Written

Chapter 27

HARRY

   Everything in me is telling me to go to Hayley's room as I lie awake, staring at the hotel ceiling. But I fight it, for fear of pushing her away in an attempt to bring her closer. She has gotten completely under my skin. Every thought that I have involves her in some way, I take her into consideration before every action I take.

   The thing is, I've never done this before. I've never fallen in love with someone who was out of the spotlight. Well, I've never fallen in love, period. I've never been with someone who wasn't already in the spotlight before being linked to me. So I have no idea how this goes, either. I know that I am setting myself up for the high risk of offending Hayley by not wanting to be seen with her, but I just hope that she can understand. I roll over and pull a pillow over my face, wishing I was back in the tiny bed at Hayley's apartment. I sleep better when I'm with her. It's funny because though I've been labeled as the "ladies'-man" I've never actually slept with a girl before. Well I've slept with girls, but I've never actually fallen asleep with them before. It was a terrifying idea to me, being so intimate with someone and then having to wake up beside them the next day. But with Hayley I didn't even think about it, it felt natural to hold her in her sleep. Granted, we had skipped over the intimacy part, but if things between us continue the way they have been, it won't be long. Damn, she does things to me.

   I had thought that the relationship situation with Hayley could not possibly have gotten any more complicated, but it turns out I was wrong. The next morning, a pounding knock wakes me before the sun rises. I groan and roll over, ignoring it, knowing that it must be Paul calling on me to do something extra that I don't have the stamina for.

   "Harry! Open up!" Paul continues hammering and I stumble to the door and open it before falling back on the bed. "Wake up, you've got a date today." That catches my attention.

   "What are you talking about?" I ask, sitting up slowly.

   "You. Date. Today," Paul emphasizes each word like the smartass he is.

   "With who?" I ask.

   "Maria Seltzer, the model."

   I groan. "I don't want to go on a date with Maria Seltzer," I say.

   "You don't have a choice, man, it's a setup." Paul leaves the room and I am left to mull over the complicated mess that my love life has become. Here's the thing. Our management team thinks that it's important for me to maintain my reputation. So if I've been too quiet on the dating front, they fish out some girl who needs a little P.R. stunt, and viola. Sometimes it lasts for one lunch date, other times I am obligated to hang out with the girl for longer. The longest time one of my P.R. "relationships" lasted was two months, and the girl, Alanna was her name, was dumb as a doornail.

   I've always hated these P.R. stunts but I've always been obligated to do them. The most it has ever been was a nuisance to me, but this time it is a problem. This time, I have someone that I am actually seeing, but since that's under wraps, the management team doesn't know about it and now I have to go to lunch with Maria Seltzer, a model with her own reality show. We've met once before and she could not have been less interested in me, or anyone other than herself.

   I don't know how Hayley will react. It's one thing to hide a relationship but it's another thing to ask her to hide our relationship while accepting the fact that I have to go on dates with other people for the public. It's all a part of the job, but the job is difficult to understand if you're not the one doing it.

   As I shower and get ready, I think of what I will tell Hayley when she comes knocking on my door to wake me up. But that moment never comes. The next person that comes to my door is Paul, telling me the car is ready to take me to lunch with Maria. I give one glance to Hayley's door before stepping in the elevator and letting the door close behind me.

HAYLEY

   My mind is racing with the possibilities of why Paul told me to leave Harry alone this morning. Was it Harry's own request? Did he not want to see me? This is far too complicated and I cannot reach a logical conclusion. I ride to the arena at two o'clock with Zayn. He can tell I'm in no mood for conversation, but he offers me sip of his smoothie. I don't like smoothies, and I don't like drinking after people, but no part of me is able to say no to Zayn, probably about anything. Not only is he extremely attractive, but he is one of the kindest people I've ever known.

   When we get to the arena, Niall, Louis and I play soccer a little more. It turns out that I have a pretty decent kick, only my aim could use a little work. Or a lot. Harry still doesn't show, but I am the only one who seems nervous about it. No one else pays Harry any mind.

   At three hours to the show, I pick up my phone to pass the time. I have no important e-mails. I check Twitter for the first time in days to see that all five of the boys have followed me, therefore leading thousands of teenage fangirls to follow me as well. I read through my mentions, tweet after tweet of "who is this girl????" and "WHY ARE THEY ALL FOLLOWING HER?" have me laughing. I hit the discover button and go over the latest headlines. And that's when I see Harry for the first time today.

   Only, he's not here, in person. He is on my phone screen, at a restaurant, with another girl. That really annoying model girl from TV, to be exact. I feel a pit in my stomach as I flick through picture after picture of them leaving the restaurant. There is not exactly any relationship protocol for this, for when your celebrity 'almost-boyfriend' goes out with another celebrity on a "cozy romantic lunch date," according to the article. I don't know what to think. My mind is working in overtime as I stand up to get out of the room and somewhere where I can process this all alone. I might scream.

   On my way down the hall I see Harry himself, from a distance. He sees me too, and he calls my name. I turn down the nearest hallway and duck into the first doorway I come across. I am clearly avoiding him, and he will know it. And he will know why. I stay in this dark room alone until I hear the opening notes of the first song being played. I stand up and brush myself off. Did I set myself up for this? I suppose there is a possibility of a misunderstanding, a breakdown in communication between Harry and I. Still, lack of communication or not, I have already given too much of myself to this boy and I am afraid of what he will do with it. What he might already be doing with it.