Back at the breakfast table I sat next to Niall once again thinking about what happened with Zayn earlier. I’m sure it was nothing but why couldn’t I convince myself of that? I spent all my time thinking about that morning. My thoughts were interrupted by a horrid voice.

“Time to go, kiddies.” Ms. Novak spoke.

I internally groaned and stood up, stretching.

“C’mon love.” Niall said, placing an arm on my back, slightly pushing me forward and into Zayn. Zayn turned around and gave me a “What up” nod then turned around at him.

I glared at Niall and he gave me a confused look.

“Ms. Novak will start bitchin’ at ya if ya don’t hurry.” Niall whispered in my ear.

I nodded and walked out to the van where Ms. Novak was waiting for me.

“Alright,” She said. “The boys have an interview on a tv show so we have to dress them for that. Then after that, they have a radio interview. We have a pretty busy day so I will need you to focus and set flirting aside. Kapeesh?”

WHAT. I furrowed my eyebrows.

“Excuse you?”

“What?” She asked.

“Did you just ask me to stop flirting?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t flirt, with them.” I defended myself.

“Honey,” she said, placing a bony hand on my shoulder. “We all see it. The way you talk on them and look at them with lustful eyes.”

What the hell was this lady on?

“Listen, Ms. Novak, I think you’re terribly mistaken.”

“Oh no,” She said, shaking her head. “I’m not mistaken at all. In fact, I think you should be more careful of your slutty ways, we don’t want the paparazzi to know that you’re whoring around with the boys. I know they said any publicity is good publicity, but let’s face it…” She said, looking at me up and down. “This..” She was now pointing at me. “Won’t be good publicity at all.”

She’s such a bitch. Ugh.

I simply nodded with a fake smile and got into the back. I decided to sit shotgun so I wouldn’t be sitting next to any of the boys and Ms. Novak wouldn’t bitch at me.

Soon after, the boys piled into the bus one by one and we were driven to a studio where the interview would be held. I followed Ms. Novak into the building so I could get my instructions while the boys went through the main entrance and spent some time saying hi to the fans.

“I’ll get Niall and Harry ready.” She snickered. Why did she always want to dress Harry? Whoah wait…that means I’d have to dress Zayn and Louis. I internally groaned and made my way over to the racks of clothing of the boys I’d have to dress.

“And remember,” The bitch said. “no flirting.”

I rolled my eyes and pretended not to hear her chuckling her evil laugh. Why’d she have to be such a bitch?

I sighed as I could hear the boys walking into the room.

“Kaylaaaaa!” Niall shouted in his heavy Irish accent. I turned to him and smiled.

“Hey, Nia-“

“NIALL. You’re with me.” Ms. Novak interrupted.

My smile turned into a frown and Niall gave me a sympathetic smile.

“I’ll catch ya later.” He said, walking away.

“Well who am I with?” Harry asked.

Ms. Novak shot him a seductive smile and raised her hand. Oh.

Harry grinned and walked over to her side of the room, sitting on the empty couch while she was helping Niall.

“So I guess that leaves us with you.” The ‘Bradford Bad Boy’
said walking over to me alongside the Tommo.

I nodded and averted my attention to the rack in front of me, which happened to be Louis’. I could tell it was his by the striped shirts and colorful pants that hung on from the rack.

I cleared my throat and turned to Louis.

“Louis, you’re up first.” I said, calling him over.

Louis nodded and stood next to me, looking at the clothing rack.

“What do you have for me, Kayla?”

I clicked my teeth and chose a white button-up shirt, navy suspenders, and his red pants and handed them to him.

“Here, go change.” I said.

He nodded and was about to walk off when I stopped him.

“Louis, wait.” I handed him a pair of white converse and he took them, nodding.

“Thanks.”

And with that, Zayn and I were left alone. I COULD use this time to talk to him about what happened earlier but was it really worth stressing over? I mean, it was just a wink, right? Nothing special. Everyone winks.

“Uh, Kayla?” Zayn spoke up, interrupting me from my thoughts.

“Yeah?”

“Did you hear what I said?” He asked with his Bradford accent?

“No, sorry.” I apologized. “Come again?”

He shook his head no so I just moved over to his rack of clothing. I couldn’t really find anything for him because I was having trouble concentrating getting lost in my thoughts.

