The Setup

I just look at her. I can't believe that she doesn't think she deserves my love. If anything I don't deserve hers but I know that she doesn't love me. At least not like that. I know that I am staring at her. I know that she is probably getting uncomfortable. How could I be just friends with her when I all I think about is kissing her? I guess I could try. If that’s what it takes to make her happy then…I will try my best to be friends. "Cleo…why do you…I just…we can try this friends thing." She looks at me and almost smiles but stops when she sees my face. I should be happier right? I mean we are going to be friends again. She was about to respond when Harry comes barging in. "Showtime Nialler! Let's go. Cleo, you just hanging back here or are you going to watch us?" I look at her. I already know her answer. No. She only went to the first show ever since then she has just stayed back in the dressing rooms. But again she continues to surprise me. "I'll watch. Maybe I know more words this time around." I see Harry hug her then leave. I get up and grab her hands. I look into those eyes of hers. See here I am thinking about leaning in and kissing her. But I know that I can't. We need to discuss some things. "
We will talk when we get back to the room."
"Okay…um have fun." She gets up on her toes and kisses me on the cheek. Then she smiles and heads off to where Ellie was. You would think that the kiss would have put me in a better mood but it really only made me sadder. She did that stuff but all it did was make me think about what happens when the tour ended. We only had the American leg after this. We get out on stage and the crowd erupts. I can't help but smile. But I just don't feel the rush I usually get. All I can think about is what might happen after the tour ends. Will she want to leave me? Will we go our separate ways and never talk? Or will we still talk but I will have to sit by while she falls for another man. That outcome was the one I feared the most. I look up and see her. My Cleo. She looks at me and waves like some crazy fan. I smile and shake my head. Cleo was constantly making fun of the fans. The next thing I know she is up and dancing. She looks ridiculous which causes me to crack up right into the mic. All the boys look at me. She blew me a kiss and I pretended to grab it. I put it in my pocket saving it for later. The rest of the concert was a blast. Cleo really did have an effect on me. I was dancing around and being my usual self. After the concert we are all waiting for the girls to get back here. I see Louis smile so I turn around. Cleo comes running over and hugs me. I wrap my arms around her waist and kiss her on the cheek. But really I want to do more. Hopefully in time. I realized that I said we needed to talk so I started to pull her towards my dressing room. "Niall where are we going?"
"We have to make some rules if this whole friend thing is going to work." We were in my dressing room now and I went to sat down. She was just looking at me so I patted the spot next to me. She sat down and waited for me to talk. "Alright first off…when we are out in public you…we have to be more couple-y. And stop trying to push me away…be more open to me."
"What's wrong with how we are now?" I can't help but laugh at her. There was a lot of things wrong. How do I put this without sounding like I am making this all up for my benefit. That benefit being I get to kiss her and stuff in public. "Cleo listen I'm just saying we don't really look like a couple. We barely even look like friends."
"Alright fine. I agree to your terms."
"Good…I'm glad." But I didn't really mean it. Sure I get to kiss her and stuff but only for the paps. Not because she wants to. I get up to leave but she grabs me. I stop breathing…maybe she… "Niall…why do you sound so sad? I thought I got you to cheer up!" I look at her. We were standing so close. Again all I could focus on was kissing her. I really think I have a problem. "You did…you do." I push a strand of her hair back behind her ear. I brush against her skin. She is looking at me with those intense eyes of hers. "Then why are you still looking sad?" I just smile at her. How am I supposed to tell her that I am sad because the girl I love doesn't love me like that. When did this happen? When did I even fall for her. I suppose maybe I always did love her…I just didn't know that was what I was feeling back then. We get to the hotel and I go to our room. Maybe if I become friends with her she will see that I have and will love her always. No more secrets Horan. I go to my suitcase and take out the two pictures I have of us. I walk over and hand them to her. "I suppose if we are to be friends then no secrets should be between us." I don't get a response and I know that the boys are waiting for me. So I think I should go. "I should go the boys are waiting. I'll tell Ellie that she can come over." I take one last look at her. The girl who has stolen my heart since I met her. Cleo is still looking at the pictures. Very intently I might add. "Goodnight Cleo. Sweet dreams." I leave the room and practically run right into Ellie. "Hey! Good I was about to come over and kick you out. Hey is everything okay between you and Cleo?"
