Chapter Three:
The next morning MaKayla jumped at the sound of her own alarm. She had stayed up way too late last night. That was the last time she let the boys or Louis and Liam talk her into a movie night. She pulled her extra frizzed hair up in a messy bun and tried to wipe the tiredness from her eyes. She fiddled through her pajama bottoms for her phone. She reminded herself to call her parents later, they must have been worried about her. She took one last look in the mirror before walking out in the living room.
"Good morning sunshine!" exclaimed Louis causing MaKayla to let out a shriek in freight. There sat One Direction on Emma's couch, in their own pajamas.
"Good morning y'all," she yawned stepping over Niall's frame on the floor as she made her way over to the arm chair.
"Sleep well?" asked Louis casually making the other guys groan in agony. Apparently they weren't so fond of Louis in the morning and his chipperness.
"Yes I slept just fine. How about you?" asked MaKayla pulling her knees to her chest.
"Oh I would have slept dandy if Harry would have stopped with the Grudge noises last night," scoffed Louis glaring at Harry through his black rimmed glasses. Harry made the noise again earning himself a face full of pillow from Louis.
"I still don't understand why you didn't jump once. I mean there had to be at least one part you didn't remember," commented Liam perking up from Zyan's shoulder.
"Mate, honestly MaKayla is the hardest person to scare. She doesn't find scary movies even scary. Well except for one," commented Niall raising up on his elbows and winking at MaKayla.
"Niall if you want your 'kiss me I'm Irish' boxers back, you won't go any farther!" MaKayla warned pointing a finger at him.
"You still have those?" exclaimed Niall laughing hysterically.
"Dude you never get rid of your panty raids! They're like undiscovered treasure!" exclaimed MaKayla as Niall fell into another wave of laughter. MaKayla caught sight of the boys' faces. They were beyond confused.
"Alright its story time!" exclaimed Niall sitting up. The boys all perked up watching them both in excitement.
"Niall you start. You probably remember more than I do," said MaKayla sitting up in the arm chair and crossing her legs.
"Where to begin, where to begin," pondered Niall aloud rubbing the bottom of his chin. MaKayla fell into a fit of giggles, covering her face, as her laugh echoed on the walls of the room. The guys laughed with her, she had one contagious laugh.
"Alright I was kidding. Um one fine Friday evening the parentals were gone for a weekend trip, I had myself a little party. Oh what a party it was! People were everywhere! In the basement, backyard, living room, everywhere! Anyways MaKayla over here had never fully experienced an Irish party, so I felt it was in my power to give her one," Niall paused catching MaKayla's eyes before continuing,
"So a little group of us gathered around the fire in the backyard and formed a game called 'Would you Ever Consider'. MaKayla here wasn't very fond of games, so her interest in this one shocked us all, until we realized she had had a couple of drinks. Anyways we decided we were going to trick MaKayla into raiding my brother's underwear drawer," Niall paused again, stealing a look at MaKayla. She bit her lip to suppress a laugh and blushed slightly.
"This part is super embarrassing," she added watching Niall take in a breath.
"Embarrassing it was. So once we told here the challenge, we set her off on her way to Greg's bedroom. We then sat around and waited for her to successfully return. After about twenty minutes, she made no reappearance, so I went looking for her. I walked into my room first, hoping maybe she like fell asleep or something, but she wasn't there. So then I checked my brother's room," Niall stopped as a fit if giggles attacked him. He tried to regain his composure, but it was challenging due to MaKayla's contagious laugh as the memories flooded her mind.
"So you found her, didn't you?" asked Louis wanting to hear the end of the story.
"Oh I found her alright. I walked into Greg's room, which was pitch black and called out her name, she responded so I turned on the light. This is what I found. Not only was she wearing my boxer on top of her head. She was also interrupting my buddy Shane and his girl, who were about to... Well you know what I'm talking about," laughed Niall as MaKayla covered her face and groaned.
"Oh my god! That is too funniest thing I have ever heard!" exclaimed Zayn as the others tried to control their laughter.
"I couldn't look Shane or Bell in the eye for about a week after the party!" said MaKayla catching Niall's eye.
"But I have to give her credit. She did complete the mission. And even with her own touch by wearing her prize on her head," laughed Niall as MaKayla's laugh rang out again.
"Boys! I'm back with donuts! Come and get them!" yelled Emma flinging open the door with a huge box of Crispy creme donuts in hand.
All at once the boys sprang up and made their way to the box, that sat on the kitchen counter. MaKayla yawned and made her way over to the box as well, taking the space by Niall. He reach over Liam's arm for a doughnut and handed it to her. A perfectly original glazed doughnut with chocolate icing and colorful sprinkles. He had done it again, he remembered something she never thought he would.
"That's still your favorite right?" he asked noticing her surprised expression.
"Yeah it's still my favorite," she commented quietly looking up to him.
