two | h.s. - t.c.

65

i pulled my phone out from the pocket of my jacket and froze, not expecting the name i just read.

zayn.

"hello?" i answered quietly, turning away from harry's view.

"you're in new york, yeah?" he asked.

"uh, yeah." i said slowly, "why?"

"there's an event tonight we're going to."

"we? since when were you here." i spoke quietly again.

"since my manager flew me out this morning." he said. "we're singing our song at this event they'll be broadcasting."

i couldn't understand a word he said, it was like he was speaking a different language. i walked out of the room and into the hall, closing the door behind me.

"you're kidding right? what do you mean our song—we don't have a song." i put my hand on my forehead and slid it past the top of my head, my face getting hot.

"there's a show tonight, i can't just leave last minute, they need me." i quickly said.

there was a pause. "they...don't though?" he said slowly, confused. "alex is there."

i laughed. now i think i was actually hearing things. "no she isn't."

but she was.
it's like she timed this—there's no way she just happened to enter the hall as i spoke about her. her heels clinked onto the hard floor, making her appearance known.

she had her same tight blue jeans on with a small white tanktop, her walk confident yet careless. like her hair. and the black smudged around her eyes that was either slept-in mascara or eyeliner. her red lipstick was so loud in this white, plain hallway.

i heard zayn's voice in my phone, yet i couldn't comprehend a thing. i watched her walk past me, a stern look on my face. she smiled and winked and walked right ahead, going to the room i was just in. the room went silent as soon as she walked in.

"hey zayn, i gotta go." i said absentmindedly as i followed after her.

"huh? we need to rehearse, you haven't even heard the fucking song. look, they've sent me to pick you up my driver's almost there—"

"we'll be fine." i mumbled and hung up, too focused on how angry was.

i opened the door and walked in to see alex just talking as everyone stared at her. everything always went to shit whenever alex was involved. everyone sensed it, i could see it on their faces. even timothée looked shocked.

"you're leaving today?" kayla was quick to ask as soon as she saw me, worried.

god, what'd alex tell them?
"surprise." i said. out of everything i could've said, i said one word dreadfully.

"you're looking at the next money maker of one records," alex said as she threw her arm over my shoulders, "you guys must be so proud," she gave me a little shake with a smile. she looked over at harry, "harry, aren't you so proud?"

she laughed, "oh wait, should i be asking timothée that?" she sighed and removed her arm from around me, placing her hands on her hips. "i can never really tell."

"i don't think i'd consider one song a money maker." scott said. his voice held the same humor it always did, but some hatred had peeked through.

"oh she'll have way more than that." she said while digging into her pocket, "anyone have a lighter?" she now had a cigarette between her fingers.

"let's talk outside." i told her, stepping in front of her.

"hellooo, lighter? anyone?" she looked at them all, her cigarette limp at the corner of her mouth.

timothée threw his at her—not because he wanted to help—but because he just wanted to throw something at her. she almost didn't catch it because of how startled she was.

i held in a laugh and looked at him. he was biting the inside of his cheeks and then slightly widened his eyes at me before subtly pretending to shoot himself in the head.

she lit her cigarette and threw his lighter back to him and then simply walked out. i rolled my eyes and followed. i closed the door behind me and prepared myself for what i was about to deal with.

she stood with her back against the wall, smoking her cigarette, one knee bent as the bottom of her foot leaned against the wall too. she looked bored out of her mind, but also annoyed.

"one show." i told her.

"hm?" she hummed.

"you're replacing me for one show, so stop acting like you're permanent."

she sniffed and cocked her head to the side with a smile. she let out a laugh and looked at me, "stop acting like you're permanent. you think that these are your friends?" she raised her eyebrows, "do you really think you'll still be friends with everyone once tour ends?"

everything she said went in one ear and out the other. "one show." i smiled, "don't humiliate yourself." i walked back into the room and slammed the door shut.