Just Friends

Chapter 21

I ran off stage after the performance, adrenaline coursing through my veins like wildfire. I had two hours before dinner with Niall and I had to look my best.
I quickly jumped into the makeshift shower they had installed in one of the bathrooms. I washed off all the sweat that had formed from the performance and lathered up my hair with some of the shampoo they had provided. It smelt like cinnamon and apples and made my scalp tingly.
When I finally got out, I had only an hour left. I combed out the tangles in my hair and dried it with my blow dryer. Today, it dried into soft waves. I smiled slightly, pleased with the outcome. It hardly ever looked this good.

I wrapped myself in my towel and rushed back to our dressing room where my outfit was hanging.
"Holy shit, your hair looks great." Alex complimented.
"Thanks. Thank God it wasn't difficult today."
"Here, get dressed and I'll help you with your makeup." She said, getting up and going over to gather up her beauty tools.

I went and dropped my towel on the floor and put the extra underwear I brought on, shimmied into the tight red dress, and then slipped into my black pumps. Perfect.
"Now, for the final touch." Alex said, motioning for me to sit down at the vanity. Alex always knew how to do the best makeup and I was glad she was in charge of it. I'm shit at makeup.
After what seemed like forever, she was done.

"Okay! What do you think?"
I turned to look at the mirror and was greatly pleased with what I saw. My lips were painted red to match my dress, my eyes framed with perfect lashes, and my lids were decorated with black and gold eyeshadows, and my cheeks had a rose tint to them.
"Alex, it's beautiful! Thank you."
"You're welcome. Now, get your ass out of here. Niall is probably waiting on you." She said.
I nodded in agreement, I stood to straighten my dress one last time and went to meet Niall.

He was pacing at the end of the hallway, one hand in his pocket and the other running through his hair. He had on black skinny jeans, white converse, and a button down shirt. He looked fantastic.

"Hey Niall."
His head shot up when he heard my voice, his blue eyes meeting mine directly.
"Megan, you look beautiful."
I smiled, blush spreading across my cheeks.
"Thank you. You look good to."
He smiled shyly, then held his hand out to mine. I took it without hesitation.
"Let's go eat."

------------------------------------------

"You're joking!"
"No! They seriously did that." Niall laughed.
"But tampons? Oh my gosh." I giggled.
Niall and I had been sharing stories all night at dinner. There was no awkward silence or tense moods and I was more than happy about that. I was having a great time.
"So tell me a little about yourself, Megan."
"Well, what do you want to know?"
He pondered my question for a whole until he spoke again.
"Let's start with the basics. Favorite color?"
"Blue."
"Favorite food?"
"Italian."
"Favorite band."
"One Direction." I giggled.
"Ha ha. Very funny. Last book you read?"
"Uh, Fifty Shades Of Grey."
"Interesting choice of literature." He laughed. "Favorite movie?"
"Perks of Being A Wallflower."
"Okay. I'll try and remember that." He said with a wink, making me smile.
"Can I ask one more?"
"Sure. What is it?"
"Well, remember when we had breakfast that one morning?"
I thought back a few days ago until the memory came back to me.
"Oh right! Yeah I remember."
"Yeah and I asked about your Dad. You said you would tell me later and I was just curious so-"

I took a deep breath and forced a little smile out. I didn't necessarily like talking about my father so whenever I had to it was unpleasant.
"Um, he left my mother and I. That's all. I just don't like talking much about it." I said. I only gave him a small part of the story for the sake of the date. I didn't want to make this awkward with all the dirty details.
"Alright. I'm sorry I asked. But thank you for trusting me." He smiled, breaking the slightly tense mood.
"Well, it's really late and we have to get up early to move to the next city so we better get going." Niall stood up and offered me his hand like he did on our way here. He paid for our meal and we walked hand in hand back to the car.

Paparazzi swarmed, light bulbs flashing everywhere, blinding us. There was no doubt this would be on the fronts of magazines first thing in the morning, but I didn't care. I actually liked Niall.
Niall opened the door for me and helped me inside the car. The paparazzi yelling at him to turn this way and that way for a picture and shouting an insane amount of questions at him.
"Sorry about that. They can be really out of hand." He apologized once he climbed in the car himself.
"Don't worry about it."

We rode back in silence, but our hands stayed interlocked between us. I smiled slightly as I looked down at them. His thumb rubbed softly over my skin, soothing me.
All too soon, we pulled up to the front of the hotel, ending our silent little serenity.
He jumped out and quickly came around to open my door.
"M'lady."

I smiled and slipped out of the car. He grabbed my hand once again, leading me into the lobby.

A small amount of fans gathered around us, asking Niall for pictures. A few saying "aw" collectively as they saw our hands linked together, the rest either ignoring it or grimacing.

We finally made it up to our floor after countless photos. Niall walked me to my room, pausing at my door.
"I had a lovely time, Megan."
"I did to. We have to do it again sometime."
He smiled and nodded.
"Well, goodnight. I'll see you tomorrow." He said. He leaned in to peck me on the cheek and then headed down the hallway to his room.

I smiled as I opened my door and made my way inside, kicking off my heels.
As I places my things on the table, I heard my tv in my bedroom on.

"Alex? Lola?" They were probably waiting up on me.
I made my way over to the bedroom and opened my door. It wasn't Alex or Lola.
"So how did it go?"

It was Zayn.

(So who likes Megan with Niall? Or do you still like Megan and Zayn? Hmm.... Leave a comment and don't forget to vote! Thank you so much for reading!) -Jenny