Stay: The sequel to Lost

Part 18

The summer started and the Tour started. They went all over Europe and America, just so Liam could sing one song a night and he loved every second. He loved being just "Liam." He was living his dream. Penny followed him from show to show and party to party. Being with Liam was what she wanted and she loved watching him, being with him.

She also met all of the famous people of the day backstage at these events. She loved to watch them, she what there were like in real life. A few, who weren't even people she thought of as being famous were horrible, snotty and demanding. Some were perfectly nice and you'd never even think of them as anything but nice. Some people who looked pretty in pictures were not pretty in real life. Each night she learned something new and shared it with Liam as they lay in bed in the hotels. "Lee, you'd die. She is NOT pretty. Like, without the makeup? She's a nightmare. And I found out why she wears that hat. Her hair is gone. She shaved it off the other night? I guess she was super high on something and thought her hair was on fire. They haven't had a chance to get a good wig, so she's wearing the hat to cover the bad one!"

"Welcome to the world of fame, Pen. You like it?" he laughed.

Penny thought. "Well," she said, after a while, "I like seeing the real side of it? All this moving hotels? And trying to keep track of clean underwear? It is exhausting."

Liam nodded. "You know, that's is part of Jamie's job. You could like her worry about getting clothes cleaned."

Penny gawked. "Never."

"Pen, she doesn't hate you and she's not in love with me."

Penny rolled over, looking away from him. Liam wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back into him. "Seriously, Pen." He said.

"I don't want to talk about it." She turned her body and kissed him. "It's not important. This buzz I have from too much wine is important. If I am going to have a hangover tomorrow, I want it to be worth it."

Liam laughed and pushed her onto her back. "I think I can help you with that." They came together, loving each other, a feeling Penny never wanted to lose.

"Penny!" Liam called. "Come here!" Penny looked over. Liam was standing with a dark haired young man, talking animatedly. She walked over and smiled. "Penny!" he said, again, putting an arm around her, "This is Niall! Niall has joined the tour!"

Penny's mouth fell open. It WAS Niall. Niall Horan. One of Liam's Bandmates. Another member of One Direction, the band that made him famous. She had been a fan of the band and so far, the only member she had met was Louis and they had not gotten along. She stuck out her hand. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Horan. Niall. I mean Niall."

Niall had an easy smile and kind blue eyes. He shook her hand. "Hi, Penny. Liam has told me a lot about you. Louis, too."

"Don't listen to Louis." She said.

Niall laughed. "He told me you'd say that."

After the show, Liam and Niall decided to go out to a bar and grab a "few pints' as Niall said. When Liam left to get another round, Niall said, "Alone. Finally."

Penny was startled. "What?"

"Nothing. I've been talking to Lou. Liam is drinking again? You shouldn't let him drink, Penny. It's not good. It's going to lead to a bad place." Niall said. "It is one of the reasons we took a break. It was killing Liam. Harry was exhausted. Louis was miserable. I wasn't in a good place, either, but Liam. You've seen the pictures? Those last months? It was bad, Penny. It was bad."

Now Penny was scared. "What do you mean, it was bad?"

"This drinking is going to lead to other things, if it hasn't already. Liam on drugs, hard drugs, isn't pretty. And he would black out. Do things he wouldn't remember and couldn't control. He will become a different person, always drinking. Man, I think for a month straight, after we decided we were done? I never saw him without a drink in his hand. Watch him, Penny. Watch him." Niall looked up and smiled. Liam was back. "Thanks, Liam." he said, taking his beer.

Liam slid into the seat, next to Penny. "So, did he tell you about the good old days?"

Niall laughed and winked at Penny.

Penny looked down, scared out of her mind. "Uh, ya. The good old days."

Liam gave her a squeeze and laughed.