He smiled to her before turning around and joining the guys on the couch. They sat discussing the interview they were doing today with the popular British YouTube/ website sensation: Sugarscape.
"Remember guys we're trying to make a really good impression on England. No talking about sex, drugs, girl's asses or mammeries, no cats, no swearing, no inappropriate touching, and lastly no one mention MaKayla! She's still a secret and we want to keep her that way. Can you guys handle that?" asked Simon to the boys as MaKayla and Emma picked and straightened their outfits.
"Oh my gosh what are we supposed to talk about then?" exclaimed Harry throwing his arms up in frustration, knocking the bottle of hairspray out of Emma's hand. He apologized and let her return to whatever she was doing.
"Talk about things you think would capture my interest," MaKayla spoke fixing Liam's shirt.
"Can you be more specific?" asked Louis watching MaKayla in the mirror, as she worked her skillful fingers through her hair.
"Like why sing the songs you do, act the way you do, what you look for in a girl, and maybe pull some dance moves you would use to get a girl's attention," answered MaKayla meeting his eyes in the mirror.
"I should let you give these speeches from now on," joked Simon squeezing her shoulders. She rolled her eyes playfully taking a seat in one of the chairs herself.
Soon a sweet plump teenage girl, looking about eighteen herself, came and collected the boys. Simon quietly followed, checking his phone. MaKayla and Emma came too. Emma excitedly talked about how awesome the boys would do and how they were so comfortable with each other they could talk about anything. Simon nodded every now and then, letting them know he was still listening. They gathered around a small screen, looking at the boys as they took their normal seats by each other. The interviewer introduced herself, causing Simon to quietly groan and mutter,
"Could they not give them anyone else? Why her? Of all the people, they choose her."
MaKayla wasn't sure why he was so upset about the interviewer at first, but soon figured out why. The interviewer introduced herself and the boys to the camera, talking about their upcoming tour. This is how MaKayla figured out what Simon meant. For starters, she called herself Clover, which is a stripper name, she did a horrible job on trying to bleach her hair and she had a tongue ring and loved showing it off. Her boobs were about to fall out of her scandalously short red dress.
"Poor girl," thought MaKayla shaking her head and rolling her eyes.
"Alright lets get this interview started! The first question goes to Mr. Liam Payne. So Liam have you ever had your heart broken?" asked Clover crossing her legs and looking seductively at him.
"Oh yeah. Plenty of times actually. But this in grade 11, I wanted to ask this girl I liked for ages to our famous Homecoming dance. So I sang her a song I wrote, just for her, only to be told I had a really bad hairstyle and that she was going to the dance with my best friend," said Liam earning a sympathetic look from Clover and a giggle from the guys.
"Aw well I bet she regrets it now," commented Clover, earning an indifferent shrug from Liam, shuffling cue cards in her hand.
"Next question goes to Harry. So Harry, you seem to have the most luck with the ladies. What do you look for in a girl?" asked Clover giving him a flirtatious chuckle.
"Tight ass, big mammeries, and a pretty face," he paused and laughed with the rest of the gang.
"I'm kidding! I promise! I look for a girl who is willing to put up with distance and the fact that trust works both ways. She's gotta trust me and I've got to be able to trust her. Without trust, nothing really works out in the end," said Harry smiling to Clover before catching Louis' hand, as it traveled up his arm, and holding it, as if they were lovers.
"That was pretty deep Harry," said Louis whispering loud enough for the cameras to pick up.
Simon let out a troubled sigh and shook his head. MaKayla placed a hand on his arms and whispered encouraging words,
"They're doing great. Fans will eat this up!"
Simon seemed to like her comment, in her opinion, because he patted her shoulders and murmured,
"You are bloody brilliant."
MaKayla smiled and shooed him off before turning back to the small T.V screen.
"Uh oh Zayn your girl is making jokes about you, how do you handle it?" asked Clover, trying to pretend she was in shock, but looking utterly stupid in MaKayla's opinion.
"Oh I love it when a girl shows how she can tease you. It makes things more interesting. It shows me a girl can take a little tease and give it back to you. I usually would tease back until the moment passes," answered Zayn stretching his arms over Niall's and Liam's shoulders.
"Who knew you could be so flirtatious?" asked Clover stupidity into the camera. MaKayla chuckled, calling Simon and Emma's attention, but quickly covered herself with a cough.
"Oh you would be surprised on what you can learn about Zayn in one sitting," said Niall cheekily patting Zayn's chest.
"Speaking of you Niall, the next three questions are actually for you. You seem to always luck out on the romance questions, so they gave you three," commented Clover winking to him. The boys oohed and ahhed in the background. Niall threw on one of his best fake smiles and looked past the set, as if to look for support from someone. He could blow all his feelings right here, in front of the entire world. Don't worry, MaKayla felt it too. She could be made a fool of right here in this very facility. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly before looking at the screen again.
