The Setup

Here I am sitting on my floor in a pair of gym shorts and one of Mickey's Football sweatshirts. I have three suitcases on my floor. All empty. I can't bring myself to pack. Mickey comes in and sits down beside me. "Well looks like you have a lot done. You leave tomorrow."
"Don't remind me. Maybe I will fake a serious illness or something."
"Right I'm sure Rachel will not see through that one."
"Damn it! This sucks. I don't even know what to pack!"
"Obviously the staples. Get up. Come on I'll help." It was about noon when we finished packing. One suitcase was just shoes and accessories, one for all my bottoms like jeans, skirts, shorts, undies and one for all my tops. Which included a whole shit ton of tops and my bras. Mickey didn't pack those, he made a gross face and then went back to stuffing shirts into my suitcase. My phone started to play Niall's ringtone. "Jesus what the fuck could he want? He's already taking you away from me!" Mickey dramatically storms out of my room. He can be such a woman sometimes. I sigh and answer while I lean down to grab the box from under my bed. "Helloo?"
"Cleo! I'm shocked you picked up."
"I don't really have a choice. If I didn't I would just have gotten a voicemail. So what's up? OW!" I just banged my head on my bed frame. I must've shoved this damn box in the middle of my floor. I was half underneath my bed. If Mickey walked in he would only see my legs sticking out. "Are you okay?"
"Yea just banged my head…yes got it!" I got the box and wiggled my way out from underneath my bed. I quickly put in a suitcase. "Got what?"
"Oh uh nothing. Not important. So why'd you call?"
"I was wondering if you wanted to go grab lunch or something…"
"Oh um…I--"
"Its fine if you don't I was just wondering…I thought it would be nice. That's all. Um I'll see--"
"Niall wait up. I'll go get lunch with you. Then Mickey can finally cry all those tears he's been holding back. Um…where were you thinking?"
"Anywhere is fine with me." Of course it was.
"Um okay. There's a café at the end of my block. I'll meet you there at 1?"
"Yea sounds lovely. See ya then baby." And then before I could yell at him, he hung up. Baby. Ew. I yelled for Mickey who came running into my room. "Yes love?"
"I'm meeting Niall for lunch. Pick out something that's still semi nice and not packed."
"Why? I'm holding you hostage today remember?"
"It's just lunch Mickey. Then you can cry without me judging your manhood."
"Good point. But only be gone for 3 hours max." He chucks a pair of jeans at me and plain deep green pocket tee. I go to change and do my makeup. I left my hair down. I slipped on my white converses then checked the time. It was almost 12:45. I grabbed my purse and headed to go meet my fake boyfriend. When I got there he was already there. There was also a shit ton of press there too. Great just what I wanted. NOT. He came over and put his arm around my waist and leads me to a table. Jesus he already had a table? When the fuck did he get here? I was looking at him so he smiled. I would run or shove him away but there is press so I gots to play it cool. "How's packing going?" I look at him. He was wearing just a plain white tee and a pair of jeans that hugged his legs. He just recently got over a knee surgery or something because he kind of limped when he walked. That's what I have noticed at least. To be honest I didn't really follow him much during X-Factor. I just saw his audition then suddenly his giant face was plastered on a billboard. I have only heard the songs that they play on the radio. "Hello? Earth to Cleo."
"Huh? Um…its fine. How much stuff am I allowed to bring?"
"Whatever you like…just not your whole room."
"So three suitcases are okay? They aren't very big." The waiter comes over, who is pretty attractive I might add. I smile at him and look him up and down. He is totally flustered. "I um…Hi I am Chris. Are you guys ready to order? Maybe some drinks to start you out?" Niall is leaned back and has his arms crossed over his chest. He's about to give his order but Chris speaks again. "I'm sorry but you are Cleo right? Cleo Somerson?"
"Yep that’s me. What gave me away?"
"Your eyes. You're very hot."
"Why thanks. Do you want me to sign anything? A napkin?"
"How about a picture so I can brag to my friends?" He gets out his phone and hands it to Niall, who looks like he's about to stab Chris with his knife. "Here pal, take our picture." I get up and stand next to him. Niall snaps a picture. "Now how about you take our orders?"
