All Again

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
HARRY

Then.

K. Well I’ll see you in a bit.
I read Becca’s text and sent her a quick reply.
Then I swiped my phone and locked it.
I was traveling through New York City with Jeff beside me in our Mercedes town car and Glenne was in the front seat on her phone.
Jeff had been watching me text.
As I looked up at him, catching his eye, he smiled at me.
“What?” I asked him curiously.
“Becca?”
I nodded yes. “Warning her about the paps and stuff.”
“No one would want her picture.” he reminded, though I already was well aware.
I smirked. He sounded just like Becca.
“Still.” I said, placing my phone in my pocket.
“It’s getting serious huh?” he questioned.
“What is?” I asked and he looked back at me.
I read his eyes.
“Me and Bec?”
“Duh.”
I shook my head no quickly. “No, no, no. We’re good though.” I said. “Why do you say that?”
“You two seem close.” he noted.
I smirked.
“We’ve been sleeping together for three months, I would hope so.”
He smiled back. “No it’s different. You seem coupley. You guys make it official, or are you still seeing other people?”
I shook my head no once more. “I haven’t been seeing other people for a while. And it’s just… casual. A summer thing. Neither one of us really has time for more. You know that.” I reminded him.
“I know, but…you should be on the outside looking in. You guys look and act like a couple. You‘re joined at the hip practically. ”
I looked back at him.
Yeah…and?
That wasn’t such a bad thing in my opinion. She was a nice girl and I was enjoying her company. What was wrong with spending a lot of time together?
Wasn’t that what you were suppose to do when you were seeing someone?
I was slightly surprised by how much I liked her though.
The previous night though I had been intoxicated and with friends, my mind ventured to her often.
I was a little worried about her being out with her friends, and was quite worried she would end up at a club.
I trusted her completely but I didn’t know her friends and I didn’t know what they would influence her to do. Peer pressure could be a bitch.
I was more than relieved when she texted me after midnight and told me she was over the whole scene and would be heading back to the hotel soon.
My phone died before I could confirm her location, but I was able to relax after that.
A bit too much.
I can’t remember how many drinks I had enjoyed the previous night, but when I woke up at 7am, on Jeff’s hotel room floor with a headache, it was all clear.
We ceased all conversation about Becca, and headed to the second location.
By now, the weather had peaked and it was boiling outside.
I removed my jacket and pulled my hair back as we arrived at the next spot.
This time, fans found me and after posing for a few photos and seeing the place, I headed in a separate car to the airport.
Again I was met with fans and this time some paps.
I hustled my way through the crowd in slight irritation and then checked my bags in.
*Are you at the airport?* I texted Becca. By now it was close 3:30pm and if she wasn’t there, she would miss our flight.
I had to be on the plane for my next show and couldn’t afford to stay back in New York if there were complications.
*Yup. I’m at the gate. They are loading soon.*
*I know. I’m having the plane held. Be there in a bit. I was held up*
She didn’t text me back…probably because she would see me soon…and I finished up my processes.
By the time I reached the gate, boarding had begun and I didn’t see Becca.
I had purchased first class tickets for us, so I didn’t have to wait to board as they did the economy class and was taken right on the plane.
Then I saw my girl.
“Hey.” she said warmly as I placed my bag in the overhead compartment.
“Hey.” I said, taking a seat beside her.
She was dressed casually but as always took me aback by her beauty.
“How was everything?” I asked.
“Good. You? I saw the crowd outside.”
I rolled my eyes. “Some girl got my flight information and tipped a bunch of people off.”
“How did she know?” Becca asked.
“I don’t know.” I said in irritation. “But that’s the shit I don’t like. People treat me like I‘m a fucking object.”
She rubbed my arm to calm me, and gave me a sweet smile.
“Well we’re going back to Europe. No more craziness.” she offered.
I smiled and looked around us.
No one was paying us too much attention, but we were in the States and I was worried someone on this flight might notice we were together.
