If you're reading this, I love you. Xx

The kiss didn't last longer than a second, before Niall had pulled away.

I was still in shock, body completely frozen, mind racing, as I just stared at him. Why had he kissed me? He's looking really regretful... Why did he kiss me? I don't think I responded; that's embarrassing. Why did he kiss me?

Suddenly, his voice invaded my thoughts. "I'm sorry, Cassie. I just..." His voice was pained, hoarse, and he wouldn't look at me.

Before I could change my mind, I let the sudden smile spread across my face, waiting only a moment before he peered up at me. Shock registered across his features, soon replaced by a smile that matched my own.

The smiled faded from my face quickly. "Why... Why did you do that?"

His smile was replaced with confusion, then embarrassment. "I..." He seemed lost for a moment. I wanted more than anything to replace that look with one of happiness, to make him laugh, but I couldn't seem to find the words to.

"I've wanted to do that since I met you, actually," His face took on a determined mask as he found the words he was searching for. I could feel my face heating up already; I knew that, by the end of this, I would be so red, I'd burn to the touch. He gulped visibly before going on. "I noticed everything about you, which I'd thought was strange, because I had never noticed every detail about anyone before. I noticed the bruise on your eye..." His hand stroked, soft as his voice had become, over the place where the bruise on my eye used to be. "And I noticed when it finally faded away." His hand dropped back to his side. "And I know you don't think anybody has noticed the scars on your arm, but I have." He frowned. "Louis had told us that we weren't supposed to ask you about them, that he thought you may have been abused, and I understand that, but the scars on your arms look self-inflicted." His eyes peered into mine, worried. I lowered my gaze, swallowed, and lifted my head again, ready to explain, but he cut me off. "I'm not finished. I notice how whenever you roll your eyes, snap at someone, or even talk openly, your face always holds a faint blush, and I've come to know that's not you." He frowned again. "Although you're not showing it on the outside, I can tell you're the complete opposite of the you've been acting. You're shy, emotional, and embarrassed easily." His head cocked to the side. "I don't exactly understand why you don't just be yourself, why you act like that." His eyes stared into mine, like before, but, unlike before, he didn't go on. He stopped and waited for me to respond, a small blush finding it's way to his face.

I took a deep breath, head down, before raising it to look him in the eye curiously. "I thought that was how I'm supposed to act? Eleanor is always telling me that I'm too shy, and that I shouldn't let it show."

He was shaking his head before I had even finished. "That's how Eleanor is, Cassie, but that's not you." He paused, giving the words a chance to seep in. "You and Eleanor are complete opposites of each other, but that's not a bad thing. While it's true that all girls aren't shy, like you are, it's also true that not all girls are as outgoing as Eleanor is. There may not be a lot of girls who are like you, but that's not a bad thing. That makes you unique; unique is good."

My eyebrows merged together in confusion and consideration as I mulled over all that he'd said. If it's true that I don't have to be like Eleanor, why is she telling me to do so? I decided to ask him.

He thought for a moment before answering. "I think..." He began slowly. "It's because you're so willing. When she first met you, you weren't used to being around people, and the fact that she could have a friend that liked everything she did, because she had taught you to, made her excited. I don't think she saw that she was turning into the opposite of yourself."

I looked up at him, bewildered.

He smiled, face softening. "I like the shy part of you."

My face turned red. Did he just admit that he liked me...?

I swallowed. "If I'm not supposed to act like that..." I said in MY quiet voice that I hadn't used since I'd met Eleanor. He nodded encouragingly when I looked up at him for confirmation. My brows merged together. "How am I supposed to act?"

He laughed. "That's the easy part. You just act like yourself."

I thought it over for a moment, chewing on my bottom lip. Act like myself? No more rolling my eyes, snapping at the boys, and being unnecessarily mean, even though Eleanor says that no one takes anything seriously, so I could be mean all I wanted... A smile began to spread across my face. Being myself again... I think I'd like that.

Niall interrupted my thoughts once again. "Erm..."

I looked up at him, smile still in place. He looked nervous. "If you're planning on acting yourself again..." I nodded confirmation, "I'd ask for one change."

I turned my head to the side in confusion. Hadn't he just said that I should be completely myself?

He took a deep breath. "Will you be my girlfriend?"

I woke the next morning happy, yet tired from staying awake, talking with Niall, so late. A glance to my side confirmed to me what I'd already guessed: Niall was still asleep even though it was- I checked my phone quickly- 12:56 in the afternoon. Typical.

Getting out of bed, I grabbed my bag and began to get ready for the day, pulling on a soft pair of jeans, my combat boots, and a long-sleeved shirt. I rummaged around in my bag curiously for a bit before pulling out a black sweatshirt with hieroglyphs on the front.

Suddenly, a loud crash sounded from the hotel room. I yanked the sweatshirt over my head and pushed the restroom door open.

I was immediately doubled over in laughter at what I saw. The boys had all piled on top of Niall.

