“So, you boys are here on a small East coast tour?” Ryan Seacrest and all his glory asked the five Brits.

“That’s the plan.” Harry spoke up first, “We are really excited about this and hope that when we do our full world-wide tour with the new album, people will show up and give us some love.” He smiled cheekily.

Ryan grinned back with his perfectly bleached teeth, nodding in understanding with his expensive haircut that probably cost more than Olivia’s rent.

“There is no doubt in my mind that your new world tour will be a huge success.” Ryan said into the microphone, staring at the boys around the small circular table covered in papers and equipment. “Each show you have for the next four weeks has been completely sold out since word got out. How does that make you feel?”

“Yeah, well, it’s a phenomenal feeling that people think so highly of us and our music. Doing X Factor we never dreamed of this happening,” Liam turned to his band mates who nodded in agreement, “The fans are the reason we get to do what we love and we’ll do shows forever if it means we can keep them happy.”

Ryan barked out a laugh as the rest of the boys smiled, probably imagining themselves singing ‘Up All Night’ at sixty.

“Forever is a long time, boys.” Ryan chortled.

“Forever young.” Louis sang, causing all of them to laugh.

Niall shrugged when things settled down, “We’re best mates and band mates. Nothing is going to stop us from living the dream. We’ll be around to sing to whoever wants to listen, even when we’re old and unattractive.” He grinned his lopsided grin, showing off his clear braces.

As Ryan asked another question, Olivia’s shoulder was tapped. She turned away from the viewing glass and was met by familiar brown eyes.

“Dad?” She breathed. He grinned widely at his daughter, happy to see her. Before Olivia could get out another word, he engulfed her in a tight embrace.

“Olive,” His eyes twinkled with delight. “Julia said she got you to help with One Direction but I just had to see it for myself.” He gazed out the clear window and back to his flustered daughter. “Amazing.”

Olivia couldn’t help the playful eye roll and smile at her father’s lunacy. “It’s good to see you too, dad.”

“How are you doing?” He went into sudden parent mode, “Are they treating you alright?”

“Yeah, of course,” Olivia answered, “They’re actually…manageable.” As an afterthought she added, “So far.”

“Good, good,” He nodded, his smile slowly fading away. Olivia hardly ever saw her father without a smile on his face unless something at work was stressing him out or her mother—

She knew something was wrong as soon as he had walked through the door. Even with a smile hiding what he was feeling, Olivia could tell he was tired. Even in his late forties, he looked relatively young—but, today—he looked old. Older than he was, older than he had ever looked. It was unsettling to his daughter.

“Dad,” Olivia said urgently, panic and hysteria rising rapidly. She hated the feeling before bad news was broken. It was the worst feeling in the world. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

He tried to put on that smile again as he opened his mouth, “Olive, we should—”

There was a large commotion from the interview room next to them. Louis had somehow managed to fly across the room and tumble directly into Niall on the other side, flipping the chair over with both of them in it. Powerful laughter echoed around the room and into the ears of the two tense family members outside.

“Olivia!” Louis cried, staring at her with a smile on his lips, his blue eyes crinkled, “Come in here! We wanna introduce our new friend to the greater New York area!”

Olivia looked at her father, unable to breath, “Dad?” She was overeating, she knew that. But after her mother, Olivia could never bare to see her father so serious. “Dad, please.”

He quickly shook his head, forcing that big smile as he waved to the boys.

“Who are you?” Louis asked through the glass.

“Olive’s father.” He answered. “And who are you?”

“I’m Niall Horan.” Louis grinned.

“No, you’re not,” Niall argued, “I’m Niall Horan!”

“No, I am!” Zayn shouted gleefully.

“You’re all lying because I’m Niall Horan.” Liam shook his head seriously. Harry threw back his head and laughed.

“That’s a lot of Niall Horans.” Olivia’s father commented, “When you shout out your names, does it get confusing on who you’re trying to talk to?”

“I like him.” Louis chortled, “I see where Olivia gets her sass.”

“Sass?” Mr. Mann questioned Olivia with a quirked brow.

“It’s this thing they say.” Olivia said quietly, wishing they would shut up so her father could tell her what he really came here for.

“They’re funny,” Mr. Mann nodded in approval. “Julia was right. This’ll be good for you.”

“Dad,” Olivia tried to reel him back in.

“Well, that’s all the time we have,” Ryan brought the boys back from the glass, “A big thanks to One Direction for hanging out with me today.”

“Thank you, Ryan.” Harry replied respectively. The rest of the boys followed his lead and gave their thanks.