"First question, Niall, have you ever made a huge mistake when it comes to loving a girl?" asked Clover causing both, MaKayla and Niall, to catch their breath simultaneously. He quickly cleared his throat and replied with an almost apologetic smile,
"Yeah I have actually. Never really got over it either. Um I guess you could say I thought I took the best way out, but in reality it was the easiest and left us both
in a place no one deserves to be. I think we try to save the people we love from hurt in the best way possible, but in this situation my plan completely backfired."
For a moment, the set was completely silent. No one knew about her, he really hadn't told anyone. MaKayla bit the inside of her lip, replaying his words over and over again. She looked at him through the screen trying to read his thoughts, something she used to be really good at. Caught off guard by her own feelings she now let the thought of him still loving her enter her head.
"Did she still love him" was the only thought running through her mind as Clover quietly flipped the next cue card over in her hand.
"Well I'm positive she was really lucky to have you Niall. Tell us a little more about her then. Did you fall for her rather quickly?" asked Clover forgetting the cue card in her hand, her eyes never leaving Niall's.
"Well she was really amazing. I was more lucky to have her, now that I think about it. She kept me on my toes, that one. She was a complete romantic too, always knew how to make me laugh and smile. I always told her she was going to change the world and now, I guess, is her shot. But yeah, I guess I did fall in love with her rather quickly. Don't regret it either. But you know what the worst part was?" When Niall paused all the boys, including Clover, were sitting forward shaking their heads no, urging him to continue.
"The worst part was I let her get away from me and that's when I realized what I really had and what I had really lost," finished Niall nodding sympathetic as everyone sat back trying to decode his answer.
Behind MaKayla, who had been holding her breath for his entire answer, Simon and Emma quietly discussed his answer. MaKayla heard Simon as Emma,
"Who do you think he was talking about?"
Emma's replied in a hushed voice,
"I don't think it was about anyone in particular."
On screen Clover smiled and shuffled the cards in her hands before asking Niall,
"What's the best part of being in love, since we're on the subject Niall?"
A faint smile appeared on his lips as he answered,
"Remembering everything about her. Or the cheesy things you would say to make her laugh. Or the memories you made. Honestly overall, the best part is being hopelessly in love with someone who feels the same way."
Clover smiled and praised Niall's answer before asking Louis the same question. Louis smiled, looking over at Niall and giving him a cheekily wink answering,
"I think Niall gave the perfect answer. The best part is loving someone who loves you back."
"Well bless my heart! Any girl will be lucky to steal any one of you! I do have one more quick question for you guys, rumor has it you have hired a new fashion intern for your world tour, is this true?" asked Clover sounding quite professional.
"Gossip must be her thing," thought MaKayla as Simon cursed under his breath. The boys quickly looked at Simon for his approval. He smiled and slightly nodded, giving his permission to answer the question. Behind MaKayla, Emma grasped her shoulders and smiled broadly. It was Liam who took the responsibility of answering the question,
"You know these days no one is very good at keeping a secret. I guess the way we are dressed gave it away huh? To answer your question Clover, yes Simon has hired a new fashion intern. And so far she has proven to us that she is more than just One Direction's fashion intern."
"Brilliant, witty, and sexy," added Harry with a flirtatious smirk.
"And don't forget American," added Louis with a wink that brought a chuckle out of Simon.
"I get the feeling you guys really like her huh? Does she have a name?" asked Clover raising an eyebrow at their reaction.
"Oh we completely adore her. I think she's completely brilliant. Going places, she is," gushed Zayn. The boys in the background nodded in agreement.
"Her name's MaKayla Station and we are very lucky to have her," said Niall smiling brightly into the camera.
"Well she must be one lucky girl! Thank you very much Harry, Louis, Niall, Zayn, and Liam for hanging out with me today! This is Clover with One Direction signing off for !" gushed Clover into the camera. Soon the director dismissed them all from the set.
"You guys did amazing!" exclaimed Emma as the boys high-fived each other and anyone else in sight.
"Very proud of you boys! Very proud!" exclaimed Simon from the middle of the group hug.
MaKayla stumbled through the throng of people as she made her way to the bar. Simon had planned the boys a little pre-tour going away party in the best dance club in all of London. Anybody who was anybody was here, dancing to the beat of the music or drinking their souls out in boozes. MaKayla honestly wasn't much of a partier and not knowing anyone, besides Emma and the boys, she wasn't very comfortable in this setting. She stuck closely to the bar, watching the others have the times of their lives. Simon sure did know a lot of famous superstars in London, MaKayla noted as Ed Sheeran and Rupert Grint talked loudly a few spots down from her.
