Love at the X Factor (on hold) :(

Chapter 19

"Bella?" Niall called me into the bedroom of my hotel room, closing the door behind us. It was the next day after me and Josh talked things out.

"What's up, babe?" I sat beside him on the bed, wringing my hands in worry. Did he want to break up?

"We need to talk." I felt my pulse quicken.

"About?"

"Dan."

"What about him?" I asked, keeping my breathing calm. What did Aly tell him?

"Did he uh.. stalk you?" He looked into my eyes, awaiting my reaction. I took a deep sigh.

"Yeah."

"Why didn't you tell me?" His voice came out louder than usual. So loud, it shocked even himself. I blinked away a few tears.

"I didn't know how to even begin to explain it."

"Explain it as best as you can, babe." He said, in a quieter tone.

"Well, we dated for about three months. We never kissed; just hand holding and dates. He started to get really clingy and weird, but on the last day of school he dumped me. Part of me was honestly relieved, but I was also still crushed because he and I had some memories. Then after awhile once I got to Arizona, I began getting weird anonymous messages. Escalating from letter to phone calls. Then, he ended up in Phoenix, following me around. I finally told my mom and she got it settled. This is the most recent time I've seen him." I referred to his "job" on the show.

"I'm sorry you had to deal with that, Bell." Niall frowned, pulling me in for a hug.

"It's really okay. I have a pretty great guy now." I smiled, poking the one dimple that was forming on his cheek.

"Oh really? What makes this guy so great?" He laid me down on the bed, hovering over me while stradling me.

"He never fails to make me laugh." I blushed as he leaned down to kiss me, wrapping his arms under my back.

"Mmm.. what else?" He whispered into my ear.

""He's amazing, everything I could ever ask for. He's perfect." Niall looked down at me.

"You're the perfect one, babe." I blushed as he traced his finger down my jawline. We had been dating for nearly three months now and this was the most alone time we have had.

"Hey guys, do you wan- Woah!" Liam burst into the room, his face nearly as red as mine. "I'm s-sorry."

"Liam, it's fine." Niall laughed, helping me sit up as we untangled ourselves.

"Well, uh anyways, do you guys wanna go grab a bite to eat?" He asked, not making a lot of eye contact.

"Liam, we were just talkin'. Calm yourself." Niall patted Liam on the shoulder. "And of course we wanna go get food." Liam loosened up a bit, and I followed the boys into the living room. I went into the bathroom and freshened up before all eight of us piled into the van and went to get food.

"So, I finally get to break things off with Taylor." Harry said, as we left the restaurant. He had a huge grin on his face.

"About time. That girl scares me." Liam said, making us all laugh.

"When you guys have to go back?" Harry asked Josh and Aly.

"Tomorrow. We go back to school Monday." Aly frowned. I groaned along with her in realization that I would have to begin working with my tutor again. And that they were leaving of course.

"This sucks." I pouted. "Is Blake taking y'all back?"

"No. We're just gonna take a bus because he wants to stay." I smiled, but then groaned because that meant Shay was staying.