TIMING IS EVERYTHING

"just some crazed fan.."

Michael's POV:

"You eat like a pig."

"Well you eat like a fucking princess."

"I feel like these are very backwards roles." I realize, looking at Melody weirdly as she takes another monstrous bite out of her....god I don't even know if these things should be named.

Like seriously, I only ate about half of my quesarrito and I already feel nauseous. I can't wait to see what alcohol does to me.

"If you don't like the way I eat then you are free to turn around and take me home, princess." She smirks and I suddenly see what she's playing at. Sly little piggy.

"You aren't gonna get me to take you back, Melody, I promised you a night out and I never break my promises, so stop trying to be sly with your comebacks." She gives me a bit of a strange look and I break, "Okay I also already called the boys and they're thrilled to meet you; it's been way too long since we've all been out and about with someone new." I chuckle, looking out the cabby window to the Dallas streets, trying to think about anything besides my flopping stomach.

I'm never eating Taco Bell again.

I always thought Dallas was, like, full of all rich cougars and huge sky scrapers, but it's actually like a rather small version of New York City; full of every cultural group, all kinds of businesses, every type of food and there's even at least four distinctive social classes at work just by first glance. God I love travel-

Melody's lips connect with my cheek and I'm immediately brought back into reality, the glowing backside of the Hilton hotel right outside my window. Yet, even with the beautiful hotel in front of me, all I can do is look over at Melody, my face as erubescent as a tomato. "W-why'd you-"

"I've been trying to get you outta your frippin' frappin' trance for a whole three minutes, but you weren't answering to anything, so as we pulled up I did the only thing I could think of." Melody rambles quickly, her once pale face back to the same color it had been while she was crying earlier.

Which means it's up to me to lighten the mood, "you're back to that sexy crying face again, I swear Ariana Grande is gonna start getting jealous of you taking over the hottest woman alive categor-"

"If you two are gonna flirt and kiss and shit, get the hell outta my cab, alright?" The cabby interrupts, making us both hold in our laughs (which is way harder than it sounds, might I add).

"Sorry, sir, here ya go." Melody hands him a small wad of cash and it only adds to my embarrassment with the fact that she's been paying for everything since we left her house.

"I'll pay you back for the Taco Bell and cab fair, by the way, I wouldn't want you to think I'm a mooch or anything." I assure her as I hold the cab door open. If I'm not gonna be a gentleman money-wise, I might as well at least try to have some manners.

"Michael, that's not necessary, really, I'm sure you don't actually make much money for yourself from this job." She giggles and I nod,

"You're right, I don't really get much pocket money, but I can't just leave you high and dry either, so what can I do to make it up to you?" I shoot a quick text to one of our security guards, so he knows to come down and clear the lobby before we enter, knowing that if we enter without a bit of protection then there'll most likely be a swarm waiting.

I look up at Melody when she doesn't answer, only to see her texting on her phone as well, "Mel?"

She looks up quickly, nearly dropping her phone, "Sorry, what did you say?"

"I asked what I could do to make it up to you, seeing as I don't really have much pocket money." I wonder who she was texting...? I hope it wasn't Roger. He doesn't deserve to be texting her after everything he's put her through.

"I know I wasn't exactly the most excited about this when you first dragged me out, but I really appreciate that you're taking me out with y'all and that you care enough to give me a night out; you don't owe me anything." She laughs lightly, looking at me as if it should be the most obvious thing on earth.

But, sadly, I don't usually get that response, so I'm slightly taken aback, "Are you sure? I mean, fans always want something from us; a kiss, a photo, an autograph, a date, concert tickets, I honestly can't even remember the last time someone didn't ask me for something." I look down at my feet to avoid the pitty I'm sure Melody's about to give me, but when she lifts my chin to look at her, there's no pity, or humor, or anything like that; she justlooks....hurt.

Why would she be hurt, though?

"After everything today, plus the fact that you obviously trust me, you still think I'm just some crazed fan that wants to use you? That's pretty harsh, Michael." She scoffs, taking a step back.

I gotta fix this, fast, "I didn't mean it like that, Melody, I just- I meant that everyone always wants something, fan or not, and I guess I kinda just forget what it's like for someone to like being around me for me." I chuckle, rubbing the back of my neck nervously.

Please don't be mad, Melody, please, I don't know what I'll do if you decide-

"I'll never use you, or any of the boys, Michael, I consider you-"

"My, my, who's this lovely lady?" Mark {IDK their security's names so meh}} pops up from the hotel doors, a mocking grin on his face that makes mine heat up quickly. God I feel like that kid that gets caught kissing his girlfriend by his parents, ugh it's so embarrassing!

"I'm Melody, Melody Blake, it's so nice to meet you, sir." Melody shakes his hand without hesitation and I can't help but mentally praise Melody for being so professional and respectful to him. I mean, it's not like all the girls I bring around have been as high in quality as Melody. If ya know what I mean.

"So should I call the boys down or do y'all wanna go up to meet first?" Mark finally turns to me after he and Melody finish their greetings.

"Let's go up, I kinda want the boys to meet Mel before we're all crammed in a van together. Plus I really need to change, my clothes smell like leftovers and dirt." I don't mean to sound rude about it, but it's not like homeless people are exactly the best smelling.

We hurry through the lobby and make it to the elevator without being seen, but a few attendants say hello to us as they walk by in the hallway, the fact that they've now seen Melody making me kinda nervous. I wouldn't want her to get hate just for trying to hangout with us.

"You ready?" I ask her, wanting to be 100% sure before I open the hotel room door. I live a crazy life and I don't want to be fully responsible for dragging her into it.

"Michael, I was ready the second you screamed like a little girl against the center's door." She grins and I just roll my eyes, knowing I didn't sound that much like a girl. I may have screamed, but it wasn't in a girly fashion.

"Just remember, I warned you." I remind her, only to get a nod, like she's saying, 'just get on with it, idiot'. So I open the door, looking around the open living room area to see Calum in his gray boxers, sprawled across the couch- "Cal, for the love of pizza, mate, put some clothes on, we got a girl here!" -Ashton in the corner hitting his practice drums, probably just to pass the time- "Ash, remember to clean off the sweat and apply extra D.O." -and Luke is just chilling on the love seat with an acoustic in hand, his hair done perfectly and his clothes looking clean- "Luke, good job for being ready, you're gonna keep Mel company as the rest of us get our shit together." I look to Melody and she looks scared straight from my last comment.

"You're leaving me?" She whispers, making me smirk. She's so cute when she's nervous, she almost looks innocent.

"Well, unless you wanna join me as I shower and get dressed?" Without hesitation, she shakes her head 'no'. "That's what I thought." I give her a small smile as Ash and Cal walk past us towards their room, both of them glancing at me with smirks. Assholes.

"Be good to her, Luke!" I yell as I walk towards mine and Luke's room, trying to calm my nerves. But sadly, it doesn't do anything for me as I think of all the embarrassing things that Luke could be telling her right now.