A mixture of panic and excitement bubbled up inside as I shifted in the comfortable passenger seat of Joy's cherry-red Saturn.
"Chill out," Joy laughed as she noticed that I was trying to calm myself by playing a drum solo on her dashboard.
"I can't." I sighed.
"Yes, you can." she glared at me momentarily, causing me to cut off my drum solo.
"Listen to some music." she said and clicked on her iPod dock.
What Makes You Beautiful blasted through the speakers.
"Sorry," she half-frowned, moving her hand toward the off switch.
"It's fine. Leave it on." I said.
As paranoid as I was about One Direction, listening to their music really comforted me and put me in a much better mood.
I was singing along to Up All Night when we finally reached the nicely-furnished apartment.
"Oh gosh." I whispered.
"No one can resist your charm, don't worry." Joy grinned.
I rolled my eyes and tugged on my tan ruffled blouse as I stepped out of the car an slowly made my way to the door, Joy following behind me.
I was about to knock when the door popped open and Liam appeared.
"Hello!" he smiled and gave a friendly wave.
"Hi," I smiled shyly.
"Louis, stop tickling me there!"
"Sorry, that's just-" Liam started.
"Hello!" Harry beamed, racing up behind Liam.
"Come on in." Liam said an the two stepped aside.
I walked inside, with Joy shadowing my every footstep.
"Just make a right at the end of this hallway." Liam said.
I did as he said and walked in upon a large, open room.
Tall windows lined the walls, letting in all the sunlight.
Harry ran ahead and jumped onto the couch that sat in the middle of the room.
"I saved you a spot right here." Harry patted the seat next to him and gave me a flirty grin.
I looked at Joy who, at age 25, was eight years older than me and much like an older sister.
She raised her eyebrows but said nothing.
I laughed and sat down next to the curly haired boy.
"Now, Alex, you can either go to lunch with me and their manager," Joy offered.
"Or you can chill with us here." Harry chimed in.
"Um…" I thought out loud.
"You should stay here." Harry grinned again.
"Maybe it'll give you a chance to get to know everyone." Joy added.
"Ok," I shrugged my shoulders.
"So," Harry said, trying to inch his arm around my shoulder.
"So," I stood up before Harry could get too comfortable. "Where's your bathroom?"
"Go down this hallway and make a left two doors down." Liam pointed.
"Great, thanks." I smiled and followed his directions.
I went into the bathroom and closed the door.
I smoothed my shoulder length brown ringlets and put on a bit more of my vanilla cupcake chapstick.
The lime green cardigan that I wore over my blouse fell down my back, overlapping with my dark wash skinny jeans.
I opened the door and took a step out, but then collided with someone.
"Sorry," we said in unison.
I laughed and stared at the blonde haired boy who stood there grinning at me.
"Go ahead." I smiled, my shyness returning.
"No, ladies first." he smiled back.
I faked a curtsy and walked back into the room where Harry and Liam sat.
"See you've met Niall." Liam said.
I nodded and sat down on the empty couch closest to the windows.
Niall sat down in my old seat, next to Harry.
"Do we have company?" a voice sang in the hallway.
Louis bounded into the room and somehow managed to squish himself in between Niall and Harry.
"You must be Alex." Louis grinned.
"Yeah, that's me." I laughed.
"So, have they scared you off yet?" he asked, raising his eyebrows in Harry's direction.
"Not completely." I smiled.
"Hey, where's.." Niall started.
"Zayn?" Harry finished.
I stifled back a giggle at how in tune they were with each other.
"Not sure." Louis said. "I think he's visiting a friend in San Diego."
"So, do you want something to eat?" Liam asked.
"What do you have?" I inquired.
"Food." Niall grinned.
I raised my eyebrows. "Really? I never would have guessed." I grinned.
He smiled back and got up off the couch. "We could just order a pizza or something." he suggested.
Everyone seemed to like that idea so they called up a place nearby and placed an order.
