Maybe

14: Walks of Shame and Conditions

[[ A/N: Moving the update day to Saturday (in Australia) so I'm not rushing. Enjoy this chapter. :) ]]

Niall POV

I turn to look at Tori, who seems even more beautiful in her sleep. Her facial features are peaceful and look soft, and I can't help but stroke her cheek. She lets out a small moan and her eyelids flutter open. First she shows slight confusion, and then her expression's one of contentment. "Do you really have to go to America, Niall?" her voice sounds lazy, and I'm tempted to tell her 'no' and take her in my arms and fall asleep again. But I need to be there. My management team's already pissed at me; I can't give them more reason to dislike Tori.

"Yes, love, I do," I say, stroking her arm. "Can't disappoint the fans."

"Mmm," she groans. Then she pulls herself up so she's lying on my torso. "I don't think I can walk."

Then I start laughing, feeling as if there will be no end to it. "I'm sure you can still walk, Tori."

"Like a penguin," she says in all seriousness, eyes closed. "Waddle waddle." This sets me off into another fit of laughter. "Don't laugh, I can't feel anything."

"Well I'm sorry you feel like that, but we really ought to get dressed." Another thought occurs to me that sends me flying out of the bed. "Your parents, Tori!"

"Don't worry about them," she says with a wave of her hand. "Dad practically told me he'd be disappointed if I came home last night."

 "And your mum?"

"Probably at work by now," she says. She opens her eyes again to look at me sleepily. "Come back to bed, Niall. It's okay."

"Don't you have work?" I ask.

"No, I took today off so I could spend it with you again." She smiles at me. "See? Handled everything."

"Except my friends," I say, complying to her request and getting back into bed. "And my manager."

"You should be more organised," she says, planting a kiss on my lips. "But fine." She gathers the blankets and makes a run for the bathroom. "I'm taking the first shower!"

--

Tori makes a run for the door to her flat as soon as the elevator doors open, dragging me behind her. She hadn't particularly enjoyed the walk of shame. "Please please please be at work," I hear her mutter as she opens the door. She lets out a sigh of relief as she sees that no one's there. "Let me get changed, and then we'll go to your apartment."

"Sure," I say, feeling awkward myself in my suit. I really should've had the foresight to ask Louis to put a change of clothes in the hotel room, but all I brought was the red sweater, which Tori had pulled on top of her dress to make it look less fancy. But then again, I hadn't anticipated Tori's reaction to having a hotel room.

"Alright. Let's go." Tori was still wearing the sweater, but with her signature skinny jeans and purple supras. 

I grin as we walk back to the elevator. If I gave her a snapback, she'd look close enough to me in outfit that it would be comical. 

"What?" Tori asks, looking at me.

"Do you want a snapback, or..?"

She laughs. "Are you referring to my outfit?"

"You have very nice taste."

"Thanks."

"Well, do you?"

"Do I what?" she asks distractedly as she spots her hair in the shiny surface of the elevator. I'd told her countless times this morning that her hair looked fine, but she'd insisted on putting it in a ponytail and still complained about how her curls were disappearing into what she called 'disgusting waves'.