(MOMENTARILY ON HOLD) The Other Girl (Harry Styles)

Chapter Seven

Hey guys, thanks for ALL the comments and votes, it was amazing to see that :) it would be so great if you recommended this story to your friends and such so I can see some new readers, that's always great too, even though I'm very happy with all the new readers I got in the past few days! For now, please to read on, a lot of stuff happening in the rest of the book, and I'm already planning a few spin-offs.

Dedicated to @eleanorjanecalder because she's the most amazing person ever!

- CeCe

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Chapter Seven

HARRY'S POV

The only thought running through my mind at this moment is, this can't be happening...

"I can't believe Chloe would do this," London says, sounding absolutely outraged. "I can't believe she would go this far."

I squeeze her hand, feigning calmness. London shoots me a look that clearly says, don't you play calm with me, Harry Styles, because we both ought to be freaking out right now. I take her advice and get to my feet, beginning to pace. London stays sitting on the couch, nibbling her nails, contemplating.

"We don't have to do much," I say. "Just tell management the real story. Then Chloe will get busted, and we'll be fine."

London looks horrified at the thought of dobbing on Chloe. "We can't do that," she babbles. "Chloe would... would socially ruin us." We share a look and she snaps, "Fine! Socially ruin me. And please, not now. Graduation is tomorrow, and..."

"Your graduation day is tomorrow?" I exclaim, distracted for a moment. London nods. "I'll be there," I promise her – but this doesn't quite get the reaction I wanted. Instead of squealing excitedly, London's face pales. "Oh, no," she says quickly. "You'd attract far too much attention... to me. That would be awful."

I roll my eyes. "I'm not going to give up."

"And I'm not going to give in," London says firmly. "You're not coming, Harry. If people see you... Harry Styles... here to see me... London James... I... I can't even––!"

"Okay, okay, I get your drift," I say slowly, the gears in my brain turning. "I promise you you won't see Harry Styles or any of One Direction at your graduation ceremony. But I at least want to know what school you go to."

"Oh, it's just down the road," London answers cautiously. "Klemence High. Not very noticeable. Just ordinary..."

I roll my eyes again and stop pacing, plopping down on the couch beside her. The TV's still on, the newsreader rambling about something I couldn't care less about. But London's watching carefully, eyes foussed on the screen, as if nothing's happened and it's just a regular day. Or as if she wants it to be a regular day.

I sigh and get to my feet. "I should... probably go back to the hotel... mull things over a bit... clear this whole situation up..."

London nods distractedly, still totally composed, staring at the TV screen. I walk out of the house and hail a taxi before leaving the place, leaving London alone in the house to stare mindlessly at the TV and hope that everything will work out without her participation. If only I knew why she was so unwilling to involve herself in the action...

I arrive at the hotel and push through the paparazzi to get to the lift. As soon as I step into the hotel room, a deluge of questions floods onto me, mostly about London. A few worried remarks about publicity manage to sneak in, freaking me out.