Follow Your Heart

Nichole sat on the sofa, petting Gemma’s cat, Olivia, who had decided Nichole’s lap was where she belonged. She kept picking up her phone and looking at it, checking the time and waiting for Harry to call from Glasgow.She was still reeling from the fact that she was his girlfriend. Her Nanna Charlotte would be beside herself that Harry just proclaimed himself her boyfriend to Dylan and that Nichole just accepted it, but she was happy. Well, she was happy as she could be with Harry in Glasgow while was still in London. But after a sold out week of shows at the O2, One Direction was back on the road and Nichole was once again waiting for Harry to call after shows.

Gemma walked into the room and Olivia hopped off Nichole’s lap and ran to her.
“He’s not called yet?”

Nichole picked up her phone, checking the time again. “No, but he’s only just got off stage.”

Gemma sat down at the other end of the sofa, looking at Nichole. “What?”

“You didn’t go with him because….?” Nichole rolled her eyes and tried to explain herself, again.

“Because…work…I have things that need to be done here.I had meetings today…and I have two more tomorrow. I need to get a driver’s permit…and, god do we really need another front page story in the Sun? I’m still getting hate from the last one.”

“So you sit here staring at your phone for the last three nights, sad, because you miss him. Makes sense to me.” Nichole threw a pillow at her, causing Olivia to jump and hiss before she ran up the stairs.

“Auntie Nicky didn’t mean it, Livvy…she’s just lonely and horny!” Gemma shouted up the stairs. Then she turned back to Nichole, “Don’t look at me like that…I know. I’m not stupid. You two are still honeymooning, I mean, you stayed at his the whole week they were here, presumably to save me from hearing you. Thanks for that, by the way.” Nichole could feel her face turning red.
“Shut up. God…I’m sure you and Michal took advantage of me being gone for a week. So, yeah, you’re welcome.”

Gemma turned red as well and threw the pillow back at Nichole.“Such a bitch, Nicky.”

“Yeah, but you love me.”

“Somedays I wonder why.”

About then Nichole’s phone rang. She answered on the first ring, stood up and headed out the back.

“Hey, darlin’”

“Hi beautiful.” Harry said, making her blush again.

“How was the show?”

“Good, good…I miss you.” She sat on one of the chaises, leaned back and said,

“I miss you, too. Are you on the bus?” Nichole could hear Niall and Louis in the background.

“Loading up now, Birmingham in 5 hours. I wish you were here.”

“I know, I wish I was, too. But I have work. Work that you pay me to do, in case you have forgotten.”

“I haven’t forgotten. Your meetings go ok today?”

“They did. I donated those items for the hospital auctions too. And, I’m meeting with a couple of doctors tomorrow. They are heading to Africa in a few weeks. Should have a better grasp of what they need and what we can do for the hospital they are going to then.”

“That’s great news, babe.” Nichole shivered at the cold from sitting outside and he said, “Are you outside again? Go in and get warm. You dork.”

“Fiiiine, but you are the dork, not me.”

“I’m not the one sitting out in the cold.”

“Shut up,” She said coming back inside. Gemma who was still on the sofa, shouted,

“She just told me to shut up too, little brother. You aren’t special.” He just laughed but didn’t ask why. Nichole stuck her tongue out at her as she headed up to finish the conversation in her room.

~*~*~*~

Gemma was just about to go to bed when she heard Nicky’s door open. She came down stairs and headed straight into the kitchen. Gemma was sure she heard her sniffling so she followed her. Nichole was sitting on the counter with a carton of ice cream and spoon, eating straight from the carton.

“Well, do I need to drive to Birmingham and kick my brother’s ass? Call him and yell at him?” Nichole looked up, her face tear stained. “Aw…what’s wrong?” Then she let out a sob she’d obviously been trying to hold in.

“I miss him. I hate it...I hate that I’m the girl that misses her boyfriend when he’s only been gone a week. But I do and I can’t help it.” Gemma took the ice cream from her and set in on the counter.

“Fine, well you can go to him, you know. Why are you doing this to yourself?”

“Because, damnit Gem…I am not some pathetic female that needs to be up her boyfriend’s ass sideways to feel complete.”Gemma couldn’t help but laugh. Nichole was definitely not that girl. But to put herself through this needlessly was pointless.

“Ok, we both know that…and I am not saying you should stay there, but fuck it. Let’s go to Birmingham. 2 hours if I drive or we can take the train and it’s just over an hour. They are there for three nights, right?”

Nichole nodded, “But I have work tomorrow and the next day.”

“So we go for the second and third night. Then after that, you can decide what you want to do. But there is no reason for you to be miserable. You are making me miserable, and my boyfriend hasn’t gone anywhere.”

~*~*~*~

After Nichole disconnected the call Harry leaned his head back on the sofa keeping his eyes closed.

“Ya alright?” Niall asked, as he sat down next to him.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine. Nichole?”

“Yeah…she’s upset.”

“Why?”

“Not sure, but I could hear it in her voice though.”