"So, where are you from?" Harry asked.
"Baltimore." I answered.
They all nodded there heads but I knew they'd probably never heard of it.
"It's this city in Maryland, by the harbor. I love it." I smile, wondering when I'd get to visit again.
"Oh, isn't there a football team from there? The Baltimore.."
"Ravens." I say, finishing Liam's sentence.
"Right." he nodded.
Just then the doorbell rang and Niall jumped up. As soon as he got up Louis lay down on the couch and rested his feet on Harry's lap.
I half-smiled but kept my mouth shut.
Niall walked back in with two boxes of pizza.
He sort of looked at Louis for a few seconds and then shook his head and sat down next to me.
"Um," I said, pushing a piece of hair behind my ear, "Don't we need plates?"
Niall and Louis were already picking up pieces of pizza but turned to look at me before taking a bite.
"Plates are for wimps." Harry said, dead serious.
I laughed and picked up a piece of pizza and ate in less than a minute.
Everyone sort of stared at me as I reached for another piece of pizza. "I didn't have any breakfast," I giggled.
As I finished my second piece of pizza my phone went off.
I pulled the green-covered iPhone4 out of my pocket and looked at the caller id.
"Do you mind if I take this?" I ask hesitantly.
Liam, Niall, and Louis shook their heads but before I could press the answer button Harry jumped off the couch and grabbed it out of my hand.
"Hello?" he answered.
"Oh gosh," I buried my face in my hands and laughed.
"She's eating pizza." Harry said calmly.
I sat, silent, trying my best to give Harry a threatening stare.
He just grinned and continued to talk on my phone.
"So, who are you?" he asked.
"But she's my best friend." Harry said coolly.
He pretended to look upset and handed my phone over. "We're not best friends anymore." he said.
"I'm heartbroken," I said, grinning.
"Hey," I said into the phone.
"Was that..?" my other best friend, Lindsey asked, still in awe.
"Yes," I laughed. "Apparently we're not best friends anymore, even though I just met him about thirty minutes ago." I grinned.
"What's going on? Are you hanging out with One Direction?" she asked excitedly.
"Well, we're just eating pizza. So, yes." I said, laughing at how stupid I sounded.
"Well, I called because Ashley texted me saying that you might be going on tour with One Direction." she said.
"That's what we're all hoping for." I sigh and smile.
"So, you're still in L.A.?" she asks.
"Yes, when are you planning on visiting?" I ask her as I grab a third slice.
"Soon. Especially if you're going to be all buddy-buddy with One Direction." she says, and I can tell she's grinning.
"Good." I grin.
"Well, I guess I'll let you get back to pizza with your new best friends." she said.
"Gee, thanks. I'll text you later." I tell her.
"K, bye." she says, and we both hang up.
"She seemed surprised you were with us." Harry commented after I hung up.
"She probably was." I shrug my shoulders.
My text ringtone, One Thing, starts going off and everyone turns to me and grins.
"Surprised I'm a fan?" I say, but no one answers, they just grin and laugh.
"Who is it?" Niall asks, leaning over my shoulder.
"Lindsey." I scrunch up my eyebrows. "She's flying down this Friday." I break out into a grin.
"We should all go out to dinner." Louis suggests.
"That sounds fun." I nod thoughtfully.
"Do you mind if I invite one more person?" I ask them.
"A boyfriend?" Niall asks, smirking.
"No, my other best friend, Ashley." I smile and blush a little bit.
"So, I'm the third best friend, am I?" Harry scoffs.
"Actually fourth. Brianna, Ashley, and Lindsey, my three best friends." I giggle.
He narrows his eyes and shakes his head.
I hold in a laugh and roll my eyes.
After another twenty minutes of laughter and stupid jokes, Joy's back, ready to take me to a photo shoot or interview or something.
I exchange numbers with everyone, smile and wave, and leave with confidence I definitely didn't have when I got there.