Chapter 14
Claire's point of view
I can't process the situation before i see him disappear behind the door, and i freeze completely, still in the arms of Harry.
"Is something wrong?" he asks, and i consider what i'm gonna say. I probably should say he saw us, but i have to take a few seconds, Harry's worry growing stronger in his eyes. Harry doesn't know that he saw us, and i could just not let him know right now, and try to convince the one that saw us, not to tell anyone and to not let Harry know that he knows. So everything stays a secret.
"No.. But i'm gonna go change, be right back," i say and he kisses me before i leave the room, hurrying to not let anyone see the purple Versace dress that is currently wrapped around my body. I look around to see where he is him, to talk to him and explain everything. Right then i hear a door close, and i turn around and locate the sound -- it came from my room. He went into my room.
When i open the door, i immediately get a rush of anxiety. I have to sit here and explain what he just saw to his face. And i have to persuade him to not tell anyone what he saw. Not even to Harry. I don't want him to worry about people knowing about us. If he knew that someone saw us, he'd probably break it off, and i don't want that.
I find him sitting on the bed, staring right at me as i walk through the door. His blue eyes piercing through me, the eyes that just saw me and Harry kissing.
"Niall, please let me explain,"
"Explain what? How i saw one of my best friends kissing you after knowing you for five days?" he seems more mad than i thought he'd be. I mean, granted that Niall and I have known each other for years, he's acting like he's affected by this. But i don't see how he could be.
But really, i don't know how i can explain it. I mean, it is what it is, i have no particular reason for Harry and I being together. It's still crazy for us to be together.
"No... I mean, yes, but..." i stumble over my words as i search for the right thing to say. After a few seconds of silence, i decide to get straight to the point.
"Please don't tell anyone," i whisper, and a break in my voice occurs, sounding like i'm about to cry, but i'm not. Not only do i want him to keep it a secret from Louis, but Harry as well. I know it's a lot to ask. I've kept a huge secret from Louis these past few days, and it hasn't been easy.
"What? I can't lie to Louis," Niall says, and panic spreads from my chest.
"Please Niall, Louis or Harry can't know that you know," I say, my breaths getting heavier, a familiar horrific feeling taking over my body. It's a panic attack.
"Claire, i don't think i could-" he starts before he sees the tears from my eyes. I lose feeling in the tips of my fingers and toes, and I struggle to stand, the dizziness making me sit down on the bed.
"Claire!" Niall shouts worriedly, rushing over to me. He holds my hand as I struggle to keep conscious. I clench my hand around his palm, closing my eyes and try to calm myself. I see that he's about to call for help, but I stop him. Louis can't see me in this dress, and Harry can't know that Niall has seen it.
"No, don't," I pant as he starts to shout something.
I take control of my breathing and the tears slowly fade away from my cheek. I feel his hand on my back, rubbing up and down to calm me down. He cups my chin and wipes away my tears, and asks;
"Are you okay?" A surprising gut feeling overwhelms me. I feel comfort. Whenever i have had panic attacks, they have usually been in my room with no one to help me through them. But now that Niall's here, with his warm hands on my back and chin, i feel myself calm down and feel at ease once again.
"Yes," i say after have my breath under control. I get a feeling that Niall's going to ask questions about it, and i really can't stand the thought of telling the long tale of my anxiety.
"Um, can you... I have to change," i make up something for him to leave the room, because i just feel the need to be alone for a few minutes before i have to go to dinner with everyone. And i really do need to change. I mean, i can't show up in a sparkling, purple Versace dress.
•
"You look beautiful," Harry whispers in my ear before we exit out the door, Niall and Louis are just a few steps ahead of us.
"Thank you, you look very handsome," i return the compliment, but i stop right before we exit the door to give him a kiss after the door shuts so Louis and Niall wont see. But i guess i shouldn't be worried about Niall anymore.
I'm kinda over-dressed because i'm wearing a knee-length dress and the boys are wearing black and blue jeans with a shirt, except for Harry. He's also wearing a blazer with a dark red flower pattern. I think on some level, we are both treating this as a date, even though we shouldn't. Its with my brother and another one of Harry's best friends. But still, it feels good going out with Harry.
We all enter the black van, accompanied by two security guards, seeing that there are currently three A-list celebrities in one car.
After we've arrived and gotten our table, i can't help but notice Niall's continuous stares at Harry. Whenever i glance at Harry, he looks at the two of us, and then down on his menu. Louis is so into the menu that he doesn't notice the awkward mood between the three of us.
"Hey! What do you guys want?" A waitress suddenly appears with her notepad and cleavage to our table. We all order, and after she's done writing it all down, she looks over to Harry and asks;
"Is that it? Or can i get you something... extra?" While smiling her perfect teeth at him. I try not to react too obviously, but she's clearly flirting with him.
"He's fine," i say aggressively and hand her my menu. She leaves with a bitter look on her face. I notice Louis looking at me with confused eyes, and Niall with a judgmental expression on his face. I keep forgetting that they're here. I feel Harry's hand at the end of my thigh and chills runs down my spine. I don't know why, but whenever he puts his hands on my thigh, my whole body lights up.
•
Harry's point of view
After she told off the flirting waiter, i'm struggling to restrain myself. I have to have her, now. And it kills me that i just can't grab her right then and there. I have to wait until we get home to just kiss her.
After a while, the food comes and i am quick to finish my meal and ask for the check. The others are making small talk, but i'm not in a good enough mood to join. I feel locked down.
They give me constant weird looks, including Claire. I must be acting weird.
"Ready to go?" i rush them, whilst paying for the check. They all nod and we make our way to the exit.
"Oh, sorry i forgot my jacket" Claire says before running back to our table. Louis and Niall wait as well, but i decide to send them into the car so Claire and I could have at least a few seconds alone before getting home.
"You guys go ahead, i'll wait for her," Louis goes without hesitation, but Niall gives me a curious look before heading off with Louis. I have to admit, i immediately got jealous of how Claire and Niall have known each other for so long, while i have just met her a few days ago. And Niall was acting a bit more friendly than i'd like him to act around her. Not just Niall, but i want anyone flirting with Claire to know that she's mine. But they can't know that, because of my fame, and the law, and Louis...
"Hey," she says as she steps out with her jacket.
"Hi," i say back and surround her with my arms. The car is far away in the parking lot, so Louis and Niall wont see. And the lot is surprisingly cleared from paparazzi.
"Harry, there are people here," she says, looking into my eyes.
"They won't see," i say, and i give her a kiss that should've lasted longer than it did. But it was suddenly interrupted by the flash of a camera.
A/N: DID YOU LIKE THIS CHAPTER??
Shits getting reaalll, but anyways IM SO SORRY ITS BEEN SO LONG SINCE AN UPDATE. NEARLY A MONTH D: I'd like to mention @king_Camilla, who recently had a birthday!! Happy late birthday :)) <3
let me know if you find any mistakes btw
BYE SEE YOU NEXT CHAPTER LOVE YOUS