Trace of Innocence (No Control Book 3)

Chapter 36

(No Control - 36. Tell Me A Lie)

The show is a good one, considering it's our first one without Zayn and we're feeling a bit emotional. There are loads of banners asking what's going on, and if we're all OK. We've been told by management not to comment on it, but I catch Liam reading one of them asking how we are, and I see him give a soft smile and mouth 'We're ok,' and the fans in that section go crazy.

I get a flush of goosebumps when we begin Little White Lies again, and I fling water over the crowd and gyrate like a loser. I refuse to look at Louis because I know exactly what his face will be like.

We wave goodbye and head backstage after Best Song Ever, and I flop down on the sofa, pull my phone out and switch it on. I'm going to text Jess, right now.

A text comes through from her that she must have sent in reply to my last one, that just says, I'll check my diary. Good luck x

She's trying to make me sweat, isn't she. Too bad it didn't work.

I suddenly feel mischievous, and instead of texting her I hit the Call button, and my phone searches for signal and tries to connect.

"Who are you ringing?" Niall asks.

"Jess," I reply, and Louis snaps his head up, grinning.

What the actual fuck am I doing? I haven't prepared myself for this at all. It's ringing. Fuck.

What if she doesn't answer?

What if she answers?

My heart's pounding.

"Hello?" she answers, and my stomach flutters.

"Hey," I reply. Out of the corner of my eye I can see Louis thrusting his hips at me. I turn my body so I can't see him.

"Who's this?" she asks.

What the fuck - did she delete my number or something?

"It's Harry," I say, uncertainly.

"Harry who?"

She's fucking playing with me, isn't she. I can't believe she's got the upper hand already.

"Harry Styles," I reply, unable to hide my smirk at her little game, and I hear Louis laugh, "Harry just got slaaaaayed!"

"From....?" Jess is asking. She's enjoying this, I can tell.

"From One Direction," I tell her, grinning now.

Niall and Louis and are literally bent double laughing hysterically at this conversation. I'm not going to be able to live this one down for a while. I swat my hand towards them to try and get them to shut up.

"Sorry, I think you have the wrong number," she says breezily.

I turn away from the boys further and lower my voice so they don't hear me.

"Is this not Jess with the beautiful eyes and the soft lips?" I ask, and I am glad to hear a slight hesitation before she replies (in a much less confident tone),

"Yeah ok, it's me."

Ha. I've rattled her.

"Don't start what you can't finish," I remind her cockily, getting up and walking into the corridor away from the others.

"Yeah, yeah," she mumbles.

The door shuts behind me and silence descends.

"Are you still pissed off with me?" I ask, sticking to my resolve to be up front from now on.