Um, really long ass chapter and try to keep up, oh shit.
Chapter 10
The remainder of my being prettied or whatever was hell. They had waxed my eyebrows right then (by the way, I'm so lucky Perrie knew what she was doing) and it had been so painful that I had screamed.
My question about the apple in my mouth was answered.
After the waxing I nearly started crying, because shit it'd hurt, but having the girls yell about ruining their hard work helped hold it back. And now I was in a limousine with everyone, sitting quietly while Liam gave me tips.
"Now, Laney, here's what I need you to try to do," he began. I nodded and he went on. "Be active in conversation, so he doesn't forget you, but at the same time don't be too loud or talkative. If he flirts, feel free to flirt back, but if he takes things too far just get away and look for one of us." That sounded pretty easy. He then added, "Also don't drink anything given to you, alright?"
I nodded once more in understanding and he gave me a firm nod in return. "Alright, then,"
I smiled. He smiled back at me and as the car slowed to a stop and everyone began to exit I prepared. I wasn't sure if this was supposed to be some sort of Hollywood (or London) carpet thing, but I hoped it wasn't. I was ready to trip in these heels and I wasn't even standing yet.
The car was emptying through pairs and just before I walked out, Harry patted my shoulder. I looked at him and he said, "Be yourself." He smiled and I couldn't help but smile back shyly before I got out the car. It was weird since I had to walk out alone behind Niall and Sophia. It was even weirder because I had thought Sophia was Liam's favorite between her and Danielle.
That entire situation was actually just completely weird to me.
The guy at the front had a very stoic expression as he practically rolled his eyes to me. "Name, Madame?"
I raised my eyebrows, mentally repeating that. Madame? I managed to remember my "cover name."
"Uh, M-Melissa O'Neil," I said with a questioning lilt to my voice at the end.
He looked down at a list of people and his finger traced over the paper while his eyes skimmed. "Ah. Melissa Holt," he said.
I nearly sighed in relief.
"You're Jonathan Holt's sister, right?" he murmured.
"Huh?" was my intelligent response.
"Liss, he means Johnny," Harry said comfortingly behind me, shocking me. I felt his hand on my back and I swallowed at the action, glancing sideways.
I had totally forgotten that I wasn't the only one with a code name. Niall was supposed to be Johnny. They decided the blonde and blue eyes might match us as relatives so he was also supposedly my brother.
"O-Oh. Uh, yeah, I forget that that's his full name," I laughed nervously. "Mom and Dad hardly ever even call him that themselves now." Harry's hand now rubbed circles into my back as if to tell me to calm down or at least to shut the hell up.
The butler scrutinized us, but I kept that same smile on my face, being as innocent and polite looking as I could. He narrowed his eyes but then said, "Go on in."
I wanted to sprint at the opportunity to escape, but I looked at Harry once before going inside. As I did I heard him say formally, "Nicholas Edwards and Elizabeth Jane." God with the long proper titles.
When I got inside the house I heard loud music. Despite how fancy our names were and the house it seemed like one of those trashy parties I saw in high school movies. That kind of irritated me. Especially since the carpet was white. When I got inside I saw that they mostly had what I believed was beer? I wasn't sure, though.
I did know that it would be less suspicious for me to grab a drink and act as though I was with the rest of the party. At least I assumed so. I went to where the drinks were and then I grabbed one. I didn't even read the brand or anything, I only checked that there was alcohol in it. As a plan formulated in my mind, I began to ask around about where the bathroom was. With some simple and some rude responses I finally got directions towards one.
I got to the bathroom quickly, closing the door behind me and locking it. I turned to my reflection in the mirror, grimacing as I saw how made up I was. I rolled my eyes and then struggled to open the bottle. I groaned quietly and finally got it to twist undone. I sighed in relief and rolled my eyes even. I frowned at the bottle and thought of pouring some out so it seemed as though I were drinking it and as it began to trickle down into the sink, I got another idea. I thought of how alcohol is supposed to be on breath, so I made a face before I brought the drink to my mouth. I had no intentions of drinking it whatsoever but I swashed it around in my mouth and gurgled it even. I practically coughed it out. It just was awful, honestly.
