Pretend

CHAPTER 7

As hangovers go; this felt pretty bad. I had woken up feeling like hot garbage. My vision all blurred and all I could hear was the THUMP THUMP of my pulse, somehow becoming a never ending beat. The sun was streaming through my bedroom window, signalling for me too get out of bed.

How had I gotten to this stage. I hardly could recall anything from last night.

I crawled across my lilac sheets towards the edge of my bed. With all the strength I could muster, I grabbed hold of my phone and dialled mums number. Whilst the phone was ringing on the other line, I attempted to recollect each stage of last night.

The concert, Abby and Yasmin abandonment, Harry's wild gesture, the tortuously slow car wait, entering the party, my parents, the job offer, my heartbreak and then blankness. Absolutely nothing. I still could feel the twinge of agony from last night.

Your convinced that someone is all gracious and charming but somehow they can completely fool you and switch to a different person in the blink of an eye. Naive, that was me.

After what seemed like the twentieth ring, mum finally decided to pick up. "Hello you've reached Yolanda Foster!" Mum exclaimed. God i was not in the state to cope with her overly enthusiastic greetings.

"Mum it's me."
"Who?"
"You cannot be serious? Your daughter."
God she could be infuriating sometimes.
"OH BELLA, honey I miss you! how is your modelling in London? Gigi is attempti-"
"MUM IT IS GIGI." I hollered

Okay, it is one thing to not recognise who it was on the phone, but it is another to not recognise your own god damn daughter. Jesus it's too early in the morning for this.

I breathed in an out deeply, trying to calm myself down for my own sake. If I knew my mum, I knew the wrath would be unleashed once she heard what I was about to verbalise.

"Err about the job you and dad got me...I am really thankful for it and all but, um, I don't think it's for me."

There was complete stillness on the other side of the line. Only heavy breaths informed me that mum was still with me. I could sense the tension and stiffness through the phone even though we were miles apart.

But NOTHING could've prepared me for the aftershock that came after the pin drop silence.

"JELENA NOURA HADID, YOUR FATHER AND I WORKED SO HARD TO LAND YOU THIS JOB. ITS TIME YOU TOOK SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR LIFE. YOUR FATHER AND I ARE NOT PREPARED TO BE THE PARENTS OF A FAILURE. YOU WILL BE GOING TO HEADQUARTERS TODAY AND STARTING. YOUR. JOB. NO IFS OR BUTS," my mother roared with rage.

The headache I claimed to have moments ago,was literally nothing in comparison to the throbbing distress that I was feeling right now. It was not a sharp pain; like a knife-inflicted wound, but more of a dull pounding with a hammer over...and over...and over again.

I needed some pain killers. ASAP. As my mum was concluding her speech on how much of a "disgrace I was to the family name", i slammed the phone down in fury, knowing that would piss her off. I didn't usually let my parents words get to me, but there was something quite unsettling about being associated with a failure.

Who knew maybe this job wouldn't be as bad as I thought? Surely the pay would be decent and maybe Harry would have a genuine explanation to share with me.

Agh... I was being naive again.
As I got my phone to double check the address of the destination, I by accidentally clicked on my camera roll.

Photos appeared, many many photos all from last night. A blonde hair, blue eyed boy repeatedly featuring. I gasped in awe... Suddenly looking over these photos triggered my recollection of last nights events. I remember that face, it's the face of Niall Horan, memories resurfaced, the face I kissed so passionately. Oh god, I covered my heated cheeks in embarrassment. Although, the attention that Niall constantly showed me last night was flattering. It made me feel a certain way, that I had never experienced. Now I had even more reason not to go to work today. This was quite a problematic situation and i was caught right in the middle.

Dawdling over to my en suite bathroom was quite the hassle. My legs just didn't seem to want to cooperate today. When i finally made it to the bathroom, i came face to face with a mirror. Holy shit I looked like a mess.

My hair was wild and greasy, chaotic strands were poking out from the top of my head, they apparently enjoyed Miley's "can't be tamed" because that's exactly what they did when I attempted brushing them.

Last night I must've forgotten to take my makeup off, because my face looked like the living dead. My eye liner had smudged, enhancing the massive bags under my eyes perfectly. Great. I couldn't help but wonder what my white pillows resembled.

Ridding the thought from my head I opened up my medication draw and fumbled to find the pain killers. I popped two into my mouth, downing them both. I splashed some cold water on my face to wake me up, and boy did that do wonders.

Once I was finally fresh faced, I glanced over to the clock. SHIT it's ten o'clock and I'm meant to be at work at ten thirty! I hurriedly tied my hair up in a messy bun which was the only way I could work with my disobedient strands. Finalising my look with some light mascara and lip gloss, I glanced in the mirror and nodded, ech it was good enough. I then dashed to my wardrobe, thankfully my legs were now seemingly in my favour again.

As much as I would have liked to stop, admire and swoon over my new closet, i had no time. I grabbed some black leather pants, a white tank top and my new black and gold balmain boots. Rapidly, I had gotten dressed, collected my phone, grabbed my Louis Vuitton purse and stormed out the door.

Once I headed down to the car park I searched longingly for my black SUV Mercedes. Of course I would have been perfectly content with a golf mini but mum and dad insisted I "keep up appearances." With no such luck my car wasn't anywhere to be found.

Agh...Of course, just my luck! I forgot, I caught a taxi home! My car is still at the after party venue. Whatever, there wasn't any time to go back for it.

Walking onto rodeo drive, I forced myself to resist looking at the shops as I tried to hail a cab. In a matter of seconds one pulled up in front of me and I got in as swiftly as possible. I was an absolute nervous wreck. My mind was spinning frantically. Both Harry and Niall would be there, I would be working for them! What even was with Harry's outburst last night? I thought we had something...and Niall. I kissed him! I bloody kissed him. I might as well have slut written across my forehead, how could I possibly develop the smallest of feelings for two guys in one night.

With millions of thoughts running through my head, I hadn't even noticed the taxi came to a stop. I observed my surroundings, gawking up at a monstrosity like building through the window. With a big gulp and a deep breath I slowly climbed out of the car adjusting my shirt.

Just as I was walking towards the building, I spotted the one person I was most anxious to see. Niall

As if on cue, he rotated his head around and saw me. His eyes practically bulged out of his sockets as his head darted sidewards, in such a way that he wasn't convinced I was real. Within a second he sauntered over, his expression slowly erupting into a wide grin.

I tried my best to act oblivious to the sight of him, but his heavenly Irish voice got the best of me.

"well isn't this déjà vu."