"This? This is your car?" Zayn asked between fits of laughter as we approached my neon green Kia Soul.
"Haha, very funny," said Jo, as she climbed into the back seat. I knew she didn't need an excuse to sit in close quarters with two fifths of One Direction.
"You may laugh, but I love my little car," I said, theatrically kissing the window. Niall climbed into the passenger seat, while Liam and Zayn followed Jo into the backseat.
I thought about the last few minutes: Niall asking me out, my stuttered "yes," his kiss on my cheek, the stares when we emerged from the bedroom holding hands. I honestly couldn't think of a better day. "Now where exactly is this ice cream parlor?"
Liam gave me directions, and we arrived at the shop about fifteen minutes later. The sign said they closed at midnight, which meant we had approximately forty minutes until we had to leave.
Zayn pulled out his phone, read a message, and then spoke before we exited the car. "Harry and Louis finished early. Louis won. They're going to meet us here for dessert."
The thought of meeting Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson still sent butterflies into my stomach, but after my day with Niall, I no longer had a crazy fan-girl crush on Harry.
We walked into the cutest ice cream shop, complete with flavors handwritten on a blackboard, diner-esque tables, and dozens of available flavors. I ordered a small half coffee half mint chip, Jo ordered a small strawberry, and each of the boys ordered a large sundae. After we claimed a large table in the otherwise deserted restaurant, I walked to the bathroom, towing Jo behind me. As soon as the door swung shut behind me, I screamed, "Niall Horan asked me on a date!" Jo acted the part of the best friend and screamed and jumped around excitedly with me. After an acceptable amount of time passed, I was able to contain myself and we walked back to the table. When we arrived, Harry and Louis were sitting with the other boys. Liam introduced us to them, and then I sat down with Niall on my left, Jo on my right, and Liam on her right.
"Jo," Harry said, causing the two of us to look up. "do you mind me asking what your name is short for?" he asked in his characteristically slow voice.
I snorted, anticipating Jo's answer. "It's short for Jones. My last name." She obviously was not going to offer any more information unless she was asked.
The five boys looked at her curiously but she was suddenly very interested in poking her ice cream with her spoon. I quickly spoke up, wanting to diffuse any awkward situation before it happened. "Her first name is Skylar. Middle name Ingrid, after her grandmother. When she was little, she decided that Skylar was too trendy, and Ingrid was too old. So she called herself Jo, and it kind of stuck." As I finished my story, I had to hold in my laughter. All five boys were staring at Jo in concern, for she was now violently stabbing her strawberry ice cream. Soon, I couldn't control my laughter, and neither could any of the boys.
"But seriously, what parents in their right minds name their daughter Skylar Ingrid?" Jo asked nobody in particular, causing us to laugh even harder.
The next half an hour or so passed similarly, with funny stories and long laughs. We stayed until the owner came and kicked us out. Then we grouped together outside, cupping mugs of hot chocolate we had bought minutes before. I suggested that the boys come watch a movie at our suite, and they agreed. Niall, Zayn, Liam and I piled back into my Soul, while Jo opted to ride with Harry and Louis.
The spot I had previously occupied in the hotel parking lot was taken when we returned, so I parked all the way around the back of the building. When I turned off the car, the boys piled outside, Niall from the front seat and Zayn and Liam from the back seat. I searched the cup holders for my keys, grabbed them, and was about to exit the car, when Liam opened the passenger seat and sat down, closing the door behind him.
"Mind if we have a quick chat?" he asked with a small, apologetic smile on his face. I was vaguely aware of Niall and Zayn walking toward the lobby.
"Sure," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady while my mind was spinning. What could he possibly want to talk to me about?
"I know Niall asked you out." I waited for him to expand, but he didn't add anything.
"Oh," I replied stupidly. I didn't know what else to say.
He looked down at nothing in particular, biting his lower lip, obviously trying to gather his thoughts. "It's just that he's one of my best friends…and if he was to get hurt…"
"Gosh, Liam, you scared me! I thought you were going to tell me that he had a girlfriend or something. My heart is really pounding! I really like N—" I broke off, not sure whether I should tell him every detail of my feelings. I didn't know how much of this would get back to Niall.
Liam's face broke into an undeniable expression of relief at my words, before settling back into an unreadable mask. "All I'm trying to say is…Niall's a little more sensitive than you might think. And if he asked you out, it really means something. He's not one of those guys who will just, like, ask a girl out and then not call her again. He must really want to make this work. So think about the consequences before you give him too much hope."
"Consequences?"
"I'm talking long distances, months without seeing each other, hate from fans, nonstop paparazzi…It can really take its toll. I just don't want you to get into something without knowing what you're signing up for."
I thought over his words carefully. "So you're saying…this may or may not turn into a long-term relationship?"