I was tempted to rinse my mouth out with water, but I needed this breath so I can seem at least convincingly tipsy. I straightened out and once again faced myself in the mirror, seeing watery eyed in reaction to the alcohol. I bit my lip and blinked my eyes, wiping at them. But then I had to smile to myself.
Look at me being all calculative and stuff.
Not really, I negatively retorted to myself. I rolled my eyes and then opened the door, sighing. I had run into someone and I fell back slightly, releasing an "umph." I was grabbed securely and my eyes widened. I looked up after grabbing onto them reflexively, happy that they didn't just let me fall. But when I saw who it was my eyes widened even more.
It was him.
Alexander Geoffrey.
I had been given a photo of him so I could identify him and even though I recognized him, he was different from who I saw, still. I blinked in shock as he smiled at me, having a single charming dimple on the left side of his bronze face. His eyes were a dark blue and his hair a seemingly black color. I was caught off guard, because in the photo I'd seen of him he was a boy, a teen perhaps like me. Maybe even just as awkward as I am. He was thin, scrawny perhaps, and his hair had been brown under the sunlight. But now, looking at him, I saw almost a man. On the bright side his smile didn't seem to have changed.
How old was he again? I thought.
"Woah, little lady, you seem a bit off your feet," he chuckled.
My eyebrows rose. "If I do recall correctly you seem to have actually knocked me off them," I sassed.
He made an almost shocked face in response, but then he grinned and shrugged. "My looks tend to do that to the ladies." He ran his fingers through his hair cockily and I snickered.
"Wow. I do remember you being described as a ladies man, but they didn't warn me about your ego," I commented, leaning against the door frame.
"Alright, alright. I see I've got a feisty one," he nodded thoughtfully.
I shrugged. "Not really, perhaps it's the alcohol." I rolled my eyes, still with the "pretend-I've-at-least-had-one-drink" plan. "I'm usually the quiet, possibly gothic girl. But mostly nerdy," I added.
He laughed. "Okay. So now you're interesting. You're definitely cute, I'll give you that." His eyes practically glittered as he smiled at me and I couldn't help my timid one in return.
I scratched behind my ear and laughed nervously.
"I'm guessing that the, ugh, gothic, quiet, nerdy girl isn't used to hearing that?" he questioned.
I corrected, "Possibly gothic."
"Of course, of course," he murmured. He squinted his eyes and then sighed. "Well, I have some friends that I'm with right now and I would like to formally invite you to hang out with us, mysterious, quiet, possibly gothic, and nerdy girl."
I opened my mouth to tell him my name. "It's L-" My tongue seemed to thicken as I realized I wasn't Lanaura. "Lissa," I lied, losing my energy. This was a mission. This was a plan, not me and a guy. It was me and a mission.
"Well, then, Lissa, come along why don't you."
-
As Harry and Sasha prepared to part ways as acquaintances for the night, Harry was sure to remind her of her job and her duties.
"Remember what you're here to do," he ordered at her complaining about having to switch her accent. Her Russian accent wasn't heavy, but it wasn't what Harry wanted so God forbid she allowed herself to carry it as she does what she's "here to do."
She rolled her eyes and snapped, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, how the hell could I possibly?" Her voice had become clipped and American sounding.
Harry rolled his eyes back at her and shook his head. "Just go do your job."
She finished tightening her heels as she looked up at him with almost hurt in her eyes. It switched to venom as she set down her foot and stood up, glaring at him. "Right, my job," she almost laughed. "Like father, like son," she spat, shoving past Harry who became bewildered at that nasty comment.
As she stalked off angrily and the music from the rest of the house flowed into the room, he couldn't help but remember the night he'd officially met Sasha.
The music was loud as it pumped throughout the household and Harry began to look around for his father. He knew he was throwing another one of his parties and that he was supposed to stay in bed, but how can he possibly help the humane emotion of curiosity?
He didn't really care about the party. No.
He cared about the girl.
He had gotten a brief glimpse of her a few days ago, and this may be his best chance at finding a moment with her, because his father was busy with his own things at the moment-things Harry was too young to truly know about. He toed his way down the stairs and tried not to stand out too much. He knew some people would see him, but he also knew that the likeliness of them caring about his appearance would be slim.
