The Setup

8 - Oh, no, baby.

Chapter 8 - Oh, no, baby.
Sign of the Times - Harry freakin Styles

I look at Harry, wondering why he would want to talk to Mason. "Please." He says again, seeing how surprised I am. I purse my lips, studying Harry's worried face.

"Hello? Celeste?" Mason presses when I don't reply. I hand the phone to Harry who eagerly takes it into his large hand, bringing it up to his ear.

"Mason?" Harry addresses firmly. I watch him, talking my bottom lip in between my teeth. Harry's eyebrows furrow as he intently listens to Mason talk.

"How'd you even get her number?"

Mason takes for an abnormally long time again. Harry sarcastically laughs, placing a hand on his hip while he shifts his weight onto his other foot. I start walking to my door, hoping Harry will follow. He does.

"Okay. Tonight. Yeah. Bye."

I turn around, super confused. "Um?" I say. Harry hands me back my phone, not looking me in the eyes. "What was that? How do you know Mason?"

"He's an old friend of mine." He replies dryly. We reach my door so I put sway the card over the sensor before the little light turns green. I open the door, turning back around to look at Harry while holding the door wide with my bum. "Are you going to come inside?" I ask him.

"Celeste?" I hear Talia call. I look over my shoulder briefly to see her entering the room. Her eyes find Harry, and she does not look at all surprised to see him.

"I have to run to practice. I'll see you tonight."

Huh?

I don't know Harry, and I certainly cannot interpret his feelings, but he is a very confusing human being. "I wouldn't do that, Harry," Talia calls before Harry walks down the hallway. Harry stops, looking a little confused.

She holds her phone up, revealing pictures of Harry and I holding hands whilst entering this building. Everyone knows we are staying here now.

I groan loudly. "Rhonda is going to kill me for leaking our hotel."

"At least this baby has a stellar security system."

I roll my eyes to see Harry standing in the threshold still. "You should probably come in," I tell him, gesturing to the suite behind us. "Rhonda is going to be picking me up soon anyways. She can probably give you a ride to your sound check or whatever."

Harry nods, finally giving in. He saunters inside, knowing the layout well. It makes me blush to think of the note and trinkets he left me to wake up to. Right on cue, my phone starts blaring. I look at the caller ID to see it is Rhonda. "Oh, God," I mutter under my breath.

I answer it reluctantly, "Hello?"

"Celeste Taylor Gold, this is a job. A very risky industry, may I add," she blares through the phone. I pull the phone away from my ear because it is so loud. Talia mouths to put it on speaker. I look over to see Harry has taken a seat on the couch. I purse my lips, pressing the button that puts her on speaker.

"Yeah," I answer meekly.

"Yeah? Logan could fire you from this position. They were very specific about the directions, this could ruin the whole plan. They might even get a replacement because of -- "

"That would make him look like a player if he had another girl holding his hand next week," I retort, walking into my room of the suite. I set her down on my bed so I can find an outfit for the day.

"They would obviously be more professional about it, and take their time."

"Rhonda, I am professional. You have no idea the kinds of things that happen to you in this risky industry," I say, quoting her words from seconds before. I decide on a white shirt with a black outline on the top with darkish green jeans. The shirt flows nicely, it dips a little but not too bad. I have a necklace on that I wear whenever I can. My mom gave it to me on my thirteenth birthday when she and Dad were starting to fight a lot. Cody was starting to sneak out all of the time to see his high school sweetheart, Gihara.