Then There Were Four

Chapter 10

"So, I'm starved," Louis announces just as the credits for the film start.

"Me too," Harry adds.

"Mate, you kept that entire bowl of popcorn to yourself; I don't think you're allowed to complain," Louis counters.

"Oi, it's quite difficult to share a bowl of popcorn between sofas, Lou," Harry replies, sitting up on the smallest couch.

"Stop arguing. I'm hungry too," Liam states.

"Since there's no food in your fridge and we can't all go out, I reckon we get some takeout," Niall suggests.

"Sure, but no Nando's, alright Niall?" Louis warns.

"Fine." Niall smiles innocently at him.

"So, what would you guys like?" I ask, knowing that I'd be nominated to go and buy the food.

"Anything. Just buy lots of it," Harry says.

"I'll go with her," Niall suggests. My heart involuntarily speeds up.

"Why?" Zayn asks.

"What? Are you going to make her buy it all herself?" he enquires. I blush.

"No, but why you?" Harry asks.

"I'm least likely to get noticed. I'm the only one without tattoos," he says smugly.

"You're also the only one with blonde hair," Liam responds.

"I'll be careful, alright? No one will see that it's me," he defends, putting his hands up protectively in front of him. "Anyway, I know what each of you like better than anyone else," he states, lifting one eyebrow and crossing his arms.

They trade reluctant looks with one another.

"He's right," Harry says hesitantly, defeated.

"But I swear, if I see anything on Twitter or anywhere, I'm calling Paul on you." Liam glares at him.

Niall's face pales. "Okay, fine, but I will be careful," he repeats.

I go into my room and grab my coat, bag and umbrella. When I get to the front door, Niall is waiting for me with his coat on and his hood up. I turn back to the living room and say, "We'll be right back! Don't –"

"Don't break anything!" Liam and Harry chorus back.

"We know!" Louis adds.

My cheeks redden and I quickly amend, "I was going to say don't go anywhere but... that works too."

Niall laughs and opens the door.

"So, Kelly, where do you want to go?" He smiles at me as we stroll down the lone hallway and to the lift.

My heart flutters and I say, "Uhm, I don't know really. You tell me where you want to go, and I'll tell you where it is."

We step into the lift and he presses 'G'.

"Okay... well, see, I told Louis we wouldn't have Nando's but technically I didn't promise him..."

"So you want Nando's?" I verify, laughing.

"You must be a mind-reader! I'd love some Nando's too!" he says grinning from ear to ear.

After a few tremors from my heart because of his smile, we get to the ground floor and he pulls his hood up and puts his glasses on. He's wearing a long black trench-coat-like jacket with a hood.

The lift opens and we're in the ground floor lobby area. It's very small as the floor also has apartments so there's just a gate, a door, a few windows and an intercom system. He walks up to one of the windows and looks out through the shabby grey blinds.