Chapter 14

Liam's POV

The doors to the lift opened up on the fifth floor where I saw Bri typing behind the reception desk. I walked over and rested my elbows on the counter.

"Hello there," I said with a posh accent. She didn't look up from her computer, "Bri?" I asked, getting a nervous feeling in my stomach. Did I do something wrong?

"Earth to Bri…" I snapped my fingers. Suddenly she started laughing hysterically, and then I noticed she had her earphones in. I craned my head so I could see what she was watching.

One Direction Video Diary- week 3- The X Factor. I read. On the screen were me and the boys on the stairs back in the X Factor house. I was in the back, Zayn and Niall in the middle, and Louis and a very scared looking Harry were at the bottom. I remembered that video diary like it was yesterday. My guess was that Louis had just yelled "SHE'S MINE!" in Harry's ear. That still had me and the boys laughing to this day.

Bri looked away from the computer and up at me. She blushed and clicked out of YouTube. "Hey…" she looked down from my eyes, embarrassed.

I tilted her chin up so I could look her in her green eyes. "Don't worry. It was cute." I smiled. I couldn't contain my excitement, "I have some news, and I think you're going to like it… a lot!" I ran around the desk.

I grabbed her shoulders and pulled her up to me. "You won." I gleamed.

"Uh, won what?"

"The contest…" I leaded.

"The contest?" She looked up at me with a confused expression. "The contest… the con-" Her face brightened, "THE CONTEST. OH MY GOD, THE CONTEST. I WON!?"

"Of course you won! You're brilliant!"

"I WON!" Bri shouted and threw her arms around me. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!"

I snaked my arms around her waist and pulled her in close to me. "You deserve it."

She leaned back and put her lips on mine. My stomach flipped when I felt her smile against my lips. She moved her hands down my arms and threaded her fingers in between mine.

She pulled away, "I can't believe this. It's a dream come true." I returned her huge smile and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"I can't wait to sing with you again." I blushed. Then her phone buzzed in her bag, followed by a loud alarm.

"Well that means my shift is over…" she bit her bottom lip, "Do you want to walk me back to my hotel?"

"I'd love to." I smiled down at her, "But we have to be careful for, you know… the paps."

"So you're saying we should keep this a secret?" She said, pointing back and forth from me to her.

"For now. Our fans and the media can be pretty tough. I don't want you to have to go through that." I paused, "You don't deserve it." I leaned down and gave Bri a short peck on the lips.

She smirked, "Well, I'd say we're failing right now." She nodded her head toward the lobby. All the people passing through and sitting down on the couches were staring at us.

I bent down and grabbed her bag from the floor and slugged it over my shoulder, "Let's get going."

"Okay, welcome to 'How to Disguise Yourself from Paparazzi 101.'" I said as the elevator moving down to the ground floor. "The essentials: Hoodie and sunglasses." I reached in Bri's bag and grabbed my Wolverhampton sweatshirt. "Here you are." I winked and handed it to her. She looked down at the ground and blushed like she did every time she was embarrassed.

"Sorry, I meant to give that back," She took her bag from me defensively.

"It's okay. Keep it." She smiled up at me. "Okay, now for the shades." I unhooked my Ray Bans from my trouser pocket and slid them on, and Bri reached in her bag and pulled out the exact same pair.

"I like your glasses… You look perfect," I whispered as the lift doors opened.

We walked out and I continued giving my lesson, "You can never go out the front door. That's where they hide," I joked. "But seriously, we have to go the back way, through the alley. It's dark outside already, so it'll be easier to hide." I glanced at Bri, who looked very nervous… "You get used to it. Hey, it's kind of fun, sneaking around in the dark of night." I chuckled.

I guided Bri to the back exit, "You ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be!"

"Keep your head down and act casual." I opened the door to the back alley. "Which way?" I whispered.

"Right," She answered, "The hotel is on St. Mary Street."

"No way, mine too! Which one are-" I swiftly laid my back flat on the brick wall of the alley when I heard voices coming from the main road, "Get back!" I ordered Bri. She did what I said, then grabbed my hand and squeezed.

"I got a tip that One Direction would be leaving at this time, where are they?" A man carrying a camera barked.

"Those arrogant little shits better get out here quick. A guy needs to make money somehow." Another exclaimed.

I scowled at their ignorant comments. After a couple minutes, the men's voices faded. "Okay, let's go." Her hand still in mine, I pulled Bri out of the alley and onto the sidewalk. "Head down."

Once we got a safe distance from the studio, I took my glasses off. "Clear. You did it!" I held up my hand for a high five.

She slapped her hand on mine and laughed, "That was such an adrenaline rush!" She spun down the walkway. For a Thursday night, the streets were almost empty. "It's coming up on the right." She said as she spun. She let out a care-free giggle and did some kind of leap in the air.

"Really?" I started. I ran behind her to catch up. When I reached her, I grabbed her waist and spun her around, "You're staying at The Lodge!?" I set her down, "We're staying there!"

"You're kidding!"

"Nope! But now we have to take the alley way again. The paps literally stalk the place."

Bri and I turned down the road, and slid through the alley to the hotel. We passed the paparazzi waiting outside without being noticed, and finally got inside. We ran up the stairs to the second floor to get the lift so we could avoid the screaming girls in the lobby.

"That was insane." Bri said, trying to catch her breath.

I chuckled, "What floor?"

"Penthouse." She stated.

"You're staying in Penthouse B? We're in A! Now this is insane!"

"That's crazy! We've been neighbors this whole time?"

"Guess so." I laced my fingers through hers and smiled.

"Now we can see each other whenever we want." Bri smiled back up to me.

"I don't have a problem with that." I leaned down and gave her a soft kiss on the lips.

Bri pulled back, "You should probably push the button if you want to go anywhere."

I shook my head at her and swiped my card by the "Penthouse" symbol and hit the button. "Up we go." I smiled grabbed the back of Bri's head and kissed her again.

I can't tell you how much I'm attracted to her. When we're together, I want to be close to her. She was the most beautiful and caring girl I've ever met. Not to mention talented. I can't wait for her to meet the boys and my family. But I can't stop thinking about what I mumbled to her on the day we first kissed at the café. Did she hear? Did I really mean it? Was I in love with Bri after only one week?

The lift doors dinged and opened. We parted and stepped out into the Penthouse hallway.

"Shall I walk you to your room?" I offered her my elbow, but then put my arm back down at my side. "Or would you like to meet the boys?"