Skylar Collins worked her ass off to get to where she is. So, becoming best friends with Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson was just an extra added bonus.
Where friendship came easy with Niall and Louis, Skylar and Harry struggle to even talk to each...
AKSHAGAHA ITS WEDNESDAY AND I JUST STARTED WRITING THIS apologies in advance if this chapter is rlly bad bc I said I would update on Wednesday and surprise! It's Wednesday.
I shove a few more things into an under armor duffel bag and zip up my suitcase. 4 months away from home is a very long time, especially when you're in a hotel room. 4 months away from home is a very short time when you are trying to write and record an album. Louis and Niall assured me that I would have time to relax and hang out, but I was starting to doubt their words.
I have literally never left the U.S. before, and even here I had only seen my home state of Colorado, Texas, where I went to college, and California. To say I was nervous was an understatement.
I set my bags by my door and checked my purse to make sure I had everything. Phone, keys, wallet, passport...
My thoughts are interrupted by a knock on my door. I open it and see Niall with a Caramel Frappuccino and a croissant. I squeal when I see the food, hugging him.
"I wanted to ride to the airport with you," he says, bending down to grab my duffel bag off the floor.
"I can get that Niall," I say, reaching for the bag.
"Nope. I got it," he says, picking it up and opening my door. "Ready?"
"Yep!" I grab my purse and my breakfast and walk out the door. The whole way to the airport, Niall and I talk and laugh, soaking up our last minutes to relax before the next hours are filled with schedules, itineraries, instructions and paparazzi.
"I can't wait to see the hotel," I say, fidgeting with my sunglasses.
"Wait, you're staying in a hotel?"
"Yeah, you're not?"
"In a hotel? For 4 months?" He looks so shocked.
"Yeah?" I say, though it sounded more like a question than a statement.
"No," he says, picking up his phone and sending a text. Very confused by his reaction, I let it go and scroll through Instagram, posting a picture of Niall on my story, captioned "to London!"
A few minutes later, Niall flips his phone screen down on the seat. "You're not staying in a hotel for 4 months."
"Um, Niall-,"
"You're staying with me. I have a house in London."
"Are you sure you can handle me for 4 months?" I ask. "You've only had to deal with me for 2 weeks."
"Okay, first off, you are my best friend, second, I feel like I've known you my whole life, and third, you can always stay in a hotel for 4 months." He's making some good points.
"What about Louis?" I ask, not knowing how he would feel about it.
"I already talked to him."
"And?"
"And he will make it happen in a heartbeat so do you want it or no?" He says. This is a huge offer. I don't know what to think.
"Sure," I say, not really sure. "Is it okay if we listen to your music?" I ask, really wanting to listen to heartbreak weather.
"Yeah, but I have a song first," he says, plugging his phone into the aux. Steal my girl plays through the speakers. After the drive we had, this has kinda become our song. We scream the lyrics, probably annoying the driver, but I've learned that annoying people with Niall is one of my favorite things to do. Claudia has been really cold to me in the studio, but with Niall, I don't think it's possible to feel sad. She once told me that we act like we're better than everyone else in the studio because Louis personally manages us. I had to admit, while she was bitchy, she was talented.
We boarded the plane, but not without getting mobbed. I was sure this was the worst mob I had ever been in, with fans, paps, and the regular stress of being at the airport. By the time we boarded the plane, I was exhausted. I was sure I would have time to sleep, but I wanted to spend time with Niall.
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When I sit down across from Niall, I realize that Cody is also coming with us. Louis is the only person I've seen him talk to, so I'm not surprised when he sits down across from him.
"I've never flown first class before." I say, tucking my carry on bag beneath the chair.
"You'll love it," Louis says, taking a glass of champagne from a flight attendant. Another one comes by and sets down a tray of fruit and a bottle of champagne on the table between Niall and I. The way the sun shines through the window, Niall appears to be glowing. I discreetly take a picture of him. He was still just as gorgeous as the first day I talked to him. I open my phone, hooking onto the plane WiFi and scrolling through Instagram. I am shocked when I see a picture of me at the top of my feed, posted by Niall. As I scroll through the post, I realize they are all pictures of me. In the car, getting a tattoo, playing my guitar, sitting on the beach. The picture is captioned, "can't wait to spend 4 months with my best friend!" He also tagged me in it.
I comment a few 👀 emojis, not knowing what else to say. I don't feel violated, and I looked pretty good in all the pictures, but I was taken aback by his post for some reason. Not mad, just surprised. I wonder if it was a response to my story post from the car ride. I see on Louis's story that he posted a picture of me and Niall sipping champagne together. No wonder people think we're dating.
Most paps I've come across never care about my music, but who I'm dating. I remember the day after I got my tattoo, the pictures of me walking into the little tattoo shop were everywhere. There was no point in denying that me and Niall were dating, because no one would believe us.
I started getting lots of DMs about being stuck in the friend zone. I close my phone. That's enough social media for now.
For the rest of the plane ride, I take some time to relax, not knowing when I would be able to again. I chat with Niall, snacking on fruit and sipping champagne, wondering how things would go in London. Mostly, I was worried about staying with Niall. 4 months? I'll probably annoy him and make him regret his decision, then things will just be a disaster. The more I think about it, the more I worry about it. I sip the champagne and listen to my playlist, trying to avoid the anxiety attack I felt coming on. Niall notices and immediately asks me if I'm okay. I just nod, pretending like everything is fine.
That's what I always do, fall to pieces and pretend everything is fine. If you put on a smile, people will ignore you and you'll have peace and security of falling apart in the privacy of your own mind.
Maybe that's what I'm hiding from. /// Here's chapter 5 one day late!! Sorryyyyy
