And You Let Her Go

The next morning was filled with calls and emails from the boys’ management about today's visit to the auto show and I couldn’t help but feel a little important.

Emily decided to join our adventure and we hopped into the black SUV outside our apartment. Their ‘driver’ picked us up first, and we headed to the Ritz Carlton where we would collect the boys.

“I have a bad feeling about this,” I whispered to Emily.

She gave up on a game of Tetris and looked at me with no worry in her eyes, “Everything will be fine. You’ll have Harry and Zayn, and I’ll have Louis, Liam, and Niall. We will have bodyguards for crying out loud! We are THE shit today,” she winked, putting her arm around me.

I groaned and couldn’t help but think otherwise. Even with a bodyguard something could go wrong…

We pulled up to the Ritz and the one of the bodyguards—I think his name was Rob—climbed out of the car to get the guys.

There was a small crowd of dedicated fans forming around the revolving doors and I could only imagine what the twitter feed would consist of when the boys would leave the hotel.

I twirled my ring in my hands nervously.

“Okay, seriously. Now you’re making me nervous. Can you not?” Emily waved her hands in front of my face, trying to get my attention.

I was instantly relieved when I saw Harry push through the doors, sporting a beanie. Oh good god, we were matching today. White v-necks, leather jacket, black beanies. Just marvelous…

After signing multiple albums and pictures for the fans, they climbed in the car with Harry taking the seat next to me.

“You have impeccable taste in style,” I pointed at his outfit. He eyed me up and down and chuckled.

“Well done, Jenson. I knew my fashion sense would get through to you,” he flashed me his crooked smile.

Zayn cleared his throat, forcing me to look away from Harry.

“Charlie, you have no idea how excited I am right now. I don’t recall ever going to one of these. Ever,” Zayn popped the collar of his jacket.

Niall squealed, pumping his fist in the air.

“Alriiiiight guys. I already think this is a bad idea so let’s try to be civil, yeah?” I knew that would be a big wish.

Louis smirked at me, “You’ve got a car load of angels, love. What more could you ask for?”

I laughed, facepalming myself. What have I gotten myself into…

The car ride to McCormick Place consisted of the boys adding on to my paranoia as they all made bets on what would happen for the day.

Liam bet 10 bucks Niall would somehow set off a car alarm, Louis bet 20 thinking that Zayn would get lost, and Niall bet 10 that I would lose my mind before the day was over.

I didn’t doubt the last bet.

I could practically feel the heat radiating off of Harry as my shoulder dug under his arm. He eventually ended up putting his arm around me to make more room.

“Jenson, are you blushin?!” Niall sang from the other side of the car. Despite his knowledge of my feelings for Harry, he still liked embarrassing me—in front of everyone…

I grinned, hoping it would somehow decrease the pink hue on my face, but Louis howled, adding even more to the chaos. I mentally facepalmed myself again.

“Oh look, we’re here!” I pointed out the window towards the massive black building.

The boys plastered their faces against the window, “Whoaaa,” they chorused.

“Haven’t you seen stadiums bigger than this?” Emily raised an eyebrow at them.

“Sure, but not for cars,” Harry grinned. He looked down at me and squeezed my shoulder.

He leaned in, his hot breath tickling my neck.

“Deep breaths, everything will be okay. I promise,” he gave me a small smile and nodded as if reassuring himself.

“I hope so,” I tried my best to smile back at him. Why was he the one comforting me? Shouldn’t I have been the one to tell them they didn’t need to worry about any screaming fans? It was their second day here and I was already a bad tour guide.

********

“The Aston Martin DB5,” Harry leaned against the glass barrier inspecting the front of the car.

“Beautiful,” Zayn whispered.

I sighed in consent, “If only James Bond could be sitting in the driver’s seat.”

Zayn and Harry nodded in agreement, not taking their eyes off the car.

I glanced at the white card placed in front of the car.

“That price is beautiful as well,” my eyes widened at the numbers.

“Ehh, what’s a couple more concerts to do the trick,” Harry winked at me.

I scoffed, “Easy for you to say, popstar!”

Harry tickled my sides in response and I threw my head back in laughter. Zayn had already started walking away and the bodyguard looked from us to him, not knowing where to go.

Harry slapped a hand on the big guy’s shoulder, “Its alright, Rob. Let him roam,” Harry chuckled and we followed Zayn with an annoyed Rob trailing behind us.

Surprisingly, not a lot of people had noticed Harry and Zayn yet. Apart from some twelve-year-old girls who were quickly shushed by their moms, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.