Harry searched for the corridor that led towards a door that would hopefully lead him to her. As he got closer he felt his nerves build up. He was a bit scared to go down there, because whenever he used to be there, he was being dragged to be locked up.
The young boy closed his eyes a brief moment and then approached the door, trying not to remember his trauma. He reached into his pockets and pulled out the keys he stole to get down there. He pushed away his terror, reminding myself that he had the keys. He was the one in control right now. He stuck the key into the keyhole, turning it till he heard a click.
He hesitated barely before he pushed the door open and pulled the key out. Once the door shut behind him he stepped down into the darker area and saw that the lanterns would need relighting sometime soon. Harry picked one of them off the walls and began his walk towards the little dungeon, as he liked to call it.
He looked around, as though his father were hiding somewhere, but as he understood how paranoid he was being he leaned forward and whispered, "Hello?"
The silence seemed to have its own echo as he was met with only his own voice repeated quietly and the sound of nothing.
He sighed and just as he was already prepared to leave, he heard a voice.
"Yes?"
He turned back around and didn't see anyone, but he heard her. "Hello," he repeated more confidently.
"Allo," she responded.
Harry frowned at that and then realized her accent. He hadn't heard her speak earlier and even now, he couldn't identify where the accent is from. "Where are you from?" he blurted.
"Mikhaylovka," she whispered.
Harry bit his lip, not being very good at geography. "Uhhh. Where is that?" He wasn't going to lie; he's not the brightest of students.
"Russia," she answered.
"Oh," was his simple response. Now that he was down here, he didn't know what to say to her. He couldn't even see her, but all he remembered from what he has seen is her back which involved chestnut colored hair; she had turned around for the briefest moment, but even then he didn't actually see her.
"I want to go home," she whimpered.
He was shocked by the soft statement and the emotion within it. He wanted to open the door, but he didn't have the other key, sadly. That one was hidden a bit better than the other one. Harry leaned his face against the bars again and asked, "May I see you?"
There were sounds of movement and he saw small hands grip the bars next to his. He lifted the light and her face leaned closer and he then saw the mysterious girl. The light flickered in the gray of her eyes and the blue seemed to enhance as her pupils enlarged a little. Her face was heart shaped and had high cheekbones with skin that was a beautiful sun kissed shade almost.
Her eyes shimmered and he smiled at her comfortingly. "You are very beautiful," he admitted, kindly.
Her lips parted and she sealed them. She looked down shyly. "I-I am sorry. I do no speak much English," she confessed, her native accent making "English" sound like "Engalesh."
I smirked. "I don't speak very much Russian."
She laughed and he immediately smiled too, happy to see some of that sadness dim within the depths of her silver eyes.
Harry narrowed his eyes onto her hands and gently placed one of his on one of them, giving her a comforting look. "I'm sorry you are stuck in there; I know how terrifying it is."
Her smile fell and she set her head to look down again. She nodded. "It is. But I am let it out when it is time for my job."
"Your job?" I echoed.
She rest her head against the bars and nodded her head once more. "Yes."
"What is your job?" I asked.
She gasped and looked up at me. She bit her lip. "I would rather not speak of it!" He flinched at her sharp, emotional tone. Her other hand came to place itself on the two already holding each other. She shook her head. "I cannot bare the idea of you knowing the extent of my new life."
Harry's heart seemed to pick up speed. What was my father doing to the poor girl? he mentally questioned. He nodded and made it so all their hands held each other. "Shhh. Of course. I understand."
She closed her eyes and rest her head against their hands and then said, "Thank you."
He asked her, "Do you wanna know what might make this place a bit less frightening?"
She looked up at him through her eyelashes. "What?" she sniffled.
His eyes lit up as he grinned. "A friend."
Harry pressed his lips together as he escaped his memory. He sighed sadly as he understood how far from then they'd come. And not in a good way.
-
Ladies man, they'd called him. They'd told me. Yet somehow I was still disappointed to discover that his friends were other girls, dressed worse than me. Their dresses hugged bodies much better than mine tightly and they were short, too. Very short.