"Oh right sorry, just not everyday you get to serve the hottest model 2 years in a row. Drinks?" We say our orders. I got strawberry lemonade and a chicken wrap. Niall got some beer and a burger. "You didn't have to be so rude Niall."
"What? I wasn't rude. I was reminding him to do his job and stop drooling over MY girlfriend."
"I'm a model Niall! Get used to the drooling. Just like I'm sure there will be plenty of girls throwing themselves at you. But I'm not the jealous type so you don't have to worry babe."
"Still. I don't like it. Your mine."
"Only because you made me. Anyway we got off topic. I'm good with three suitcases?"
"Yep that's fine. And you're right I'm sorry. Soo…hottest model 2 years running?"
"Yea…its cool I guess. I don't know. I don't really qualify myself as hot."
"You're more of the stunning beauty that poets would write about." He just looked at me with those icy blue eyes. Sent chills right down my spine. I, being the oh so smooth one, just sat there sputtering noises trying to say something back. I got nothing. I looked out the window and quickly grabbed my napkin to shield my face. God this was the last thing I needed. Ted. He was my old boyfriend. The last one I picked out. Long story short, he cheated on me then I broke up with him, so now he is trying to win me back. He must've spotted me because I hear Niall. "Whose the lad coming right at us?"
"Ted. My ex."
"Ahh…you have a lot of things to tell me."
"Shut up and get him away."
"How am I to do that?" Then I feel someone yank away my napkin. I see a smiling Ted. "Cleo! Fancy meeting you here! You look great."
"Ted…how terrible to see you. Niall this is Ted." Niall gets up and shakes his hand. "Hello, I'm Niall, Cleo's boyfriend."
"Cleo wouldn't date you. She hates your kind of music."
"Does she now? Funny. Because she likes it when I sing her to sleep." I was sitting there watching this all go down. My mouth open, damn I wish I had some popcorn. "She wouldn't sleep with you. Cleo why are you hanging around with this ass?"
"Why would she not sleep with me? I know she didn't sleep with you. I know why she left and why you are here. Because you want to get in her pants. Its very obvious."
"You…you told him?" Shit that was a question for me. "Uh…yea. He's my boyfriend…and I don't hide anything from my significant others."
"Prove it."
"Prove what Ted?"
"Prove you're dating him. Kiss him right now. I know that if you aren't dating you won't." I just gape at him. That little fucker has got me. I can't kiss Niall. We weren't really dating…thankfully Niall saved me. "She doesn't have to do anything for you. Get your ass out of here. And if I ever hear that you talked to her again. I will personally beat the shit out of you." Ted just huffed and walked away. This is the worst lunch date ever. Our food came shortly after that. I ate so fast because I just wanted out of there. "Jesus Cleo did you even taste your food?"
"I um…I have to go. I…sorry." I grabbed my purse and bolted out of there. I was walking back when I felt someone pull on my arm and spin me around. Niall followed me. "Cleo…why do you always run away from me?"
"I'm not running from you. Just from that situation. You…"
"I what? Care about you still? You got that right. Cleo no guy should talk to you like that. What the hell happened between you two anyways? Looks like he is still hung up on you."
"He cheated on me. I went to surprise him since I got done with a shoot early and he was fucking some girl on his couch."
"I will beat the son of a bitch up if I ever see--"
"Mickey already did. But thanks for saving me back there." We were walking again and I got to my building. "Well this is me. I'll see you tomorrow. What time?"
"7am. And Cleo, you can come to me with any problem. I want us to be like how we were back then."
"I'm not the same girl Niall. I've changed a lot. You barely even know me now."
"So let me get to know you again." He grabs me and pulls me in for a hug. His arms are around my waist and mine are around his neck. This felt right. I don't know why but it did. He lets me go and kisses my hand. "Until tomorrow my sweet." Then he leaves. I go up and tell Mickey everything. He gets kind of mad but then we stay up watching movies all night. I don't go to bed until midnight. I look at my phone and see a text from Niall.

Niall Horan: You'll always be my redhead. I just want you to know that. See ya tomorrow bright and early.

I don't even know how to respond. Plus I don't think he is up. I just lay down on my bed. I hope I don't have to share a room with him because my dreams reveal too much about my past. And it's just better if he doesn't know.

Notes