Part 9

Cerian's POV

Ok, maybe it was ever so slightly rude to stay and eavesdrop on Louis and Lucy (I tried to jam their names together, but whatever you do, you end up with either Loucy or Luis! Not much difference either way), but it was just so darn tempting! And so damn cute... Bless them.

Well it's fair to say that the boys' arrival was a surprise, albeit an incredible (and very hot) surprise. I'd spent the last two days daydreaming about being in Zayn's arms, and there he was arms ready and waiting. Well – and the rest of him. Would be slightly weird if it was just his arms... floating in mid-air... Yep, my babbling genes are still well and truly intact.

And the excess amounts of pizza were just another bonus.

It was only another hour in each of their respective arms before Polly started panicking about getting home in time to babysit Daisy (her adorable little sister – there have been many a fight about just who is cuter, Daisy or Tabitha, I personally can't decide). Beth was meant be organising a lift home for the pair of them, but seeing as though she was a little busy with her Harry songfest, it kinda seemed as though that was no longer an option.

And so Niall, the gorgeous, considerate, amazing, Irish sex god that he is, offered to pay for a taxi to take them back to hers so that they could babysit together. Wow I'd love to be there for THAT conversation with her parents...

And so the eight of us were left to catch up (not that there's really that much to catch up on after only two days...), eat even more pizza (I personally believe that Lucy must have a Dominoes in her kitchen the rate she was bringing them out, and generally snuggle and have each of our own private snog-a-thons. All in a day's work. And I will admit – I was greatly enjoying being curled up with Zayn once again. And those eyes... The kissing was just an added bonus.

Just from looking around the room, I could tell that everyone else was feeling the same way I was. From the looks of it, Lucy and Louis were still lost in the idea of one of them being the future Mrs Louis Tomlinson, or Mr Lucy Barlow. Well I wish him luck with that – he's in trouble seeing as he doesn't know how to cook. Jordan and Liam were still deep in conversation, obviously trying to ignore the fact that their arms kept brushing against each other, and secretly enjoying it. And Beth and Harry... well, Beth and Harry... Still don't really know what the hell to say about those two. Tiger hat obsession aside, they're just odd. Even the position they're sitting in was just plain weird. And disturbing. But kinda cute and endearing at the same time. Strange combination right?

So all of us, in our perfect little couple bubbles (see what I did there? Well, it sorta rhymes... Sorta...) were only a little surprised, when, halfway through a very entertaining story about Cheryl Cole and Simon Cowell backstage at the X Factor, a very startled 'What the feathers!' came from the doorway.

Ah. Lucy's parents. Probably should have remembered about them. But then again, we were slightly distracted.

So there she was, in all her shining glory, Mrs Barlow, just starting to fix her hair (what with the fact of four gorgeous guys all in her living room – partially demolished due to the fact that Louis and Harry had started yet another pillow fight) when came those infamous last words... "Oh, you're the one that Lucy has all over her walls aren't …"

"Mum – a word please!"

Laughter filled the room – as well as some very embarrassed faces (well, two in particular) - just as the one Mr Barlow popped his head in. Instead of another flustered introduction, the boys were met simply with 'Just be sure you don't get them pregnant.'

Awkward much.

But it wasn't over just yet. Still to go was... TABITHA!

Well, I don't think any of us were expecting her reaction.

There she was, cute as a button, absentmindedly talking to Fifi the Fox (who I am currently thinking of stealing due to the fact that she's gorgeous, even for a stuffed toy) about, what seemed to be the pros and cons of having baked beans on bread instead of toast. One look up was all it took for her to recognise her adoring audience.

"Hey Louis, hey Harry, hey Zayn, hey Liam. Where's Niall?" she said before hopping up onto Louis' lap. From the sudden look of extreme pain on his face, I could only assume that she had landed, well... you know where...

Also noticing his expression, it only took a moment for Lucy to drag Tabs onto her lap, accompanied with 'Come on Tabs, you're hurting Louis' nuts, and he needs those doesn't he?'

You may think that saying this to a small child is a bit odd, this is a girl who has been called 'Boob' since birth.

It was a relief to see Louis' face return to normal after that.

Not missing a beat, Tabs turned her angelic little face to the room and asked 'Please One Direction, will we marry my sister and her friends?'

You have no idea how much of a relief it was to have Zayn hug me even more tightly after that, and kiss me even harder than before. Oooh, jitters.

