Chapter 35:

"Rosie!"

"Brook!"

"Rose!"

"Harry!"

"Brook!"

"Niall!" Niall jumped in front of Harry, Rose and I. We all turned to look at him. "What? Doesn't Niall get some loving?"

"I practically live with you, I haven't seen Rose in weeks." I jokingly pushed Niall out of the way and hugged Rosie.

"How are you doing, love?" Rose kept me in her arms but backed up to look me straight in the eyes. She scanned my facial features, as if for an obvious sign that I wasn't doing fine.

"I'm doing actually really well," I told her truthfully with a smile.

There was some shuffling beside me. "Uh, excuse, boyfriend over here who's kind of missed his girlfriend a lot." Harry coughed out, practically whining.

Rose ignored him, waving a hand in his direction. "Shh, Harry. Are you sure you're fine, Brook?"

"C'mon Rose, she said she was fine." Harry groaned in frustration.

"I really am fine. Go," I shooed her away, "Go spend time with your boyfriend. All I've been hearing the past week is about much he misses you and how beautiful you are."

"Aw, Harry!" Rose laughed with glee, reaching over to pinch Harry's cheeks.

A blush spread across Harry's cheeks as he ducked his head. He mumbled, "I don't know what you're talking about, Brook."

"I'll catch up with you later. I'm taking you shopping tomorrow while the boys do interviews and stuff," Rosie grinned giving me a brief hug before entwining her fingers with Harry's. "Alright, stud muffin, let's go. Dad made steak for dinner. I think he missed you more than I did."

~*~*~*~

"So the craziness and idiocy from our boys hasn't scared you off?" Rosie asked Summer, who let out a little laugh at the question.

"Not even close. I have seven brothers," Summer informed us, a smirk playing across her lips.

"Oh! Then five must be a walk in the park," I teased playfully as we entered the large shopping complex. Rose had taken it upon herself to take us to the largest inside mall in Chicago. Apparently I needed cuter clothes to go partying with the boys. I don't know what partying she thought I would be doing, but any form of girl time was welcome after being on the road for a complete week and a half with six+ boys.

"They're all hilarious, it's hard to be sad around them," Summer stated. "They're also very hyper and if one is in a pissy mood, bad things happen."

"When one is having an off day, it kind of affects the rest of them." Rosie agreed before spotting Forever 21. She immediately clasped onto both our wrists and dragged us into the retail shop.

"You okay, Rosie? You're a bit over-excited about shopping," I said as she practically carried me to the dress section.

"I just need retail therapy. I haven't been shopping since I was in London with you and Jules. Mallory, my usual shopping partner in crime, is in Spain for the next few months. She's studying abroad, but I think she's studying the male species more than her education.. Anyways.. Shopping isn't the same when you're alone," Rosie explained as she made her way around the racks.

"It's definitely nice to be looking at girl clothing. I've had it up to my eyeballs in snapbacks, tuxes, t-shirts and jeans." Summer agreed.

"I bet. Especially those varsity jackets of Zayn's," I started slyly, giving a sly wink towards Rosie. "Those must be a pain."

"No worse than Niall's polos or Liam's plaid button-ups," Summer shrugged without a clue as to what I was trying to do. She continued to search through the rack. I motioned Rose to say something.

Rose turned to me with a nod as if telling me she understood the plan. "Speaking of Zayn.. How is he?"

"Single," I sighed dramatically, "I heard he likes a girl, though.."

I saw Summer glance up for a second before looking right back down, trying to stay out of the conversation.

"Oh really? I hope so, he needs a girlfriend. I think one would be good for him. You know, I think Harry mentioned something about a girl Zayn was pining over. Apparently she doesn't like him back.. Or is at least not acting like it." Rosie gossiped as she held a strapless purple dress up to her slim figure and made a face at the amount of skin it would show.

"They'd be perfect together, but he doesn't want to scare her away by saying anything. And she won't step up and admit to liking him," I looked towards Summer who was now eyeing a shirt with extreme interest. "What do you think, Summer?"

The raven-haired girl looked up like a deer caught in the headlights. She stuttered for a moment before standing up a bit straighter. "I think she's probably a bit weary of going out with a popstar. It works for some, doesn't for others. Plus he's not be acting like he's into her. Maybe he goes out with other girls and she's positive he'd never go after a girl like her, if the girls he's been hanging out with are any kind of indication."