Lou looked up from where he was sitting on Niall's head when I came out. "Good morning, Cassie!" He chirped happily. "Did you have a nice night's sleep?" He smirked.

I decided to only respond to his inability to tell what time of day it is, as I could feel an annoying blush spreading across my cheeks already. "You do realize that it's 1:30 in the afternoon, right?" I asked, giggling.

He shrugged. "I don't care what time it is. It's morning whenever I wake up." He looked down at Niall, who was still snoring peacefully, despite the four bodies on top of him, shouting, "Niall! Wake up!" He motioned to all the boys, and they began shaking him.

It took almost a full five minutes, but the boys were able to finally wake Niall up, shouting at him about wasting their precious free time, which didn't make any sense to me, because they could've used all that time to get ready, seeing as they were all still in their pajamas.

It took another ten to fifteen minutes before all the boys were ready, and we're all gathered in mine and Niall's room.

"What are we doing today, then?" Harry asked.

Louis shrugged, and they all turned to look at Liam, who was on his phone. He looked up when the boys became silent, and did a double-take when he saw them all staring at him. "What?"

"What are we doing today?" Niall asked.

Liam shrugged, causing Zayn to groan. "But you always know what we're doing on our free days!" Lou protested.

Liam just shrugged again. "Why don't you guys think of something to do yourselves for a change?"

"But that would be too much work!" Harry whined.

Liam rolled his eyes. "I don't care."

Louis turned to me. "What do YOU want to do today, Cassie?"

"M-me?" I stuttered, startled.

He nodded encouragingly.

I shrugged, a faint blush coating my cheeks. "I don't know; it's not necessarily up to me, anyway." It actually felt really good to talk in my quiet voice again; any louder was really annoying, as far as I was concerned.

Lou sighed and turning to Harry, who grinned evilly. "Club?"

"In the middle of the day?" Zayn asked.

Harry's grin faded, and he shrugged. "Any better ideas?"

Zayn sighed. "No..."

"That leaves it up to you, Niall." Louis said, turning to Niall.

Niall shrugged; Lou groaned.

Liam laughed. "Why don't we just go for lunch and then watch movies for the rest of the day?"

Lou smiled. "A bit boring, but it's an idea!" He turned to the rest of us. "Anyone have any objections or better ideas?" Liam rolled his eyes. No one spoke.

"Alright; food and movies it is!"

Half an hour, and one meal later, we were all back at the hotel, once again gathered in mine and Niall's room, while Harry set up movies on the TeleVision. We had all come to the, grudgingly, on Harry's part, agreement of no scary movies, so they had all chosen an assortment of action movies. I didn't really care what we watched, as long as it wasn't a scary movie.

Louis and I were sitting on a blanket on one side of the bed, Zayn was on the bed, and Liam was on the other side of the bed with Niall.

"All ready!" Harry exclaimed, joining Zayn on the bed as the first movie came on.

About fifteen minutes into the movie, Lou turned to me, a determined expression on his face, and whispered, "I want you to tell me about your past now."

I sighed. It wasn't like it was a bad memory, now that it was over, but I didn't feel like talking much. "Like I said before, there's not much to tell. When I was old enough to talk, my parents told me that my being born was a mistake, and that they were to beat me for the rest of my life to make up for it." I shrugged, the memory of that night, my fifth birthday, fresh in my mine, causing me to wince. I guess I wasn't really over it, but I didn't want to think about it, either.

Lou's eyebrows furrowed. "And you accepted that without question?"

I nodded, confused. "Who am I to deny the truth? It's all I know."

Louis shook his head. "That's NOT true. You weren't a mistake; you were born for a reason."

"What reason?" I asked curiously.

He shrugged. "I don't know yet, but we'll find out someday." He scowled. "Your parents should never have beaten you."

I scowled, opening my mouth to protest, but was cut off by Harry, who groaned, "Shut up..."

I giggled, and Lou returned his attention to the movie, leaving me to think about what he'd said for the rest of the night...

I clenched my hands together nervously, gritting my teeth as I listened to the boys perform their last song.

Too soon, they came running backstage, grinning and hyper from the concert. Niall had a worried crease in his forehead, though you wouldn't notice if you didn't know him well.

I watched, still nervous, as Liam clapped him on the back, and whispered something in his ear, causing him to nod.

I swallowed hard as, when the boys began feasting on the snacks that had been laid out for them beforehand, Niall's eyes sought mine.

Gulping, I nodded nervously. the nerves only calmed a bit when his hand grasped mine, squeezing comfortingly.

"Louis..."

He looked up from his food. "Hm?" He caught the nervous expression on my face, and came over to us both. "What's up?"

I took a deep breath, even though I didn't have to say anything, even though Niall had promised to say it; just because I was losing the oxygen in my body.

"Well... Erm..." He took a breath, determination finding it's way onto his face. "Cassie and I are dating now."

The room became silent as Zayn, Harry, and Louis gaped.