"I think its going to be." She just smile and nods. While I go into the lads room. I get in there and see food. So naturally I load up a plate. I sit down next to Harry and Louis. "I hope Cleo is ready for Ellie…she's a bit wound up right now." Harry is looking at me. While I stuff my face with pizza. "What Haz?"
"Is everything okay? You know with you and Cleo? She didn't do anything mean right?" I look at Harry. The rest of the boys don't know about my past with her. Only Harry does and when I told him the story I also spilled how I never really got over her leaving the first time. So now he's very protective. "Everything is fine Haz! Just a small fight but we worked it out." Liam cleared his throat. Honestly I don't like how close he has gotten with my girl. "Well on that note…whose down for some scary movies!" We got through about 3 movies when there was pounding on the door. "Open up! Please! I need to talk to Niall!" I get up and look at Ellie. Who seems a bit panicked if you ask me. Then I hear a scream come from my room. Oh no. "Niall its Cleo, she's…" I didn't even hear the rest I was already in our room. Everyone else came in. Cleo was thrashing around. "Cleo! Cleo! Baby please wake up. Come on baby please. Its not real." She's stopped moving so I'm shaking her. Her eyes fly open and meet mine. She started to bawl. Then she practically lunged at me. I wrapped my arms around her, whispering in her ear to calm her down. "Shhh Cleo its okay I've got you. I've got you baby." I can just feel everyone gaping at her. I hope she hasn't seen them. "It felt so real Niall…I…he…"
"Shh its okay. I'm here. Its not real he can't get you. I won't let him hurt you again." And that was true. I wasn't going to let him hurt her…but then isn't he still hurting her? These nightmares of hers are honestly terrifying. I hear Ellie shoo the guys out to the hallway. I suppose I should tell them what's going on. I get up to leave but Cleo grabs me. "No please don't go…please."
"I was just going to tell them that everything was okay…" I look at her. She seems so scared…she just nods. I head out to the hallway. Liam is the first to me. "Is she okay?" Why the fuck was he so worried. "Yea she's fine…just a nightmare. Sorry El…I should've warned you or something."
"Her dad abused her didn't he? That's why she freaked out at Liam over her scars…also she was yelling for him to stop." Shit. Everyone was looking at me. I met eyes with Harry. "Just tell them the truth Niall." They looked from me to Harry. Well here goes nothing. "Okay guys…Cleo and I used to live next door to each other growing up. We were attached at the hip. Then one day she just vanishes. I just recently learned that her mom abandoned her at an orphanage in Dublin to save Cleo from her dad. Rachel, Cleo's manager, adopted her soon after she got there. Yea…and I did this whole fake relationship thingy to get her back in my life. Because well I missed her a lot." Everyone looked shocked minus Ellie and Harry which meant Cleo spilled to Ellie. "You love her don't you?" My eyes snap to Zayn's. "What?"
"Its obvious Niall…maybe not to her but to us it is." I look at everyone. But she doesn't like me like that I know she doesn't. "Niall. Look at me. I think she will realize it. She's been hurt so many times…you can't blame her for keeping her guard up. But I think you are slowly knocking down the walls." Ellie is just smiling at me and pushes me back into the room. Cleo must be in the bathroom. I spot her box on the bed. Do I look? Can I look is that why she left it out? I go over and look. I saw things I was not expecting from her.

Notes

Oh man! Some questions for tomorrow: Does Cleo really want to be just friends? Will Niall still try to be affectionate or will he stop? What does Niall think about the pictures that Cleo has?

FIRST DAY OF FINALS!!! I have two today. Math and Film. Woohoo! I'm not too worried about them. I have so much stuff to do still though. Like finish up packing. There are boxes everywhere! Oh well three more days then its summer!!!!! :)

Hope y'all have a lovely day!
~A xxx