The Setup

I hear Harry come in to my room lugging what I assume are my two suitcases. I am standing in my closet looking at all my clothes. God how could I just ask her to pack up her life and just come with me? She clearly doesn’t want to come. Although I don't think she hates me anymore which is a good sign. "The clothes won't magically pack themselves if you just stare at them Nialler."
"It was worth a shot."
"Alright well I am going to finish with my stuff. Your suitcases are out here."
"Thanks man." I start to grab my favorite shirts and pants. I shove them into my suitcases. I grab my favorite shoes and pack those. Along with some underwear and such. You know I pack the staples. I finish in like half and hour. I sat down on my bed and opened up the drawer on my nightstand. There were a couple of picture from way back when. One of Cleo and I at the playground. I was pushing her in the swing. We look about 10. Another one was when we were twelve at my birthday party. I quickly threw them into my bag. I know I shouldn't hold on to the past but the pictures make me happy. They give me hop that Cleo will let me in again. I decide to call her. Maybe go get some lunch and just talk. It rang a couple of times. I was expecting her to just deny the call or just let it go to voicemail. But then I hear her voice. "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 heard a thud. I hope she was okay. What was she doing? "Are you okay?"
"Yea just banged my head…yes got it!" What the hell was so doing? It sounded like she was under something. Maybe she dropped something under her bed. "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--" Shit of course she wouldn't want to come. She doesn't want to be seen with me. God now this is going be super awkward. Ugh. "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?" I did a fist pump. Thank you! Wait is she only going because I made her feel guilty? Great a pity yes. "Anywhere is fine with me." Because I could eat pretty much anything. "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." I quickly hung up before she could yell at me. I went to go tell Harry where I was going. It was going to take me a while to get there since I didn't want to drive. "So she gave you a pity yes? That’s hilarious!!"
"Shut up! Its not funny Harry. But at least she's going right?"
"Yea I was shocked she didn't say no. I thought you said she was sweet and nice…not sarcastic and bitchy."
"I don't know what happened. She was nice and sweet. Maybe she is just keeping her guard up."
"Yea maybe. Well you better get going because we all know there will be a mob as soon as someone spots you."
"Yea I know…" I grab my keys and wallet then head out. And about ten minutes into my walk over there some screaming girl comes running towards me. Which sucks. Usually I would just run away but I'm still recovering from my knee surgery. I sign something for her and take a picture. Then by the time I get to the café its 12:50 and the paps were swarming outside. I get a table and wait for her. She comes bursting in wearing tight jeans and a green top. Her long red hair was down. She looked amazing. I go over and put my arm around her waist and lead her to out table. She was looking at me with a weird expression so I just smile at her. I know she is battling herself over what to do. But she knows she can't be her usual self right now due to the press. Of course I also know that she really could care less about her appearance. I decide to break the ice. "How's packing going?" She is just staring at me then looking my body up and down…lets just say not in the way that should be done in public. We sit down and she must be lost in thought because she hasn't answered me. "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." Then suddenly this young waiter comes over and just grins at Cleo. This guy had to be only 18. ""I um…Hi I am Chris. Are you guys ready to order? Maybe some drinks to start you out?" Great he's flustered. Cleo just smiles at him which doesn't really help. I am about to say I want a burger and a beer but he 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?" You've got to be shitting me right now. He's getting out his phone and hands it to me. Like I am going to take his picture. More like I will stab him with my fork or something. Then he just makes it worse by opening his stupid ass mouth again. "Here pal, take our picture." Pal? Pal?! I hate this guy. He's holding on to Cleo's waist and I take the picture and then practically chuck the phone back at him. I sit down and glare at him. What? She's technically my girlfriend. " 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. Then he smiled at Cleo again before leaving. Cleo turns to me and scowls. Great now what? "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." Great now I'm the bad guy. Its not that I'm that jealous. I just think that people should be well aware that she is dating me. And that they should drool over her. She's just a very pretty girl. But she had a point I'm not in the position to be like this given what I do and how crazy our fans were. "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." Which was true. She wasn't like bone thin like the runway models. She had some curves granted she was very fit. But she was just beautiful. I don't really know how to explain it. She just was. Cleo was shocked because she sat there stammering at me. Then she looked out the window and quickly shielded her face. I looked out to see some blonde tall guy running in here. Great another fan? A stalker perhaps? "Whose the lad coming right at us?"
"Ted. My ex." She has got a lot of explaining to do.
"Ahh…you have a lot of things to tell me."
"Shut up and get him away."
"How am I to do that?" Suddenly this Ted guy yanked away Cleo's napkin and was just smiling at her. I just leaned back in my chair and crossed my arm. I honestly don't know what she wants me to do. But judging by how pissed she looks right now, I'm betting he did something that she's still pissed about. Like cheating or lying to her or…running over her pet. I don't really know. "Cleo! Fancy meeting you here! You look great."
"Ted…how terrible to see you. Niall this is Ted." I stand up. This guy is easily a couple of inches taller than me. So fighting him is out of the question. I'll just be rude. "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." She hates my music? I don't believe that for a second. And the whole singing her to sleep was true. I did that when we were younger and she slept over at my place. She would always ask me to. The sleep part is what got him. His face turned all red. Gotcha, he just wanted to use Cleo for sex. Well think again, because he is not going anywhere near my Cleo. "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?" We both look at Cleo, who is sitting there trying to not look like she's enjoying me chewing out the moron. Then she realized that question was for her. "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 could tell she wouldn't do that. Think Niall what would a boyfriend say to someone pressing one's girlfriend. She looked at me with panic. "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." He just scowled and left. Oh yea I was feeling pretty good about myself. Our food came and I have never seen a girl eat as fast as Cleo jus did. "Jesus Cleo did you even taste your food?"
"I um…I have to go. I…sorry." She got up and left. Great. I look down at the rest of my food. To go after her or finish. Ugh I got up and threw money down on the table, probably overpaying. Then ran after her. Why is she always running away from me? I catch up and grab her arm and spin her around. "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 get to her building and I just wish she would not be so closed off. "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." She is right I don't really know her anymore. But I know that the Cleo I knew is just buried behind this one. I grab her hand and kiss it before leaving her. "Until tomorrow my sweet." Then I walk back to my flat. I tell Harry what happened. We ended up talking and watching movies the rest of the night. We went to bed early knowing that we had to get up at the ass crack of dawn. Before I went to bed I texted Cleo, not really expecting a response but I did it anyways. I drifted off to sleep. I wonder if we are going to have to share a room. I kind want to but then I don't because when I have my dreams I usually mumble her name in my sleep. Which is how I had to tell Harry because he heard me. I don't really want her to know that I dream about her..

Notes

This is becoming one of my favorite stories to write. Hope you all like it!