A/N: Is anyone here Catholic? Whale, I am & today is Ash Wednesday, so now I can't have chocolate or Pepsi until Easter -.- Is it bad if I'm already having withdraws? xD Whale, enjoy<3

(Songs for chapter - Stand Up by One Direction

      "           "               - Back For You by One Direction)

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Chapter 34 – Valerie's P.O.V.

            "Valerie isn't my girlfriend."

            Shocked gasps filled the interview room at Niall's confession. I, for one, was speechless as I stared up at him in complete admiration. I knew this Irish boy was amazing, but this was beyond my expectations. Still, he could get the band in serious punishment for this, so I'd be lying if I said I wasn't panicking.

            "Niall, what are you doing?" Harry whispered, not because people were around, but because he was distraught as well. Nonetheless, you could see the hope in those bright emeralds of his.

            Niall looked down at his friend. "You're my best mate, Harry. I can't do this to you on your birthday. That'd be pretty shitty of me."

            The interviewer broke from her trance speaking, "We're live, you know?"

            Niall nodded. "I know that. Hence why I said it in the first place."

            I stifled back a giggle at that, but then I went serious as I say Jeff's hard glare on the blonde boy and me. Shit, does he think I have something to do with this rebellion? I had no idea this was Niall's intention. I was just as clueless as everyone else.

            Niall cleared his throat before nodding down to Harry and me. "Harry is the one dating Valerie; not me."

            More gasps rumbled through my ears, but then I felt a hand slide under mine, fingers lacing. I looked down at mine and Harry's now interlocked hands, glancing up at him with a small smile. He merely returned it before we both looked up at Niall, who right now, was our hero. He's always been mine, but now he's kind of Harry's too.

            "But what about Kendall?" the interview asked, her eyes wide as she glanced in the brunette's direction.

            "It's called a setup, genius," Kendall spoke as she came onto the stage, the camera capturing everything. "That prick over there wants as much money and publicity as he can get," she added while jabbing a finger in Jeff's direction.

            Niall nodded in agreement. "Valerie and I were forced in a fake relationship so rumors about Harry cheating on Kendall wouldn't show up. All four of us are being used by the people who are supposed to be helping us."

            Kendall looked over at me, an actual smile gracing her lips as she sent me a genuine wink. "Valerie looks way better with Harry than I do, anyway. I'm surprised people didn't figure it out on their own."

            I found myself grinning back at her. Maybe she's not all that bad after all? Hell, maybe media made her look like a bitch just because they can.

            Niall looked at Harry. "I'm sorry, lad. I even felt like an arsehole just holding Valerie's hand. Kissing her on your birthday just isn't me; I'd never do that to you—to either of you. You both deserve more respect than that. I know this is going to get us in a shitload of trouble, but bros before hoes, right?" Niall said cheekily, nodding over at Jeff in amusement. I nearly laughed at loud at the fact that Niall called Jeff a "hoe."

            Harry grinned. "That means a lot, Niall."

            As if God above knew that Narry was my favorite bromance, Harry stood and the two boys shared a tight embrace. Knowing it'd be pretty damn stupid to start fangirling right now, I held it in and promised my crazy side that it could have its moment later. But oh my Jesus, it's Narry in person. I can't even...

            "Wait just a minute!" Jeff's voice boomed as he stormed onto the stage, the camera still locked on the whole scene. And this was live? That's beautiful; he's making himself look worse. "This is a lie. Niall and Valerie have been dating ever since they met at the meet and greet two weeks ago!"

            "Bullshit," Niall scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Whether I had my eye on her or not then, Harry was already clinging to her like a lost toddler. It was pretty obvious which one of us was crazy for her."

            My cheeks heated up as Harry's did the same. He bit his lip as he blushed, looking back at me with a flirty wink. I simply laughed, shaking my head slowly when in reality, it was taking all of me not to tackle him in a bear hug. Jesus, I need to control my inner fangirl. I'm getting better at it, right? Yeah... I think I am.

            "Face it, asshole. You lost," Kendall sassed, folding her arms across her chest and rolling her eyes. "Game over, the end, get over it."

            Jeff's hands curled into fists down at his sides, but then his glare went to the four of us. "My office. Tomorrow morning before the flight."

            With that, he stomped away, leaving the interviewer craving more and the rest of us mentally pushing him off a cliff into a ring of sharks.

***

            Sitting cross-legged on Harry's bed, I watched him as he dumped his things carelessly in his suitcase. My hands were fumbling with each other, the realization of him leaving tomorrow finally hitting me. Today was our last day together, our last night. He's going to be off traveling the world and my life will go back to normal. Even with Niall coming clean about everything, I know a relationship that long of a distance is next to impossible. I guess tonight is also breakup night.

            Harry seemed to notice my frown as he stopped what he was doing, his eyebrows etching together. "What's wrong, love?"

