Changing Everything

Chapter 9

Niall then turned and headed through the blue doors to my right without a glance back at me. 

I stood stock still, my mouth hanging open in the least attractive way possible. The corridor was filled by motionless silence. I closed my mouth before I caught any flies. Eventually I turned to look at my best friends who stood looking back at me with satisfied grins on their faces. Louis, Harry, Zayn and even Paul wore the same look. Liam did not.  

"You want to go steady Leila! Are you sure you can handle the drama of these two?" Zayn joked playfully to lighten the mood. 

When I didn't reply, Paul said "Oh don't worry. This one can handle herself!" He pointed to the cut marring his handsome face. The boys started to howl with laughter at the bust lip that I had caused.  

"How did we not notice that before?" Harry cried. 

"Yeah, you'll be able to cope with these two then!" Zayn chortled.

"Leila, you did that to Paul?" Liam questioned. I couldn't read the look in his eyes. Part of me thought I saw a glimmer of humour but then it was gone. He'd put up a barrier. I couldn't read the look in his eyes.  

"It was self defence! I thought he was trying to mug me or rape me or something!" I laughed along with Harry and Zayn now. The spell Niall had cast, broken.  

"Come on then ladies, time to go." Paul encouraged. We all took one last look around us at what had turned out to be a perfect night that we would never forget. We said goodbye to the boys and followed Paul down the corridor - feet dragging along the polished clinical style floor despite our cheery demeanor.  

"Thank you!" I shouted back down the corridor when I was out of sight.  

"You're welcome!" 4/5 of One Direction shouted back. I wondered what Niall was doing... Was he thinking about me? Every fibre of my being hoped so.

We followed Paul back through the arena. Except now it all looked different. The One Direction set had been dismantled, the arena was litter free and was no longer shrouded by darkness.   

"I'm going to be in so much trouble..." Madison worried as we passed through. 

"Me too!" Jenna agreed. 

"I know, I know... It's fine you can both sleep at mine so your parents won't know."  

"But what about yours?" Jenna asked. 

"It's fine... We'll just say... Erm... The train was delayed. It was my fault we got in to this mess, this wonderful mess, in the first place so I'll take the blame."  

"Are you sure?" Madison questioned skeptically. I nodded my head in answer not quite knowing if it would actually be fine but hoping and reassuring myself more than my friends.  

By now we were outside the arena and descending the steps to the road. "I hope you've had a nice evening. I have no doubt the lads will be in contact!" Paul winked at us. He led us to a black range rover parked by the side of the road and opened the back door for us to enter. Jenna clambered in first, followed by Madison and then myself. The leather interior smelt somehow fresh and although it was a sickly scent, I liked it. The seats were plush and yielding. I though of how I was in the car that One Direction used on a regular basis. My face erupted in to a grin. 

Paul pointed to the man seated at the wheel of this very beautiful car "This is John, the driver," he smiled, "Take these lovely young ladies wherever they want to go, got it?"

"Yes sir, Paul sir!" John saluted in a joking manor. I liked John already. Hell, I liked everyone I had met tonight! A small voice from the depth of my brain shouted "Except Jodie and Kimmy!". Yes, except those two. I hadn't expected to meet them here of all places but then again I never expected to meet the band either. Jodie will be green with envy when she knows how I spent the remainder of my night. Although this thought pleased me greatly, I also felt a little upset with myself that I had had that thought... It was not something I wished to dwell on. So I didn't.