Changing Everything

Chapter 3

My mind was spinning, my heart was racing but my feet wouldn't seem to move. I didn't like the proximity that came with this situation. I struggled under the steel grip that held my forearm and started to panic. Jenna and Madison just stood watching the action with wide eyes. The more I tried to pull away the slightly tighter the hand got. Who was this that had their hands on me? Why were my best friends just standing there? I opened my mouth to scream but no sound came out. Instinct suddenly kicked in; I screwed my eyes closed, span around and landed my fist straight in to my attackers face. SMACK! That was the best hit ever, I thought triumphantly, as the man with the steel grip backed away. His hand released my arm leaving a slightly pink tinge to my skin, thankfully it didn't look like it would bruise. I don't know how long passed before the man stood tall again but when he did I just stood, looking up in to his face. I saw the hurt in his features but also the pride, humour and shock. It was Paul. Paul Higgins, One Direction's tour manager/security/babysitter/all intensive purposes dad.

"Oh Jesus..." Were the only words to fall from my lips. I was in absolute shock. I wasn't being abducted as I had suspected. It was Paul who had been trying to stop me, but why? "I'm so sorry Paul! I didn't know it was you. You should've said something. Is your face okay?" It all came out in a bit of a rush but he seemed to understand. Slowly Paul removed his hand from his face and I could see his lip was bust and swollen. Blood was starting to ooze for the wound. Wow that really was a great hit I said to myself!

"I'm sorry Miss but I don't know your name other wise I would have shouted to stop you." Paul explain.

"My name is Leila, Leila Town." Turning to my friends I said "So this is why you just stood and watched? I though you were abandoning me in my time of need!"

"We would never do that Leila" Madison uttered.

"Never." Jenna backed up. I pulled them to me in a friendly embrace. Oh how I loved my best friends. "You always were a bit dramatic though!" Jenna joked.

"Yes, look at poor Paul's face!" Madison agreed.

"You've got a good arm on you." He exclaimed. This was when, looking in to his eyes I could see the pride. He seemed completely shocked but proud that I could have inflicted such a injury on a man like him. He then added "The lads are going to have a field day with this one" under his breath. I don't believe I was supposed to hear that comment but I had. The humour and sarcasm in the comment made me smirk inwardly.

"It's nice to meet you Miss Town, I'm Paul as you already know. Who are your friends?" He inquired.

The formality of being called Miss Town threw me off for a second. However, pointing to my best friends I answered his question with "These are my two best friends Jenna Tillborne and Madison Lovejoy and please call me Leila."

"Hello." They both said in singsong voices. He smiled warmly at them.

"I really am terribly sorry about your lip Paul. Was there something you needed?"

"Oh yes, are you the young lady that was seated in block 208, row K, seat 13?" He asked after consulting the scribbles that adorned the back of his left hand.

"Erm... Let me just check my ticket." I rummaged through my bag until I found the purple piece of card, "Yeah that's my seat. Is there a problem?"

"Well that depends on how you view the situation." He laughed at what must have been a horrified expression on my face. "No Leila it's nothing bad but I would appreciate it if you and your friends, would come me back in to the arena with me for a while. I have a couple of people who are eager to meet you." He smirked.

"We can't we have a train to catch to get home, sorry." Jenna jumped in.

"I will see to it that you all get home safely. Please? Just for a little while?" The poor man was almost pleading. What was I supposed to say? I looked at Madison first; she just shrugged and smiled. When I turned to Jenna I could see the internal battle of staying and getting in trouble or leaving and missing all the fun.

"Come on Jenna, you know you want to" I teased.

"Oh go on then. I suppose we are already out. We'll not worry!"

"Okay then ladies, follow me" Paul said with a thankful smile. With that he turned on his heel and headed towards the door we had exited by a short while ago. I hadn't notice that during the struggle and conversation that had taken place with Paul, outside the arena had emptied and so had the car park. There were only a few girls from the concert still wandering around and a few down by the gates to the stage entrance. I gathered they were hoping to catch a glimpse of One Direction as they left on their tour bus.

Normally, I would be wary for my safety in any situation but today had been a strange day. I was throwing caution to the wind. Who would want to meet me? And why? I was so confused. Once back inside the arena I thought we would stay waiting in the foyer but instead Paul led us through the doors in to the standing area of the arena. I saw him dab his lip with the back of his hand and then wipe it down his jet black jeans a few times in an attempt to clean the cut. I felt terrible. He looked terrible now! Madison and Jenna followed close behind me, so I turned to them when I heard them talking in hushed tones.

"Who do you think wants to meet me?" I asked. I was completely baffled as to why I was being treated special.

"I have an idea" Madison giggled.

"Ditto!" Jenna exclaimed and both fell in to a fit of laughter as we trudged along with Paul.

"Come on guys, what's going on here?"

"Leila, is it not obvious?" Jenna asked with a beaming smile on her face that showed her perfectly straight white teeth. She really was beautiful. She was the type of girl that was both beautiful on the outside AND on the inside. However, she could never see her own value. She had luscious, long, champagne blonde hair and bright blue eyes that contrasted with her fair skin. She was slim and perfect. She was the type of girl that would do anything to help anyone and never had a bad word to say. She made me laugh so much my insides hurt most of the time! She will always be one of the nicest people I have ever met and I am certainly a very lucky girl to be able to call her my best friend.

"No Jenna, I just can't imagine." I replied as we climbed up on to the stage. I hadn't even realised this was where we were heading towards.

"Wow..." We all muttered in sync with each other. Paul stopped and grinned at us in that moment.

"Come on we aren't stopping here!"

"But please I just want to stand for a few seconds and soak up the atmosphere" I replied.

As I looked out towards the seating I floated off in to my own little bubble. I heard Paul ask one of my friends, though I'm not sure who, "Is she always like this?!"

"Yes!" Came the reply.

I was stood imagining myself performing on that very stage to the thousands of people that could be packed in to the audience when suddenly I started to sing. I don't know where it came from but I opened my mouth and out fell the words to Truly, Madly, Deeply. I loved that song. Jenna and I had performed it at a school event once, along with Little Things that is and I fell in love with it. I only sang a few lines until my bubble burst but it was an amazing opportunity. I turned and Paul was watching me intently. His small smile said he approved of my voice and confidence but I still felt my cheeks heat. Great, I though, more unwanted attention!

Jenna and Madison were farer over on the stage by now and I jogged over to them to see what they were looking at. They stood in awe struck silence. In Jenna's hand was a guitar. The most beautiful guitar I had ever seen. Tucked between the strings was a plectrum with the initials NH printed on. This guitar belonged to Niall Horan.

(This chapter is dedicated to my best friend, Jessica. The character Jenna is based on her. I just want to say Jess, that you're an amazing person and don't ever lose sight of that. Thank you for being my best friend and putting up with my strange ways ❤️)