Cut!

Take 25 - Tell Me a Lie - Part 1

A/N: Please comment as you read. It means the world to me.

I stared at Louis, unable to form a coherent sentence. My palms became sweaty, and I tried to wipe them on the fabric of my shorts. Uncomfortable, I looked around to avoid meeting his eyes.

“Ehm,” I began, licking my lips.

“Go on,” he said. “Tell me a lie if you want. Then I’ll just ask him.” He shrugged. “Didn’t seem like you wanted me to say anything, but what do I know.”

“Please don’t,” I said. Looking to the ground in shame, I continued. “He doesn’t know.”

“Figured that much,” Louis said. “What in the world could possibly have persuaded you to—“

“That was uncomfortable,” Harry called as he entered the room. My head snapped up at his voice. “I’m back now—Louis, what’s up?”

Harry stared at Louis with a smile, completely oblivious to the tension in the room.

Louis shrugged. “Just getting to know your friend,” he said.

“Not going to steal my girl, are you?” Harry asked and playfully raised his fists. “I’ll fight you for her.”

As adorable as the scene was, I still had a tight knot in my stomach. Watching them play fight was heartbreaking because at any given moment, not only mine—but also my sister’s—entire world could come crumbling.

“Nah,” Louis said. “Just playing. Got to make sure she’s alright for you. I still get to do that, right?”

Harry rolled his eyes. “If you must.”

“Atta boy,” Louis said and turned to me. “Cami, do you want to come with me to the store? I forgot to buy candy when I was down there.” To Harry he said. “You don’t mind, right?”

“I don’t decide over Cami, mate,” Harry said with a shrug.

As happy as my inner feminist felt at that, I still had hoped Harry would have said he wanted me to stay. I didn’t particularly want to have this talk with Louis, and I didn’t want to leave Harry up here.

Louis sent me a stern look, and I rose from the bed. “Sure,” I said with a weak smile. “I’ll be right back.” I stood on my toes and kissed Harry’s cheek before I brushed past Louis without a word.

He caught up to me quickly but didn’t say a word. We waited for the elevator in silence, and it was until we stood inside the small elevator that I found my voice again.

“You’re not really going to buy candy, are you?” I muttered.

Louis snorted. “Please. When Harry bolted to find you, I bought a week’s worth of chocolate bars. I’m not running out anytime soon.”

A small smile played at his lips, and I couldn’t stop myself from returning it.

“I still need to know the truth,” he said. “Harry is my best friend. I’m only giving you a chance to explain yourself because this”—he gestured to me—“is not the girl I remember from the fair at all.”

“I’m surprised you remembered at all,” I muttered.

Louis didn’t reply as he led me outside. We walked through the lobby, ignoring the crowd that was slowly forming outside. It was beginning to look more and more like a mayhem, and I didn’t envy the security guards one bit.

We walked to a secluded spot in the restaurant where Louis sat down and gestured for me to take a seat, as well. I only hesitated for about a second, but decided to go through with it anyway. There was no need to anger him.

“So…” he said. “Start talking.”

I took a deep breath, and then plunged into telling him everything. Right from the dreaded call after seeing the news-report in Portsmouth, and up until the moment where Steven found out.

“So the investor knows?” Louis frowned.

I nodded. “He demanded that I kept quiet, until he could wing twist the reveal in his favor for maximum exposure.” I looked down at my hands, picking my nails. “That’s why I can’t tell Harry. I really want to. Trust me, it kills me inside that I have to keep that secret, but what would you do if it were your sister’s ass on the line?”

“Honestly?” He shrugged. “I think I’d found it pretty hard to pose as her in anything. But I do see your point.” He sighed and messed up his brown hair. “Alright, I won’t tell him, but you have to tell him before it becomes too serious between the two of you. It would crush him—he’s been deceived so many times before.”

“I didn’t know that,” I muttered.

“Nobody does,” he said. “It comes with the popularity. As time goes and people screw you over, the lies, deceit and sheer heartbreak makes it almost impossible to open up to anyone.” He looked away. “It changed me…”

“Not that much,” I said. “I mean… you still gave me a chance, despite my obvious fraud.”

He shook his head. “It’s different with you. I recognized you…”

“Yeah,” I said. “How did you recognize me, anyway? I thought such a simple memory would have been forgotten long ago. We didn’t hang out for more than a few hours.”

Louis shifted and stuck a hand down his pocket. To my surprise, he took out my bracelet. “It was this…” He smiled at it. “A lot of things have happened in those five years, but I don’t get to bring a smile on a sad girl’s face often any longer.”

“Why not?”

Shrugging, he turned the bracelet over in his hands. “Too many girls, I suppose.” He chuckled, holding up the bracelet as he met my eyes. “That day, I had a fight with my sister, and when I saw you sitting there; you reminded me of her. So sad and lost, and I wanted to comfort you. It took so much courage to talk to you because I didn’t know you, but it was worth it to see you smile at the end of the day.”

At that, I merely sent him a smile.

 A/N: I am so tired I might be falling asleep on my keyboard. Grr. I've been asking around for people to help translate this story. Which means hopefully, some time in the future, you'll be able to read this in your native language. I'm working on it. 

<3 Give this a vote, maybe? If only 50 people more read this, I'd reach the coveted big red in votes in no time--that'd be majorly cool.