The Dancer's Daughter (1D)

Chapter Three

Harry was staring at the ground and Louis was staring at the ceiling. Liam was just glaring at them, but Niall had moved to the kitchen and was rummaging through the food. Zayn and I just sat to watch the show. I knew Liam was about to start in, he was just thinking of the best way to tell them off. This had clearly happened before, probably frequently.

Zayn linked his arm with mine and pulled me back to the couch, because we were both getting uncomfortable on the kitchen chairs. “We don't want to get very close to this. We'd hear it anywhere on the bus anyways,” he whispered to me. Niall quickly joined us on the couch.

“HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO US? DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT TOOK TO GET HERE BECAUSE OF YOU?! THOSE GIRLS CHASED US THROUGH THE WHOLE MALL!” Liam shouted suddenly. We all winced.

“But... we didn't mean that...” Harry said quietly.

“YOU NEVER MEAN IT! WHAT IF NIALL HAD GOTTEN HURT? WHAT IF WE HADN'T RUN FAST ENOUGH?” Liam shouted. I noticed immediately that he'd only mentioned Niall getting hurt. Was he confident that he wouldn't, or was he more worried about Niall's safety than his own?

“Li, we weren't trying to get you in trouble or hurt. We just wanted a laugh!” Louis said. That was the wrong thing to say, and I knew that immediately.

“A LAUGH? YOU WANTED A LAUGH? YOU THINK HURTING YOUR FRIENDS IS FUNNY?!” That was apparently all Liam could get out through his anger. It was also my cue to step in, because this was getting out of hand. I pulled my arm back from Zayn and walked over to Liam.

“Boys, this was very stupid of you. But Liam, I think they realize that now. They promise not to do it again. Right, boys?” I fixed them with a glare, hoping they'd catch on. And miraculously, they did.

“We promise, Liam,” they said together. I smiled at them. Liam took a deep breath and turned to face me.

“I'm sorry. I just... sometimes they make me so angry it's hard to keep control,” he said softly. It was much better than his shouting had been and I just nodded. He turned back to the boys. “I still think that was a dick move, but I'm sorry for shouting at you,” he added. Then he turned and went back to his bunk, closing his curtain behind him.

We stopped at the hotel that night, and I immediately got my key from Paul. I was the first into the elevator, excited to be off the bus, even though I'd only been on it for a day. This tour was going to be hell. It was about time I was going to get some privacy. There was none on the bus, except maybe when you closed the curtain around your bunk. That seemed to be the signal that you want privacy.

Paul told us that our rooms were right in a row, meaning we'd be side by side. If we needed anything, his room was right by the elevator. I'd have to remember that.

I locked my door quickly, not wanting them to barge in while I took my shower. I enjoyed singing in the shower, and I didn't want them to hear me. I knew I was awful, and I didn't need them making fun of me.

The bathroom door had a lock too, which I used. I left my clothes on my bed, planning on wearing my towel out to change. The water was refreshing and warm. The song that had been in my head all day is the one I started with: Darlin by Avril Lavigne. It was my favorite song, and I was working on a dance to it when I got pulled away for tour.

As soon as I got out of the shower, I pulled on my dancing clothes and pushed the living room furniture out of the way. I started singing it again, because I hadn't grabbed my iPod speakers, and I danced to it. I added the steps as I went, slowly working my way through the song with turns and leaps. I ended on the floor, reaching for something that wasn't there. And that's when I heard the applause. I shrieked, hopping up to defend myself, only to find all five boys laughing at me.