The Setup

I know that she is angry. She was busy unpacking while I was pleading with one of the managers to change our room. But we can't. Damn. Ugh I go back inside and see that Cleo was now unpacking stuff for the bathroom. I peek in and see a bunch of makeup stuff. Which she doesn't even need. She was a natural beauty. I went to unpack some stuff. We were going to be here for a week. I unzip my suit case and see the pictures on top. I stop what I am doing and pick them up. I look at them. I didn't even realize that she got up and was sitting on the window sill. There was a knock on the door. I get up to answer it. It was Zayn. "Hey you ready to go? We have to set up so we can practice before the show."
"Yea just let me get shoes on…I'll met you in the lobby." I go and put shoes on. Then I shove my suitcase closed. Hiding the pictures. I look over at Cleo, who is just staring out the window. I wonder what she is looking at. She seems so peaceful but sad at the same time. I can't help but feel like I made her sad. I go over to that side of the room. "Hey Cleo…um I have to go and check out the stadium…but you can feel free to use my car and driver to go somewhere if you get hungry or if you just want to go shopping…" She looks at me with those grey eyes and seems to be confused as to why she would go anywhere. "Oh okay…thanks. Um…have fun? When will you be back?" I couldn't help but smile at her. I went to sit by her. I was really happy that she was asking when I would be back. Maybe I can bring her to one of the practices this week. "I'm not sure. Maybe closer to 4 in the afternoon. Want to go get food when I get back? You haven't really eaten anything." It was almost 1 in the afternoon and she hasn’t eaten. Hell I don't know if she even ate breakfast this morning. She just nods at me. I grab her hand and kiss it. Then I tell her goodbye and flash her another smile. I get outside and look up to our window. I see her watching me leave. I feel a pang of guilt leaving her. I am the only one she kind of talks to. We get to the stadium and help set up the stage. During one of the breaks I call Cleo to see if she went anywhere. It rings but goes to voicemail. I hang up. "She didn't answer?" I see Liam looking at me. "Uh no…but maybe she is sleeping and didn't hear it ring."
"She seems like a handful mate."
"She just is a little nervous I think. She's fine when it's just us…" Which was true. I notice that Cleo is better if it is just us and no one is around. "Oh okay. You really like her though don't you?"
"What?"
"Oh come on…I can see it in your eyes. You like her." I just gape at him. I can't tell him that I used to be best friends with her. Hell even Harry isn't supposed to know. After the break is over we go back to helping. We finished around 4pm. I call Cleo to tell her that I am on my way. But she doesn't answer again. I get that sinking feeling in my stomach. "She didn't answer again?" I look at the boys and shake my head. "No…maybe her phone is on silent or something." We get to the hotel and see that my car hasn’t gone anywhere so that means that Cleo hasn't gone anywhere…unless she walked. She did use to live here. But would she remember how to navigate the city after all these years? I would assume not. I get up to my room and open it. "Cleo…baby I'm back do you…" I stop talking because I look around the room and Cleo isn’t in there. I go to the bathroom and see the door open. She's gone. "CLEO?!" I run out of my room right into the rest of the boys. "What's wrong Nialler?"
"Cleo is gone. She's not in our room…she…left me again."
"Again?" Louis, Liam, and Zayn all said in unison. Shit. Way to go Niall. "I have to go…maybe my driver saw her." Niall quickly left but the other boys turned to Harry. I run right out to where my driver is. "Have you seen Cleo?! Did you take her anywhere?"
"Oh yes I did sir, she told me it was okay to leave. And that you would understand." She what?
"Where the hell did you take her?! Why would you leave her?! WHERE IS MY CLEO?!" I was frantic because I think she left me again. Ran away without a goodbye again. I was also pissed at my driver for not listening to the orders I gave him. I told him if he took her anywhere that he was to stay there. Regardless of what she said. "She went to the orphanage sir…" I jumped into my car before I even let him finish. He did enough already. I was driving for about an hour when I realized that I have no idea where the fuck this orphanage is. During my drive, the anger left me and was replaced with worry and confusion. Why was she at the orphanage? Not that she needs a valid excuse but I just didn't know that she did this kind of stuff. I pull over and try to call her again. Maybe she will pick up. Nope goes to voicemail again. It is almost 7pm. I have been driving around for almost three hours. Then I looked