Daytona Baby [N.H]

15

Niall Horan

Sometimes I prefer moments like this—feet up, eyes out the window, steady RPM's of the wheels beneath my seat lulling me into relaxation like the binaural hum of being in the womb. Sometimes I prefer moments like this rather than thousands of voices screaming our names, the shock of my electric guitar pulsing through my veins, the nameless girls all over me at every bar, only falling asleep when the sky gets lighter after a long night of drinking, dancing, drugs and sex.

Sometimes I prefer moments like this because when the rest of my life looks like that, I never know when I might get this again.

I stare out the window watching cars go by as we leave Florida behind and enter Georgia. Everyone was still asleep in the bunks except for me, and Harry was sitting at the back table messing around with a guitar. I tuned out the sound, letting my mind wander to everything that happened last night.

That was the most sober I've ever been for one of my parties—not that I was sober by any means, but normally I'd be black out drunk before midnight and wake up hung over on the tour bus. Last night was the first time I made a conscious effort not to black out. I knew I'd want to remember everything and, God, I'm so glad that I do.

Liv really knew what she was talking about with the whole 'delayed gratification' thing. She got me riled up effortlessly but I loved it. The anticipation of what we wanted at the end of the night, and the way we both one upped each other's teasing tactics, was basically hours of foreplay. She kept me on the edge but I knew that she could handle being on edge, too. I knew that she wanted it.

Most of the girls I've been with were too shy to even consider doing half the shit Liv does. They just want to be swept off their feet by Duplicity's hot guitarist, and have a one night stand that's straight out of a chick flick.

Liv likes the chase, the buildup; always making things interesting. She keeps me on my toes and I never know what to expect from her. She doesn't trip over her feet for me just because I'm rich and famous. And it feels...nice.

Liv has never acted like I'm way out of her league, because honestly, she's way out of mine. She could get any guy she wanted.

That was another thing: she could get any guy she wanted, plus she's got Liam, yet she locked eyes with me on that beach and chose to stick around.

It's too bad things are getting so tense behind the scenes right now with the band and all that shit...otherwise I'd be able to just let myself enjoy this more. But I've never been able to enjoy much of anything for too long, or have any sense of normalcy. I'm not even sure what a 'normal' life looks like.

Probably the fucking opposite of mine.

I'm going to keep telling myself it's a good thing Liv's here, even if it's just for now, because she serves as one hell of a distraction. I have a feeling that I'll only need it more and more as this tour goes on.

The door to the bunks opens, ripping me from my spiralling thoughts and forcing my head to turn. Liam emerged out of the darkness of the back room and into the brightness of the lounge that was now naturally lit by the sun that had risen maybe two hours ago. He leaned backwards, stretching his arms over his head and letting out an over exaggerated sigh when his back cracked.

I chuckled softly. "A little sore, mate?"

Liam sat on the couch, mirroring my position with his back against the wall and his legs stretched out in front of him, glancing sideways out the window before answering me. "Haven't gone that hard in a while," he admitted, knowing what I was referring to.