At this point, he looked me straight in the eyes, making his point quite clear. "What I'm saying is, do not go on this date if you're only in it for the experience."
My heart squeezed uncomfortably as I finally sensed his distrust. The hurt must have flashed across my face because his eyebrows cinched together and he took my hand in his. "No, no, no! I didn't mean to imply anything. It's just…I feel about Niall the way you might feel about a little sibling. The last thing I want is to see him hurt."
I smiled slightly at his protective instinct. I felt that if Liam and I had met under more normal circumstances, assuming he was not a celebrity, we would be great friends. And maybe we still could be. "I understand. But I want you to know that I really like Niall. And not just because he's in One Direction."
"Thanks for understanding. I promised Zayn I would talk to you. We feel very protective of Niall, like he's our little brother."
"Of course. No hard feelings," I said with a smile. "Ready to go?"
"Yes ma'am!" He dashed out the door while I searched again for my keys in the cup holders. Before I knew it, he was opening my door and helping me out. We linked arms and skipped toward the lobby where Niall, Zayn, Harry, Louis, and Jo were waiting for us by the elevators.
Niall looked at me questioningly, but I just mouthed, "I'll tell you later," before dropping Liam's arm and twining my fingers with Niall's. Knowing that he really liked me, and I wasn't just another forgettable fling, made me feel impossibly happy, like my heart was going to beat right out of my chest.
When we arrived at our room, nobody was particularly tired, so we piled into the bedroom to watch a movie on the large flat screen. While they argued over which movie to watch, I searched my duffel for an acceptable pair of pajamas. Having not known I would be spending much time with a potential boyfriend or a certain international pop band, the only sleepwear I had packed consisted of a ratty black t-shirt and a pair of baggy, purple plaid pants. Thankfully, I had packed my neon yellow sports bra, which I took out, along with the pajama pants and a gray tank top. I walked to the bathroom, changed, and then looked in the mirror. I sighed, and then proceeded to roll my pants at the waist until they hung right below my hips, exposing a sliver of skin below my gray top. I gathered my still curly hair into a high ponytail, removing the blue barrettes as I carefully selected strands of hair to gently hang loose from the up do.
I scrubbed my teeth furiously with my toothbrush, violently eradicating any lingering coffee breath from the ice cream. I misted some perfume lightly across my exposed collarbone before taking one last look in the mirror. I had decided to leave my makeup on, at least until they boys left. I had never looked this pretty before sleeping. I smiled slightly at my reflection before reentering the room.
They had apparently already staked out spots for the movie viewing. Jo and Louis had lain down a few feet apart on the bed closest to the window, while Harry and Liam were stretched out on an improvised bed of blankets on the floor. On the bed closest to me, Zayn was on the left with Niall on the right. The latter saw me exit the bathroom and quickly scooted over, making room. The bed was big enough that it would fit all three of us comfortably.
Jo looked over at me, appraising my improvised outfit. "Ooh Stella, where did you find sexy PJs on short notice?" The boys laughed, and I flushed dark red, smiling and shaking my head. I stuffed the clothes that I had been wearing earlier into my bag before sitting gingerly on the bed. Leaving a few inches between Niall and myself, I stretched out on top of the comforter, my hands beneath my head, propping it up.
I tried to get into the movie, but it really wasn't that good. I looked at the clock after about an hour and saw that it read one fifty-two. I scanned the room and realized that the boring movie had put everyone to sleep except Liam and myself.
Exhaustion settled in rather quickly, and I successfully climbed under the covers without waking Zayn or Niall. Obeying some crazy urge of mine, I slid closer to Niall, snuggling up to him. He slowly stirred under my touch, and from beneath my eyelashes I saw him smile. It took all my willpower to pretend I was asleep and keep from smiling back. He pulled his arm out from under his head and stretched it around my left shoulder, resting his hand on my waist.
I heard Liam stand up from his spot on the floor and gently shake the boys awake, remaining quiet to let Jo and I sleep. I heard Harry, Louis, and Zayn stand up slowly before filing out of the door. I didn't hear the front door open, so I assumed they were waiting for Liam and Niall in the front room.
"Niall, wake up," Liam said sweetly, patting Niall's shoulder. I pretended to wake up at the movement, sitting up slowly and blinking a few times for dramatic effect.
"What…?" I asked stupidly. Liam looked at me, taking in my truly exhausted appearance. He glanced down at Niall, who was still dressed in his red polo and khakis. The boy was obviously not going to get up anytime soon.
"I guess I'll just leave him here for the night. Tell him to check his phone in the morning. Sweet dreams Stella," he said with a cute smile, before turning and leaving with the other boys. I snuggled back into Niall, glad he was staying for the night.
It took a while to slow my heart down, but eventually I fell asleep like that, with my hand on his chest and his arm around me.