I felt insecurity bubbling in my stomach as I took a seat in a couch different from the ones they were on, not needing to ask to know I was unwelcomed. It was in the looks on their faces when they'd seen he'd brought a guest back. It was one of those singular types of chair couches and I didn't mind. "Ladies, meet Lissa, Lissa meet ladies."
I smiled and waved, "Hi,"
"How old is she?" one demanded immediately. One of her friends suggested, "Like twelve?"
Their friends snickered and I resisted rolling my eyes as I smoothly lied about my age, "I'm actually seventeen, thank you. Judging by your maturity I'm guessing you're not quite there yet." They stopped laughing and I smugly continued. "Since you're above twelve I'm guessing. . . twelve and a half?"
I'd just sealed their hatred for me. Was it necessary? No. Do I regret saying it?
Hell no.
The looks on their faces and even better the look on Alex's was just so worth it. Alex looked stunned, but at the same time humored and almost proud.
I was probably going to enjoy this too much.
"I think it's a good book," Alex argued with me not much later that night. I had actually had only a few drinks which at first was hard to handle, but I clearly got through it.
Well, maybe I had just a bit more than a few.
We were talking about the classic Wuthering Heights, but our opinions were different.
I shook my head, taking a sip from my drink. "Hmm. I was too annoyed and disgusted with basically every character except Nelly and the dude listening to the story to really even get the book or evaluate it," I disagreed slowly.
"How can you not?" he said.
"First of all Catherine Earnshaw, Linton, or," I paused trying not to burp, "whatever the hell her last name is," he began to chuckle, "irritated the hell out of me. I thought Bella Swan was an awful female role."
"You did not just-"
"And Edgar. To say the least he hardly had any part in the story, to me, other than creating a dumb love triangle with the whiny one and Heathcliff." I scoffed. "Heathcliff!" I exclaimed, shaking my head. "He is a monster. I don't know if it's because of the brother guy being so rude and hateful to him at a young age or what but he became so so cruel I wanted to just stop reading about such an inhumane character-"
"But that's the thing about him. You kind of have to empathize with the things he's been through-"
"I do believe I was talking," I smart mouthed.
His silent mouth closed as he heard me and then he looked around and frowned. "Where did the others go?" he asked.
I noticed that his friends had all dispersed for the most part and I raised my eyebrows in observation. I shrugged. "I don't know?" I couldn't help it. I smiled. "I think I scared them away." He shook his head, laughing. "This is what happens when you allow the quiet, gothic, nerdy girl to meet your friends."
"Possibly gothic," he corrected.
I laughed at the repeat of events and nodded my head. "Right. Possibly gothic." I giggled. "Um, I need to pee, so I think I'm just gonna, like," I was wobbly when I stood up. The room was just a tad bit blurry, but I seemed otherwise fine. I practically fell over however when I took my first step. I was caught in Alex's arms and I cackled. "Aww, you caught me! That's so sweet."
"You know what, I'll help you, okay?"
I agreed. "Okay. Just hurry be-before I pee on you," I laughed as he picked me up.
"God, Liss, I'm guessing you don't drink often or this is your usual drunk behavior?"
I frowned and shook my head. "Liss?"
"Yeah. I hope you don't mind that I've given you a bit of a nickname."
"But that's not my name!" I laughed, my eyes squeezing shut.
"Well, it's a nickname?"
I laughed even harder. "Alex, do you want to hear a secret?" I began as he was carrying me up the stairs in his arms like a child.
He frowned down at me and answered, "Um, sure?"
I looked around myself and then leaned into him and whispered, "Melissa isn't my name. Lanaura is." I covered my mouth and burst into childish giggles. I gasped and pressed my finger to my lips. "But shh! You can't tell! Oh, if you do then Louis will get mad at me," I thought out loud. "And Liam, Zayn . . ." My frown deepened. "Probably Harry."
I rubbed my eyes and he asked, "What the hell? Wait, why did you lie about your name? What do they have to do with it?"
I shook my head and sighed. "I honestly don't even know," I admitted. "Something with..." I stopped as my mouth became dry and my throat almost itchy. I coughed a little. "I don't feel so good."