“I wish you luck on your world-tour coming up pretty soon and the new album you’re about to drop. Mindee is up next with your weather forecast and then we’ll get back to the music. Seacrest out!”

Ryan pressed the red button to his right and pulled off his large headphones. “Great job, guys. It’s always a pleasure to hang out with, you five—”

“Dad,” Olivia repeated forcefully.

Mr. Mann shook his head as if to say ‘never mind, it’s not that important’. He quickly kissed her on the forehead and said, “Let’s have dinner before you leave for Massachusetts. Wednesday at my place. Bring your new boyfriends.” He wriggled his brows playfully before turning around and walking down the white hall.

Olivia swallowed before opening her mouth to yell att him to come back, that he wasn’t getting off that easy—but the boys burst out the sound room as loud and rambunctious as they possibly could.

Niall hopped on Zayn’s back, challenging Liam and Louis to a piggyback race. They claimed that the first one back to the car won. And how could Liam and Louis refuse with those bragging rights at stake?

They hurried away, galloping down the hall. Niall and Louis played dirty, trying to shove each other off as Zayn and Liam sprinted down the hall, their shoes clomping extremely vociferously, disturbing the people trying to work in their cubicles.

Olivia’s eye followed them blankly, lost in her own thoughts. Harry stood behind her, hands stuffed in his pockets as he leaned against the glass window, watching her intently. He could tell she was distressed. He had been watching from the moment her father walked up to her. Not many words had been exchanged but something had Olivia wound tightly. Well, even tighter than usual.

Most of the conversation had happened between his mates and her father. Whatever he was trying to tell Olivia had been interrupted by Louis.

Louis, Harry thought with a slight amount of annoyance, couldn’t he shut up for one minute to let Olivia speak with her father?

Now, Olivia was biting her lip in distress. Her dark brown eyes were watering—not that she was going to cry (it was mostly just a gut reaction). Harry had barely known her for twenty-four hours but he didn’t like the sadness and ever-growing panic in her eyes. He didn’t like seeing anyone like that. Olivia was a nice girl. Harry knew he could be a bit much at times but he was only trying to get to know her. He only had four weeks to spend in Olivia’s company; he didn’t want to waste time losing out on a good friend.

“Olive?” Was the first word Harry spoke. Olivia peered over at him, confused for a few moments before registering Harry hadn’t gone stampeding away with his friends.

“Its, uh—” She cleared her constricted throat, “A nickname my mom gave me.”

“I’ve never heard anyone call you that.” Harry commented lightly.

“That’s because until yesterday you’d never heard anyone call me anything.” Olivia snapped, “Let’s go before they cause a riot outside.”

Olivia made to march down the hall after the racing quartet but Harry grabbed her hand. She tensed up at his touch, staring up at Harry with so much vulnerability for a moment that he stumbled on his words.

“What’s—How—Are you okay?” Harry faltered, feeling his cheeks heat up lightly at his stupidity.

Olivia eyed him suspiciously. “I’m fine.” She replied instantly.

Harry didn’t believe her. “I know I just met you, but if you ever need to talk—”

“Save it for some girl who actually wants you to get in their pants.” The words vomited out of Olivia’s mouth without any hesitation. She was angry that Harry had been there to witness her moment of weakness with her father. She was furious that he was trying to use the ‘I’m-here-if-you-wanna-talk’ card. She was sick of Harry Styles and his voice and his face and everything about him.

Olivia knew that tonight when she had time to whine down, she would regret saying those harsh words. She knew she would feel guilt eat her alive until she apologized. But, at the moment, Olivia didn’t care. She wanted Harry to go away so she could have a moment alone to hypothesize on what had her father so serious.

Harry blinked, recoiling under her hateful gaze. He felt as though someone had punched him in the stomach. Here Harry was, trying to help a clearly uneasy girl and she assumed he was trying to get in her pants.

Why did everyone assume Harry was so easy? That he would sleep with any girl who spread her legs? Louis gave him shit for it all the time. Why did he deserve all the hate? He didn’t have a girlfriend so sleeping with multiple women should be okay. But, apparently being in One Direction, it was frowned upon.

Her comment struck a cord within him. Harry swallowed with some difficulty as they stared angrily at each other for a few moments.

“I was just trying to help,” Harry said in a low voice, “Sorry I bothered.”

And with that, Harry walked away, leaving Olivia in a blinding rage and no one to take it out on.

Notes

Thanks for all the feedback so far! I think you're all lovely (:
I'm going to be posting my other active 1D story, The Magic of Macy's in a little bit. You can check it out if you're in the X-mas mood (;