"Zayn is an idiot," Rosie groaned, putting down a skanky pair of shorts and placing her hands on Summer's shoulders, forcing her to make eye contact. "He likes you. But he's waiting to know if you like him. If the girl he likes won't say anything, he tries to make her jealous. It's his strategy, although it's the stupidest thing I've ever heard of. But he wanted to see how you would react with him going out with other girls."

"He is stupid. But hey, you two are majorly cute together," I added.

"I don't think I could handle dating him though! Do you know how hard it is to go out with a celebrity? It's probably really freaking difficult.." Summer groaned, burying her head in her hands. Rose and I shared a look.

"You do realize who you're talking to right now, right?" Rosie asked with a smirk.

Summer looked up with shock. "Kind of forgot for a second, sorry.."

"It's all good," I laughed, "But to be honest, it really isn't that hard. It's just like dating any other guy. Just a guy who is wanted by millions of other girls."

"I don't know if you know, but in the beginning, I was Harry's 'fake' girlfriend while he.. Uh.. Made major mistakes. See, that was difficult. But real dating him? It's the most amazing thing I've ever been blessed to experience. The distance can be a major cockblock sometimes, but the time we have together.. It makes the occasional hate, the stress, the annoyances, it just makes it all worth it. Believe me. If you really like him, go for it. Don't let the famous part keep anything from happening." Rosie smiled faintly, making me smile. Rosie truly was in love.

"Zayn's a great guy, but he can be stupid sometimes. You're perfect for him. You can stand on the side and tell him about all the idiotic decisions he's made. Tell me that wouldn't be fun," I challenged with a laugh. Summer reluctantly nodded.

"Yeah, that would be fun. I'll talk to him, promise." Summer grinned and gave us each a hug.

Rosie and I high-fived. Rosie almost started fist-pumping. "Another one bites the dust."

"I think you mean.. Another girl roped into basically babysitting a boy from One Direction." I corrected with a wink.

~*~*~

"Come with me," Josh pleaded, eyes turning puppy-like as he looked at me.

"You know how I feel about her, Josh. I don't want to go to the airport to pick her up. I don't even know how I'm going to survive being in the same room as her," I groaned, shaking his hand off me.

"Stop over-reacting. Please come with me. If you get to know her, I'm sure you'll like her. C'mon." Josh refused to take no for an answer, tugging on my hand and dragging me to the rental van. I gave in, settling into the backseat and pulling out my phone.

To: The Nile River(;

With Josh, going to pick up Lilly. Pray that all three of us come back alive.

From: The Nile River(;

You'll be fine, babe. She's not that bad!

To: The Nile River(;

Mhm. If she so much as flirts with you.. I will personally.. Do something. I don't know what, but I swear… I'll do something not nice.

From: The Nile River(;

You know I only got eyes for you, princess. You're always going to be my number one girl :)

I smiled like an idiot down at my phone, not noticing the car stop. Josh shook my shoulder, pulling me out of my dream-like state.

"We're here," Josh chuckled before hopping out of the van and towards baggage claim.

Okay, it was slightly adorable at how excited he was to see his best friend. And if it was anyone but her, I would laugh and tease him at how whipped he was. Instead, I followed behind, fingers clenching my phone tightly. We went to the exit doors where she'd be getting off the plane and waited.

"Josh!" Lilly's voice rang out as the girl bolted over and into Josh's arms, her blonde curls bouncing.

Way to not attract attention, Lilly.

"Lil! How was your flight?" Josh let her feet hit the ground and grinned widely at the site of her.

Okay, seriously, she just got off a plane. How does she still look like a freaking supermodel?

"Long! But so worth it to see you again," she smiled back before hugging him again. Her eyes landed on me and for a second I could have sworn hurt flashed through her eyes. "Ah, um, hi Brook. Didn't know you were coming along."

Didn't have a choice in the matter, blondie.

"I made her come along," Josh explained awkwardly, tension quite obviously floating between the two of us.

Great idea, Josh. You're brilliant.

Lilly nodded as she forced a smile in my direction. She almost looked upset that I had come along. It didn't make sense. I knew she didn't like me, it was a bit obvious considering every time we were together she played the 'I've known Josh for seven years!" card. But I wasn't expecting her to look sad.

I'm not saying anything if you aren't, Lilly.

"Let's collect your luggage, huh?" Josh spoke up, hooking his arm with Lilly's. Her face immediately lit up as she pulled him along with her to the carousal. "How's your job?"

Changing subjects, good idea. Leaving me behind, not so much.

"It's good, same old, same old," Lilly said before delving into a story about one of her co-workers.

I trudged along behind, forgotten by both of them. I stared at the tile on the floor while pondering over Lilly's facial expressions.

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