“H, mate…she’s just moved to another country so she’s missing her family…she’s been through hell with the media and the fans the past couple of weeks…and now her new boyfriend is off and she’s left at home working. She misses you.”

All Harry could do was just stare at him.

“Don’t look at me like I have a horn growin’ out of me head. You know I’m right.”

“And you are still single, why?” Harry asked, amazed at how for being a single guy, he sure knew how to read women.

“Because I’m too clever for them. I have ‘em figured out and they don’t like that. They like to be mysterious.” Harry let out a laugh and shook his head as he stood up to make his way back to the bunks for a quick nap. Niall yelled after him,

“Do something nice for her. Send her flowers or something…she’ll be ok. Just a few more weeks.”

~*~*~*~

“Are you sure having her here is a good idea, Harold?” Lou said as she worked on Harry’s hair. He looked in the mirror and could see Kendall, Cara, and Poppy sitting on the sofa behind them laughing at something unknown. They were decked out head to toe in One Direction merch and he couldn’t help but laugh. Kendall looked up and smiled at him.

“Yeah, why not? They are my friends.”

“Harry…I’m just worried. This is all so new for Nicky, and she’s had enough shit thrown at her the past couple of weeks. And you and I both know Kendall is…well, Kendall, and she’s here for a reason.”

Harry had been surprised when Cara called and asked about the three of them coming for the show. And Lou was right, Kendall always had an agenda. A trait Harry was sure she picked up from her mother and just one of the many reasons that he knew it could never work between them.

“Its fine, Louise…Kendall and I are friends, that is all.”

~*~*~*~

The show had been over for about 30 mins when Nichole and Gemma got to the arena. Gemma parked her car by the busses and they headed inside. They had decided that it would be fun to surprise Harry so no one knew they were coming. Deciding since security knew them, they wouldn’t have a problem and if not, they would just text Lou, and she’d get them in.
They walked down the hall towards the noise coming from the dressing rooms. Nichole practically ran down the hall, as fast as she could in heels anyway. She was so excited to see him and was certain he’d be surprised, too.And surprise was exactly what Nichole felt when she came through the door.

Kendall Jenner was planted in Harry’s lap. Her hands touching his hair. Suddenly, Nichole couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t speak. She couldn’t even move. She felt her heart beating out of her chest. The whole room went quiet and everyone was staring at her. Gemma spoke before Nichole could.

“Harry? What the hell?” He pushed Kendall out of his lap and stood up, moving towards them. Nichole could feel rage getting ready to boil over so she held up her hand and said,

“Don’t…just don’t you say a word to me…” Then when she looked over at Kendall, who was smiling and whispering with Cara. Nichole just lost it and swiftly moved across the room and got in her face.

“You little piece of trash.”

“Excuse me?” Kendall laughed. Nichole felt like she wanted to explode, or at the very least, smack that smug smile off her face.

“You. Little. Piece. Of. Trash. I know in your world, putting your bony ass in the lap of someone else’s boyfriend is normal, but where I come from, you mess with someone’s man…you end up…well let’s just say that pretty little face would need some time to heal before the next shoot, darlin.’”

“Are you threatening me?”

“It’s not a threat, bitch, it’s a fucking promise.”

Harry’s grabbed Nichole’s arm, trying to pull her away, “Nichole…that’s enough.” She turned around, pulling her arm out of his grasp and pushing him away.

“Don’t touch me! Don’t talk to me…just don’t…” then the tears started. The madder she got, the more she wanted to cry.Niall approached her, guiding her out of the room.

“Come on, love…let’s go get some air.”

“You dumbass,” Gemma said as Harry watched Niall lead Nichole out of the room. Harry started to follow them, but his sister stopped him. “Leave her alone. She needs to calm down. Then you can talk to her.”

“Wow, Harry. You’ve got yourself quite the little drama queen.” Kendall said laughing.Harry turned around and looked at her, rolling his eyes.

“Just shut up, Ken…shut the fuck up.”

~*~*~*~

Nichole was still crying as Niall led her out of the room and around to the back of the venue. Most everyone had cleared off so it was quiet.

She sat down on the step, breathing slowly, trying to get herself together. Niall sat down next to her, his hand on her back, doing what he could to try and calm her down.

“Just so you know she forced herself on his lap. He didn’t invite her.”

“Please don’t defend him, Niall.”

“Not tryin’ to defend him, Nicky. I’m just tellin’ you the truth.”

“I missed him so much; I just wanted to see him…surprise him.” His hand rested on her shoulder and he said,

“I know how it looked, Nicky, but wasn’t what you think.” She wiped her eyes and nodded. He stood up and walked back inside.

~*~*~*~

Kendall, Cara, and Poppy left pretty quickly after Niall led Nichole out of the room, Cara making a point of apologizing as she walked past Harry. Niall walked in the room not long after that, nodding at Harry to go outside to Nichole.

When he walked out the door he saw her sitting on the steps next to loading dock, looking out over the car park. He sat down next to her but didn’t say anything, both of them keeping their eyes forward.

“She’s just my friend.”