            Biting my bottom lip to keep from getting emotional, I merely shrugged, not trusting my voice.

            Harry sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed next to me. "Please tell me."

            I sucked in a shaky breath, still staring down at my thumbs that were now nervously gliding against each other, my hands tightly clasped. "I just... I don't want you to leave, you know?" I said quietly, letting a lone tear roll down my cheek, but I didn't bother to look up.

            "Valerie..." Harry sighed again, scooting closer to me and cupping my cheeks with his large hands. He flicked the single tear away, stopping the others from falling as he gave me a faint smile. "It's not forever, yeah? I mean... we can still be together, can't we?" he whispered the last part, as if unsure of himself.

            Pursing my lips, I merely shrugged as the words I dreaded fled my lips, "But you know that won't work, Harry. You'll be across the world and I'll still be here. I'm not mad, I'm just upset. I finally met you and literally all my dreams have come true, but now I'll never see you again."

            "Don't say that," Harry mumbled, shaking his head. "I promise, Val. I'll be back."

            A couple more tears stained my cheeks as I shook my head. "Face it, Harry. You'll be on the road and someone prettier will catch your eye. Someone that makes you happy will come into your life. I want you to be happy, Harry. I want all five of you to be happy all the time." Wiping my cheeks, I quietly added, "But I'm not capable of keeping you happy when you're across the world."

            "Please don't say that, Valerie. Two weeks and I'm practically obsessed with you. Yeah, that sounds creepy, but I don't give a shit. I'm not going to find anyone like you out there. You're one of a kind, Valerie. You always will be," he whispered, pressing his forehead on mine. "Can I sing you something?" he asked softly.

            I'm pretty sure I would've died on the spot if this were any other moment, but with my tears, all I could manage was a nod.

From the moment I met you, everything changed,

I knew I had to get you, whatever the pain,

I had to take you and make you mine...

            The words flowed so easily from Harry's lips, his angelic voice rolling around in my head like beautiful magic. The lyrics were so recognizable that they caught me off guard and I jumped back from his touch, my fangirl side threatening to show.

            "I'm not finished," Harry whined, poking his lower lip out for a fake pout.

            "T-That's Stand Up," I stated, my hand coming to my chest as Harry nodded. "That's a fetus song!" I squealed.

            Harry laughed, shaking his head in amusement. "See, Valerie? This is why I'll come back for you. You're different," he said as his eyes met mine, me nearly melting in a puddle right then and there.

            "C-Can I say something?" I stammered, trying to keep my huge fangirl mouth closed as Harry nodded. I sucked in a breath, then blurted out, "I'll be coming back for you!" I sung the lyrics like an absolute fool, dragging out the you-u-u-u.

            Harry was laughing, but before I knew it, his body was hovering over mine on the bed. I fell back as soon as his fingers met my sides, my laughter belting out louder than Harry's as he tickled me ruthlessly. I swatted aimlessly at his hands, tears rolling down my cheeks—happy tears this time. In fact, I almost forget I was ever sad.

            Harry soon stopped, pressing his forehead on mine as his body still hovered over me. He kissed my nose as he laced our fingers. "I love your laugh," he said breathlessly, planting a kiss on the corner of my mouth.

            "It's obnoxious," I commented, trying not to melt in his touch.

            Harry chuckled, bringing his eyes back up to meet mine. "Obnoxiously beautiful," he said, that smirk tugging at his lips as I rolled my eyes. Harry's face soon went serious, his lips pursing together as he stared down at me.

            I frowned. "What's wrong?"

            Harry bit his bottom lip before hesitating. He looked away, then met my eyes once more as he said, "When do you know if you're in love?"

            My heart sank to my feet as my lips parted in shock, the mere possibility of Harry talking about me hitting me like a rocket. Stammering on the words, I spoke, "I-I don't know. I've... well... I've, um, never been in love."

            A sigh left Harry's lips as he rolled off of me, lying next to me. "That's what I thought," he said quietly under his breath, as if speaking to himself.

            Being in love with the band has crossed my mind many times. Being in love with Harry has only crossed it a few. I've known the boy—personally—for two weeks, but it's not possible to develop feelings that quickly, is it? Even when you spend every single day with them, it's impossible, right? I've read fan-fictions where the girl falls in love within two days of knowing the boy, but that's just ridiculous. But is two weeks possible? I shook my head to myself; it's ridiculous.

            A silence fell over us, one we've never been put in before. It wasn't awkward, it was more of an uneasy silence. One where no one knew what to say next, but it wasn't to the point where it was uncomfortable. Still, I didn't like having this new silence between us. Harry always finds something to talk about, but his question just threw me off guard completely. I can't get it out of my head, but I guess it doesn't matter.

            He's leaving tomorrow anyway.

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