The Assistant

Nora could barely look anyone in the eye when she was forced back into the venue where her parents were waiting for her.

“What is going on, Nora?” Her mother asked, looking rightfully concerned.

“Oh, um… Harry just needed to talk to me, quickly. No big deal,” Nora said, trying to shrug it off.

“Is he your… new boyfriend?” Her mother asked quietly.

“What?” Nora asked, feeling her mouth go dry.

“That’s what some of the boys were saying. He’s your lover?” She asked.

“Ugh, Mom. Please don’t use that word,” Nora groaned, feeling absolutely mortified.

“Well, is he?” She pressed.

“I guess,” Nora shrugged.

“You guess? Well is he or isn’t he?” Her mom asked.

“Yes, he is,” Nora said through clenched teeth, hating having to admit something like that.

“Well, I’d really love to meet him. I’m sure your father would too,” her mother said, reaching out to swipe Nora’s hair behind her ear.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Harry walk into the room with a smug look on his face, causing Nora to inwardly groan.

“Oh, there he is. Introduce us,” her mother said as Harry walked up beside Nora.

Nora didn’t even have to speak a word, because apparently Harry had it completely under control.

“You must be Nora’s sister. Lovely to meet you,” Harry said, grasping Nora’s mother’s hand, leaving a kiss on the top of it.

“Oh, stop it now,” her mother blushed and giggled at his flirting.

“This is my mother, Harry,” Nora said, staring at the two of them being so coy with one another.

“Your mother? Not possible. You’re absolutely stunning. You must have been a child when Nora was born,” Harry said, charming the pants off her.

“Oh, stop it,” she said, swatting at Harry’s chest.

“Harry, this is my mother Jean, and this is my father Carter,” Nora said as her father walked up.

“Harry is it?” Nora’s father asked, shaking his hand.

“It is. Nice to meet, you sir. You have a lovely daughter and an even lovelier wife,” Harry said, giving them his most prize-winning smile. Nora rolled her eyes as her parents swooned over him.

“You must be the new fella that Nora is seeing,” her father pointed out.

“You’re absolutely right. Isn’t he, Nor?” Harry said, wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her tightly to him.

“That’s right,” she said, smiling just to keep up the façade.

“I just wish there was more time in your schedule so we could invite ya’ll to the farm for dinner or something. It’s not every day that our daughter brings home an international rock star,” Nora’s mother told them.

“You live on a farm?” Harry asked, sounding intrigued.

“Got two-hundred head of milking cattle,” her father told him.

“You grew up there?” Harry asked, looking over at Nora.

“Yes,” she said, nodding her head, hoping he wasn’t going to say something stupid to offend her parents, who worked so hard to keep the farm going.

“That is absolutely amazing. I used to help on a farm back in Cheshire when I was younger,” Harry said, beaming a smile at her folks.

“You did?” Nora asked, furrowing her brow at him.

“It was my first job before the bakery,” he told her.

As Harry and her father began to swap stories, her mother took her to the side to tell her what a catch Harry was and how she never really liked Grant because he never treated her right. Of course, Nora had to go along with the lie Harry created and it almost broke her heart to lie to her parents like that, especially since she rarely got to see them. But they both seemed happy that their daughter was doing okay. And everyone seemed like they were going out of their way to make her parents feel welcomed, which really meant a lot to her. Harry was even on his best behavior. He did have a new job playing the doting boyfriend after all.

But Nora’s happiness was short lived when a little while later, as she was finishing up getting the meet and greet stuff organized, Paul and Preston pulled her aside.

She was sure her time was up. They were going to fire her, and it was going to be even more humiliating because her parents were there to witness it. But it was all her fault anyway. Her defiance and her blatant disregard of the contract she signed were the reason she was going to be sent home.

“We talked to Harry,” Preston told her.

Nora nodded as she stood in front of them waiting for the words that would send her packing. She was a goner.

“I’m sorry,” Nora breathed, her vision fused to the floor.

“Nora,” Paul said quietly. Nora peered up through her long lashes and saw a smirk on his face. Her eyebrows knit in confusion.

“You’re not fired,” Paul said bluntly.

“Oh,” Nora breathed as her heart sped up.

“Just try not to break any more rules,” Paul told her firmly.

“I won’t. I promise,” Nora told them honestly.

“The whole reason there was a clause in your contract was because of that little bastard, and I guess since you two are in love, it should nullify it,” Paul explained. Nora looked at him confused, her mind reeling. Because of Harry?

“We should have known that putting up barriers was just going to make him push against them harder. And by god, he sure did it this time,” Preston said, shaking his head. Nora’s mouth was dry and she had no words to interject with, so she let them continue.

“I can tell he really cares about you. And you, him,” Paul continued and her stomach lurched, guilt flooding every part of her. How on earth were they that convincing?

