Count the stars - 1D HS LT

Butterflies

I had been stuck in the interview until well after lunch time. My head was swimming and now sitting in Hannah's office with her blabbing on about how I can do all these things to improve my profile I started to long for the comfort of my apartment.
"Paige are you even listening?" She asks. I look up. I had my head in my hands. She's stood with her hands on her hips. Her brown eyes, behind glasses, focused on me. She wore a blue power suit with a white shirt underneath.
She walked around from behind her desk and instead perched on the edge of it right in front of me. I saw her shoes now - Black louboutin's and when she crossed her legs I could see the signature red bottoms.
"Yeah Hannah. It's just been a long day." I sigh rubbing at my temples once more.
"Okay. Go home. Chill out. See Louis." She playfully hits my arm. "Go out for dinner or something together." I roll my eyes. I didn't have the heart to tell her that Louis and I weren't currently speaking. I wouldn't even dream of mentioning Harry. Knowing that would make her voice go high pitch and excited and she would tell me how that would really get me noticed. I don't want to be noticed - I just want to be a behind the scenes writer and watch my work come to life. I don't want to be a performer on a stage.
"Go on. Get! And if someone happens to take your photo well it doesn't really matter does it." She says with a grin. I stand up and she ushers me out of her office. My phone vibrates in my bag.
Woke up and you weren't here. When will you be back? Lana xx
Oh yeah. In my haste to leave that morning I forgot to leave a note.
Sorry. Had an early interview. Heading back now. Will bring food! See you soon. Xx
I quickly hit send and head out into the street in search of a fast food outlet.

London was now bursting with life. There were people everywhere. People shopping, commuters and tourists. Sometimes when I'm not busy I will sit and watch people move past like little ants however today I am going to be sucked in to the city life.
I start moving with the crowd and I become very stressed very quickly. I hate central London. Every time I do this i always end up cursing and telling myself I will never do it again.

I see the familiar sign of my favourite fast food outlet and head inside. It's actually not as busy as I thought. Only a small queue. Some girls sat on a table to the right of the door smile at me. I smile back politely.
I head to the counter and order. Making sure I order enough for Niall, Lana and myself. Not Louis though. I push the thought aside. The girls on the table keep glancing my way while a wait to the side for my order to be called.
"You're Paige Sanderson aren't you?" A man is stood in front of me. He looks about Niall's age.
"Yeah." I say.
"I'm Brody Taylor." He extends his hand to me and I shake it. "I'm a big fan. You're the main reason I got into writing." I blink shocked.
"Oh. Wow. That's so nice to hear. What do you write? Anything I would have read?" I say politely.
"Probably not yet. Just some short stories here and there. I mostly write songs." He says.
"Oh amazing! Song writing is so good. If I had never written songs I probably wouldn't be able to be stood talking to you right now." He grins at me.
"It's hard though. Trying to get stuff noticed." He shrugs.
"Just keep at it. It will happen!" I say. He nods and then blushes.
"This might sound stupid but can I have a picture with you? And if you could sign this I would really appreciate it." He gets out a well used journal.
"I have so many of these!" I say. "I literally write every idea I ever have into a journal." He laughs.
"That's mostly why I do it." He says blushing again.
He pulls out his phone and takes a quick photo. Then I sign his journal.
Brody, Keep doing what you love and your dreams will come true - Paige x
I hand it back to him.
"How embarrassing to be caught by a fan in here though." I laugh. "But a girls gotta eat."
"She sure does! Thank you so much. You've been so kind." He says and then heads off to a table.
"Is it possible to have a picture too." The girls from the table have come over to me.
"Of course." I say and pose with them. I notice one of them has a 'Walls' hoodie on. "Good choice," I say pointing at her. She blushes and giggles.
"We think you're better with Louis than Harry." She quickly says. Her friends stare at her in disbelief. I laugh.
"Oh do you now!" She nods. "Unfortunately we are just really good friends." I say and I crinkle my nose at her.
"NUMBER 28!" The counter calls.
"Ooh! That's me! Sorry ladies." I say and move towards the counter to grab my food. They are all looking at each other in disbelief knowing full well that 28 is Louis' lucky number. I smile to myself because when the server gave me that number I thought exactly the same thing.
"Nice to meet you all." I say as I head towards the door.