She sighed, turning her face towards him, “I know, but why would you let her sit in your lap? Why didn’t you make her move? You declared yourself my boyfriend to my brother. If you really meant that, then you shouldn’t have let that happen.”

“I know…I honestly didn’t know what to do. I was sat there chatting with everyone, next thing I know she was on my lap and you then you walked through the door. I didn’t have time to think.”

“What is she even doing here?” Harry just shrugged his shoulders and said,

“Cara called to tell me they wanted to come to the show and I made arrangements for them. Like I would for any friend.”

She sighed and muttered, “yeah, another ex.” He inhaled deeply, trying to temper the anger he felt hearing that come from Nichole. It was one thing to have to deal with the media speculating about his private life, but to hear Nichole sounding so judgmental almost pushed him over the edge. He raised his voice as he stood up.

“Yes, I dated Cara…but she’s Just. A. Friend. I’m not going to deal with you being insecure about every woman I know, Nichole. And threatening them with violence is not ok!”

“You know what? I obviously made a mistake.” She stood up and started to walk away, but turned around and shouted, “Fuck Kendall, fuck Cara…fuck you, Harry! If you hurry you might catch them!”

He ran down the steps, after her. He grabbed her arm and spun her around. He wanted to just shout back at her. Even through her tears, he could see how mad she was. But along with the anger, he saw hurt, confusion and fear. He looked around and started walking towards one of the buses, pulling her with him.

“What the hell are you doing? Where are you taking me? Let me go!”

“You are going to listen to me…but I am not doing this out here.” By then he had the door to the bus opened and motioned for her to get on. She stood there, arms crossed, refusing to move. “Nichole, just let me talk and if you still want to leave, then leave.”

She walked onto the bus and sat down on one of the sofas, her arms still crossed in front of her.

“Look at me, Nichole.” Her face turned towards him. “She’s just a friend. That’s all. They are both my friends. And I am sorry about Kendall. She’s not used to be being told no.”
“Evidently.”

“Nichole…” He sighed.

“Fine, whatever…are you my boyfriend or what? I’m done playing hide and seek with everyone. I have spent weeks getting called every name in the book just for daring to look at you or daring to breathe the same air as you. I can’t stand to close…can’t hold your hand in public…and god forbid if I sat in your lap and someone sees. I’m harassed all the time, because, in their eyes, Kendall or Taylor…or god damn Louis is so much more worthy of you than I am. I’m over it Harry…Over it…I love you, but this bullshit is too much.”

Nichole gasped, realizing what she had said. Suddenly all the air left the bus, both of them sat there, staring at each other.

“Have to go…” she said quietly as she stood, ready to run off the bus. She could feel more tears start to fall and she didn’t want to cry in front of him anymore. Harry grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him. She sat back down in front of him, but refused to look at him. His hand touched her chin lightly, turning her face to his.

“Nichole, look at me, beautiful.” She looked up in his eyes, holding her breath, waiting for him to say something, anything. He brought his hands to her hair, running his fingers through it, pushing it behind her ears and smiling at her. He leaned over, touching his forehead to hers, “I love you too, Nichole,” he said softly, “I know it all seems so rushed, so fast, but I do…I love you like mad.”

Nichole let out sob as he pulled her into his arms, holding her against his chest. As mad as she was about Kendall, all of a sudden she didn’t matter. Harry rubbed her back, holding her close, and letting her release all of her emotions and frustrations of the past weeks all over his white t shirt.

“Nichole, listen to me.” He said, tilting her face upwards, “I have to keep my personal life private, you know that. The world doesn’t need to know everything. Otherwise, I’d go crazy. And I decide who is worthy of me, not anyone else. And I choose you. I love you. All I want to do is protect you, as much as I can. I failed once; I don’t want to do it again.” Then he pressed his lips to hers softly.

He pulled back and moved his hand up to her face, gently stroking her cheek as he spoke,
“Nichole, please trust me. We can’t always be together, so you have to trust me.” Nichole couldn’t speak yet but she did manage to nod. He brushed her hair from her face and wiped the tears from her eyes. “I hate seeing you cry.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled into his chest again, giving into her need for his comfort.

They eventually fell asleep, staying on the bus, cuddled on the sofa.

~*~*~*~

Nichole was woken up early in the morning by Louis getting on the bus. She sat up, realizing she needed the bathroom desperately. Harry whined for her, trying to pull her back to him. She stood up and leaned over him, kissing his head.

“I’ll be back.”

When she came out of the toilet, she saw Louis standing in the kitchen area, looking at his phone and grinning while he waited for the kettle to heat up. He looked at her and asked,
“Have you seen Twitter today?” Nichole groaned thinking it was something to do with her temper tantrum from the night before, expecting to be dragged by Kendall over all of it.
“No, why? I haven’t looked at that in days.”

“You should.” He replied, grinning at her. She grabbed her phone and immediately opened Twitter.

@Harry_Styles is following you
@Harry_Styles tweeted: No More hide and seek, @nickymarieTX

Notes

Oh there it is the "L word"

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