The Setup

I can't believe I just said those words. She was more than welcome to stay but judging by how she has been acting towards me, I know I just crossed the line. Say something to make it better! "I mean my driver probably went home and I mean I don't want you going out this late…" I managed to say them somewhat smoothly. I watched as she thought it over in her head. God please just say something! She looked at me again. With those stunning grey eyes and spoke "Yea okay…those are good points." Was she serious? I couldn't fight back the huge grin. I was so happy. She was letting herself stay here. That means she trusts me. "Okay! Here you can sleep in my bed. Don't look at me like that I am sleeping out here." She quickly stopped looking like she was about to run out. "I don't want to take your bed Niall. I'll sleep on the couch."
"No. And that's final. Come on you can borrow one of my shirts to sleep in." She just nodded and followed me to my room. I was digging through my clothes trying to find a shirt that I wouldn't mind letting her use. I find a solid black one and hand it to her. "Just come wake me if you need anything okay? That’s the bathroom right there." Now let the games begin. I took off my shirt and pants because I just sleep in my boxers. She was standing there gaping at me while her eyes trailed up and down my body. Yea just what I thought. "Like the view Cleo?" Her eyes snap to mine. And with a straight face she manages to say "I've seen better." Probably Mickey. Damn him. Then she takes off her shirt to put mine on. Okay focus Niall just keep looking at her face. Then she took off her pants. Holy shit what was she trying to do to me? Then I gave in and checked her out. Damn she looked hot in just my shirt. "Goodnight Cleo." I grab a blanket and pillow then book it out of there. Well I won't sleep knowing that she was right down the hall in my bed. Ugh. I set up my makeshift bed on the couch. I was pretty comfortable, being on tour has taught me how to sleep practically anywhere and in any position. Which came in handy. I drift off to sleep.

"No Nialler! Stop I am ticklish there!" I saw Cleo running away from me. Then I came into view chasing her. We were about 11 and in the park at our spot. I caught her though. "Fine you win!! NO STOP!" We were both laughing. Her laugh was like music to my ears. I was grinning and stopped. "You shouldn't be so ticklish Cleo"
"I can't help that!" She laid there and looked up at the clouds. "Nialler have you ever just wanted to be a cloud?"
"Why? They are all puffy."
"But you would get to just float around and no one could touch you." I was laying beside her, looking at he clouds. "I would miss my family too much. Wouldn't you?"
"No." I looked at her, she was wearing short sleeves for once. I could see some bruises on her. She was so clumsy. "Wouldn't you miss me?"
"Yea, I would miss my Nialler."
"I would miss you too." She smiled at me. And was about to say something but then she was gone. Vanished. I saw myself at our spot but I was older now. I was looking up at the clouds. "You must've figured out how to be a cloud Cleo…I miss you."

I woke up and quickly wiped my eyes. God every dream I have goes like that since I recognized her 3 years ago. I would relive a happy memory with her and then it turns into the sad ones. I checked the time it was only 8:30am. I got up and quietly snuck into my room to shower. I was just putting on my pants when I heard her scream. I threw on my shirt and ran into my bedroom. Shit oh god please let everything be okay. She was still sleeping but clearly having a nightmare. "Daddy please stop! I didn't mean to! I promise to not do it again! I promise Daddy!" Holy shit. I was shaking her trying to get her to wake up. Why would she be having a nightmare about her dad? From what I recall from growing up he was hardly around and if he was he was usually drunk. She was fighting me, throwing punches and trying to kick me. "Cleo! Cleo! Baby, its me Niall! Cleo stop it!" I was waiting for her to yell at me for calling her baby. But she was wiping away her tears. She was clearly panicked. "I…sorry." I could tell she was trying to calm down. What the hell was she dreaming about? "Are you okay Cleo?"
"Yea I'm fine, just a nightmare. That's all…what time is it?"
"Almost 10am. Do you want to talk about it?"
"No I don't. I have to go. Thanks for letting me--"
"At least let me make you breakfast? You can shower while I make food." I heard her stomach growl. I stood up and noticed that she was looking at me. "Okay…thanks. Its sweet of you." I show her how to work my shower and where the towels were. I got to the kitchen and start to make pancakes. Harry comes wandering out. "Hey Harry. Sleep well?"
"Who the fuck was screaming.."
"Cleo…she had a nightmare…about her dad."
"That’s weird. Mm pancakes!"
"I should ask her about it."
"Don't do that." I thought I heard my door open but I didn't hear Cleo coming. I looked at Harry. "I don't know…you should've seen her Harry…"
"She'll tell you when she's ready. Don't pressure her okay?" I sigh and finish making the rest of the pancakes when I hear a sweet Irish accent. "Do I smell pancakes?!" Cleo came into view. She was wearing the jeans from yesterday but my shirt. Damn she looked stunning. She had her hair down and the shirt was half tucked into her jeans. Harry smiled at her "Yep, It’s the only thing Niall knows how to cook." Oh he thinks he is all that because he worked a fucking bakery before One Direction. I punched him in the arm "I can cook other things!" She quickly ate her pancakes. I forgot that she was a big eater. Good. I hate when girls just order a stupid salad or something like they are afraid to eat in front of me. Suddenly her phone started to play 'Hey Mickey' by Tiffany. An 80s classic. I know who is calling based on that ringtone. Her 'just a friend' Mickey. She gets up while Harry and I just stare at her. "Hey Mick--"
"I texted you! Don’t yell at me because YOU didn't check your texts."