I felt a hand on my shoulder which made me shiver. I knew it was Zayn because we were the only ones on this side of the room and everyone else was off doing their own thing. Niall and Louis were in the changing rooms, and Harry and Ms. Novak were…laughing and smiling..?? Um, ok.

I looked at Zayn and offered a fake smile.

He leaned over me and picked out his own clothes, smiling.

I shifted uncomfortably and held my breath.

Zayn laughed and I rolled my eyes again, I seemed to be doing a lot of that lately.

“What’s up babe? You seem a bit off today.”

I shook my head. “I’m fine.”

“No you’re not.” He said, smirking.

Why was he smirking? Anyways, he’s right, I’m not. I mean, I am, but I just had to get this over with.

“Zayn can I talk to you?”

He looked taken by surprise.

“Sure thing, babe.”

“Don’t call me babe.”

“Alright, love.” He continues, smirking.

“Don’t- Oh, whatever.” I looked around and saw Ms. Novak giving us an ‘I’m watching you’ look. “Here, let’s go over here.” I said, pulling him away from Ms. Novak’s view.

“But I have to get changed,” He said, dragging me toward another direction. The changing rooms.

“Are you kidding me?!”

“What?” He asked displaying an innocent smile.

“I’m not going in there.”

“Fine, talk to me over the door.” He said, getting into the changing room and closing the door.

“Remember earlier today? When I went to wake you up at your room?”

“Yeah?” He said, indicating he was listening. I could hear shuffling so I knew he was now changing.

“Well, you kinda sorta left me all confused.”

“Confused? Why do you say that, love?” Zayn asked, speaking through the door.

“Why’d you wink at me like that?” I asked suddenly.

A dressed Zayn opened the door quickly, a bit taken aback by the question I hadjust asked.

He gave off a ‘continue’ nod.

“Well,” I leaned against the door. “Maybe I’m overthinking this and it didn’t mean anything but that seemed like more than an innocent wink. I mean, yeah sure, it could’ve just been you being playful and all but-“

“Hey.” Zayn spoke up, stopping my rambling. “ Like you said, it was just a playful gesture.”

Um, ok. It was just a friendly gesture. I had this feeling in the pit of my stomach. What was it? I couldn’t tell. Was it disappointment? Or was I relieved? I don’t know but when I heard him say that, there was an uneasy feeling in my stomach.

“Kayla!” Louis called out, walking out of one of the changing rooms.

“See ya!” Zayn said.

I nodded and turned to face Louis who was walking toward me when I felt a hand smack my ass. I furrowed my eyebrows and turned around to see a chuckling Zayn walking off toward Harry. I turned back to Louis and he was messing with one of the suspender straps. Thank God he hadn’t seen.

“You ok, Kayla?” Louis asked, looking at me.

“Um, yeah, why?”

“Your face is as red as a tomato.” He said, laughing a bit.

“Oh,” I said, bringing my hands up to my cheeks. Wow, my cheeks felt warm.

“Did you need something? I asked.

“Yeah, the strap ripped off.” He said, pointing to the suspender.

“Oh, I can easily fix that.” I walked over to my bag and picked up my emergency kit, picking out the safety pins. “Come over here, Louis.”

Louis made his way over to me and I sat down so I could have a closer look at the suspender strap. I inspected it and stuck the safety pin near the seam of the strap where it had become undone and then through his pants. I stood up and looked at him. I’d fixed it.

“Perfect.” I said to myself, smiling.

“Oh, I know I’m perfect, no need to tell me.” He said, walking off. “Thank you!”

I laughed and watched him walk over to the others then go on stage. I looked around the room and my gaze fell upon Ms. Novak who had an evil grin displayed on her face.

She walked over to me and crossed her arms once she was standing in front of me.

“What?” I asked.

“Don’t ‘what’ me.” She said sternly. “I saw that.”

I gulped. She could tell she was making me uncomfortable. She was like a dog, she could smell fear.

“You better be careful, Kayla. I told you, I’m alwayyys watching. Don’t think I didn’t see that little incident back there. Be nice to me and no one will know.” And with that she was off sidestage, leaving me by the clothing racks all confused.

She’d seen what Zayn did. I was screwed.