"Something to do with what?"
My mind was just barely clearing in that moment and I knew I'd screwed up. I shouldn't have been drinking. I shouldn't have been so casual or talkative. Why couldn't I have acted like the shy girl I usually am? Why did he have to be so easy to connect with and beautiful? Why did I catch his attention?
"Put me down, Alex, please," I said. "Oh my god, I really feel bad," I groaned. He put me down, but that wasn't the end of it.
"Seriously, Li-" he rethought. "Or, uh, Lanaura? Anyways. Just tell me what the hell is going on," he insisted, following after me.
"It's-it's nothing. It's stupid, I'm sor-" I gasped as I bumped into someone. It was a different guy with brown hair and eyes that I simply apologized to quickly. I kept walking and Alex kept demanding answers. "I-I've said too much I think I should go." I knew I had to get away from him. If I didn't who knew what would happen.
"Lanaura-"
"Laney, call me Laney," I said.
"Laney you have to tell me what's happening."
I felt myself want to cry. "It's too complicated. I'm sorry. I wish we could just be a guy and a girl or something." Get away! Get away, now!
"Who says we aren't?"
I couldn't take it any longer. I opened the first door I saw, feeling light headed. I wasn't sure if it was from the conversation we'd just had, but I still felt sick. It got worse when the sounds of the room plus what I soon noticed with my eyes exposed what was happening in here. My eyes widened as I realized there were two people in bed having actual sex. And this wasn't like in the movies where it all happened under the sheets, nope, I saw too much.
I turned around, face beet red, thinking, holy shit.
"I-I'm sorry!" I squeaked. The door opened behind me and I turned around, seeing Alex. "I don't think we should be-"
"Who the hell is-" His eyes were wide as he looked behind me. I didn't want to witness whatever it was he was seeing. But then I heard another door opening and I glanced behind me in time to see Harry stepping out of the closet.
This just got weird.
He threw something to the people in bed and when I realized the naked woman was Sasha and that the weapon was a gun my heart nearly plummeted to my stomach. "Oh my god," I said.
Sasha grabbed it and she hit the man on the head with it and I heard Alex go, "Dad?"
"Alex, you need to leave," I felt myself murmur.
My attention was taken from Sasha when I heard Harry's hard voice. "Lanaura." I turned to him to see he was pointing a gun at me and Alex. After closer looking I realized he was pointing the gun at Alex alone. "Here now."
I noticed Sasha receive a robe from him to cover her naked body. I bit back with courage, "Am I a dog?"
"Lanaura," he roared practically. "Here now!"
He left no more room for arguing as he tore his gaze from Alex's and glared at me. I turned around to Alex and then back to Harry. "H-Harry," I began.
"If I must repeat myself again, Laney, then this won't end well for you."
Fear surged through me at the vague, but terrifying threat. I looked back at Alex one moment, but then I attempted to make my way towards Harry. I was getting dizzy and my sight was blurry and flashing with spots of color. I nearly plummeted to the ground, but Harry made sure to get me.
"Jesus Christ," I heard him mutter.
"What the hell is going on?" I think Alex asked.
"Nothing much, now shut up a minute."
I was trying to find words, but it was hard. Especially speaking them.
"Laney. Laney, love, look at me a moment. Look at me, darling, won't you?" His hand grasped me by my chin and he even patted my cheek lightly so I could open my eyes. I did so faintly and I saw the concern on his face, his jade eyes observing me greatly. "You've been drinking." He pressed his lips together tightly. He frowned and then clenched his jaw. "Did you slip something in her drink?" he growled.
"What? Of course not!"
I shook my head. Alex wouldn't do that my mind said, but my chest felt like it was tightening. My throat did too. Everything in me felt just wrong. "I think I'm gonna throw up," I whispered.
"Oh God."
"What did you do to my father?"
"Don't look at me. I kept my eyes shut during that ordeal until my cue," Harry retorted. "Laney, please just stay awake. Don't close your eyes. If it's not a drug, its alcohol poisoning and if you fall asleep you can go into a coma, are you listening?"
