Walking in the Wind One Direction EDITING

3. Cup of Tea

"Oh no you don't have to do that, I'm the one spilling the tea all over your jeans!" Liam claims.

"Really. I insist." I smile at him and hold out my hand. "Come on get off the floor. I'm not made of sugar you know. That wet calf will live to see another day."

Liam grabs my hand and chuckles at my comment as he gets up from the tea spilled floor.

"I'm Amber by the way." Better to introduce myself, before I accidentally call him by his name.

"Liam. Nice to meet you" His eyes sparkle as he smiles. He holds out his hand and I give it a shake.

"Nice to meet you too Liam. Now let's get you that tea shall we?"

We end up at x factors coffee shop. The coffee shop was buzzing with soft chatter, the whir of an espresso machine humming in the background. Liam and I sat at the bar, each cradling a steaming drink.

I told Liam to order whatever he'd like, my treat. But he still ended up ordering plain old simple tea with honey. Meanwhile, I opted for a latte macchiato with an unnecessary mountain of whipped cream. The contrast was almost comical.

As we sit at the bar with our drinks I realize how awkward this is.

This is my childhood idol sitting in front of me. What do you even say when you meet them? And in this case if they're not even famous yet. How did I end up here?

The 12 year old girl inside me is freaking out, but I try to stay cool.

"So, are you here to audition, Amber?" Liam asks, blowing gently on his tea before taking a sip.

I hesitate, swirling my coffee with a tiny spoon. "I guess so. My sister signed me up, and I didn't even know about it until this morning. Honestly, I haven't picked a song yet, so I might just skip it and be her cheerleader instead." I laugh, hoping it comes off casual instead of panicked.

"Well, I guess I'm borrowing her supporter for a moment," he teases, his grin lighting up the space between us.

I could just melt in a puddle on the floor right here.

"No, but seriously," he says, leaning in slightly. "You should go for it. When are you ever going to get an opportunity like this again?"

I bite my lip in consideration. I mean he's not wrong.

"So you're here to audition then?" I already know the answer to that, but I'm just trying to make conversation.

"Yeah," he said, his expression softening. "I've got something to prove. Simon turned me down once already."

"Sounds like you've got a bone to pick with Simon Cowell," I joke, earning a laugh.

"Oh, that man is impossible to please!" Liam exclaims, playfully slamming the table in slight frustration.

I grin, then offer, "I'm sure you'll do great this time. You've got this."

"Thanks. I'm sure you'll be great too," he says, his smile warm and sincere.

I can't help but snort softly. "Great? I don't even know what I'm singing yet."

Liam tilts his head, considering me. "It doesn't matter. Just get up there and give it your all. That's what counts."

I take a small spoonful of whipped cream, savoring the sugary fluff. Liam wrinkles his nose.

"I don't like those things," he says, his face scrunching in mock disgust.

"What, spoons?" I ask, laughing as I twirl the tiny utensil in the air like an airplane.

"Yeah, spoons. They creep me out."

"This little thing?" I tease, waving it dramatically. He gave me a look that made me laugh harder.

"Okay, okay, I'll stop," I say, setting the spoon down with a mock-surrender gesture.

We kept talking, the conversation shifting between playful teasing and genuine connection.

"So what are you going to sing today?" I ask.

Cry me a river.

"Cry me a river by Michael Bublé." Liam exclaims proudly.

"I bet ya that will sound really good." I encourage him, "it totally suits your voice I think."

I think I already heard your audition and you killed it.

"Yeah I'm actually good. Definitely better than last time. I'll make it big time one day for sure." He grinned, a flicker of nervousness behind his confidence.

"Oh but Liam how will you ever remember me when you're famous!" I exclaim dramatically and he starts to laugh.

"I'm still a bit nervous though. Hence the tea with the honey." Liam points at his cup.

"Then let's say I bought you a cup of good luck." I wink at him, "And that'll be how you'll remember me then."

Liam swallows his sip of tea and puts the cup down. "Yeah. Lucky Tea Girl." He says and it makes me giggle.

"How about I make you another offer Tea Girl." I look at him in anticipation. "Well.. whats the deal Liam?" "How about we just exchange numbers and become friends? Im gonna need some real ones once I'm actually famous and all." He chuckles.

Excuse me did Liam Payne just ask for my number?

"Sure let me put it in your phone." He hands me his phone and as I type in my phone number he says "Oh shoot, it's almost my turn. I really gotta go."

"Here" I hand him the phone back.

"Thanks!" He says as he starts hurrying away from me.

"Good luck!" I say. Liam turns around in his sprint. "Good luck to you too!" Then he turns back around again.

I laugh at his spin. Running through a crowd like that is how you get tea on everyone Liam.

"Don't forget to give me a call so I've got your number too!" I yell after him.

I really hope he heard me.