Something Great || One Direction

TEN

Isabella

The next day, I was asked to be at the O2 to over look the planning of how the stage would look like. I was there just 30 minutes when everyone from his crew started showing up. I was relief that he was not here yet. But I did a double take and see if he is around but to my luck, he isn't. Maybe he is taking this day off to chill and let his crew deal with all of this.

"Looking for me." With just those words, I know who it was. I felt my heart beat so hard, after feeling the relief earlier.

Why do I have this effect over him? I should be over him by this time.

I am but the thing is, I'm not over the fact that I left that way without any explanation or any way to tell him I was sorry. 

But it's too late now. 5 years has passed and yet I'm still not over it and not over him.

How could you move on from the happiest days of your life just like that?

"Ah, yes." I exhaled and faced him. "I need to talk to you about the lighting and your opening act." I said as if I was not nervous just a few moments ago.

"Hi, to you too." He said and did his signature  side smile. Which I have to tell you gets me every time. But today I'm not letting that affect me. "I had plans in having an opening act. I had a few in mind already but I realized we have special guests in the line up already, so opening act would be on me." He said and took a seat at one of the seat prompt up for the crowd.

I nodded and took down notes. "As for the lighting. Do you want the spotlight to be bright and blinding or just enough so you could still the fans?" I asked without looking at him, and without taking a sit. I will stand until this conversation is over.

"Of course the latter one." He answered. "Who doesn't want to see his fans while performing?" He stated not expecting me to answer, so I didn't.

"Anyway, that's about it for now. I'll get back to you as soon as we have other concerns to talk about." I finally looked at him, I smiled and nodded. "Thank you for you time." I added and turned to the direction of my team to share to them the info I have gathered for today.

I was just a few steps away from him, when he called out. "Izzy, wait." Just like yesterday, I didn't look back nor acknowledge that I was called. I continued walking.

I heard foot steps behind me and know that he is following me. So to make myself look extra profession. I halted and turned to face him.

"Yes, Mr. Payne? Can I assist you with anything else?" I said with the best smile I could master.

"Izzy, please, we need to talk." He uttered.

"As you can see, Sir, I have other things to take care of. So if please excuse me, I have to go." I turned again and took a step to start walking away from him again.

But I was abruptly stopped by a hand holding my arm, just like yesterday. "Izzy, I really need to talk to you." He begged, but I'm not giving in.

I knew I need to talk to him. I know I need to tell him what exactly happened on that dreadful day. I need to tell him how sorry I was.

But I'm not ready, nor I was prepared to have this conversation.

"We have nothing else to talk about for now, Mr. Payne. And you may refer to me as Ms. Isabella or Bella." I said and pulled my arm off his grip and walked, towards my team, far quicker that I normally do. I don't want any one to notice something odd. But instead of stopping to be with them, I walked passed them and into the bathroom area just a few meters away.

There I let all my emotions out. I locked myself inside one of the cubicle and cried my heart out but making sure no one would hear me.

I was a mess, a huge and awful mess. Why can't I face him? Why? Why can't I just suck it up and tell me. He'd understand, right?

I didn't like the look on his face when I said, you can refer me as Ms. Isabella or Bella. The pain was written all over his face and I couldn't help but recall 5 years ago. He had that same expression on this face when I said we cannot be more than just friends.

In the middle of my breakdown, I remembered the photo circulating on Twitter saying hurtful things about me. Did he see it? What would he say about it? If he did, he'd immediately blame me for it. I was the only one had a copy aside from all four of them.

But I had to let that though escape for now. I have far pressing things to deal with than that stupid photo and how the fans think of me.

I blinked my tears away but all I could see is his pained look and how much I have hurt him twice in 2 days and thrice in the last 5 years.

But I have to master a professional face from this moment on until how long this tour would last. I have to really suck it in and forget about it. I have at least a year spent in his presence, so I have to be professional and leave the pass behind.

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The day couldn't ended sooner, but I was glad it finally did and nothing else happened after that encounter. As soon as get back to the house and I have to talk to Scarlet about everything that is happening in my life right now. Just like how all of this happened when that stupid group photo surfaced.

I was glad, he didn't bother to get another chance to talk to me the entire day. We have to check the lighting and how each light was affecting his skin color and the clothes he will be wearing all throughout the shows. That alone was such a relief. I didn't sigh as loud and as deep as I did when I got to my borrow car and left the arena.

As soon as I got home, I was glad to find Scarlet at the living room watching some random show on Netflix.

"Hey couz, how's it doing?" she asked me as I took a seat beside her.

"You know what Scar, I have something to tell you." I said feeling anxious about all that is happening around me lately. "Ever since you sent me that viral photo, it's like the world was telling me something."

"What could it be?" She asked not looking at me. She's still focus on what ever she is watching. "It's not like you saw them in London, somehow." She added.

And I just sat there dumbfounded, because I saw one of them. The one person I was not expecting to see. I would have been totally fine seeing Louis, Niall or Harry around, but him, it's completely a different story.

I was quiet for awhile until Scarlet noticed how silent I was after what she just said.

"Don't tell you actually did?" She is now facing me, all her attention at me. "London is too big, England is too big. It is beyond impossible to see them. I've been living her for years, and yet I didn't spot them anywhere." She added.

"Unlike you, I work in a company that is related to their world. So it is a given that I might see them along the way." I said. "But I didn't expect to actually see him, after all this years." I added and placed my hands over my face, feeling frustrated and ashamed of myself.

"YOU ACTUALLY SAW LIAM, HIMSELF?!" She exclaimed! I just nodded at that because I have no words to say but just shame. "What happened? Did he approach you? Did he make a scene and embarrassed you? Izzy, tell me!" She was now trying to pull my hands away my face, forcing me to finally tell her what happened.

So I took a really deep breath and started sharing to her. But the entire time, I had my arms around me and trying to tell myself that this is not going to affect me like it did years ago. I can do this and get through this even if I had to see his face 24/7.

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I'm really sorry for the super late update! Life happened and I just didn't get into wattpad unlike before. Also as you can tell this was written last month and only got published today, so expect other chapters to be written the previous months and all.

Hope you liked this chapter. Let me know your thoughts and please don't be ashamed to criticize me if you see something confusing or misleading!

Have a good day! And keep safe always!

Love lots,

Kelz! 💕
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written: 07•12•2020
published: 08•06•2020
republished: 03•04•2021