escape me.

“I don’t know why I was so panicked about it.” I turn my head on his chest to rest my chin on it looking back up at him. He smiles down at me and I can’t resist smiling back. Reaching up I touch his face lightly, drawing my fingers down his cheek. “I’m so terrified to go out there and perform I guess. I mean, I’ve never sung in front of anyone else apart from you, my family and the other boys, and there’s so many people out there.” I mutter slightly to myself and ramble to him.

“Ah, but you’ll be absolutely fine.” He reassures me, suddenly his face becomes ten times softer as he gazes at me. “Remember our official first date slash what I consider our second,” cue wink “and you played for me, you just forgot everything around you and I couldn’t stop thinking about what it would be like to hear you sing and play more. You play with complete abandonment, just as your heart loves with abandonment. I know that you will be amazing.” He quickly glances up at someone, then nods. “And, since we have no more time for you to panic, you have to go on now.” With that, Harry kisses my cheek, grabbing my hand in his and basically pulls me on stage.

“Ok, so I know you all thought that that was the end of the show, yes? Well it’s not. Since it’s Hopes birthday today, she has kindly agreed to perform tonight so –“ Harry would’ve continued if I hadn’t pulled the microphone from his hands and tell the audience bitterly;

“I actually didn’t agree to this willingly. He blackmailed me.” I tell them scowling, Harry laughs grabbing the mic back from me.

“She’s lying” he sings to everyone and I only grumble rolling my eyes at him. “Anyway, she’ll be singing three songs for you tonight, so enjoy all.” Then he turns to me, his eyes shining bright and kisses me full on the lips for what could’ve been minutes but was only really seconds, then pulling away he runs off stage, leaving a headset in my hands to put on. When it’s finally functional I begin talking to everyone, moving slowly to side down at the grand piano that had been rolled onto the middle of the stage for me. The boys had been using it as a prop all night, but now it was time for it to be really used.