21 Directions

Chapter Seventeen

 {Emma PoV}

I stumble a bit in my heels, whose straps bit into my ankle, and whip my hands up to find some sort of support. My hands clutch onto the soft cloth of a t-shirt sleeve, and I use it to stand myself upright.

"You alright there?" Niall asks, or at least, that's what I think he asks.

The music pounds, almost shaking the walls with their force, and a sea of people are gathered around us dancing to the music. I lean into Niall to hear him better, and feel his warm breath hit my ear as he repeats his question. I shiver slightly at the brush of air.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I yell back at him to be heard over the lyrics bouncing off the walls.

"Let's go get a drink? And maybe go somewhere quieter?" Niall responded, shouting just as loud.

"Sure!" I answer eagerly.

We walk together, weaving through the mass of bodies swaying, to the table of refreshments. I swear I caught a glimpse of Katy Perry, and nearly bumped into Olly Murs. I almost walk into the table in shock. Almost. The thought that these people can't possibly be that much different from the boys calms my inner fangirl.

Niall charmingly pours me a glass of red wine, and I cringe when he presents it to me.

Niall lets out a suppressed laugh, and asks, "Not a wine kind of girl?"

I chuckle, "I'm not twenty-one yet, so it's not like I could. At least, not with so many people around."

I wink at him, and he grins at that.

"Actually," Niall informs me, "You can drink at seventeen here as long as there is an adult with you. Seeing as I'm a mature, dashing young man-"

I smirk, and cut him off, "I'm not going to, I'd be drunk before midnight being the lightweight drinker I am."

I grab myself a cup, and spoon some sparkling water into it from crystal bowl in the center of the table instead.

I take a sip as he grabs a classy-looking bottle of beer for himself.

Mmmmm, cherry flavored, I mused, taking another sip of my drink, and letting the air bubbles tingle on my tongue.

"Let's head over there, looks less...wild." I suggest, with a look directed at the now jumping crowd, and a finger pointed at the hallway, all the way at the other end of the room.

"Good idea." Niall replies, and gently grabs my arm to stay together as we swerve through the crowd once more.

Just before we enter the hallway, I stop him. I kick off my pumps, and sigh in relief, "Much better!"

"Ok, now that I can walk painlessly, let's continue." I beam at Niall after looping my forefinger through the straps of my shoes.

He chortles, and keeps walking, me right beside him.

The hype of the atmosphere fades as we go further down the hallway. I see a room on my left, and in it, a couch that just looks divine to sit and rest my feet on. I immediately drop my shoes, and take Niall's hand in mine, dragging him into the room.

I plop down on the couch, and kick my feet up onto the cushions, balancing my drink in my hands.

Holy mother of all things soft. This is heaven on earth, I thought to myself.

Niall scoops up my feet, and lets them rest on his lap after he sits.

I giggle, and turn to my side, getting more comfortable, as well as to face Niall. Niall takes a swig of his beer, and lets out a small sigh as the liquid goes down.