As I lost myself in his eyes once more, it's probably a bit weird that I was thinking about what on earth must have gone down with Niall and Polly's parents...

Even so, it was still one hell of a good kiss. And the butterflies that went with it were even better.

Polly's POV

He held open the door of the taxi for me and I climbed inside. I was so glad someone had suggested we call a cab, because personally, I have a fairly irrational fear of buses.

Snuggling into Niall Horan's shoulder in the back of the taxi was, however, a pretty good way to spend the twenty minute journey from Lucy's to mine.

Sadly, my joy was short lived when I realised that I was going to have to explain why I had a fifth of One Direction with me to my nosy family (a mental 19th century father, a slightly deranged mother and a bonkers eight-year-old sister). And then somehow talk them into letting Niall stay and help me look after Daisy. When they'd only just met him.

Mind you, I had mentioned that I'd met a guy in London. I did, however, say that it hadn't come to much and I didn't expect to see him ever again. They probably hadn't (and I definitely hadn't) been expecting him to turn up on my best mate's doorstep. And I'd conveniently forgotten to mention the fact that he was a member of that boy band off last year's X Factor that my dad hated.

Something told me I was in for a long night.

When the cab pulled up outside my house, Niall fished some cash out of his jeans (would he ever let me pay for anything? Mind you, I never have any money, so I was quite grateful. Let's be honest, taxis are a lot dearer than buses.)

"So this is your house?" he said. Sort of stating the obvious, but I didn't mention it.

"Well, it's not mine, but I live here, so I guess in that sense it is..." Oh dear, here we go with the nervous babbling.

I knocked on the door. Sixteen years old and they won't let me have a key. What?

Mum opened the door and nearly had a heart attack. Perhaps I should have called in advance and mentioned I was bringing company.

"Hi Mum!" I said cheerfully. "You know I said I met a guy in London? Well, him and his mates surprised us at Lucy's and he insisted on accompanying me home."

Mum still looked shell shocked.

INVITE HIM IN FOR A CUP OF TEA! I mouthed.

"Oh! Yes, do come in, dear. What's your name?"

"Niall," he said, winking at me. Oh, that's it Mother, pretend you don't know who he is.

Daisy was sat at the kitchen table colouring in a picture of a fairy. She looked up when we entered, looked straight at Niall and said "Hello Niall from One Direction."

I love my sister.

Ten minutes (and a slightly embarrassing and awkward interrogation from my father) later, and my parents had finally left. We were in the living room on the sofa, which would have been wonderfully romantic had we not had Daisy sat between us reading "The Diary Of A Wimpy Kid" out loud.

I caught Niall glance at his watch. I should have warned him really.

"Come on you," I said, nudging Daisy. "Why don't you go and read to yourself in bed? It's warmer there. And comfier."

Daisy nodded. "Come and tuck me in though."

I sighed and followed her upstairs.

Niall's POV

Her sister was way cute. And her parents were really nice. If I'm honest, I was actually pretty nervous. What if they didn't like me? Then I'd be screwed. Luckily, they must have thought I was acceptable, because they did eventually leave the house, leaving me alone with Polly. And her little sister.

Whilst Polly put Daisy to bed, I raided the extensive CD collection, trying to find something to break the inevitable silence that would occur when she returned.

Polly's POV

"Damien Rice?" I asked, re-entering the living room to find the album 'O' playing quietly, like a subtle indication that we wouldn't be doing much talking for the next hour. Niall was stood awkwardly beside the CD player, as if afraid of sitting down.

I held out my hand to him and he pulled me close to him. His arms were round my waist and his face in my neck. He murmured the lyrics of 'The blower's daughter' in my ear, loudly enough for me to hear but softly enough for it to still sound sexy.

"I can't take my eyes off you".

I couldn't help myself. I mean seriously, would you have been able to?

Niall's POV

Lucy said to sing to her. She didn't say it would have quite the effect it did! I'd barely reached the end of the chorus before she was kissing me. Blimey, I'd missed her kissing me.

We collapsed onto the sofa and I kissed her back. I knew we'd have to be careful, I hardly wanted her parents getting home early and finding us making out in their living room, but still, this really wasn't an opportunity I was going to miss.

Polly's POV

In my head I prayed Daisy wouldn't pad downstairs to ask for a glass of water. That might be a bit awkward.