With my food now safely secured I debate whether to get a taxi or a train. Someone barges past me slightly and I decide a taxi is way better. Get me out of here.
I head to the curb and hail a taxi and one approaches me straight away. I climb in the back and tell the driver my address.
He pulls away and I start to relax slightly. I think of the comfort of my apartment and having a nice evening with my friends. Not Louis though. My head reminds me again.
I pull out my phone from my bag. I pull up Louis number debating whether to just call him. Instead I settle on a message.
Are you okay? Haven't heard from you in almost a day. Xx. I tap send.
I stare at it. No typing back. I sigh and shove it back into the bag.
The taxi ride was short and before long I was back at my front door. I handed over the money to the driver and even gave him a bit extra for the food smell I left behind.
I open the door to the building and head up the stairs. I reach my door and open it slowly.

Niall and Lana are cuddle up on the sofa. Her legs are over his and he has his arm around her. They both look up when I enter.
"Hey guys." I say smiling.
"Hi Paige." Niall says not moving.
"We're watching Blair Witch." Lana says. She's half hiding under Niall's arm.
"Oooh I love this movie. Here's the food." I hand over the bag before jumping onto the bean bag. I had pushed it so my back was against the sofa giving me perfect viewing to the tv mounted on the wall.
Lana handed me my food and I allowed my mind to become numb to the movie. About 15 minutes in with his belly full of food Niall fell asleep.
I looked over at Lana who was snuggled into Niall's chest. She smiles at me.
I point to them.
"This a thing now?" I say. Her smile becomes bigger.
"Who knows." She says. "How was your day anyway?"
"Yeah not too bad." I say keeping the truth about my morning to myself. I fiddle with the necklace still around my neck.
"Have you heard from Louis?" I shake my head.
"No... it's weird but I actually miss him." She laughs.
"That's not weird at all Paige."
My phone vibrates in my bag next to me. I search through my bag and grab it quickly hoping that it was Louis.
Lunch tomorrow? - H
Lana eyes me suspiciously.
"My manager." I say guiltily.
Yes. I know a great place. We can eat outside if nice.  It's called Artichoke. See you there at 1pm? - P.
H is typing...
Sounds perfect! - H
I smile down at my phone. I look over at Lana who now has her eyes shut. She looks happy and this makes me happy too. I then close my eyes.

I wake suddenly. I'm somehow in my bed. I fell asleep on the bean bag so this was strange. Maybe i sleep walked to my bed? I feel someone next to me I assume it's Lana but when I roll over I realise it's actually Louis. My heart skips a beat. He looks so comfortable. He's in a grey jumper which has black, red and white stripes down the arms clearly dressed for the cooler day. He has his left hand underneath his head. He's smiling slightly. I mirror him placing my hand under my head to study the rest of him. He has his black skinny jeans on again and i think for a second that he's left his shoes on but instead I can just see them on the floor at the bottom of the bed. His favourite white Adidas'. I look back up to his face. He has long eyelashes. I've never noticed before. They move slightly and then his eyes slowly open. Those ocean blue eyes sparkling at me again. My heart skips a beat. He smiles and stretches.
"Hi." He says and it turns into a yawn. He brings his arm back down and rests it on my hip. "I hope you don't mind me carrying you to bed darling. You looked uncomfortable on that bean bag."
I try to make an angry face at him but it makes him smile instead. I frown at him.
"Why have you ignored me?" I ask.
"I'm sorry luv. I just thought that you didn't want me round anymore, do you know what I mean." He puts his lips together making an almost i dunno face.
"Don't be fucking stupid." I say as I rock my body so that it moves him slightly. "I always need you."
He smiles. Then moves his hand up to my face. He brushes a strand of hair out of my eyes and tucks it behind my ear. My stomach is alive with butterflies and everything about this moment is telling me to go for it. To lie here and take in every single second with him. To enjoy everything about him. I'm reminded of the longing that I've had for him in the last day of him not talking to me. Then he kisses me. Long and slow. I get lost in that kiss and suddenly everything makes perfect sense. I have feelings for Louis. Strong feelings.

I place my hand on the back of his head running my fingers through his hair I then pull myself closer to him and I give in to the butterflies.