We reached the Porsche section of the auto show and I could already feel the hairs on my neck stand when I saw the Porsche 911 turbo. What can I say, I was a sucker when it came to this car.

“Let’s get that one,” I pointed at the black beauty.

“Uhh, dealer?” Harry looked around, holding his hand up. I punched his shoulder, laughing at his joke. He winked at me and the damn butterflies appeared. I really liked where we were in our relationship. Putting the past behind us really helped us move on.

“We should probably find the others,” Rob said behind us.

I searched for my phone in my bag and clicked Emily’s name. She picked up on the second ring.

“Em?”

“Heyyyyy you!” she sounded nervous.

I waved off my worry, “You guys ready to meet for lunch?”

“Ummm. Yeah, we’ll meet you by the car,” she quickly hung up.

I stared at my phone, not knowing why Emily was acting so weird. I caught Harry’s concerned expression.

“Everything okay?” he held my elbow.

“Yeah. Fine. Emily just sounded weird on the phone,” I shrugged, not making a big deal out of it.

I linked arms with Zayn and he smiled as we skipped ahead of Rob to the side entrance. Paul was already waiting for us as he signaled to join him.

“There you are! At least all of YOU are here,” Paul turned around and started yelling into his phone.

“What?” Harry and I both asked at the same time.

“Aren’t you supposed to be with the others?” Zayn joined us in our confusion.

Paul was still shouting into his phone and I was only able to make out a couple words as I saw Emily, Liam, Niall, and another bodyguard approaching us—sans Louis.

“Emily…” I widened my eyes at her. “Emily, where’s Louis?!”

Zayn and Harry froze next to me.

“Okay,” she put her hands on my shoulders, “Don’t panic. Henry and Drew went to look for him,” he referred to the other gaurds.

My jaw dropped and Paul joined us after his screaming match on the phone.

Niall ran a hand through his hair and groaned.

“He’ll never find his way back,” I pushed Emily away from me, reaching for my phone to call Louis.

“Don’t bother, his phone is on silent,” Niall muttered.

“Course it is!” Harry put his hands behind his head and started pacing back and forth.

I looked around at the circle we formed, “Well we can’t just stand here. Let’s go back and find him!”

Harry took my hand and the others followed us. Paul remained.

“I need to stay here, just in case he shows up,” Paul balled his fists and typed something into his phone.

We ran down the long hallway. I couldn’t help but think I told you so in my head, but I kept the thought to myself, knowing it wouldn’t help anything. Of course this had to happen…

I spotted a head of brown hair and a jean jacket running towards us.

“HEY! There you all are! I was beginning to think you forgot about me!” There was Louis with the biggest fucking grin slapped on his face and a cheese pretzel in hand. Despite my relief, I wanted to strangle him.

“You tosser! Where the bloody hell have you been?!” Harry looked exasperated.

“I was just getting a pretzel! I thought I told you,” Louis sighed apologetically.

Niall laughed and jumped on Louis, nearly knocking him over.

“You could at least share some with me, lad,” Niall displayed his palms.

Rolling his eyes, Louis ripped a piece of the pretzel off for Niall.

Harry groaned next to me and started walking back. I caught up to him and linked his arm with mine.

He smiled down at me and we walked alone with Emily and the rest of the boys behind us.

I weighed the options in my head, “You know, this could have been far worse,” I said to Harry.

He chuckled, “Sure. He could have stained his new striped shirt.”

“Hey!” Louis cried behind us, “I heard that!”

We finally approached the side entrance and joined Paul who displayed the same exasperated look Harry had only moments ago. He narrowed his eyes at Louis.

Raising his arms in surrender, he sighed, “Let’s just go back to the hotel.”

We nodded in agreement and followed him outside to the black SUV.

Zayn suddenly jumped in front of us and pointed a finger at Louis, “And you said I was the one who would get lost! You owe me 20 dollars, mate!”

Everyone but Louis threw their heads back in laughter, “Poooor Louis,” Emily sang.

He groaned, taking out his wallet and presented Zayn with the money.

“Thank you,” Zayn bowed. Louis pushed him away, chuckling.

“Spend it wisely!” We hopped in the car and drove towards the Ritz.

Paul turned around in the passenger seat and met each of our gazes with a glare, “Never again,” he muttered.

“Aw Paul, lighten up a little!” Niall teased.

I rested my head back on the seat and took a deep breath. Today was definitely chaotic, but I was happy I spent it with my closest friends. If anything, today had only brought us closer together.