Cut!

Take 26 - Stand Up - Part 3

A/N: Please comment as you read. It makes my day. 

I gulped as I stared around at them. It wasn’t that I felt threatened; I just suddenly became very nervous. Their curious glances made me feel self-conscious, and my hands shook when I reached for the headset. They wanted me to do an entire performance on my own.

“Okay,” I said. Trying to play it off as cool, I walked over to the microphone, watching as each boy left the recording space.

Looking at them through the glass, I could see Zayn and Harry nod at me. It seemed to say that they believed in me. I smiled took a deep breath.

As the first tones of the song started to play, I tapped the rhythm on my thigh.

Then I sang with all I had.

My mind was empty, and I tried to imagine that there was nothing else in the world but me and the music. I was floating along on the different chords, and the bass vibrated through my body with every beat.

I felt invincible.

Once I finished, I opened my eyes to see Zayn and Harry with a big grin. Louis, Niall and Liam was all staring at me.

“How was I?” I asked and took off the headphones.

Niall cleared his throat. “I… ehm… I think we can work with you.”

Louis smacked him in the stomach. “You sounded great, Cami.”

“Agreed,” Liam added. “Whatever you did in there, keep doing it.”

I laughed in relief, happy that I hadn’t messed up everything. “Want to go again?” I asked. “It sounds even better with Zayn and Harry along.”

Louis nodded and turned to the mixer again. “Just do your thing, guys.”

Harry took my hand and together we walked into the booth, with Zayn following close behind. It was just like back in Chicago, except there was more space here.

We sang the song over and over again, until it began to sound wrong. Harry’s hand was still in mine, and I liked the feeling of him being so close. It made me feel like he’d support me through anything, and I didn’t doubt for a moment that he would.

When we finally took a break, I sat down with my bottle of water.

“What’s your plan for tonight?” Louis asked.

Harry grinned and put an arm around my shoulders. “I’m going on a date.”

It was adorable, and I couldn’t help a smile from spreading.

“Love is in the air,” Niall sang, only to get another playful smack from Louis.

“What’d you do all day?” Zayn asked Liam.

Glancing at me, Liam laughed. “I taught Cami some self-defense moves.”

“Ohh.” Louis faked a gasp. “Better be careful Harry, maybe I have to fight her instead of you.”

“I’d legit pay to see that fight,” Zayn said. “Not sure who I’d put my money on, though.”

“I’m offended,” Louis said. “Really, I am.”

I just laughed and leaned into Harry. He smelled lovely, and I made a note to ask him what perfume he used later. It wouldn’t be crazy to spritz it all over my own clothes to feel like he was near, right?

“How long do you need to get ready?” Harry whispered to me.

I shrugged. “Don’t know, an hour maybe? Depending what kind of date it is.”

“It’s a surprise,” he said. “You’re going to like it.”

“Can you tell me if I need to dress fancy, sexy or casually then?”

Harry stared at me. “Sexy,” he said. “Definitely dress sexy.”

I rolled my eyes and nudged him with my shoulder. “Serious, though.”

“I am entirely serious here,” he said without breaking a smile. “Sexy will do just fine.”

Smirking, I reached up to place my mouth right next to his ear. “Does that mean I need to find a low-cut, short costume with high heels? Maybe a nurse or a witch.” I blew softly. “Do you want to be put under my spell, Harry?”

Harry swallowed. “Fancy… Definitely dress fancy.”

I laughed. At that moment, I was happy I’d lived with Jackie for four years. Despite her many failed attempts at getting me out there, some of her lessons still stuck. I knew that my flirting skills still sucked, but Harry reacted to them anyway.

It gave me a strange sense of empowerment. And I quite liked that feeling.

Harry laced his fingers between mine. “I’m going to pick you up at seven, then.”

“We live in the same suite.” I frowned. “Why would you need to pick me up?”

“Because…” He played with my fingers. “I want this to be a real date. And that shouldn’t be ruined just because we basically share a room.”

I looked at him in astonishment. There was no possible way I could know what his thoughts behind this were. He could be trying to compensate for my white lie that Peyton never really wooed Ludmilla. It wasn’t all a lie, since I hadn’t actually been on a real date.

Harry could also just be a hopeless romantic. One of the two. I kissed his cheek and rose from my spot. “I’m going to head up,” I said. “I have a big date tonight.”

When I looked back at Harry, he winked at me. Blowing him an air-kiss, I left the studio and headed straight for the room. I had a lot of work to do before I was ready. If Harry wanted to go all out with a real date experience, then I was going to go full out on the pre-date jitters.

I smiled at the bodyguards when I walked past them, unlocking the door to my room. I tried to rag my brain on whether I had something fancy, and I remembered how Marcus had demanded that I packed some party clothes, as well. One of those dresses had to work.

After emptying my suitcase on my bed, I stared at the contestant. It annoyed me a bit that I didn’t know what to expect, because I didn’t want to over- or underdress for the date.

Deciding that it wasn’t worth stressing over right now, I prepared everything for my small beauty session instead. Facial and hair masks, exfoliation, and my favorite body lotion was all placed on the counter in the bathroom.

I grinned at my reflection. Oh yes, I was going to look so kick-ass.

 A/N: Seventh? I think... upload. Three or two to go. lol. I'm going to try. Give this a vote, maybe?