When Eyes Meet

Chapter 3: The Unexpected Invitation

Mia and Y/N enter the dimly lit backstage and was immediately greeted by chaos and celebration. Though the sounds of laughter and music swirling around them felt like a rush.

Y/N noticed Louis standing at the center of a large room surrounded by his bandmates—Niall, Liam, Harry, and Zayn. Y/N couldn't shake off the butterflies forming in the pit of the stomach when Louis saw her walking in.

"Hey, it's you!" Louis called out, his voice cutting through the din as he spotted Y/N. She felt the heat of his gaze on her, a playful smirk already playing on his lips. "Thought you were just a fan. But here you are, all backstage and everything."

"Couldn't get rid of me that easily," Y/N shot back, her confidence unwavering as she approached him. She liked being playful, teasing, and flirty. That's just who she was. "So you give your number out to all the girls?" Y/N smirked back.

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Just the really beautiful ones," he winked back.

Y/N couldn't help but blush at the unexpected compliment. So he was also quite the flirt, she realized.
This will be fun, she thought to herself.

"Careful, or I might just steal your heart," Y/N shot back tilting her head to her side and let her eyes linger on his for a beat longer.

The banter was intoxicating, and Y/N could feel the chemistry crackling in the air between them. Louis stepped closer, his curiosity piqued.

Before Louis could respond, Harry was grinning from ear to ear as he burst into the conversation. "So who do we have here?" he asked as he put his arm around Louis' neck.

"Actually I didn't get your names yet," Louis just realized.

"Well you were too busy drooling over me so that's understandable," Y/N smirked as she reached out her hand for a shake introducing herself.

Louis shook her hand and held it for a second too long as his thumb grazed the back of her hand, giving her goosebumps.

Liam interrupted suddenly making the connection with mischief in his voice, "Are you the girl Louis couldn't keep his eyes away from tonight's show?"

"I had to make sure she wasn't on her phone again!" Louis protested.

"Riiiiight, well you certainly succeeded," Mia dragged out. She couldn't help but sense the tension between the two of them. "I'm Mia, huge fan!" she then exclaimed with so much excitement in her tone she could explode.

"We love our fans! How about a quick round of Truth or Dare for a bit of fun before we head out to celebrate the tour coming to end," Niall interjected.

Y/N exchanged a look with Mia, who was still starstruck but quickly caught on to the infectious energy. "Count us in," Y/N declared, her competitive spirit igniting. "What's the worst that could happen?"

"Famous last words," Zayn chuckled, as he gestured for everyone to gather in a circle. "Here we go."

As they settled in, the playful energy escalated. Liam kicked things off, daring Harry to serenade an unsuspecting crew member. Harry happily obliged and sang an improvised song, and laughter erupted in the room. Then it was Louis's turn, and he looked directly at Y/N, as if he couldn't wait to ask, with a mischievous look in his eyes.

"Truth or dare, Y/N?"

She felt a rush of adrenaline. "Dare. Bring it on."

"Good choice. I have a dare but it's only for the brave," he challenged, meeting her eyes, "I dare you to go out with me," leaning forward intrigued to hear her answer.

It's like the room went silent. Y/N's felt her pulse quicken and she widened her eyes at the question.

"Well that's certainly a way to ask a girl out." Y/N composed herself, then she smirked as she let out, her voice teasing "Is that the only way you get girls to go out with you—because it's a dare?"

The group erupted into laughter, and Louis shook his head, clearly impressed.

"Only the ones worth the risk," he smoothly shot back, ready for their game of banter to ping pong back.

"Very clever," she teased, "so I guess that makes me girl number...?" she rhetorically asked.

"You're the only one giving me this much trouble," Louis flirted. It's as if they were alone in this room and completely immersed in the conversation blurring everything else out.

She held his gaze and her lips curved into a sly smile when she said, "Lucky for you then, because I love a good dare."

The room watched, caught up in the tension that buzzed between them.

Louis grinned, and his eyes sparkled with a hint of something genuine that almost threw her off the game of banter they cultivated. Almost.

"But only because I'm curious if you're as good at conversation as you are at charming your fans."

Louis' grin turned into a smirk, "I've charmed you, have I?

It was Y/N's turn to smirk back, "I said fans, didn't I?"

The tension between them hung in the air, their playful rivalry proved to be unrelenting.
Just as their eyes lingered on each other, someone's voice brought them back to reality, breaking the tension.

"Oi, lovebirds!" Niall called out, "Are we still playing or do you need a private room?"

The rest of the game blurred by in flashes of laughter, music, and teasing glances between them, while their chemistry simmered just beneath the surface. The challenge hung in the air, electric and exciting.

The group was abuzz, and there was a knowing look exchanged between Mia and Liam who clearly caught on the connection between Louis and Y/N, and seemed to be scheming in their head for a masterplan.

As the game finished, Louis pulled Y/N aside, lowering his voice.
"I'd love to take you out tomorrow night."

Those words held a promise that went far beyond a casual night out. The tension between them was undeniable, the air thick as they held each other's gaze.

Y/N felt her heart quicken but she tried to keep her cool meeting his gaze with equal intensity. "All right, Louis. Let's see what you got."

"Tomorrow night then," he said, his eyes never wavering from hers, voice low enough that it felt like a secret just for them.

As the night unfolded, surrounded by laughter and new friends, the playful spark between Y/N and Louis ignited a fire that neither of them could ignore. The electric chemistry set the stage for an unforgettable journey that was only just beginning.