The Girl With The Red Lipstick

Chapter 48

Chapter Forty Eight

Liam's P.O.V

I watched with wide eyes as Niall 'sup' nodded Uncle Simon.

Like actually, supped him.

Uncle Simon.

I heard Zayn distinctively chuckle beside me as Niall continued to unnecessarily tell him that Hailey was his plus-1, continuing to introduce the pair to Hailey's obvious discomfort. Simon shook his head in a I-give-up sort of way and gestured for him to join us.

I side glanced Louis to see him whispering something into Harry's ear. Harry's jaw was clenching and unclenching in agitation but he was nodding quietly all the same, I wanted to ask what was wrong- but at that moment Niall walked in the biggest smile on his face.

Zayn continued on to high five him and Niall's grin seemed to take over his face, I quickly looked over at Harry again to see him staring down at his feet.

"Took you bloody long enough" Louis teased, smirking.

Obviously he was playing Switzerland, unfortunately I couldn't do the same.

I was partly annoyed, how could he do this to us?

I mean, to Harry?

I caught his eye and nodded towards Hailey behind the panel, where she seemed to be unsure where to look- soley focusing on the clock on the wall. Niall shrugged, his expression clearly saying "You called me, I came". I shook my head, frowning.

Suddenly an amplified noise echoed through out the room and the five of us winced, "Sorry boys, but we better get started, start from the beginning okay?"

We nodded, and beside me Louis shifted anxiously.

He was always the most insecure about his voice, no idea why.

Albeit three tracks in, I began to feel awkward. It was weird singing a song that plainly reminded me of Danielle while looking at her. Behind the panel infront of us, there were three people.

I couldn't focus on Uncle Simon because I'd freak myself out over every crease or frown that I'd see while we sang. Looking at the soundboard guy was just complicated because he just kept continously pressing buttons and pulling levers that I couldn't see, so all I focused on was Hailey.

Another reason to feel awkward, when we sang- we pull up emotions that help fuel how our listeners perceive the song and I could tell looking at her and singing wasn't only weird for me. Harry was either staring at the wall or trying to stop himself from looking at her, on my left- Niall was openly swaying, singing happily, Zayn was just looking dreamy. Louis, well Louis was looking at me like he knew, like he was onto something while he smirked.

Or on something more like.

I shook my head clear and looked at Uncle Simon who was telling us what track to sing next while trying not to ruin the tempo. I nudged Zayn who nudged Niall, then I nudged Louis who quickly shoved me back before nudging Harry, we all nodded in unison (me rubbing my shoulder) and prepped ourselves for the next song.

I cleared my throat.

"Hello, hello, I know it's been a while but baby, I got something that I really wanna let you know, yeah. Something that I wanna let you know, oh, oh, oh"

I bit down on my lip as I finished, grinning and staring down at my feet. Hailey had smiled proudly at me when I sang, and I couldn't help but feel proud of myself too as Uncle Simon shot me a thumbs up. I got stuck in my head for a bit before we started the chorus, Niall sang and I unblinkingly watched Hailey's reaction. 

She was smiling.

Then it was Harry, and I watched as her smile faltered.

"I tried, I tried to start again and find somebody, but I remember all the times and all the words we said yeah, I can't get it out of my head, yeah"

I couldn't help but notice how he seemed to be staring at her too.

"Hey you, you're still the one. Hey you, you're still the one. Hey you- you're still the one. I know it's saying too much, but I will never give up, I was so stupid for letting you go, but I-I-I know you're still the one, but I know you're still the one"

His smirk was really hard to miss.

I shook my head, pulling myself together.

It wasn't my business, but I couldn't help be curious.


Zayn's P.O.V

I shifted uneasily and re-adjusted my microphone.

The tension in this room was unbearable, I ruffled my hair with my free hand and steadied my footing. We had just finished singing five more songs and we were taking a minute break to catch our breaths, 'Rock Me' really takes the air out of you.