That made me open my eyes better. I did not want a coma. "Deep breaths," he encouraged. "Deep breaths." I followed his instructions the best I could and he swore. "You're heating up."
"God, I-I don't get it."
"You're not going to kill him are you?" I asked in a shaky voice. His eyes narrowed and I saw his expression sour.
As though I weren't even there he asked Alex, "Did you fucking touch her?"
I gasped in fear for Alex. No, no, no, I thought, he's nice, he's a good guy. He couldn't do it. He can't shoot him. "Harry-"
"I'm not sure if you care still, but I have it now." I barely lifted my head to see Sasha standing in the robe with something too miniscule and far away to see.
"What is that?" Alex asked.
"Did you touch her or not?" Harry ignored his question and I tried to straighten myself out. I was swaying as I held onto Harry's jacket to keep me up.
"Well, no, but she didn't tell me she had a boyfriend."
I flushed. "He-He's not my-" I began to fall again.
"Holy- god, the hell are Louis and Zayn?"
As if on cue Louis and Zayn entered the room and Alex turned around. My throat tightened as tears gathered in my eyes. "Harry, don't let him die," I cried. "Please, he's-he's a nice guy, he-he didn't put any moves on me he's been so kind, you can't-"
"Just don't look."
My eyes widened and I sobbed. "Harry n-" But then I heard it. A groan and what sounded like a blade being plunged into someone. I covered my mouth and closed my eyes, shaking. I was crying and I knew I was going to throw up now. I pushed myself away from Harry and walked away, refusing to look in the direction I knew Alex's body would be. I fell at the foot of the bed and began to throw up there, crying at the same time. I hadn't ever been so disgusted or terrified before. At least for someone other than myself.
I moved away from it and let myself lay on the ground, turning my head so I could see Alex's lifeless body lying there. He was kind to me, I thought. He'd made me laugh and smile and belong. He made me feel special. I threw up more and then I felt my hair being held back and someone was wiping my face. I wasn't sure who it was, but I had an idea. I didn't care if my idea was right and if it was then I was hugging one of the most inappropriate people after what just happened but as they dabbed at my mouth finally with something I hugged them.
"He didn't deserve to die," I whispered. "It's my fault, it's my fault."
"It's not your fault, Laney," a voice that confirmed my guess spoke. "Don't blame yourself."
And as Harry tried to make me feel better, the image of a thriving, young, promising man conflicted with the image of a lifeless corpse.
It would take me some time to get over this.
-
This was sort of different from how it goes in the original one, oops. I just thought this would be a bit more interesting and less predictable, yanno.
QUESTIONS.
1. Well wasn't Laney just adorable in this chapter? Especially with Alex who . . .? Yep, sorry I just had to make him a nice guy, oops.
2. Um, Sasha and Harry? What's up not only with their fight, but like that flashback though? In case it wasn't mentioned, in the flashback Harry is fifteen.
3. Have you ever gotten drunk or at least had a drink? I've never been drunk, but one time last year I was peer pressured into drinking like a mug of champagne. Maybe I'm a lightweight or it was because it was my first (and only) time drinking it, but I was giggling and laughing straight for maybe ten minutes.
AND GOOD NEWS EVERYBODY. IN CASE YOU DON'T READ CONTROL OR HUNTER (whispers you should) THEN YOU HAVEN'T HEARD BUT YEAH I HAVE DISOWNED MY "PEN NAME" (tf kind of b.s.) I'M YOUR ANGIE BEAR ONCE MORE BUT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN YOUR MAMA BEAR OK ILY GUYS.
Sigh. Feels like old times dudn't it?
Also, you know what it izzz. Comment, vote, fan, and promote. Y'all are wonderful and see if we can reach 2.5 K reads on total story and 125 votes, pleeaaasee. I'll update early if y'all guys can get it, I swear. If any of you haven't voted for a previous chapter just do it and 👌.
Bye babies, you're all beautiful and special and dON't fORGET IT OK. Sing that in Zayn's voice.
BYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEE.
- Angie Bear <3
Bonus question: favorite Fleetwood Mac song? I bought a best of album for them (new listener) so I'll listen to your faves and I'd love the recommendations.