A Moment in the Crowd

Chapter 12: VIP

The music is drumming even louder than the concert stadium. I'm not even sure how that's possible. I've been clinging to Harry since the second we got in. He was right, the bouncer didn't even check my ID he just let the group in. Perks of being a celebrity, I guess?

The neon lights flash and bodies grind to the music. Half of the group has already dispersed to find themselves some drinks and Harry leads me to a VIP lounge. Never in a million years did I think I would be sitting in a club tonight with Harry Styles, the rest of One Direction and 5SOS. Let's not even get started on the VIP section. 

"Do you want a drink?" Harry shouts in my ear and I nod at his offer. 

I may not be a party person, but I sure as hell know that if I don't drink something I'm going to be sitting awkwardly with absolutely no clue what to do. Not that anyone would mind, since everyone in here seems to be drunk already. 

"How's it goin'?" I jump at the sound of someone adressing me, and I realize it's Ashton. 

"Pretty good!" I yell back at him. 

He already has a glass of something in his hand and he sits next to me, looking way more relaxed than I could ever feel in this environment. 

"You were really great last night you know. I was there!" I try to tell him as loud as I can. He seems to have understood what I said because he shouts back.

"Thanks!" A huge smile creeps across his face. 

"Do you want a drink?" He looks at my empty hands.

"Oh no thanks, Harry's gone to get me something." I shrug and he nods in understanding. 

Since when has it become normal that Ashton Irwin offer me a drink at a nightclub? Since when am I declining because Harry Styles has already gone to get me one? I'm almost sure this is a dream now. Shouldn't I have woken up then because my mind is spinning. I don't know if it's just the atmosphere, but it feels like I don't even need a drink to get drunk here. 

I spot Harry climbing back up to the elevated VIP section. We can see the gyrating bodies from the dance floor below from here. 

He's holding two drinks in his hand and offers me one when he sits down on the opposite side to Ashton. I'm literally sandwiched between Harry Styles and Ashton Irwin, no one ever shake me from this dream, please. 

I hadn't even considered what I was wearing or my appearance until now. I thank God silently that I changed into something that could pass in a nightclub when I got home. I even put on enough makeup that I could pass for nineteen apparently, that's a huge bonus too.

I take a sip of my drink and wince at the sting that flows down my throat. Vodka. At least it's mixed with something though, because I can recognize the lemonade aftertaste. I sip my drink slowly, cautious not to take huge gulps of it. I'm no drinker and I don't think I'd cope well if I got piss drunk here. There really is no guarantee that any of the people I came with would help me. They don't even know me, and I'm still having a hard time believing that I'm here.

Harry and Ashton chat to each other about something I don't understand, and they're both leaning in towards me to hear each other better. It's slightly awkward having two of your celebrity crushes lean into you talking to each other. But honestly, I am not about to complain. 

"Wanna dance?" Surprisingly, it's Ashton who's voice I hear on my right.

I'm not nearly as close to drunk as I'd like to be before I start dancing, but I decide to take a larger sip out of my drink to kick start the buzz that goes to my head.  

"Uhh, yeah." My answer surprises me a little, and Ashton grabs my hand to pull me down to the dance floor below. 

I look back at Harry who's smiling at me as I walk away with Ashton, but I notice that his smile doesn't quite reach his eyes. 

Ashton leads me onto the dance floor and automatically begins pulling dance moves that seem to just flow for him. I can tell he's not even thinking about it, and even though I always thought dancing was awkward, for him it works perfectly. 

I join him as best I can, moving my hips from side to side, and swaying to the music. It doesn't feel as awkward as I remember dancing to feel like, so I must be a little buzzed by the alcohol. Thank God. I would never be able to dance otherwise. It actually starts to become fun and I stop thinking while I move in tune with the rhythm of the beat, Ashton watching me all the while. 

I can spot Liam, Niall and Louis standing not far off from Ashton and I. They look like they're talking about something serious despite the atmosphere of the club. Each seem to be nodding while Louis speaks. I wonder what's going on?

My thoughts are interrupted when I feel a pair of hands grab my waist. I turn around immediately, and there's a young, and clearly drunk, stranger standing in front of me. 

"Come on baby, dance again for me." He screams in my direction, looking me up and down greedily with his eyes. 

That is beyond disgusting, and I try desperately to face Ashton, but I don't want to give this creep a chance to touch me again. I was afraid this might happen. Before I can decide what to do though, the jerk grabs me by the waist again and pulls me into him. My heart is pounding and I don't know what to do to get away. He's clearly stronger than me and if he forces something, I'm afraid I won't be able to stop him. 

The first thing I hear is screams as the douchebag who just grabbed me goes down and I tumble slightly with him because he still had a pretty strong hold on my waist. I fall to my knees, but get up quickly to find Harry standing above the creep with his fist clenched. 

Harry's anger seems to dissolve into worry when he sees me getting up from the ground.

"Are you alright?" He yells in my ear.

I'm a little shocked and a little intoxicated but I can definitely understand what just happened. I try to look around for Ashton but I can't get a proper glance because Harry's already pulling me towards the entrance of the club.

When we emerge outside flashing lights greet us. What the fuck? It's all too blurry and I can't even see anything with the screams from the paparazzi and the flashing of their cameras. This is more than just the one we had to face at the CN Tower. This seems like an endless crowd of them. 

"Harry what are you doing here? Did you get drunk Harry? Who the fuck is she Harry?" 

Snippets of what everyone is yelling at him sink in and I can't process the whole scene. What am I doing here? Where is he taking me? Everything is such a blurr, and the noises around me have yet to cease. I can't think with people screaming like this. 

"Hold on and by all means don't let go of my arm." Harry instructs me calmly as we begin pushing our way through the sea of snapping cameras.

Shouldn't he have some sort of bodyguard? I'm actually more scared than I thought I could be by the presence of all these people. I remind myself not to let go of Harry's arm as he navigates us out of the sea and into the black SUV that I recognize from the first time I met Harry.

It isn't until I look up to Harry's wide eyes that I realize he's staring at my leg. What? 

I look down at my right knee and nearly scream because it's covered in blood.