ONE TEMPTATION || [L.P]

Back to Black

(Aprils pov)

The smell of the dye burns my nose as it fills the room. Nora stood behind me, brush in hand, painting the deep dye onto my virgin hair. I've decided to go from blonde to black. Might be a sudden change but that's what i need right now. I need to force myself to move on from my past and start a new chapter. I'll never forget my past but the best i can do is move past it and get some sort of character development in this up-coming chapter.

Nora cuts herself off from singing along to the random playlist selected, "Okay leave this on for about 25 minutes or so." She pulls a plastic bag over my head to make sure the dye doesn't drip anywhere else as she proceeds to peel off the plastic gloves that were protecting her hand from being stained.

"I cannot believe this!" She sits on the bathroom counter in front of me, me sat in a chair facing her.

"Why is it so hard for you to wrap your head around the fact i'm going out to see Liam." I laugh, not understanding the shock. It wasn't that big of a deal, right?

"No, you're going out with Liam. Not to 'see' him." Nora corrects with air-quotations. "Like you guys are dating!"

"Woahhh. Slow down. Nothing is official between Liam and I. When I asked Liam what we were, I guess he didn't have an answer either. So, we both decided to go out tonight and see what happens, therefore, nothing official."

// some time later //

"Time to wash this out." Nora slides herself off the counter-top and leaves the room, coming back with neatly folded clothes. She sets the clothes on the counter for me to change into before leaving and waiting in my room. Removing my clothes, I rotate the knob of the shower to increase the heat and jump in. I remove the plastic bag from my head and begin to rinse my hair under the water, applying shampoo and conditioner.

Once out of the shower and dressed, Nora blow-dried my hair. The black really popping with a clean shine. As i sat on the edge of my bed, Nora sat crisscrossed behind be with a pair of straighteners slowing gliding them down different sections of my hair. My hair was completely different now. Dyed black and forced heat to make it straight? It's different, but, it actually looks amazing. When my hair is eventually pin straight, she clips it back from the front so she can apply my makeup.
She gently applies each product to my face, followed by a slight but not so aggressive smoky eye.
As she dabs in some highlighter to my inner corners, my phone buzzes.

*Liam* "I'll be there in 5, meet me in lobby!"

Instead of sending an actual response i just reacting a "❤️" before jumping up, scanning the room for my heels. Nothing too excessive, just a small black stiletto with some gold. As my eyes frantically searched, Nora spoke up from my right,

"Here," She dangles both heels from her hands. Smiling at her as a thank you i quickly take the shoes from her grasp and slip my feet in. On the way out i sprayed some perfume on me, something new i picked up while out the other day. "Good luck!" Nora shouts before running up to me and giving me a reassuring kiss on the cheek. I nod and mutter a few byes before walking out and shutting the door tightly behind me. Now it was just me, on my own, going to meet Liam. Reaching the end of the corridor, I push the button and patiently wait for the elevator. The double doors slide open, inviting me inside. I step in and push the ground floor button, anxiously waiting as the numbers on the screen slowly decreased. As the elevator came to a stop, the doors re-opened. I stepped out and began looking for Liam, taking deep breaths as i did. It's then i see him. He's walking through the front doors very clearly on the lookout for me. With, im not sure what confidence, i began to approach him.

"Hi." I smiled nervously at him.

"Oh there you ar- woah." He pauses as he turns to fully face me. I give him a confused look, is something wrong? "You look," he blinks a few times before finishing, "beautiful." A tinge of pink filled his cheeks as he finished that last part, a smile growing on his lips. "Your hair? It's..." He began before i cut off, "I know it's different but i mean it gives me a new start and maybe my old hair was nicer-"
"It's really pretty, it suits you." He tucked my hair behind my ear, running his fingers through it. We spoke for a bit before leaving the building and walk towards Liams car. Liam being the so called 'gentleman' he is, he opened the door for me, inviting me into the passenger seat. I sat down and fastened the seatbelt as Liam got in the drivers seat. I then just realise i've no clue where we are going. "Where are you taking me?" I ask with a bit of sarcastic expectation in my voice. "You'll see." I hate that answer. Is it so hard to just tell someone? Instead of complaining i just go along with it and wait till we arrive.

After a probably 10 minute drive, we pull into a parking spot and begin walking into this restaurant. I feel somewhat nervous as to what's to come, has he took me to a really fancy restaurant with everyone in suit and ties? My thoughts spin but quickly die down as we enter the restaurant. Now this, is a perfect date spot for me. Fancy but not too fancy. Cozy but not like a cafe. It was just right. We were sat at a table, both of us opposite each other. I look up at the fairy lights hung across the ceiling. This place was so peaceful, i wonder how he even found this place? Before long, we're given a menu.

The dinner flew in, and tasted amazing. Liam and I spoke the entire time, mainly just enjoying each other's company. Towards the end of the dinner we decided we'd go out for some drinks, extend the night a bit. We paid the bill and left, driving off to a bar further on down the strip. Parking as close as possible, we were already in and sat at a booth. Funny enough who did we run into? Harry Niall Louis and Zayn. The six of us squeezed into a booth, three on one side and three on the other. The next two hours were unmemorable. In the first hour Niall and I were done, aka the ones that can't handle their drink. Liam wasn't drinking loads as he was responsible to drive home.

"Come on, April. We should probably get going." He says while shuffling out of the booth. "Do you guys need a lift back to the hotel?"

"No we'll get an uber back soon," Harry answers. "Thanks though."

(Liams pov)

April stood from her seat, her legs like jelly the second she stood. I swept in and threw her arm around my shoulder, trying to help her walk. After sitting her in the car and a long drive back of listening to her rant on, we finally reached Aprils hotel. We both stayed in different hotels due to booking situations. Her band would stay in one, and mine would stay in another. Getting April out of the car was one thing, getting her to her room would be another. With her arm slung round my shoulder, I was just about able to get her into the elevator, reaching into her pockets for her keycard. The keycard read 243, her room number. The elevator doors dinged open and i once again slung her arm around my shoulder. We got about three steps outside the elevator before i gave up, picking her up bridal style and making my way to her room. I struggled a bit with scanning the card in and also carrying her, but, i got there in the end. I got in and placed her on the bed, pulling her shoes off and wiping away her makeup. Looking around, i spot her suitcase and lift out a pair of pjs from it. With no cooperation from April, I managed to change her into them and tuck her into bed. I turn the tv on as a background noise for her, some random show playing.

"Goodnight," I say before turning away, going to make my way to the door. Before i even get a step away i feel a tug on my hand. I turn to meet April's eyes, "stay, please?"
How could i ever say no to her? I take my shoes off and look at her, "shuffle over, then." I laugh as she shuffles herself over, allowing me to slide in beside her. Laying on my back, i begin to watch the show playing on tv, waiting for my consciousness to take over. I suddenly feel a weight on my chest, an arm slung round me. I look down at her, her head snuggled into me, fast asleep. I brushed her hair out of her face, watching as she slept ever so peacefully on me. I eventually feel my eyelids grow heavier and before i knew it, i was sleeping too.