MaKayla watched the boys laughing and joking out in the middle of the floor, waving to Harry as he winked to her. She shifted her eyes to Niall, taking in his fresh blonde hair and glowing skin out on the dance floor. His black Letterman cardigan was now hung over his shoulders, as if he were a Polo model, his eyes burning with happiness and a glimmer of alcohol. He seemed happy out there. Truly happy. Maybe what he had said in that interview today was all talk, no feelings. MaKayla took a drink from her cup and quietly sat it back down coming to the conclusion that maybe Niall was over her. She smiled and read over her text message to her parents, being sure to tell them she was having the time of her life, when she heard it. The song that brought the last strain on hers and Niall's relationship. Before she could even stop them, tears poured down her cheeks. Niall caught her gaze on the dance floor, knowing exactly what song that was. She quickly broke the gaze between them and made her escape to the roof, hoping in the back of her mind Niall would come to her rescue, like he always did.
The beat of the tragic song worked through Niall's veins as he too made his escape to the roof. He and MaKayla may not be on friendly terms, but something told him, she needed him. Back when MaKayla had been in Ireland, she, Niall, Bridget, and Aideen all attended a party thrown by the best party thrower in Millenguer, Brian Murphy. Brian's parents owned a small pub in the middle of Millenguer, so all the parties took place there. As Niall slowly walked down the hall, he could hear the thump of the bass, the loud talking and laughing of his fellow classmates, and the unlimited alcohol that burnt their throats as they danced the night away. The image of MaKayla in her short red skirt, white, tank top, and black leather jumbled his already aching head. He felt the butterflies in his stomach as he remembered his body against hers as Brian played the song of the century. Niall had finally won her over, she was all his and nobody else's.
Then like flashes of lightening the memories of the cops breaking in, the sounds of sirens, Brian being pronounced dead on the scene, MT's covering his body with the white sheet all came before him. He felt the guilt flow through his body as MaKayla's pale face came into his view. She remembered nothing from that night at the pub. He remembered the pain and confusion she was going through, and him doing nothing to help her. Images of the funeral, the crying, the guilt, the roses they placed on the casket fought their way into his line of vision. Niall stopped and placed a hand on the wall, closing his eyes, as the preacher's words filled his ears. The preacher's words made him sick, to even think about now. He had said that God was ready to take Brian to a better place, Niall couldn't help but think God had come too early. Brian still had so many dreams he wanted to fulfill and now he would never get the chance. Niall took a deep breath and pushed himself away from the wall, finding the door to the roof. Met with the cold windchill he stepped out onto the rooftop. He watched her closely, hoping she would run to his arms like she would when things were bad. She made no attempt to move, almost like she was mesmerized by the city. He quietly approached her, taking the spot next to her and looked out over the lit city.
"Do you ever think about it?" she asked breaking the silence between them.
"I try not to, but I catch myself sometimes thinking how I could have changed things, he might still be here," answered Niall quietly glancing towards her. Her eye make-up now smeared over her cheek and hands, her hair tangled from the wind, her lips turned into a sad frown.
"I hated myself for the longest time after that night Niall. I couldn't believe that one minute he was pouring everybody drinks and the next, he was dead. I always felt that part of it was my fault. I should have checked on him or something," whispered MaKayla feeling more tears threaten to fall.
"Hey, hey come here," murmured Niall pulling her into one of his famous hugs,
"You know none of it was your fault. No one was in their right minds that night. We had no clue what was going on around us."
"You know what the worst part was Niall?" she asked from his shoulder,
"The worst part was not remembering a damn thing that happened." She hid her face in his shoulder as she fought the remembrance of the funeral surging her brain. Niall rubbed soothing patterns in her back as he spoke,
"No the worst part was when you remembered."
She nodded slowly breaking the hug and wiping tears from her cheeks,
"You were always there when the bad stuff happened. You were like superman. You never let believe it was my fault."
His lips formed a slight smile as he answered,
"Someone had to be there for you MaKayla. I was just glad it was me."
MaKayla nodded and looked back over the city, letting the silence comfortably fall between them.
"Do you see Bridget and Aideen often?" asked Niall breaking the silence after a few minutes.
"Yeah I just saw them like a couple weeks ago. They flew in for my graduation," commented MaKayla playing with the rings on her fingers.
"It must have been nice to see them again," nodded Niall as MaKayla pulled her cardigan around her.
"Yeah it was really nice to catch up with them for a few days. They told me to tell you hello for them," smiled MaKayla pushing away from the rail.
"We'd better head back in before they freak out on us," said Niall realizing he didn't tell anyone where he was going. MaKayla nodded in agreement and followed him to the door.
"Hey Niall!" she said as they both stood on the top step of the staircase. He looked at her with a glimmer in his eye that she knew oh so well.
"I was glad to see you there too," said MaKayla smiling to him as she made her way down the stairs.
He laughed and followed her down. She had saw him on the most important day of her life. Something she thought he would never ever do.