It's Gotta Be You (One Direction Mini Fic)

The Glories of a Grocery Store

            The next several days passed almost without being noticed. School was nearly workless, being the week before Christmas vacation. Homework was non-existent. I nearly forgot about my approaching birthday, which was the day after the concert, because all my thought and wonders were focused on One Direction. Brooke had refused to let me listen to any of the band’s music before the show, for she feared it would ruin the magic.

            I floated through the halls like a ghost. I was only knocked out of my trance when I collided with a familiar slim figure with a mop of bright red hair atop his head.

            Josh grinned when he noticed it was me he had trod on. “Hey B. I’m guessing you forgot who I am since you haven’t talked to me all week, but I’m Joshua. I go by Josh. What am I missing? Oh yes! I’m your best friend?” he looked down on me with a flare on concern in his eyes. “What’s up cinnamon bun?”

            I laughed upon the use of my childhood nickname, growing up I rarely ate anything unless it had cinnamon in it. “I’m fine, chicken wing,” I replied. Josh laughed, but it was clear he didn’t believe me. “I’m going to this concert with Brooke tomorrow and there’s this one guy in the band that looks really familiar and I have no idea why,| I shrugged. It bugged me a lot more than I was letting on, but Josh nodding with understanding.

            “Okay. Text me if you figure it out. I could help crack the code if you want,” he offered hopefully.

            After a moment of consideration, I replied with, “Maybe. I just think that maybe when I see him in person I’ll just know who he is.”

            Wrapping his arm around my shoulders, Josh led me in the direction of my final lesson. “Whatever flies your kite, Bridget.”

            The face of the familiar band member never left my mind for the rest of the day.

***

            I pressed my back against the headboard of my bed, writing madly in the notebook that was lain against my crossed legs. She Loves You by The Beatles played softly in the background. Almost without thinking, words poured from the tip of my pen to the paper in front of me. Whenever I was confused of worried, I liked to write exaggerated narratives about the problems in my life, to remind me that it could be worse.

            I was suddenly hauled back into reality when my bedroom door swung open, revealing my cousin standing in the doorway. “Hey, guess who’s staying over tonight?” she chimed.

            I tossed my notebook aside and laughed. “Oh, I don’t know, you?” Brooke winked and sat on my bed. “I hope you’ll survive a day without Nutella though. Chase and I finished it last night.”

            Brooke’s jaw dropped dramatically, but the answer I was waiting for didn’t come. Instead, she leapt to her feet hastily and descended the stairs. I followed close behind as she led me through the door and towards the sidewalk.

            When I finally matched her brisk pace, I stopped her, panting. “Not to be rude, but where the hell are you going?” I shouted.

            She laughed lightly. “To get Nutella,” she said in a tone that made it seem like the most obvious thing in the world. “The grocery store isn’t too far from here, and you could really use the exercise,” she winked and continued her pursuit, slower this time.

            A quarter of an hour later, we finally arrived at the grocery store after trudging through piles of snow on the unplowed sidewalks. Despite the fact I wore only a t-shirt, jeans and sneakers, I wasn’t cold. Brooke was shivering even after the heated air of Metro splashed our faces with warmth.

            Without hesitation, Brooke marched to the centre aisle of the store and stopped directly in front of the display of stacked jars of Nutella. My cousin stood behind the pyramid of hazelnut spread, staring at it. I scanned the sign, looking for something of interest, but found nothing.

            “Brooke what are you staring at? It’s just a sign—”

            Brooke clasped her hand over my mouth quickly. “Shh.”  I raised an eyebrow and glared into her blue eyes questioningly. She jabbed her thumb in the direction of the sign. Still confused, I waited until Brooke whispered harshly into my ear, “Niall Horan is standing six feet away on the other side of that sign.”

            I struggled to pry her grip off my face and peered around the yellow cardboard. I saw a blonde-haired boy in a blue hoodie and beige pants bent over examining several bags of potato chips. A red basket clutched in his left hand was filled with frozen dinners and microwaveable popcorn. A moment later, he straightened up and placed two bags of chips in the basket, allowing me to see his face at last. He was definitely the Irish blondie from One Direction.

            I heard Brooke draw in a breath and she pulled me down into a crouch behind the Nutella stand. I could just barely see Niall’s white trainers through the gap in the cardboard. A second pair of feet shuffled into view and he began to speak.

            “Okay, so you got dinner?” he asked. For a moment I was confused due to the lack of an Irish accent, until I realized it was the other person who had spoken. I turned to Brooke for clarification as she mouthed the words That’s Liam. I rolled my eyes at her star struck expression.

            “Yeah, but I still think we should go to Nando’s. I googled it, there’s one 30 minutes away in Missi-something,” Niall replied. His smooth accent forced an involuntary smile onto my face.

            A soft laugh erupted from Liam. “Maybe we can go after the show tomorrow.” I imagined he would have shrugged, but I couldn’t see past their feet.

            I suddenly realized how ridiculous we were being and stood up. I avoided looking at Liam and Niall and ignored Brooke’s whispers of protest as I scooped a jar of Nutella into my hand. I could feel the boys’ eyes burning into my back as I continued slowly down the aisle. I turned to see Brooke crawl out of view hastily and rush to my side.

            Once she was back on her feet she looked at me with wild eyes. “What were you thinking? I had a plan!”

            I laughed and pushed the Nutella against her chest. “Well, since you never took the time to tell me what it was, you can pay for the Nutella.” I grinned sarcastically as she snatched the jar from my grasp.

            Brooke then began walking away quickly, avoiding her lack of a sarcastic comment. Hurried footsteps sounded behind us, but it wasn’t until someone spoke that I thought anything of it.

            “Hey, hang on a second,” the words were beautifully manicured with the sound of an Irish accent.

            Brooke froze in place and slowly pivoted around on the spot. We found ourselves face to face with Niall Horan and Liam Payne. I couldn’t help but laugh when Brooke dropped the Nutella with a gasp.