Let Me Show You

19. Secrets

"Well hi to you too..." I say rolling my eyes at Harry as he comes to sit down next to me.

"We need to talk" he says not taking his eyes off of me.

"About the photos yes" I add trying not to smile.

"I need your help..." His voice is quite now and his eyes are shifting around the room.

"This isn't the time, we need to go through the images."

"NO!" He yells as I jump in my seat. Harry covers his face with his hands and I look down to see his leg shaking. I hear him sniffle as he starts to shake his head mumbling "no" over and over again.

"Harry are you okay?" I ask getting up from my chair to kneel closer to him. "What's wrong?"

"She... I... We... no!" He breathes out between sniffles.

"Harry you need to calm down and explain to me what's happening with you!" I rub his back trying to comfort him.

"I CAN'T" he yells looking up at me. Just last night I was in the same state as him and I can't help but feel somewhat connected.

"Why not? Harry you can trust me, I'm here for you!" His eyes soften as a tear rolls down his cheek.

"It's... it's about Sophia" he finally says.

"What about her? Is everything okay?"

"No! She... she broke up with me! She said that she couldn't handle hiding a relationship from the world! She ended our love so she could stop hiding from her family and friends" he cries out.

"Harry I'm so sorry! I wish there was something I could do..."

"I feel awful! If I wasn't a part of this stupid boy band thing then we would be able to live happily! It's all my fault!"

"Harry you need to calm down! If you really think that Sophia is worth your tears, everything should work out!"

"I don't think so..." Harry says getting up from his chair. "I'm going to go... sleep or do something I don't even know. Bye Lively."

"Bye Styles..." I know I shouldn't let him wander around feeling this way but there isn't anything I can do. I move over to my chair and slump down pulling my hair around to play with. I sit in silence waiting for Zayn to arrive.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Hey!" I hear someone yell waking me from the nap I had been taking. I snap open my eyes to see Zayn smiling down at me.

"Oh hey! Sorry I was just so tired because I couldn't get any sleep last night..."

"I know, it's okay! But I'm here for you if you want to talk. I know we haven't known each other for a long time but I feel like we have a bond and I only want it to get stronger!" I know where he is going with this and I need to stop him but instead I just sit in silence listening to his rant. "I really like you Dakota" he says grabbing my hands. "I like-like you!"

All my life I had been waiting for someone to say that to me as a kid. But coming from Zayn right now, it doesn't sound right. As cute as Zayn is acting right now I can't take my mind off of Lu- elevator boy. 

"Zayn..." I say turning my head away not wanting to tell him no.

"Dakota..." He says leaning closer to me.

"I can't" I finally say with Zayn inches from my face. "Not right now at least. Something has come up and I'm not emotionally stable enough to be in a relationship. I'm sorry..."

I speak the truth but not all of it.

"It's okay! Just remember that I'm still here for you and if you ever need something don't hesitate to ask!" I look over and give him a weak smile but I know he isn't buying my act. "I should go but we still need to go over the images so I'll text you later."

Great, now I've failed at going over the pictures with half of the guys and their meetings did NOT end well...

"Knock knock!" I hear a familiar Irish voice sing-song followed by the squeaking of the door opening.

"Hey Niall! Come sit!" 

"Alright let's see what pictures you have of me failing to sing!" He says jokingly but for some reason I can hear the seriousness in his voice.

"You're a great singer! And a great looker so I got some great shots of you! Stop lowering your self esteem for no good reason!" I spin my computer around to face him and press play on the slide show.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Thanks Dakota! You're such an amazing photographer! WAY better than any of our other ones!" Niall says standing up at the same time as me. His eyes grow big as he looks me up and down. "Woah!"

"What?" I ask nervously looking down at myself.

"You just look different than the last few times I have seen you..."

"Oh yeah well Valorie finally let me wear my own clothes for once!" Niall chuckles shaking his head.

"Of course she did! Well you look good! You should make her let you wear that more often!" I can feel my cheeks brighten as Niall gives me a wink.

"Niall is that you?" A familiar voice yells from the other side of the conference door.

"Yeah! Come on in!" Niall yells back just as I realize who is on the other side. Elevator boy.

"I was wondering if you wanted to-" he cuts off at the sight of me. "Oh hi" he says looking at me.

"You're one of those guys from the stadium elevator right?" I ask tilting my head to the side.

"Yeah! Your name's Dakota right?"

"You remembered? How sweet!" I say in the most annoying way possible. "But you never told me your name?"

"I'm Luke! It's nice to meet you!" He holds his hand out for me to shake it but I just keep fake-smiling at him.

"Well... I'm going to go... You two seem to be having enough fun on your own!" Niall awkwardly says slipping out of the door.

"How come you didn't tell him we knew each other before?" Luke asks taking a step closer towards me.

"Have you seemed to forgotten last night? You told me NOT to tell anyone!" I whisper scream.

"I didn't think you would actually listen to me..." he mumbles looking away which gives me an idea.

"NIALL! NIALL COME BACK!" I scream at the top of my lungs with a smirk on my face. Panic flashes through Luke's eyes and my smile grows bigger.

"Don't do this" Luke begs as Niall steps through the door.

"Niall I... well, we have a confession" I start as Luke begins to shake his head. "Luke met me at my bedroom door last night, asked if I wanted to go on a walk with him and then made-out with me in the woods! But that's not even the best part! Then, after he told me NOT to tell anyone because he was embarrassed to be with me!" By the end of my story I'm screaming.

I watch as Niall's jaw drops and his eyes grow wide looking at Luke. 

"You... you what?" Niall asks shakily. 

"Yeah! He did!" I scream as I grab my computer and rush out the room.

"Niall... I'm sorry I didn't tell you when I promised you I would" is all I hear before I storm up to my room. What the fuck does that mean? Did Luke actually promise Niall he would tell him when he finally kissed me? The fuck?

At least this time I'm not about to cry, but it seems that I'm always in worse shape than Luke after our interactions. I reach in my pocket to pull out the key for my bedroom but I freeze in my tracks. I swear I locked my door this morning after leaving with Valorie...

So why is it open now?