“I just hope you can continue to be a good influence on him,” Paul told her. A good influence? Oh, she felt sick.

“I will,” Nora said quietly, looking at the floor again.

“Alright. You’re free to go,” Paul said finally. Nora looked between the two burly men before nodding her head and leaving the room.

She escaped, but just barely – because now she needed to be Harry’s girlfriend. For better or worse.

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The boys took the stage that night and Nora watched from the crowd with her parents. Concerts weren’t really their thing, but they insisted on watching the boys and getting the full experience. It wasn’t every day they got to meet a group full of famous guys – and especially one their daughter was dating.

Nora was on the tour for nearly two months and never had a chance to actually watch the show – not since opening night anyway. She was always behind the scenes working, getting things ready for their exit from stage while they were performing. It was a completely new experience and it sent waves of pride through her as she watched them adoringly. Harry was as hyper and spry as ever onstage – maybe even more so because it was his half birthday, which he made everyone acknowledge, including the crowd who ate it up. But it wasn’t until he called her out in front of their thousands of screaming fans that Nora truly saw a light in his eyes.

“The next song is Girl Almighty!” Louis shouted to the crowd.

“Nora’s our Girl Almighty,” Harry said into his microphone, causing Nora’s heartbeat to skip. What did he just say? Why?

“Give it up for our Girl Almighty, Nora!” Zayn cheered into his mic, going along with Harry. The whole crowd screamed loudly in response.

“For those of you who don’t know, Nora is our assistant on this tour and she’s absolutely amazing,” Liam chimed in.

“Nora’s parents are here tonight too. Hi, Mum. Hi, Dad,” Harry said, finding them in the front row, waving to them. The crowd cheered again.

Nora was so embarrassed that they were putting her on the spot, but her parents loved it, waving happily up at Harry as the cameras panned on them.

“Nora is from North Carolina, right?” Niall asked, feigning a southern accent and the crowd cheered again.

“Born and raised,” Harry said, smiling down at Nora as her mother excitedly squeezed her in her arms. She could see their faces up on the jumbo-screen and she was absolutely mortified.

“Shall we get on with the song?” Liam asked, chuckling into his mic.

“Shall we, Nora?” Harry asked her, smiling deviously at her.

“YES!” Nora shouted to him from where she sat. She was completely embarrassed, but she couldn’t keep the smile off of her face.

“This is Girl Almighty!” Harry shouted into the mic, jumping away from the side of the stage as the first bars of the song rang through the venue. Nora’s eyes followed him as he danced across the stage.

“He is so smitten with you, honey,” Nora’s mom told her quickly, beaming a smile from ear-to-ear. Nora’s stomach lurched with displaced feelings. Harry was just so confusing.

Watching the rest of the show helped Nora take her mind off the nagging feelings in the pit of her stomach – the guilt, the embarrassment, the anguish. And the anger – the anger she felt toward Harry for thrusting a fake relationship on her. She didn’t even register how angry he made her about everything that happened earlier until he came backstage after the show and pulled her into his arms, leaving a big wet, sweaty kiss on her lips in front of everyone – her parents, his mates, the crew. The animosity boiled up inside of her and she stalked away from him to the dressing rooms to continue her job – wanting nothing to do with him or the stupid predicament he put her in. How was she supposed to pretend to love him?

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“Hey, are you alright?” Nora heard Harry ask quietly as he came up from behind her while she was packing up the last of their things from the backstage area at the end of the night.

She spun quickly, startled by his presence. She had no idea he was even still in the building. She just sent her parents off and thought she was alone while she finished up her job so the crew could haul everything off to the next venue.

“Am I alright?” She asked him, the words falling out of her mouth without thinking.

“Yeah. I know it’s been a long day…” He said, smiling softly at her.

Nora’s eyes searched his, wondering what he was thinking. She was sure it was something arrogant, having to do with his ingenious plan of throwing them together like a mail-order bride and her suitor.

“It has been a long day,” she snapped, unapologetically.

“Are you still angry with me or something?” Harry asked, cocking his head trying to read her expression.

“Am I still angry with you?” She chuckled darkly. Yes, she was angry as hell.

“Look, Nora. I didn’t want—I mean, what else was I supposed to say?” He gaped at her.

“What else were you supposed to say?” She repeated incredulously.

“Can you stop repeating all my questions?” He sighed, shaking his head.

“You could have said anything – just about anything else, Harry. But, we’re in love? I mean, god—what sick, twisted—” Nora growled.

“Sick, twisted? Why is it so sick and twisted? Because it’s with me? Because I am what – the last person on the planet you could ever fathom seeing yourself with?” He spouted out.

“No,” she snapped.

“Because you think you’re better than me?” He continued.

“Harry,” Nora sighed, her eyes and her tone softening, realizing how insecure he seemed in that moment.

“Well, don’t worry, Nora. It’s not real. Don’t over-exert yourself,” he snapped at her angrily.

