how fast the night changes

Chapter 1🖤

*Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy!🖤*
*Circa 2014*

Raindrops are beating down on my car windshield as I'm driving to work. It's my first day working as a nurse. Butterflies are whirling round my stomach like crazy. I haven't felt this nervous since my first kiss in school, which happened to be with the one and only Liam Payne. Right on cue, the news on the radio transitions into 'Night Changes' by 1D. It's their new single, and I have to admit - it's bomb. It's been a while since I've seen Liam. We were best friends for years. I supported him the whole time he was on X-Factor. Cheered him and the boys on the whole time. But we drifted shortly after their time on the talent show. It wasn't anyone's fault, it's just that it's hard to keep relationships when you get struck with fame like he did. And I got left behind. Which is fine. I'm happy for Liam. Really, I am.

To no surprise of mine, I knew all the words to the song. Suddenly I felt a trickle of water running down my cheek. Ugh I'm so stupid. It's been years since I last saw Liam and the boys. It's not that i fancy him or anything, God no! Been there, done that! I just missed my best friend. I feel like I hardly know him now. Even though I kind of, sort of stalk them. I'm a directioner. There we go, I said it! Other than Liam, of course, my favourite has to be Niall. I can't help but laugh to myself in the car at my train of thoughts. Today's going to be an interesting day...

After what feels like forever, but also 2 seconds, I'm home after my first day. Not gonna lie, it was stressful. But I enjoyed it - I think. As I'm opening the fridge in my shared apartment, I find myself humming 'Night Changes'. Again, I can't help but laugh. Not sure whether I'm laughing at how catchy the song is, or how much our lives have changed. After just standing their a moment, I grab a vegetarian ready meal and stick it in the microwave. As a student, and now a graduate, I always seem to chose convenience over anything else.

The next thing I know - I'm sitting on the sofa eating my dinner, when I get an Instagram notification. But this isn't any regular notification. This one is special. It's from Liam. Today is just coincidence after coincidence. I click on the pop up. Shit. It's a DM. For some reason, the blue tick makes me nervous, though I know it is the same Liam. I hesitantly click on the message. It reads 'Hey Liv, how's tricks? I'm sorry it's been so long, things have been crazy. We're actually playing a show at Arena Birmingham, which I hear you still live near? It's next Saturday, short notice I know. Obvs you would have a backstage pass and I'd pay for everything. I miss you. X'.

Wow. I'm not even sure what to say. Deciding I need a drink (of the alcoholic type), I head to the kitchen. I go for a small glass of white wine, I know I'm a nurse and I should be healthy and blah blah blah. But it's been a stressful day, okay! 'Okay, relax Olivia, just breath!' I think to myself. My fingers find their way to my phone to type a message back. Before I can really even think about it, the message has gone. Then I wonder, will he even see the message? I mean, I'm sure he gets literally millions of DMs of crazy stalker-fans. The message I sent him says 'Oh, hi. Yeah it's been a while! I'd love to Li, are you sure? Missed u too. X'. Once again, a thousand butterflies whirl round my stomach. He hasn't spoken to me for years. The last time we messaged was when I congratulated him on their second album and he simply replied with a thanks. Actually, Louis has even messaged since then when he needed help getting a girl! During the time when 1D were on X-Factor, I became quite close with the boys, but we soon drifted. I wasn't sure they even remember me. But apparently Liam does. And I'm sure the others soon will when I'm backstage at their show.

The hands on the clock now point to 8 o clock and right on time, my roommate Chris enters. "Hey babe!" He exclaims, making his presence known. We did our nursing course together at uni and now we both work at the children's hospital together. However we work on different wards at different times, so we rarely see each other. He managed to figure out that something was off with me, though I guess it wasn't hard as I was drinking on a work night. After not very long, I told him the whole story. I told him all about the weird coincidences and then Liam's DM. "Oh my God!" Chris yelled. He then continued to beg me to take him to the concert as he was a huge fan. In the end, I told him I would ask Liam. Which I did. At exactly the same time as I grabbed my phone to message Liam, I got a notification. A DM from him. 'Of course I'm sure, can't wait. You could always bring a mate if u wanted? X' the message read. Wow, yet again another strange coincidence. On telling Chris the good news he showered me in hugs and kisses and we goofed around. After a few moments, Chris let out a gasp.
"What?" I asked.
"What am I going to wear! I need to look good for Harry." He said with a smirk.
"Oh Christ, you're not gonna be hitting on him the whole time are you?"
"I'm making no promises babe!"