I was checking my hair in the reflection of the panel (not because I'm vain but because maybe I hadn't ruffled it properly because that happens) when someone waving back at me caught my attention. Hailey was shaking her head in disbelief and laughing.

I pressed my finger to my lips in an obvious attempt to shut her up but to no success.

I raised my arms in a effort to distract her, mouthing.

"Where's Kiara?"

Hailey cocked her head to the side while still smirking. I pointedly repeated myself, trying to seem unfazed. She ahh'ed and shrugged lazily, I visibly pouted and she smiled cutely gesturing to her phone, "Want me to call her?"

I bit my lip and raised my shoulders nonchalantly, she rolled her eyes.

I grinned as I watched her pull out her phone, for a second she held it to her ear silently before she started talking. I didn't want to stare so I looked around to see the other boys doing their own thing, Liam was fidgeting with his microphone in a suspicious way of distracting himself while Louis was eyeing him with a vengence.

I decided not to question it.

Uncle Simon gestured for us to start the next track so I check to see if Hailey was done, she was still babbling away and it was my turn to roll my eyes.

Niall began to sing when Hailey finally met my gaze, she shook her head and mouthed, "She's busy" I frowned, and quickly masked it- nodding.

She mouthed another, "Sorry" and I just shook my head, smiling softly.

My turn.

"You're so London, you own style, you own style"

She does have her own style, I thought.

"-And together, we're so good"  We are, I realized.

"-So girl why, are you tearing me apart, tearing me apart?"

God I miss her. "You're tearing me apart"

Pulling myself together I looked over at Harry to distract myself, to see that while he began to sing his eyes drifted upwards from his microphone to the panel.

"Did I do something stupid? Yeah, girl, if I blew it just tell me what I did. Let's work through it, there's got to be some way to get you to want me like before"

I felt Liam on my left mimic my actions, we had both quickly looked away and looked back again. As if watching what Harry did was too intense for us to see. I smiled down at the fact that if Kiara was here maybe I could've serenaded her too.

I smiled, not maybe- I really would've.

Niall beside me was running his hands through his hair, he too had noticed Harry. I smirked at their obvious fight for attention and sang along with the chorus as the five of us finished the song.

Simon nodded in approval to us all as he told us what to sing next.

I cleared my throat as Louis began to sing.

I realized, that every verse that I had- had some type of relevance to my not sure if existing love life. I mean I've kissed Kiara, and it was amazing, but we're still undefined.

"Never felt like this before-ore. Are we friends or are we more? As I'm walking towards the door, I'm not sure. But baby if you say you want me to stay, I'll change my mind. Cause I don't wanna know I'm walking away, if you'll be mine" 

I really wanted to see her, I pulled out my phone and quickly typed in a 'hey, whats up? x' before I pressed send to her number. I wondered what Hailey had said to her, and then debated whether I should've texted or waited and seen if she'd text me first.

So complicated.

The song finished and I exhaled heavily, that particular track really weighed on my vocal cords. Liam patted me heavily on the back while partially leaning on me-  I shrugged him off and caught my breath. I winced at the awkwardness as Hailey waved at three of the boys, not counting myself and Niall- again. I picked up on how Louis shoved Liam with a curious expression on his face, I wasn't sure why.

I mentally shuffled through the 'Take Me Home' sound track listing and chose a song that most described my feelings for Kiara. I then tried to decide how cheesy it'd be to sing it to her, I wondered if she liked cheesy- I made a note to ask Hailey.

If she did, I would.


Niall's P.O.V

Ever feel totally at peace?

Not in a hippy sort of way, but in a everything finally seems to be piecing together kind of way? I don't know if I'd ever feel like way again, but this day, with her? I had.

It was thunderbolt.

We didn't do much, me being friends casual (and a fair bit of lazy) didn't plan anything so we had met up early and just drove around- her updating me with her everyday life as I did the same.

We had also gone to have lunch, and just as we had gotten into the car my phone rang.

I  had sighed before pulling it out of my hoody pocket and staring at the name blankly. I then held a finger up to Hailey to warn her I was going to answer before I tapped the screen.