Cut!

Take 13 - I Wish

A/N: Please comment as you read. It'll mean the world to me 

After changing out my wet clothes, I was so ready to go home. In fact, all I wanted was to call in sick and stay away for the rest of the week. I grabbed my phone, quickly checking it. Sixteen missed calls and a heap of text messages. Ludmilla must have wanted to warn me earlier. Too bad, I’d been busy kissing in the fake rain to notice anything.

I couldn’t wrap my head around what had happened. Marcus had tried to grab ahold of me, but I’d merely shook my head. I didn’t want to talk about it right now.

Well… I wanted to tell two people. However, neither Zayn nor Harry could know about this. Mr. Larsson had made that very clear. I couldn’t tell anyone that didn’t already know, which meant that I was stuck with Marcus and Ludmilla. I wasn’t exactly up for a longer discussion where Marcus yelled “I told you so”, and Ludmilla apologizing whenever she wasn’t panicking.

All these lies were starting to get to me.

A pair of hands wrapped around my waist, and I recognized Harry’s tattooed arm. Leaning back against his chest, I sighed.

“Is everything alright?” he whispered into my ear. “You seemed different out there.”

Right there, I wished for nothing more than to pour my heart out to him. To tell him about myself, and all about this crazy scheme I was playing. But I couldn’t.

I jerked away. “I’m fine,” I said. “I’m just really busy now—I have this meeting.”

“Okay?” He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Can I see you later then?”

Shaking my head, I packed the rest of my belongings into my purse. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. This meeting might take all evening.”

Harry frowned. “I hope it’s nothing serious.”

“It kinda is, but I’ll pull through.” I sent him a weak smile, knowing that it didn’t reach my eyes. “I have to go now, though.” I brushed past him before I said something I’d regret.

“See you tomorrow, then.” He held up a hand to a small wave, but I didn’t stop. I only allowed myself one look back as I turned the corner, and ran smack into Steven.

“Umph.” I groaned. “Sorry, I—”

“I was looking for you,” he said, interrupting me. He led me over to the side. “Look, Cami. I know this must all be very confusing, some might even say chaotic, so I wanted to offer you a small deal.” He looked at me.

“What deal?” I asked.

“We’re done with all of your shots; I’ve just looked through all of them.” He shrugged. “It’ll take a bit of clever editing, but I’ll manage.”

“That’s great, I guess?” I wasn’t sure where he was going with this.

“I want you to take the next two days off,” he said. “We’re flying to Milan there, and there’s really nothing for you here. I’ve just had a talk with Marcus; he’ll make sure to change the flights into your name—we wouldn’t want to do something illegal—and he agreed to prepare you for everything.”

“But…” I hesitated. But what? But, then I couldn’t see Harry?

Get your head in the game, Cami.

“I think it’s for the best.” Steven patted her shoulder. “The next couple of weeks are going to be hard for you.”

“Okay.” I nodded; it wasn’t like I had any real choice in the matter anyway. “Thank you.”