"It was late so I just stayed here…and I may--"

"No he slept on the couch…and I'll be home soon okay? You need to calm down." She stopped talking and Harry looked at me confused. "I'll explain later." I hear her voice from behind me. "Niall I really need to be heading back…"
"Yea okay…come on. I'll be back Harry." I texted my driver when I got up to come over so whenever she wanted to leave he would be waiting. We got outside and there were no paps there yet. Thank goodness. When we got to her building it was paps central. Great. This is not what I wanted. How the fuck did they find out where she lived?! "Just stay close and keep your head down." She unbuckled and leaned over me to see out my window at the madness. She was always so curious. "How did they find where I lived?!"
"They are very nosy." Or obsessive. She turned and smiled at me. I became very aware of how close her full lips were to me. She quickly sat back and waited for me to get out. I did and she came out after me. I quickly wrapped my arm around her tiny waist. Not for the paps but to make sure she didn't get attacked by any of them. I wanted her close and I very much liked the way she fit beside me. I heard what they were yelling at us. "Are you two dating?" "How'd did you meet?" "Is it official?" I felt her tense up. I needed to calm her down. Punching someone was not good press. "Just leave it alone Cleo. Don't do anything you'll regret." And she listened. We got inside and headed for the elevator. I was so thankful that she was behaving. "I never thanked you."
"For what?"
"For doing this. I knew that its not the most ideal thing. I just wanted to see you again. And management needed a distraction from Harry." We looked at each other. She looked to be thinking about something because her face looked like how it did whenever she had to do math homework. "Its fine Niall…when do you leave for tour?" I should've figured she was trying to get out of going with us. Not happening sweetheart. "WE leave in two days." She sighed and left when the elevator opened. She waited for me. "Do I have to go?" I suppose technically she didn't but Simon said she should and quite honestly I wasn't ready to leave her again. "I want you there." We were in front of her door. She looked a bit shocked at my answer. Then the door flung open to reveal a very pissed off Mickey. What was his problem? I am her boyfriend. He needs to just fuck off. "You can leave now Niall." Like hell I was going anywhere without saying goodbye. Cleo jumped in. "Mickey, play nice. I'll be inside shortly."
"You're not going on tour with him."
"Excuse me? Mickey, I am not about to argue with you about this." Oh she was too going with me. Because I am not about to leave her here with him while I am gone. Damn I don't like that she is living with him. She sits down on the floor and I join her. "Sorry about him."
"He sounds like he likes you a lot."
"Ha. He's just protective over me, that’s all. So we leave in two days?"
"You're not mad about having to go?"
"No I am mad, its just not worth it to fight because Mom will force me anyways." Mom? Right she must mean Rachel not Lina, who was her mother. Why did she call Rachel mom? I am all sorts of confused. "Right Rachel…Oh the lads and I are going to be doing an interview tonight on TV. You should watch…" She should watch because that's when I'll be announcing that we are dating and that she is coming with us on tour. She was getting up so I did too. " Yea okay. Are we going public tonight then?"
"How about you just watch?" I smirk at her. Then I grab her hand and kiss it goodbye. Like I always did back in the day. I left her in the hallway and headed back home. I hope Mickey isn't a douche to her.

Notes

Woohoo! Oh man will Niall start to piece together Cleo's past?