“Gahhh, Harry,” she sighed again, feeling bad.

“By the way—you’re welcome for saving your ass,” he spat at her, causing her to narrow her eyes at him.

His eyes bore into hers for a few more silent moments before he scoffed and turned on his heels, leaving the room.

Whoa.

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When Nora finally ambled aboard their traveling home, the atmosphere was quiet and suffocating. Harry was lying on his favorite couch, his ear buds already in his ears. When her eyes fell to his, he just glared back and she knew she thoroughly pissed him off. She just shook her head and walked passed him toward her bunk, her bag of personal belongings at her side. She just wanted to crawl into her bed and find some sort of solace in sleep, away from all the prying eyes and confusing, ambushing feelings that were running through her.

She’d already fallen asleep by the time they arrived at the hotel in Charlotte. She vaguely remembered hearing Niall tell her they were there. But she didn’t want to move, so they let her be.

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“You don’t love me, is that it?” Harry asked as Nora felt the tears stinging her eyes. He was so vulnerable and hurt. And she was well aware it was her who made him that way.

“Harry…” Nora breathed, reaching out her hand toward him.

“No! You don’t love me,” he snapped, pulling back out of her reach.

“Harry, I never said—” Nora began, feeling sheer terror at the thought of losing him.

“YOU DON’T LOVE ME! YOU NEVER LOVED ME!” He screamed at her, getting angry and for the first time Nora was actually afraid of him – of what he might do.

“I NEVER SAID THAT!” She yelled at him. His eyes softened as his shoulders fell. He was studying her so contently that she almost thought she’d broken him – that she’d stunned him into submission.

“Say it,” he breathed after a few unsettling moments.

“Say what?” She asked confused, her voice hoarse from yelling.

“Say it, Nora,” he insisted, but she didn’t know what he wanted. She never knew what he wanted. He was such a mystery.

“Harry, I don’t—” Nora shook her head, feeling so lost.

“Tell me you love me, Nora,” he said boldly and her eyes snapped up to his.

“What?” She choked out.

“Tell me you love me. I know you do,” he said, that sneaky smile turning up his lips.

“Harry—” Nora breathed, her heart racing in her chest.

“Tell me you love me and it will all be over,” Harry told her.

“What will be over?” She asked, confused.

“Tell me, Nora,” he growled impatiently.

“Harry, I-I…” She stammered, her mind reeling.

“It’s okay to feel it, Nora,” he whispered, suddenly standing so close to her.

“But, I-I’m scared,” she whimpered, looking up into his eyes.

“Because it’s me? Because you think you’re better than me?” He asked, his eyes darkening again as she felt his grip on her arms tightening painfully.

“Harry…” Nora breathed as she felt the fear bubbling up inside of her again.

“I love you, Nora. Tell me you love me too,” he said, his grasp suddenly feather light, his eyes so soft and sweet.

“You love me?” She choked out.

“Always and forever,” he said breathlessly.

“What?” She shook her head confused as she closed her eyes tightly.

And before she could wrap her head around it, she heard Harry’s dark, maniacal laugh. Nora’s eyes shot open when she realized he was laughing at her.

“It’s not real, Nora. It’s not real,” he said, his laugh getting stronger at her expense.

“I hate you,” she snapped.

“It’s not real, Nora. It’s not real,” he said again, still laughing.

“I hate you. I HATE YOU!” Nora screamed in his face.

And it seemed like his taunting would never end.

“I hate you!” She screamed.

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Nora woke with a jolt, her body quickly sitting up, causing her to hit her head on the low ceiling. It took her a moment to realize she was in her coffin-like bunk inside their traveling home – that what just happened in her dream was not real.

She took a deep breath, running her hands over her face before she opened the curtain of her bunk. It was completely dark in the bus except for the flicker of a television screen coming from the front lounge.

She pushed her legs over the edge of the bunk and jumped down onto her feet. She realized it must be the middle of the night. In the back of her mind, she knew they were at a hotel in Charlotte, but she had no idea if they even got a room for her and if they did, she had no idea which one it was. She had nowhere to go, but she knew she couldn’t stand to be in her bunk any longer.

Nora tiptoed to the end of the bunk hallway toward the front lounge to see who it was up there. She was certain she already knew. And seeing his figure lying on the couch, she was proven right. The clock on the wall read three-forty-five in the morning. Did she really want to walk into the belly of the beast at that time of night? But before she could even stop herself, her feet were moving toward him. She was almost relieved when she saw he was sound asleep – a beautiful imperfect creature. And her stomach lurched, thinking about the dream she just had. She shook the thought of it out of her head as she tiptoed back to her bunk and grabbed her pillow and blanket, bringing it with her to the front lounge. She grabbed the remote control for the TV out of Harry’s sleeping grasp and made herself comfortable across from him on the other couch.

Notes