"Hey! How was your shower?"
"Very nice, thanks."
"Yep. It's great to see you like this again. I thought that we would never have another night together again."
"Me too. Let's not waste our time then, what are we watching?"
"I was thinking Megamind."
"PERFECT!" I said, grabbing a piece of pizza. He smiled and pressed play and grabbed a slice himself. We laughed along to the movie together, occasionally quoting it out loud, making us laugh even more. Once my hair had dried more, I laid on his lap so he could play with my hair, more like just run his fingers through it. When the movie ended, he just turned his music on shuffle quietly and continued running his fingers through my hair.
I tried to look at everything in the room except him, which was difficult when he was looking down at me. My stomach began hurting due to how many butterflies I had, and he was just playing with my hair. I loved this, I loved being here with him and being able to do this. I loved absolutely everything about Niall, and I couldn't stand the fact that I was going to hurt him again. I couldn't do it, but I also couldn't watch Preston hurt him. I had to keep him safe, I couldn't let him know how I felt about him tonight, because that would only make tomorrow hurt even more. I considered changing my tactics, having Paul on my constant guard, but I couldn't. I needed to deal with this myself. I got myself into this mess and I had to get myself out.
"Spencer?"
"Hmm?..." I looked up at him and immediately got lost in his eyes.
"Did you really mean what you said on the bus today?... That I make you happy?" Great. I didn't plan on that coming up.
"Of course you make me happy Niall." I would regret that tomorrow.
"You make me really happy Spencer. Actually, I've been... um, never mind." I sat up and faced him directly.
"What? What were you going to say?" I saw his eyes sparkle, and then his eyelids fluttered slightly as he neared himself to me. I didn't back up, I scooted closer. My heart was racing like an Olympic runner aiming for the gold, and I didn't want to stop. My legs were across his lap and his right arm was around my waist while his left hand was on my neck. His eyes never left mine, and I felt myself wanting to kiss him more and more as each second passed. Our foreheads touched, then our noses. I could feel his breath against my own and I could feel myself closing my eyes. He turned his head to kiss my cheek, then my jaw, then my neck. I reached one hand up to meet his cheek, to pull his face back to mine. He opened his eyes slightly and began pulling me closer. Our lips hovered over each others, just feeling the electricity between us. As I was about to removed the space between us, someone knocked on the door, pulling us away from each other. He gulped and stood up.
"I'll get it, you hide, it might be your brother." The door opened so I quickly jolted to Niall's room and hid behind the door.
"Niall, where is Spencer? I need her right now." It was Gemma. I walked out and faced her, standing next to Niall.
"Gemma? What is going on?" She looked at Niall and then back at me, concern filling her eyes.
"Would you come in the hall with me for just a moment please?" I nodded and looked at Niall who ushered me towards her.
"I'll be right back, okay?"
"Yeah."
She pulled me into the hall and closed the door to Niall's room. She continued to pull me further down the corridor until we were at the end of the hall at the big window.
"Gemma, what is going on?"
"Look." She handed me my phone, lit up with a massive message from Preston.
Preston: I know exactly what hotel you are staying in, I know exactly what room you are staying in and I know that since Gemma answered your phone, that you must be with Niall. Here's the thing babe, I am not mad, I've cheated plenty of times, and maybe that is what our relationship is about, but no matter, he is dead meat tomorrow. I promise you that if you don't kiss me in front of him tomorrow, he will end up with a black and blue face. So, either you break his heart, or I break his face. It's up to you. See you tomorrow.
I looked up at Gemma who was crying now. My heart had gone from feeling like an entire zoo had exploded inside to feeling full of blackness and sorrow.
"Spencer, please just come back to our apartment tonight, make it less difficult on yourself and Niall. Please, we both know what you have to do tomorrow. I can't tell Ashton because I don't want to drag him into everything as well, you know? And now he is laying alone in our bed waiting for me. Please either come back or sleep with Liam or anything, just don't do anything stupid with Niall."
"Gemma... I"
"You didn't..."
"Not exactly, you kind of knocked when we were about to kiss... but... Liam is rooming with Zayn tonight. And the rooms are connected, and when I stay over with Liam, he likes to stay up to talk and we both know how tired Zayn is. And you and Ashton need time together. I'll just lay off and keep my distance with Niall, or at least try not to kiss him."
"That might be a good idea."
"Yeah, Gemma I am so sorry, what did he say on the phone?"
"I wasn't looking at it, I just pushed answer and said hello and then I heard him say 'Gemma? Where is Spence?' and I just hung up. I kind of freaked Ashton out a little bit. Anyways, be careful. Take your phone, put it on silent."
"Yeah, definitely. I am so sorry again." I leaned forward and hugged her. When we pulled away, her said/worried face shifted into a really big grin. "What is it?" She was absolutely glowing.
"Ashton... he finally said it. He said 'I'm in love with you Gemma, so in love.' And that's the other reason I am here because I think I forgot how to breathe!" We giggled together and hugged more.
"Hopefully you didn't forget how to kiss! Get back in there!"
"Don't tell Harry! Don't tell anyone!"
"I promise, it's our secret, now go!" She turned and I gave her a smack on the butt before she pretty much leaped back to our room. I smiled to myself, knowing exactly how much Gemma loved Ashton. I saw a door open down the hall and knew that it was Liam's room, so I ran as quickly as possible back into Niall's room and locked the door.
"Everything alright?" he asked, handing me a cup of tea.
"Yes, everything is fine. Just... it's nothing. Anyways, um, I am exhausted." I said, walking to the kitchen to sit at the bar. He followed me and stood across from me at the counter.
"Okay, well, you can sleep on the couch or you can sleep with me... I mean, there is always the bathtub but I personally find my bed the comfiest." I smiled, snickering at his humor, and then sipped at my tea.
"Um, the couch is fine for me tonight."
"Oh, um, okay. I will go get you a pillow and blanket." He set his tea down and left me alone in the kitchen. I already felt awful.
