Things I Can, Things I Can’t

I had found it almost impossible to sleep that night, eventually dozing off at around two. The sound of bags, bodies, boxes and chatter woke me up. The view from my window was pitch black, and the clock read four.

I pulled a small travel bag into the lounge area of the suite, where I only recognised Liam. He gave me a polite nod and offered to carry my bags. I was actually greatly impressed by the gesture, it was the middle of the night and he was being pleasant, more than I can say for his counterpart last night.

I didn't see anyone else to talk to that morning. We moved from the hotel to the bus and all found our respective bunks. The crew members and myself were positioned at the front of the bus, with One Direction taking the middle proportion, equipped with en-suite, bar, and lounge area. The journey was long and peculiar. At eight that morning, we arrived in Manchester. The boys had a day of interviews but a free evening. I shuddered knowing this was my first full day of work. I looked down at my phone for the first time in over a day.

Will
hows it going then
Will
don't fucking worry about texting me back then

I winced. William was my boyfriend of two and a half years. A school-time romance that actually lasted past it's sell-by date. This tour meant 105 tour dates, and those were just the ones I was scheduled for. This meant that I wouldn't be in the UK for a long, long time after this week. Of course this infuriated Will, who couldn't understand why I would up and leave. My heart dropped at the thought. I quickly sent my apologies and pleasantries back to Will, and lifted myself, with great difficulty, from the bunk. I clambered into the middle part, only two curtains were shut, and then out into the lounge. Nobody was talking. Niall was watching something on his iPad, Zayn flicking through his twitter feed, and Harry just sat, eating cereal, staring out the window. They all acknowledged me.I sat down on the edge of the seat next to Harry, feeling my phone buzz again. He didn't flinch.

Will
good, yeah i'm alright. if you want to blank me again for your bandmates forget coming home

God, he was being such a prick. The mixture of tiredness and frustration caused a lump to form in my throat. I cleared it, quickly, and went back to my bunk. I knew that it would take a while to adjust to everybody, and I knew that nobody was being deliberately unkind, but when you feel down, and paranoid, you can't help but feel like a sore thumb. I felt somebody tap my hip from outside. I pulled the curtain back.

"Hey, Annie. We're at the hotel. Everyone's going in but I'm going to get some food. Wanna come?" It was Niall, who had been pleasant to me from the beginning and the one I felt most comfortable around.
"Sure, where are you going?" I asked.

We thought of a few places and decided to just go to the closest one possible. A few streets away, there was a quiet breakfast cafe. Nobody had recognised Niall so far, and I was glad that I wouldn't be faced with the awkwardness of so many people looking at me in confusion. We ordered some drinks and a croissant each, and began talking.

"So, how you finding everybody so far? It's not been a great start, with it being so hectic this morning."
I thought about how exactly I felt and nodded. "Everybody has been pleasant, probably you more so than anyone," I grinned and he did too, with surprise. "I find it quite odd around Harry, though. But I'm probably just paranoid."
He shook his head, trying to finish the bite of his croissant he had taken quickly, so he could answer me. "No, he's honestly got nothing against you.. he's not that kind of person. But he misses Lou and Lux, he was very close to them. Lou made him the godfather of Lux before she left. We all got along with her but they were best friends, really. So he's probably just adjusting to that."

His words did reassure me, and I did believe them. We talked for a while longer, and he gave me very descriptive accounts of each of the boys. As he did so, everything sort of came together about each of them and I felt more comfortable than I had this morning.

"Shall we get back?" He asked me. I nodded and we exited the cafe, a bodyguard walking behind us back to the hotel.

* * *

Harry's P.O.V

I clicked out of my staring competition I had been holding with the rain on the bus window, when the weight next to me shifted. It was the new stylist. She sat on her phone and opened a text. I had managed to read the jist of it when she stood up, quickly, and darted into the bunks. if you want to blank me for your bandmates, forget coming home? Well whoever that was sounded like a total prick. I turned to Zayn, who was staring at his Mac.

"Did you see that?" I asked, stopping chewing the cornflakes I was eating.
"See what?" He retorted, chewing his cheek without looking up.

I shook my head and carried on looking out of the window. Niall had by that point, followed her and I suspected he would probably check on her. Besides, although it sounds terrible, I couldn't be bothered with listening to anyone else's problems. I looked down at my own phone, a
WhatsApp message from Lou.

Lou
Lux looked so confused when she woke up. Think she knows you're not about! hows it all going with annie. hope you're being kind

I definitely felt my chest tighten. Kids are the worst people to get close to, and I missed having them around.

i ain't really spoken to her but she seems alright. think she's having some sort of boyfriend trouble

I cocked an eyebrow and replied.

Notes

Probably a bit boring for you all at the moment, but got to start somewhere! Updates soon. Hopefully then will be a biiiiit more interesting.
Lila