All's Fair in Love and One Direction

21: All's Fair in Twitter Wars & Candy Canes

Chapter 21

"Please proceed to baggage claim 12, and thank you for flying with British Air."

The boys and I drag ourselves out of the plane and into the terminal. Christmas music plays from a speaker nearby. The airport is crazy busy - no one pays any attention to us. At least that's what I think - until I see an open mouthed teenager and her friends staring and whispering excitedly. Liam notices and starts toward them. All three girls have identical looks of shock and excitement on their faces as Liam approaches them with a friendly grin and asks if they would like a picture.

It suddenly strikes me that only a couple of weeks ago, I would have been in their shoes completely. That's why I gladly grab all three girls' cell phones, motion the boys and girls to pose, and snap their pictures. (Niall is now wearing his Sharpie mustache/unibrow with pride. I will never understand that boy.) Afterwards, Liam pulls out three rubber wristbands and a sharpie from his bag and passes the bands around for the boys to sign.

"Don't lose them, loves," he tells the girls with a smile as he hands them the bands and I return their phones. "It was so nice to meet you! Have a Merry Christmas!"

The other boys chorus "Merry Christmas" and we turn to leave. I bump Liam's shoulder as we walk out of the terminal. "That was so sweet of you!"

He shrugs, a hint of a blush appearing on his cheeks. "It is Christmas, after all."

******************

Despite the lights and cheery bustle inside the airport, it's sleeting like crazy outside. Harry's Audi is parked in the airport parking lot, but it's a five-seater, so the boys insist on renting a car for me, too. Which is good because:

"Christmas shopping! Who wants to come with?"

Five boys stop in their tracks and turn to face me. Five jaws drop. I put an innocent, cheery smile on my face. "Well? Who wants to come?"

Louis is the first to speak. "Um. You do know its Christmas Eve, right?"

"Uh-huh!!" The boys just stare. I sigh and a sheepish smile creeps in on my fake-innocent one. "I've been busy!"

Now Zayn speaks up. "Andie, you don't have to get us anything."

"Yes, yes I do." I point a finger at him. "That is non-negotiable." I tilt my head a little bit to the side and put on my smile of cheery innocence again. "So, who wants to come?"

Six hands shoot up in the air. (Louis raises both of his.) I laugh and shut my eyes tight, spinning around. "Okay whoever I point to ..."

I point to the left, open my eyes, and I almost have a heart attack. Louis's bug-eyed face is positioned right in front of mine. I scream and jump back, a blush instantly creeping onto my face as the boys double over in hysterical laughter. I kick Louis' foot. "Not funny!" Then I see Zayn's phone focused on me. "Oh, no. No you didn't. Zayn Malik, don't you dare ..."

"Too late." He chortles - yes, chortles - and Louis' phone buzzes. He pulls it out and shows the screen to me.

@zaynmalik - Never close your eyes with @louis_tomlinson around!!

Below it is the video. A thousand favorites already??? I turn to Zayn. "I will get you later."

He only grins in response. "We're going to have to get you a Twitter."

I roll my eyes. "Okay, guys, rock-paper-scissors for it or something. Except Zayn. You're not invited anymore." I stick out my tongue at him. He pouts. I relent. "Fine."

Ironically enough, Zayn ends up being a finalist, along with Liam. They've done three rounds and tied each one, so I make an executive decision to take them both. Harry, Louis, and Niall pout but climb into the Audi, while I make another executive decision - to let Liam drive - and crawl into the passenger seat of the Mini they rented me while Zayn sits in back.