Due to our seats, it could have been a casual pairing of people, but from the outside looking in, it had to be obvious we were friends.
I surveyed the area, being cautious.
I didn’t want any drama following us back to London.
All I needed was some stupid Sun Magazine exclusive or Twitter rumor popping up after I got off the plane. Becca rested back in her seat beside me, and flipped through her book. It was a different one from the previous day.
“How fast do you read?” I noted.
“Fast.” she said simply and I smiled.
I rested my head back against the seat and closed my eyes as the instructions went over the PA.
We had a seven hour flight back to Brussels, and all I wanted to do was sleep. And I would.
***************************************
“The black one.”
I smiled and pulled the black shirt off the hanger.
“Well this is getting easier and easier.” I said turning to Becca who had just picked my shirt for the stage.
“I know. I’ve become your personal stylist.”
“You have. But you’re quite good at it.” I said, pulling my shirt off and throwing on the t-shirt.
I had forty-five minutes until show time.
By now, I was well rested and ready for tonight’s show.
After getting off the plane, me and Becca had went straight to sleep and slept until early that morning.
We had spent the majority of our time at the stadium doing sound checks and hanging with the band.
By now, Becca was fitting in quite nicely and building her own relationships with the crew.
“Are you watching or staying back here?” I asked.
“I’m watching.” she said.
“Aren’t you sick of the show yet?”
She smiled and stood. “Nope. Never.”
I smiled back.
“Besides, who could get sick of you prancing across the stage.”
“Prancing? Is that what I’m doing?”
She nodded yes, wrapping her arm around my neck.
I was just about to pull her in for a kiss, when Lou walked in my dressing room.
“Harry you ready?”
“Yeah.” I said pulling away.
I was still not ‘stage-ready’ and had been avoiding her chair all day.
“Hey Becca.” Lou said warmly.
“Hello.” Becca said back.
While they exchanged pleasantries for the second time that day, I grabbed my phone.
Lou and Becca followed me out of the room.
A half hour later, I was ‘prancing’ on stage and making sure to be obnoxiously energetic for Becca.
I caught her smiling a few times as I hopped around and teased the crowd.
Again, after the show, she expressed awe.
“I just don’t get it.” she said. “You’re literally two different people.”
I just smiled.
When we arrived back to our hotel, we stayed up a bit, both of us wide awake and just enjoyed each others company.
We had a rematch of a previous Scrabble game, and then joined the guys for a bit, for their late night antics running around the hotel.
We got up the next morning and headed to London.
Once again, we headed to my house where Becca had left some of her things.
“I think I want to just lounge around today.” she said once we settled in.
She had already showered and we were standing in the kitchen sharing a bag of pretzels.
“Cool. I need to head to the gym though.” I said. “I haven’t worked out in a couple of days.”
“I don’t want to go.” she said quickly. “I just want to stay here. In bed.”
I smiled. “Well I will join you, when I come back.”
“Are you going to meet you trainer?”
“Maybe.” I said. “Depends on what he’s doing, but I don’t really need him. I‘m going to be at Barry‘s boot camp.”
“Cool. I’ve been to the one in New York. Have fun.” she said.
She bid me farewell and I headed upstairs to change into some lounge clothes.
After I dressed, I passed her lying on the couch and curled up with a book.
“Comfortable?” I teased.
“Very.” she said.
“K. I’ll see you in a bit.”
She nodded, blew me a kiss, and then I left.
As I climbed in the car, I dialed my Mums number and checked in.
She was lunching with friends in a bit, and we caught up with what each other had missed.
I was in a great mood. I was still high off the show from the night before and I had a beautiful girl in my house waiting on me.
What could go wrong today?
“Alright Mum. Well I’ll call you later. I’m at the gym.”
“Okay hun. I love you.”
“Love you too Mum.” I hung up the phone and then decided to turn my phone off.
I didn’t think Becca would try to reach me, but it was only for an hour while I worked out and hopefully nothing would go too wrong.
Still, though I was living a blessed life, it didn’t come with out its troubles and own issues and today was about to remind me of the stupid pressures and rumors I faced.
And unfortunately this time, Becca would be in the center of it.

Notes