14. Live on Tour
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With shaking hands, Charley smoothed her hands down over her outfit. She'd rung and told Caroline about agreeing to go with Niall to Harry's concert, and, after quizzing her friend about everything that had happened, Caro had recommended a dress shop where she could look for the perfect one to be reunited with Harry.
Because she'd made the decision that she wasn't going to hide up in the corporate box if she was coming to Chicago. If Harry was brave enough to tell Niall he was in love with her, and cared enough to get his friend to arrange a hare-brained plan, then she was going to be brave enough to face him.
Charley stared at herself in the hotel room's large bathroom mirror. She looked frightened, like a deer caught in headlights, her eyes made wider by the dark makeup she'd applied around them. She was wearing her hair down, the thick, black locks finally ending just above her backside - she hadn't cut it in a really long time now, and it was getting a little out of hand.
Charley turned her attention back to her royal blue dress. It was sleeveless and had a scoop neck. It hugged her curves tightly all the way down to mid-thigh where it ended and her long, honey-toned legs were exposed. Matching blue patent midi heels completed the look with minimal jewellery. Just a gold bangle on her wrist, gold thread earrings and a thin gold chain that held a small 'C' pendant on the end of it.
Finally turning the light out in the bathroom and walking out to stand in the middle of her hotel room, she stared sightlessly out the window as she considered the mess she'd been during the last week. She'd been alternately furious and nervous all week long, the pros and cons of seeing Harry again messing with her mind, and she'd taken to writing lists out to clear her mind. They'd all ended up tossed into her fireplace, and Harold had taken to batting the few she'd missed around the room.
When Niall had text her to say that he was going to send a car for her to be taken to the private air field, and would be meeting her in Chicago instead of travelling with her, it had sent her mind into another spin. It had felt safer having someone to go with, like it had been taken out of her hands. She'd had to muster all the strength and nerves she had to walk out to meet the black sedan that had pulled up outside her place yesterday, and get in.
And now here she was, Niall due to pick her up in half an hour. Staring down at her outfit, Charley began to feel more and more discomfited. Her patent blue heels flashed in the light's reflection and her long, bare legs had goosebumps raised all over them.
Her hands twitched by her side as her stomach rolled. This wasn't right. She shouldn't be dressed like this. She didn't want Harry to only see the dress and the makeup. And, with a sudden realisation, Charley realised that's exactly what she was doing. Trying to distract him from her feelings, her emotions, by wearing a provocative outfit.
Charley clasped both hands to her face in despair, shoulders hunching.
God, I haven't learned a thing
, she thought desperately. Without another thought, her hands went to the zip at her back and she tugged it down determinedly. She ripped the dress off her shoulders and pulled it down over her hips, kicking the beautiful blue dress to the side of the room, along with the heels. Taking a deep breath, Charley stood in her black lace underwear for a moment and looked at the clock. Twenty minutes and Niall would be here. Right.
The black skinny jeans she'd worn on the plane yesterday were lying over the back of a chair and she quickly pulled them on. Going over to her suitcase, she pulled out the black v-neck, cap sleeved t-shirt she'd stuffed in as an after thought - and then her hands moved over to a white scoop neck tee.
On the front, in black lettering, it said, 'Women are smarter'. Harry had worn it a couple times and when she'd stolen it as a night shirt, he'd said it looked better on her and that she should keep it. Charley had been wearing it as her night shirt on and off ever since. It was a little wrinkled, but slowly she shook it out and pulled it on over her head anyway and tucked the slightly baggy shirt into her jeans.
Then she grabbed the white tennis shoes she'd worn on the plane, too and pulled them on, suddenly feeling a lot more like herself. Walking back into the bathroom, she grabbed the makeup wipes and rubbed all the makeup she'd carefully applied completely off. Staring at her freshly scrubbed, slightly pink face, she reapplied some basic mascara and a light gloss to her lips. Lastly, she grabbed a rubber band to tie her hair back into a pony tail. She was back to looking like the girl next door, Charley thought ruefully, but smiled at her reflection.