out my window and sighed. This couldn't be happening. Then I saw a sign on a house 'Dublin House for Orphans'. I flew out of my car and slammed my door. I ran inside to see Cleo talking to some older woman and laughing. Thank god she is okay. "Cleo! There you are. Its almost 7pm. You weren't there when I got back. I was so worried. You didn't answer my calls. Why didn't you answer?" The questions just rolled right off my tongue. I know I sounded panicked. But I couldn’t help it. I almost lost her again. She just looked at me in shock. The lady spoke for Cleo. "Oh sorry! I make Cleo leave her phone and purse up here, the younger ones go crazy over electronics. She was just about to head back though." I barely even heard her talk to me. All I could focus on is Cleo. And the image of me crashing my lips to hers. Cleo just smiled at me. "Um yea I'm sorry I loose track of time when I am here. But we can go get food now?" She grabs my hand and pulls me towards the door. "Bye Ms. Haddie! I'll try to stop by once more before I leave."
"Okay darling! Goodbye! Oh tell Rachel I say hello!" Maybe I'll come with her this time. Wait how does this Ms. Haddie know about Rachel? Honestly as much as it bugs me that Cleo keeps things from me I am happy that she is still here. I stop walking and pull her in for a hug. I wrap my arms around her small waist. I breathe a sigh of relief and say "I thought you left me again." She was just standing there while I was hugging her. "Well I didn't…can we go get food? I'm hungry." She pushes herself out of my arms. I can't help but agree with her and smile. We drive to one of the local pubs here. We sit down and order what we want. Cleo speaks up after I finish saying my order. "Should you be drinking if you have to drive?"
"Don't worry babe. I know how to handle my beer." I can't help but wink at her. She was so cute thinking one beer did anything to me. For god's sake I am Irish. She looks around the place and seems a bit distracted. Well now is as good of a time to ask her. "So are you going to tell me why you were at the orphanage?"
"Why do I need a reason?" I suppose she doesn’t but I just look at her hoping for more details. "I um…used to volunteer there when I lived here."
"Right and that explains why the lady knew about Rachel?"
"Yea Rachel is my dad's sister." She was the worst liar ever. Rachel looked nothing like Cleo's dad. Cleo's dad had red hair and green eyes. Rachel had black hair and brown eyes. But my food came and I was super hungry so I just let it drop. Not like she would've responded anyways. She probably would've lied again. Tomorrow we get a free day so I am going to surprise her by taking a day trip back home to Mullingar. She moaned when she bit into her burger. "God I forgot how good burgers were." She what?
"You weren't allowed to eat burgers?" I was shocked…burgers were the bomb.
"Nope too fatty. I wasn't allowed to eat a lot of things. I was only allowed to have two meals a day too. You know got to keep up my figure. But I cheated a lot." I bet she did. Cleo just laughed and continued to eat. We got ready to leave and I put my hand on the small of her back. She didn't tense up like she usually did. I guess she is getting used to my touches. When we get up to our room all the boys were out in the hall waiting for us. Liam and Louis shot up and smiled. "You found her!" I just nod. Then Louis always has to add some sort of sly remark. "I could've seen the headlines. Niall Horan loses girlfriend in Dublin." Harry stands up and looks Cleo straight in the eyes. "Where did you go?"
"To see some old friends."
"Right you used to live here. I'm glad you're safe…we were all a bit worried." Cleo nods and goes into our room. The rest of the boys say goodnight except Harry. He stopped me before I went into my room. "Where was she really?"
"At the orphanage…I have no idea why but she seemed to be pretty well known."
"That’s odd…what if Cleo is…"
"She's not an orphan Haz. I've seen her mom and dad. She looks like them." Harry just nods and says goodnight. I go into our room and walk up to Cleo and wrap my arms around her waist pulling her in so her back is flush to my chest. "What the hell do you think you are doing?"
"Hugging you." Wasn't that obvious?
"Get off of me."
"No." I said right by her cheek. She shivered a bit. Then I kissed her on the cheek and let her go. I got ready for bed. Then she did. She laid as far away from me as possible. Which hurt a bit but. I can't really blame her…sharing a bed was not in the plans. Please let me just have a normal dream tonight. None that involve her. Please.

Notes

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Okay well I hope you like these new chapters!! This story is getting pretty good. Feel free to leave comments!!!! I love feedback.

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