Matchmaker

Matchmaker: Chapter Three

“Kate,” a voice called me out of sleep in the morning and I groaned, burrowing myself further into the stiff pillows. A hand rested on my shoulder, gently shaking me, and I rolled onto my back and glared up at Liam, who was standing over me in sweatpants and a shirt, his hair a mess.

“Why time is it?” I moaned and Liam winced sympathetically.

“Four, our flight leaves in two hours,” he whispered, voice rough with sleep, and I sighed, sinking back into the pillows and covering my eyes with my hands.

“Why?” I moaned and Liam sighed, stumbling over to the light switch and flicking the light on, bright, artificial light filling the room. I moaned louder, but this time kicked my covers back, slowly sitting up in the unfamiliar bed.

“We leave here in half an hour,” Liam muttered, “You want a coffee?”

I laughed bitterly, “Aren’t I supposed to be getting you coffee?”

“Not in my own flat. Coffee?” He asked, crossing his arms and I nodded through a yawn.

“Two sugars, no cream,” I instructed and Liam nodded before closing the door, leaving me privacy at four in the morning. I stumbled around the guestroom room quickly digging for a suitable outfit. It may have been four in the morning, but I sure as hell going to look presentable on my first day impressing the boys’ stiff management.

When I’d finally pulled on a presentable dress and jacket, I zipped up my suitcase and tugged it into Liam’s living room, where Harry was curled up on the couch, flipping through TV stations with a cup of tea in his hand.

I sat down heavily next to him, reaching out for the mug of coffee when Liam joined us in the living room.

“You look nice,” Liam commented and Harry nodded wordlessly in agreement. I shrugged and sunk back into the couch cushions, staring blankly at the news channel Harry had stopped on.

“If it makes you feel any better this is about as early as the mornings get,” Harry muttered tiredly and I shrugged, sipping at my coffee. Liam suddenly sat up, glancing at his watch and Harry turned, “Car here?”

“Yeah, time to get a move on,” Liam said, grabbing for my coffee mug and Harry’s cup and depositing them in his kitchen sink. He reached for my bag, and ushered Harry and I quickly out of his flat, the three of us stumbling sleepily down to the lobby and out the front doors, where a white van was already waiting.

My heart beat in anticipation of the day ahead, as Harry swung open the door of the van and held it open for me. I carefully climbed in and was immediately bombarded by a loud “Kate!” which was much too enthusiastic for the time of morning.

“Louis,” I replied and he grinned widely, turning in his seat to stare at me.

“We’re so excited you’re coming with us!” he exclaimed, and from anyone else it would’ve sounded rehearsed and fake. But Louis truly seemed overjoyed that Liam Payne’s rebellious teenage cousin was joining them on their American tour.

To each their own, I suppose.

“Morning,” Zayn muttered tiredly from next to Louis and he turned around and reached out to shake my hand as well, “You looking forward to it?”

I shrugged and nodded best I could, and Zayn seemed to get that, nodding in agreement before turning around and sinking back down into his seat, closing his eyes.

Liam crammed into the seat next to me, shoving me up against the window, and next to Liam climbed in Niall, who appeared to be sleepwalking, completely in a daze this early in the morning. His bright blue eyes still shone though and he managed a tired, “Morning,” to me, which made my heart flutter, before he rested his head against the window and fell back asleep.