Drag Me Down (h.s.) EDITING

Decisions

I stood in front of Niall's hotel room door for ages before backing away down the hall. There was no way I could be around anyone. Harry's words still echoed through my head as I quickly stepped into the elevator. Selfish? How in any way was I being selfish? The media would murder me, yes, but they would also go after him and the entire band. I loved them and they were my best friends and I couldn't see them get upset over me. I'm just one person. Not to mention I would devastate Niall if anything publicly transpired between Harry and myself. It was east being with Niall. Uncomplicated.

I dropped my head in my hands thinking of how things got so mixed up when the elevator dinged, signaling I was on the basement floor. I walked out without even paying the slightest attention as to where I was even going. I ran right into Eleanor.

"Lani? Are you alright?" She waved her hand in front of my face and grabbed me around the shoulders. I was still completely zoned out. I was so lost in my head I didn't know what to do.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm totally fine. I just need to go." I mumbled as I continued to walk by her toward the valet parking exit. I could hear her call my name a couple more times but I ignored her. I was in no form to speak to anyone. I felt like my world was going to come crashing down around me at any moment. I was so mixed up. For the first time in my life I was in a situation I didn't know how to get myself out of. I always knew my way around everything. This just so happened to be new territory and I was getting in over my head.

I let my feet guide me, not knowing where I was going. I had been in London once before and it had been three years ago when I first met the boys. It was right after my best friend Cat came in to my life and introduced me fully to One Direction. We had become inseparable. For my 18th birthday she had flown us out to London to meet and attend their concert. I was just a fan then. Now, I'm a girl who is tangled up in a situation with five amazing boys without knowing exactly how to extricate herself. What is my life.

ONE YEAR PREVIOUS:

"How the hell did you score meet and greet with VIP tickets Cat!?" I exclaimed. I was so nervous I was sweating. My stomach was wrapped in knots. I was about to meet some of my most favorite people in the world.

Cat rolled her eyes at me and laughed. "Yanno my aunt is their publicist D. I can get basically anything if I asked but I don't want people to think I use that shit to my advantage yanno."

I jumped up and down on the balls of my feet waiting in line for our turn to see the boys. I was dying inside. I had never been a huge fan until recently. I actually never attended one of their concerts til Cat came along. This would be my second concert and the first time I would meet them. I hoped I didn't leave a bad first impression. Sometimes I didn't have a brain to mouth filter.

The line moved and a lady stood in front of us, giving Cat directions to go through a set of a double doors where we would meet and take pictures with the boys. Cat hugged the woman with a huge smile and tugged on my arm. This was it. I was actually going to meet the boys in the flesh. I could feel my palms begin to sweat and my stomach tensed even more than before. Oh God, I hope I didn't puke. I had a tendency of getting extremely nervous and almost throwing up. My life.

We walked through the doors and there stood five goofy boys who I felt like I had personally known since their journey on the X-Factor.

We walked in and all the boys starting yelling hello at Cat.

"Cat! Where the hell 'ave you been!" Niall half yelled as he grabbed Cat and gave her a bear hug. I stood stock still staring at them like a complete and total idiot. I was awestruck, starstruck, cute boy struck.

"Kitty whose your friend here who looks a little unwell." Harry asked as he gave a short laugh. I cocked my head at the odd nickname Harry called Cat while she looked at me and burst into a fit of giggles. The rest of the boys attention turned to me and I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks. Oh great.

"Guys, this is Delani. She has recently become a fan and I brought her to meet you." Cat smiled her perfect smile and I felt a little better.

"Hi, I'm Harry, nice to meet you Delani, Lani?" He winked while leaning in and gave me a peck on the cheek. I fainted. Right then and there, I fainted in front of the One Direction boys.

PRESENT:

I'm not sure how long I had been walking. I was so wrapped up in my own thoughts I hadn't noticed the sun was actually going down. Great. The boys bus was supposed to be leaving about now and I had no clue where the hell I was located in the heart of London. I searched around and I found a small diner to duck into out of the cold. I went up and ordered at the counter and took a seat.

I was digging around for my phone when a familiar outline appeared beside me. He was talking animatedly with the guy beside him, hands flailing and laughing at whatever he happened to be talking about. I pretended to still be looking for my phone as I observed him a bit more. He was so familiar but I couldn't exactly place who he was. His friend looked familiar too. I was wracking my brain when he abruptly turned and looked at me. I'm sure I looked like a deer caught in the headlights. I could feel the blush creep up to my cheeks. Oh great.

"Delani! We found you. It's Ashton by the way, I don't think we've been properly introduced." He said sticking his hand out with a massive grin on his face. I shook his hand feeling like an idiot. Of course I knew who he was! He was part of the band on tour with the boys. I had never really been around them much.

"Don't be a cock, Ashton. Introduce me." The other guy laughed, elbowing Ashton in his side. They elbowed each other for a minute before Ashton introduced him as Michael. I shook his hand as well.

"So, it's probably news to you but you'll be riding with us to the next show since you missed the guys bus." Ashton said biting into his sandwich. I sipped my hot tea and nodded my head. Ashton and Michael didn't seem so bad so, I'm sure the other two were okay. They never asked why I missed the boys departure. Which I was more than thankful for. We laughed and made fun of each other. I even spit hot tea on Ashton's shirt on accident. I'm pretty sure that solidified out friendship right then and there. After awhile we left the diner and made our way back to the hotel. On the way I started to shiver and Ashton gave me his coat. I was liking this kid more and more.

"Alright, we're leaving in like thirty minutes so you can go get your stuff and bring it down if ya want." Michael said as we all got off the elevator on my floor. Coincidentally, they were on the same floor as I was. I left them in the hall and gathered my things up. This was going to be the most awkward tour ever. Maybe I could hide out with the 5 Seconds of Summer boys and hide away from the others. Before I made any decisions or took any steps forward I really needed to distance myself from all of them and get my head straight. Obviously being on tour with them makes it difficult but I'm sure I could do it.

Just as I was finishing up packing my phone buzzed in my pocket.

-we r ready when u are hot stuff .xx -Ashton

I laughed out loud at his use of "hot stuff." Apparently that was my new nickname since the hot tea incident. I smiled and scrolled through my other messages. There were messages from Zayn, Louis, Liam, Harry, AND Niall asking where I had been all day. I deleted them all and shoved my phone into my pocket. I would just think of an excuse and tell them when I saw them. I didn't want to text them back leaving an opening for a conversation I didn't want to have. I sighed and heaved my backpack over my shoulder and grabbed my suitcase. This was just going to be a long trip. At least I had Ashton and Michael to make it funny.