Behind the Scenes

Run

I tried to shield my eyes from the blinding flashes but they just kept going off. I felt someone grab my hand and I was pulled through the crowd into the street. Whoever had my hand pulled me down the street and we began sprinting away from the mob of reporters who were yelling out things like, “One Direction! Can we have a statement?”

We turned a corner and kept running for a solid five minutes until we were sure we’d lost them. I stopped to catch my breath and saw it was Zayn who had pulled me out of the hoard of people.

He was out of breath as well and was leaning over, hands on thighs and hunched over trying breath steadily again.

After a couple of minutes, my breath was back, “Did the others get out too?” I questioned, hoping he’d seen.

“I don’t know, I just grabbed the arm closest to me and ran as fast as I could!” Zayn said with a worried expression.

“I hope they’re ok; and thanks for saving me back there.” I told him gratefully

“No problem little Hannah.” He said with a chuckle.

“I’m not little!” I protested

“Your like 5’4’’ and weigh like 115 pounds; your tiny.” He said with another laugh, and I just stuck my tongue out at him.

“We should head back to the flat, did you bring your phone?” he asked

“No, you?” I responded

“Nope, I guess were walking.” He said, “But let’s take the long way so we don’t get caught by any reporters.”

“Deal!” I said and we started to walk; me following Zayn since I had no idea where we were going.

While we walked, we talked and I got to know Zayn a lot better than I had before. I split my Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups with him as he told me about his family and how he was close to his little sister. I told him about my family as well, and when I told him my parents weren’t around much, he gave me a big hug.

“So, why don’t you have a girlfriend Zayn?” I asked

“I dunno, just haven’t found the right girl I guess.” He mumbled

“Come on, nobody has caught your eye?” I asked doubtfully. There were millions of girls in love with him and none caught his eye? Ya right.

“Well, there is one girl I kind of have a thing for but it’s nothing serious.” He told me and it was clear he didn’t want to talk about it so I didn’t press any further.

“How about you and Niall? Everything good there?” he questioned

“Ya, it is actually. I really love him; I’m super lucky.” I said smiling as I thought about Niall.

“I can see that,” he said laughing, probably at my expression, “And he really loves you too you know. He’s never acted like this about a girl before; all lovey-dovey and all.”

“I hope so, it’s just that I am always afraid he’s going to wake up one morning and find someone better than me or realise he’s way out of my league and leave.” I say quietly; I’d never told anyone that before.

Zayn stopped in his tracks and I stopped too, unsure as to why.

“Hannah, that’s not happening, you know that right? That boy is crazy about you. Whenever you’re not around, you’re all he talks about. That month when you were back in Canada and we were touring? He didn’t shut up once about how much he missed you; it was quite annoying actually. But it proved that he’s so in love with you.” Zayn told me seriously and I felt my face perk up.

“Really?” I asked hopefully.

Zayn laughed before replying, “yes, really. He’s actually said the same thing about you; that he’s afraid you’ll find someone better than him and leave with we all smack him for because we know you two are perfect for each other.”

I was smiling the entire time he told me this. By now, we were almost at the flat again, so for the rest of the walk, we goofed off and just joked around. I was actually glad we’d had the time to talk as I knew Zayn so much better now and felt closer to him; he was a super nice guy, just slightly more reserved than the other boys.

When we entered Harry and Louis’ door which was apparently the meeting ground, there were cries of relief from all around us. We were immediately hugged and I looked around to see Louis, Danielle, Liam, and Niall in the apartment along with an unhappy looking Paul.

“Where’s harry and Eleanor?” Zayn questioned

“We don’t know, they haven’t come back yet.” Danielle said

“What happened to you guys? Everything got so crazy!” Liam said concerned

“When the cameras started flashing at us, Zayn grabbed my arm and we pushed our way through the crowd and just ran; then took the long way back so we wouldn’t get spotted again.” I explained

“What I’d like to know is why you were out by yourselves in the first place.” Paul said angrily

“We just wanted some candy; it won’t happen again, we weren’t thinking.” Zayn said.

Niall pulled me in for another reassuring hug and I looked over at Louis who was starring intently at the door; clearly waiting for Eleanor.

I went over and gave him a hug which he gratefully accepted and I whispered in his ear, “They’re going to be fine,” before walking back over to Niall.

As we waited for the others to get back, Liam and Danielle sat on a couch together, Zayn sat on the floor, Paul was constantly on his phone, Louis was pacing and Niall and I were sitting like we had previously with him in between my legs, his head resting against my stomach and e playing with his hair.

Ten minutes after Zayn and I had returned, the door flew open and Eleanor and Harry burst in the room. We all leapt up and gave them hugs, relieved they were ok.

“Where were you guys?!” Louis cried, hugging Eleanor like he hadn’t seen her in years.

“Harry and I escaped through the back and had to run for ten minutes before we lost all the reporters and then had to hide from a group of girls before we would get back.” Eleanor explained, “What about you guys?”

“Danielle, Louis and I ran away together and got back first.” Niall said

“I got out through a side door and made it back second.” Liam said

“We ran out the front and came the long way back after a five minute sprint.” Zayn told them.

“Alright, you got lucky this time. Never do that again you guys,” Paul said seriously looking at all of us. “If you go anywhere, get some security to go with you; it’s what we’re here for. Got it?”

We all nodded and he left, on his phone again, telling someone we were all safe.