Let Me Show You

39. The Inside

*** Wow I have not updated/written in so long... ***

"Luke stop" I yell with a mouth full of grapes.

"What? I'm sorry I couldn't understand, you have a mouth full of grapes!" Luke yells back at me pushing another grape in my mouth.

"Stop" I yell laughing as some grapes fly out of my mouth and onto the floor.

"Dakota! Gosh where are your table manners" Luke huffs jumping up from his chair. He politely pushes in his chair leaning forward to place a kiss on my forehead before he skips out of the room. I pick up another grape and continue to eat my lunch.

After me and Luke stormed out of the management meeting, Liam demanded they let us be together.  I almost got fired, but Valorie insisted that I remain the boy's photographer because I "get along with the boys fine", and I take the "most amazing photos of any photographer" she has ever met. 

I was a mess after that meeting. I was so angry at everything.

Thankfully management decided that me and Luke could continue our... relationship. As long as the public does not find out, we are happy to be what we want.

I haven't used my locket in so long, not since the incident in Rome, but it still remains hanging around my neck. Luke and the other boys have tried to get me to take it off. I refuse.

"Okay! We are leaving! Let's go!" Valorie yells from the doorway. I quickly run into the bathroom to check myself in the mirror. Lara put my hair in two braids and helped me with a smokey eye. I have on my black long sleeved crop-top with black skinny jeans, my boots and a red flannel.

"Ready Dakota" Luke whispers from the bathroom doorway. 

"Yeah" I say smiling over at him. He holds out his hand for me to grab and I do. Our hands fit together like puzzle pieces when we intertwine our fingers. It feels so right.

But I can't shake this feeling that something bad is about to happen. And soon.

I thought maybe Zayn would try and mess something up again, but I think he's done wasting his time on me.

It's something else. It seems to good to be true to be back with Luke so comfortably that I am certain something is wrong. Or something is going to go wrong.

We haven't heard or seen anything of Lillie since Rome either. Apparently management has that "handled". But knowing them, they're probably in contact with her right now working out how they are going to split me and Luke up.

"Dakota? What's wrong?" Luke snaps pulling me out my thoughts.

"Huh?" I ask looking up at him from the floor. 

"Is there something wrong?" He asks furrowing his eyebrows together.

"No! Nothing's wrong? Why would something be wrong?" I speak quickly and nervously.

"Calm down! Everything is fine!" Luke says wrapping his arm around my waist as we walk to the plane. 

That's the problem, everything seems too fine.

 "You're going to absolutely love America" I whisper looking straight ahead of us. 

"You think so?" He asks looking down at me.

"I know so" I cheekily reply holding the sides of my mouth down from curling up into a smile.

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

The plane ride was the longest yet. I tried sleeping, but after everything that has happened, I find that sleep isn't the easiest thing. I'm afraid that if I fall asleep that I won't be able to wake up...

"Dakota" Luke sings shuffling over to me with our suitcases. "Ready?"

Am I ready to be mobbed by American fans? The craziest of all fans? I don't think so...

"Yep! Let's do this" I lie smiling as I follow him out the small door. I'm momentarily blinded by the bright sun as I step outside into the fresh air. I tilt my head up and take a deep breathe in.

This is my safe haven.

"HI THERE" Ashton yells smiling and waving at the large clusters of fans. The screams increase drastically and I turn around to see Harry take a step out of the building. The rest of the boys follow him out and I snap a bunch of pictures of them walking over to the fans.

The familiar warmth of the land relaxes my muscles with every step I take. 

"LUKE" a girl near me shrieks to Luke who is standing across the fan circle. I turn around to see a girl almost in tears jumping up and down. 

Her eyes meet my'n and then carefully rake up and down my body before she gives me a disgusted look and returns to yelling at Luke. 

When I turn around to look at Luke I see him watching me carefully. I bite down on my lips to keep myself from laughing as he gets hit with a plush penguin. He picks it up with a confused look and I can't help but laugh as I snap some pictures of the scene. 

He looks up at me laughing and before I know it the penguin collides with my face. My mouth falls open as the penguin lands in my hand and I catch a glimpse of Luke running away to another section. 

I look around at the other boys, collecting CDs, cards, plush toys and signing everything the fans put in front of them. It looks like such hassle to have to keep up with all the screams and tears. Thank God I'm on the inside...

A man motions for us to move on and slowly one by one the boys enter their assigned tour bus. Now that we're in America, there are going to be fewer hotels and more nights spent on these crowded buses. 

All together.

I'm left last as I take a few more pictures of the fans. I put down my camera and look back up at the blue sky taking in one last breathe.

It's good to be back.