The Setup

I woke up and it was 5:30. Shit shit shit. I didn't text Niall my address and I was supposed to be meeting him in half an hour. Hmm…what if I just don't text him. Then I won't have to go on this stupid date. Oh I like that plan. However Rachel would literally put my head on a stick. I should tell you this isn't the first time she's tried to set me up with a celebrity. The other guys were other models though but every time they ended badly because I never cooperated. Oops. Oh well Niall will live. I rolled out of bed and then my phone rang. It was Rachel. God damn it. "Hello?"
"Why haven't you texted Mr. Horan? Hmm? I won't let you do this again. Text him now. Or so help me Cleo."
"Alright alright I'll text the asshole. Jeez." I hung up and texted him my address. Then I threw my phone on my bed and started to get ready. I threw my hair into a bun and grabbed a pair of black skinnies. Now what top to wear. I was just standing in my jeans and bra when Mickey came barging in. "What the fuck is--oh my gosh I am so sorry! I um…"
"Its alright Mickey. Hey I can't pick a top. Go pick one for me." He came into my closet with me. He looked through my tops. Carefully scanning. "So you are really going through with this?"
"Yea and what were you so angry about?"
"You recorded over my football game!" He pulled out a top and smiled at me. It was a bright blue sheer tank top. "It will really make your eyes pop." I smiled and hugged him and put the top on. I went to my bathroom to put on my makeup. "Sorry about your game Mickey."
"Its okay I guess. When will--" Then there was a knock at the door. I don't think I have ever seen Mickey move that fast. "BE NICE!"
"I CAN'T PROMISE ANYTHING SWEETHEART!" Damn him. I couldn't hear what was going on out there. So I did my make up as quickly as possible. I practically ran out of my room expecting to see Mickey holding Niall in a headlock or something. But they were just sitting in the living room. Mickey looked about ready to pounce on Niall. Niall looked very uncomfortable. "Well lets get this stupid thing over with." Their heads snap up at me. Niall just nodded and went towards the door. Mickey stood up, I followed Niall. "Don't wait up for me Mickey! I'll text you later okay?"
"Yea okay. Be careful Cleo. If anything happened…"
"I'll be fine! See you later." I went out the door and Mickey leaned on the doorframe. "Alright see ya later babe." I waved at him and got into the elevator with Niall. "I didn't know you had a boyfriend."
"I don't. Mickey is just a friend." Please just let this night go by quickly. The elevator opened and I got out. Niall grabbed my hand and I quickly pulled away. "Cleo, we have to make this look believable!"
"Or we could make it look like we don't really like each other then we can go on with our lives." I smiled sweetly while he just glared at me and led me to the car. We hopped into the back and he told the driver where to go. A Chinese restaurant…I like Chinese. "So if you're just friends why do you live together? Is he gay?" I looked at Niall, god why the fuck can't he just drop it. "It's none of your business. And no he is straight."
"Well if they found out about it when we are dating it will be really bad."
"I don't fucking care. It will get me out of a relationship that's not even real."
"All I'm saying--"
"Just fucking drop it. I am living with him because he's the closet friend I've ever had." I look at Niall and I can tell he is hurt. I mean sure we used to be pretty close but I still kept things from Niall. We arrive and there are a shit load of cameras. "Holy fuck!" Niall just grabs my hand and drags me through the mob. There were screaming girls yelling "You're not good enough!" "Slut!" "You are so fat!" So being the sarcastic bitch I am I yell back. "Thank you! I try SUPER HARD!" Niall looks at me with surprise and the girls shut up. Yea that’s what I thought. Bitches. I would gladly trade positions with them. Niall gets us into the restaurant and we sit down. We ordered and sat there. Well this is completely awkward. Niall speaks up again. "So what have you been up to lately?"
"Modeling."
"I knew that Cleo…I have seen you in magazines. I couldn't believe it when I first saw you."
"Why not? Am I not pretty enough?"
"No I just never thought you would do that. I pictured you off somewhere learning how to be some painter. You always liked to draw." I just looked at him. He thought about me? Painting? I liked to draw but I honestly sucked at it. "I haven't drawn in years. And you thought about me…?"
"All the time the first couple of years. I would wait for you to come running over any time I went out to practice football. But you never did." I didn't know what to say…I figured he would've forgotten about me. I tried so hard to. All I wanted was to forget. "Cleo…where did you go?" Shit. Think what did my mother say to tell people. Right relatives in Dublin. "I went to live with relatives in Dublin to get a better education." I said all of it in one breath. I really am not a good liar. He eyed me suspiciously then just nodded. Thank god he bought it. Or so I thought. "So why didn't you comeback during the summer?" Crap what am I supposed to say. "Why does it matter Niall? It happened I didn't come back because I couldn't okay? Just let it go!" I yelled and people looked. Our food came and the rest of the dinner was fairly quiet. I asked about his job and about touring. He answered all the question I had. We got up to leave and he grabbed my hand again. I went to pull away but he spoke. "Cleo. Remember it has to be believable. And you being distant is not." Damn it he was right. We went to his flat and got out to another crazy mob of cameras. "Just stay close okay?" I just nodded. Quite honestly, I don't get afraid easily but all these cameras was overwhelming. We got inside and headed up to his flat. Why were we going to his flat? "Um…I thought we were watching a movie."
"We are."
"But like in public…"
"Change of plans babe."
"Don't call me that."
"Fine. Whatever you say baby." Ugh. He was so frustrating. He was never like this growing up. I just wanted to punch him and run. I standing there with my arms crossed and as far away from him as possible. The elevator opened and he left. I quickly followed. He opened up the door and held it for me. "Harry we are back…" I hear a deep voice come from one of the bedrooms. "OKAY! NO SEX ON THE COUCH!" Niall turned bright red while I choked on the air I was breathing. Niall popped in a movie. Yes a scary movie. They were my favorite. I watched them all the time while Mickey screamed like a girl. Niall sat down next to me. Probably hoping I was scared of them. Ha, jokes on you. I could tell he was watching me. I just focused on the movie. It was your typical scary movie. The girl opens the door and gets killed, demon possessions. All that good stuff. The movie ended and Niall spoke and sounded very confused. "You didn't even jump…" To be honest nothing scared me much anymore. Having a dad who abused you and locked you away for days in a closet does stuff to you. "Its not real. I'm not really scared of anything." Except my father. He just nodded at me. I checked the time and noticed it was almost 1am. "Oh shit I have to go."
"You can just stay here."

Notes