This was more like it. This was how she wanted Harry to see her - not some Kendall Jenner wannabe, but Charley Pearce. The graphic designer from LA who he met on a blind date.
Shivering nervously, she went back out and picked up her favourite black leather jacket and shrugged it on over the white t-shirt. Charley was just checking the contents of her small black clutch purse for the hundredth time for something to do, when there was a knock at the door.
Letting out a shuddering breath, her hands clammy and her stomach doing flips, she pulled open the door to reveal a beaming Niall.
"Charley!" He grinned as he leant against the door frame. "You look great."
Charley flushed lightly and tucked a stray lock of hair that had escaped her pony tail behind an ear nervously. "Thanks. You look good, too," she said, suddenly awkward. She hadn't seen Niall since his show last week. He did look good, in blue jeans and a long-sleeve black granddad tee - he'd pushed the sleeves up to his elbows and the buttons at the neckline were undone.
Niall laughed suddenly. "Women are smarter," he read her t-shirt out loud with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Maybe normally, but not this time, huh?" He winked, making Charley blush harder.
She rolled her eyes. "I guess not, but I'm trying, okay?" Niall didn't reply, just pulled her in for his signature bear hug before releasing her and pushing her down the hall as he closed her hotel room door.
"Come on," he said with a chuckle as he caught up with her. "Let's not leave our lad waiting."
***
Harry
He checked his phone for the millionth time. Niall had stopped responding to his texts about an hour ago. Harry knew he was being ridiculous, but it felt like his skin was itching all over.
She's going to be here soon,
was all he could think. Her hazel eyes were burned into his mind, her silky black hair and luscious pink lips. They'd been apart for too long.
When he'd received that text from Niall last week - the one where he'd convinced Charley to come to this concert - he'd jumped up from his seat and whooped so loudly that he'd scared the hell out of his band mates who had joined him for a drink in his hotel suite. He hadn't cared though, and the wide, genuine smile which had been missing from his face the last few months, was splitting his face in two.
The last week had been agony. He'd performed a few more shows, the travel and prep keeping him sane, but Harry had ached to contact Charley. Niall had warned him off it though, had refused to give him her new number, 'for your own good,' he'd said. Something about giving her some space to come to terms with it all and not frightening Charley off again. Sage advice, Harry now thought. Knowing Charley, he knew it would have been a big step for her just to fly out to Chicago for this show on her own to see him.
Harry paced the hallway outside his dressing room, half naked and barefoot. His stylist hadn't brought him his first outfit yet, so he was just wearing his faded black jeans, but even those were making him feel restricted in his anxious state.
Finally his phone pinged. Harry snatched it from his back pocket and stared at the screen.
NH:
Just got here, see you in ten minutes.
Ten minutes. Ten minutes until he would be able to see the girl of his dreams again. He ran both his hands through his hair and bit his lip. He looked down at himself, finally realising he couldn't greet her like this. Scrambling back up the hall to his dressing room, he spied the black v-neck t-shirt he'd thrown off in agitation an hour ago. Picking it up, he pulled it back over his head and hunted for his shoes. He found one black converse under the couch and the other at the back of the room where he'd thrown it earlier.
Harry looked around, nervously, his hands needing something to do. Finally, he just shoved them in his pockets and sat on the couch.
What do I say to her? Hi? I missed you? I love you?
He scoffed at himself as his leg jigged nervously up and down. He glanced at his phone. Five minutes.
***
There was already a huge line waiting outside the stadium, of excited fans waiting for the doors to open, even though there was at least an hour until that would happen. Charley and Niall drove right past them and through a security barrier. Fans looked curiously over at the car, but Charley knew the windows were blacked out.
"Niall, tell me again why I'm doing this," she said shakily as her hands twisted in nervous habit in her lap. She felt a warm hand fall on top of hers to stop her. She glanced over anxiously at Niall who was looking at her kindly.
"It's going to be fine, Charley. Just relax." He gave her hand a squeeze then removed it, pulling his phone out to send a text. Charley didn't bother to ask, sure he was telling Harry they'd arrived.
