The Setup

I felt Cleo get up out of bed. Where was she going? What time was it? I just want to sleep the day away. I am still exhausted from the past few days. I hear the shower start. I grab my phone and see that it is 9am. Yep I am definitely going back to bed. I was about to fall asleep again when I heard the door open and then I hear Cleo digging through her bag. She forgot clothes! I open one eye and see her walk back into the bathroom. The towel didn't fall…even though I was pretty much trying to use the Force to make it fall. But no such luck. Well I can't sleep anymore since thoughts of a naked Cleo are running through my head. I roll over to get up when I hear something fall on the ground. I roll to her side of the bed and see this box laying on the floor. It was a small wooden box with an engraving on the top in cursive. 'Things end. But Memories Last Forever.' I wonder what is in it? I am sitting in the middle of the bed about to open this box when I hear the blowdryer turn off. She came out and didn't look to happy that I was holding this box. I wanted to know what was in it so I'm hoping that she will tell me. I mean what more does she have to hide? "What is this?"
"Nothing. Why do you have it?" Before I could even answer she came over and snatched the box right from my hands. That was sudden and totally uncalled for. "I pulled the sheets and heard it fall. What's in it?"
"None of your business." I see her quickly shove it back in one of her suitcases. Why can't she just tell me things…its like she is still trying to hide from me. She goes back and puts on makeup. Why is she getting ready? I rearrange the sheets on the bed so I could watch her. If I could just freeze this moment I would actually no scratch that. I would forever relive the moment on my bed back home when she kissed me back. God that was probably the second best moment of my life. All I can do is think about doing it again. Her hands running through my hair…I see her peek out and catches me staring at her. I look away but then go back to watching her as she braids her hair back. She really was something. I think what I hate the most is that she pretends around the cameras and the boys but when she is here with me…it's like she is a completely different person. She comes out and sits down on the edge of the bed. She must be putting on shoes but I go over and sit behind her. My legs frame hers my hands on her hips. And I have pulled her so my chest was up against her back. "Where do you think you are going love?" I feel her whole body shiver. I can't help but smile at that. My voice was still a bit deep from sleep so that worked in my favor. "To the orphanage. I'll be back in time for your performance tonight I promise." Yea because I can trust her to come back. I really should but for some reason I just don't want to let her out of my sight. "You're promises don’t mean much to me anymore…so I'm coming with you." I felt like she didn't really like how I worded that because she just sat there. But I couldn't…I mean every morning I am half expecting to wake up and have her be gone. My hands were still on her hips all the sounds in the room stopped. Then she stood up and looked at me. I could see the hurt in her grey eyes. "Why don't my promises mean anything?" Shit the last thing I want is a fight between us. I don't even know how to word it without sounding like a huge dick. "They just don't…I just can't trust that you will come." That was the wrong way because her hurt turned into anger. Crap here comes her wrath. This is not how I wanted things to go today. "Why not Niall?! Huh?! Go ahead tell me! I would love to hear why." She has got no right to yell at me like this. I get up and start to get dressed while I yell back at her. "Jesus Cleo don’t get all pissy! I mean why do you think I can't trust you? You said that you would see me tomorrow but you just left me. Without a single goodbye and then you never tried to reach out again. And now you hate me! I DIDN'T EVEN DO ANYTHING! You just have that look in your eye. You're like calculating when to vanish again. To leave me again." My anger and hurt were mixed…I just want her to see where I was coming from. But she was beyond pissed now. "I DID NOT HAVE A CHOICE NIALL! You know what I don't need this shit. Have fun at your dumb ass concert! I am leaving. GOODBYE! There you got one this time." And then she stormed out and slammed the door behind her. Fuck. Great I just drove her away. I decided to run after her but when she got out of the hotel she just sprinted off. There was no way I could catch her. Well she is going to have to come back to get her stuff if she decides to leave me. I get back to our floor and all the boys peek their heads out. "Trouble in paradise Nialler?" I just nod to Harry and then Harry comes into my room. "I just don't get it Haz. I didn't do anything…and she hates me. I just…"
"Hey hey Niall come on its fine. Just give her some time."
"How much more time does she need?! She's been gone nine years already!" What am I supposed to do? I just punch the wall. Harry sighs and leaves me alone. Ouch I regret punching that wall. Holy shit. I just flop down on the bed. Maybe now I can look at that box she hid from me. But first I am going to try to call her. Straight to voicemail. I call again and nothing. I sent off like 5 texts telling her to come back and that I was really sorry for saying that. After about an hour she still hasn’t responded so I get up. I head over to her suitcases and look for that box. I see it and grab it. I go back and sit down on the bed. I look at it but I can't bring myself to open it. If she found out that I did this. She would definitely kill me. I put it back into her suitcase and go down to get food. I don't know how long we were all down there talking and laughing but then Eleanor shoots out of her chair and runs over to someone. I turn around and see Cleo. I get up and go to the room and meet her there. Because I know that there will be yelling. I am pacing back and forth until she opens up the door. "WHY THE FUCK DIDN'T YOU RESPOND?! I have worried sick CLEO! God you can be--" She cuts me off before I could keep going on my tangent. "I didn't have my phone and maybe if you weren't such an ass this wouldn't have been a problem. But I'm back for your concert just like I promised so you can just shut the fuck up now." She just smiles at me then goes and grabs clothes to change into. She comes back out of the bathroom in a blue skirt and a tight white shirt. Damn. She sits down on the bed and starts to put on her shoes. I go and sit down next to her. "I'm sorry…I just don't want to lose you again." I am looking down at the ground because I can't look her in the eyes.
"You need to stop trying to control me. When I make a promise I mean it. I don't just break them. Promises mean too much for me. You know my mom promised that we would run away together but then she just ditched me on the side of the road in Dublin." I didn't know that but I feel like she has always kept things from me. I am glad that she shared that with me though. Maybe Harry is right she just needs more time and then we will be in love.
"I…I wish I kidnapped you when I was younger." She just laughs at me. Which I guess that’s good. Then she leans her head on my shoulder. I put my arm around her waist. I really like her. I quite honestly would hurt anyone who hurt her. I was cherishing this moment but then there was pounding on the door. "NIALLER COME ON! WE HAVE TO GO!" I get up and put on some shoes when I looked back at her she had put on a jacket. I don't understand why she looked hot with just the shirt on. "Why did you put on the jacket?"
"Because I wanted to." Uh okay…then she just walked right past me and so I followed her. When we got down to the lobby the paps were all outside. Crap. I look at Cleo and she seems to be nervous and even a bit scared. She just sighs. "Alright lets get this over with." Then she just bursts out the door. Is she fucking stupid?! I quickly go after her and grab her waist. I fight off the paps as she just melts into me. God this is how I want us to be. The perfect couple the magazines are always raving about. We get into the car and it’s a short drive to the arena. She stayed really close to me the whole time in the car. She looks out the window and frowns. "Maybe I'll just stay in the car."
"Cleo…its fine I'll protect you. I won't let anyone hurt you."
"What about at the airport?"
"I thought you were right there I swear!"
"I know I'm just teasing you. Lighten up a bit." I just scuff at her and jump out. I hold out my hand which she takes and holds on to. We get backstage and I go sit down and wait for Lou to come and fix my hair. I hear her and Cleo talking about how cute we are together. If only she knew…our relationship was quite dysfunctional. The concert went amazingly and I didn't really want to go with Liam to the club for this after party…

Notes