Stand Up

Chapter 6: Wanted

I turned away from Lou, and knelt down beside my suitcase. I grabbed the clothes off the floor, and shoved them inside not bothering to fold it. I heard Lou move past me, as she kissed the top of my head before opening the door and leaving. 

I stared after her, and I dreaded the worst. I imagined the disgust or the disappointment looks the boys would give me. I didn’t want to see them, I just wanted to go home. I shook my head, and punched the wall in front of me. “You’re an idiot, Charlotte. You really are.”

Before I could go to the bathroom, and pack up my sanitary supplies a tiny laugh from behind me caught my attention. I turned around cautiously. Who is that? Deep inside I knew who it was, but it wasn’t possible. It really couldn’t be, could it?

When I was finally facing the bed, I stood there in shock as I stared at Lux staring at the ceiling and laughing. I walked towards her, and she watched me with her baby blue eyes. I offered her a smile, and she gave me a toothless grin.

I laughed and rubbed her belly, “Hey, Lux, what are you doing here?”

She kept on bouncing, while waving her arms and legs in the air. I picked her up and carried her in my arms, her skin was soft and she smelled like strawberries. Where’s Lou? Why did she leave Lux here? I continued to stare at the door, waiting for the door to bust open with everyone yelling at me to get out of the country. But nothing.

Lux put her tiny hand on my face, trying to draw my attention. “What is it?” I asked her, as I tickled her feet. Lux gave an adorable laugh, and when it died down she rested her head on my shoulder. As I rubbed her back softly, I, too, fell asleep lying on the bed with Lux in my arms.

I was awoken several hours later, well, not several it was already morning when I woke up. “Charles, wake up.” I opened my eyes, and I was greeted with Lou’s tender smile. I sat up, and Lou took her baby back in her own arms. I rubbed my eyes with the back of my fists, still groggy from sleep.

“Get change, lad. Or lass.” Lou said before leaving the room once again, but with Lux this time. I sighed, then it hit me. Did Lou tell the boys yet? Or did she tell management? That dampened my mood pretty quickly, and I slowly made my way to the shower.

When I finished, I contemplated if I should wear the wig or not. I decided to, because well, it would keep my pride intact. Before I left my hotel room, I sent a silent prayer to God. Please, don’t let the pain of having to go back home hurt me. I don’t want to cry either, because I’ve cried so much this past month or so, and well, I don’t want to cry in front of this boy band who well, I’ve grown to care for. I hated to admit it, but I loved these lads, and maybe a bit more of Harry.

I almost kicked myself for thinking that, but I lost my train of thought as I found everyone gathered in a reserved room eating breakfast. Niall was telling a story to the whole group, and as everyone burst out laughing I slipped inside and sat in between Lou and Harry.  

Zayn took a bite out of his toast while he massaged his forehead, “Harry, who was that girl you were snogging last night?”

Everyone turned to stare at him, and I did the same. Harry blushed profusely, “I was drunk, I didn’t even know her name.” The men chuckled, while Lou clucked her tongue and turned to Lux.

“Don’t follow these boys’ footsteps, Lux, they’re bad influence and don’t treat women right,” she said and the baby stared at Harry with a frown like she understood. While, I, sat beside him fidgeting and with my heart slowly breaking.

He was just drunk. Just drunk.

“Oh, thank God, Harry. I thought you forgot about Alexis.” Louis said while moving his hash browns around his plate. I glanced at Harry, and pure shock and horror reflected off his face.

“God forbid. Alexis can never be compared to anyone, she is beautiful.”

Niall laughed, “She has her eyes on someone else, mate, she made that pretty clear.”

“It doesn’t matter, she’ll change her mind, you’ll see.”

Paul spoke up, “Don’t be too sure.”

Everyone laughed and Harry stared down at his plate and took out his phone and texted.Was he texting her? Alexis?

I noticed Lou was confused with all of these things they were talking about, “May I see a photo of this girl Harry snogged last night?”

Her husband snorted and took out his phone and Lou looked down at it. She gasped and slowly turned to me, her expression saying ‘Was it you, he kissed? I saw that dress in your suitcase.’

Before I could say something, Liam spoke up, “What did you gather up to tell us for, Lou?” She turned towards everyone with a tight smile. I gripped the handles of my chair, and my heart raced faster.

“Well,” she turned to me and smiled unsurely, “I just wanted to tell everyone …. That I’m very happy about Charles joining the group. This is our official welcoming.”

I looked at her shocked.  What was she doing?

Everyone else smiled at me and raised their mugs, Lou stared at me and smiled sadly.She wasn’t going to send me home. Well, she was planning to, but changed her mind last minute. But why?

Conversation during breakfast was lively, but I didn’t contribute. I kept my own thoughts, and played with the food in front of me. When I remembered Harry just kissed me because he was drunk, and he was in love with another woman I stabbed the pancake with my fork. This bloody bastard.                               

I peered at him, and a burst of anger and sadness came forth inside me. I brushed it off, and excused myself from the table. I headed outside where the weather was amazing, and absolutely scalding.  I sat on one of the benches, and contemplated my life.

Before I knew it, Zayn sat beside me. I looked at him, and offered him a smile. He smiled back, “Do you miss home already?”

I did miss home, “Yes. How about yourself?”

“Same, but I’ve toured with the lads for quite some time now, and they’ve become my family. I’m sure you’ll be our new best friend. ”

I looked to the distance. Too bad I’m a liar, and pretending to be a boy.

I sighed, “Thanks, Zayn.”

Then  a question that bugged me for a long time now popped in my head. “Uhm, hey, Zayn. Who’s that person Harry keeps on texting?”

Zayn looked at me surprised, and he suddenly laughed. “Oh, that’s Alexis. She’s the girl we were talking about. Alexis happens to have a boyfriend, but Harry is infatuated with her.”

“And he won’t give up?” I continued for him.

He nodded and rolled his eyes, “He doesn’t know when to stop. Hopefully he ends his sights on her, because her boyfriend will kill him.”

When Zayn said that last part, he was absolutely serious. And I was scared for Harry, inspite all of the things he did to me.

Niall ran outside and screamed, “LET’S PLAY FOOOOOTBALL!”

Zayn got up and caught the ball, that Niall kicked at him. Louis, Harry, and Liam came out in their swimming trunks, however, and my breath got caught in my throat.

They walked towards me, and it was as if they were shining with beauty. They were hot. I couldn’t tear my eyes off of them, and I blushed when Harry commented on it. “Are we that handsome, Charles?”

Louis and Liam laughed as they sat by the pool. Harry sat on the bench beside me and put one arm around my shoulders.  I blushed, but then he said, “Let’s go swimming. Take off that shirt, mate. ”

I almost fainted.