I am suddenly awoken with the sound of my phone going off. Issues’ cover of “Boyfriend” by Justin Bieber blasts from the small electronic device. I roll out of bed and onto the floor, smacking my hand on top of the Windows phone. “Hello?” I murmur, rubbing my hand across my face.

“Hello, is this Melissa Sheridan?” The voice on the other end asks.

“Uh, yeah, it is,” I answer. I check the clock: 6:14 am. Fuck, who just calls this early in the morning. “Who is this?”

“This is Bethany; I’m from the contest you entered last night at the One Direction concert in Grand Rapids.”

I suddenly perk up. “Oh?”

Bethany clears her throat. “I’m pleased to tell you that you have won the contest!” Her voice is full of joy. My jaw drops, I slap my hand over my mouth and I am speechless. Millie is going to flip. Adrenaline starts to pump through my veins and my blood runs cold with excitement. “A car will pick you up tonight at 6:00 p.m., sharp,” Bethany continues.

I snap out of my trance. “Wait, what do you mean ‘tonight’?” I bite my lip and run my fingers through my hair in an agitated manner.

“Ah, yes. Tonight is the only time the boys can do it. Is there a problem?” Her voice rises toward the end of her question. She saw me at the concert; she most likely does not want me anywhere near the boys.

I decide to accept just in spite of her. “No,” I say proudly. “There is no problem at all.” I smile brightly even though I know no one can see me—but I know she can hear it.

“Great,” Bethany answers. “A black SUV will pick you and your friend up and take you to the club where the boys will meet you there. Have fun!” The line goes dead before I can respond.

“Okay, time to call Millie,” I say out loud as I begin to brace myself.

After hearing Millie scream and jump up and down for about five minutes straight, I calmly tell her the plan. She continues to freak out and repeat, “Am I Punk’d? Is Ashton Kutcher going to pop out of nowhere?”

Several hours later, there is a knock at my door. I open it to find Millie standing in an adorable outfit. She enters my apartment and then she gives me a huge bear hug. “What’s this for?” I ask, with a chuckle.

“For winning the contest, duh!” Millie says with a head tilt.

“I can assure you that I had no say in the matter. But I’m glad you’re excited.” I give her a wholehearted smile and we sit and talk about what we think the night is going to be like. I don’t show it but I’m extremely nervous. They are all so cute and I find that so intimidating. Even though I have an “edgy,” look, I’m really quite shy.

When the time comes, we exit my home and go down to the lobby where a black SUV is waiting for us. My anxiety begins to settle in: what if this is all a hoax just to try to sell us into sexual slavery? It may be a reach but shit like that happens all the time. I really should have checked this out before I just agreed to it. But Millie squeezes my hand and I get into the car.
The whole ride over I’m shaking—and not just from my medication. But Millie continues to calm my down by patting my shoulder and holding my hand. Just when I think I’m about to have an anxiety attack, the car stops and the driver tells me we are here. My stomach drops.

Millie opens the door to reveal the back of a club called Black Metal in downtown Grand Rapids. “Why are we in the back of the club?”

“Honey,” the drivers says in an unimpressed voice, “You’re going to be hanging out with the world’s number one boy band. They gotta protect themselves!”

“Oh… right,” Millie says with a laugh. “C’mon, Ellie, let’s go!”

I climb out of the car, thanking the driver. Still shaking like a leaf on a tree, I link arms with Millie and—with the sound of out booties clicking on the asphalt—enter the back of the club. A strange, dark man marks our hands with black X’s in industrial ink and leads us back to the VIP lounge where the guys are waiting for us.

“Hello, ladies,” Louis says with a grin. “Come on over!” He gestures with his hand for us to join them on the couches.

Millie wiggles a little bit begins to walk over but I’m a like a dead weight for her. “C’mon, Ellie, let’s go!” She murmurs under her breath.

“I don’t think I can do this!” I whisper to her with a nervous expression on my face.

Millie shakes her head. “You’re not even a fan, so let’s go.”

I shuffle over to the couches. “Hey, guys,” I say with a weak smile and a little wave. “How’s it going?”

“Quite alright,” Niall says in that adorable Irish accent of his. “How about yourself?”

“I’m fine, thanks for asking,” I say.

“Would you like to sit down?” Zayn asks, motioning toward the open spot next to him.
My heart skips a beat. “Sure!” I say almost too loudly. I nestle myself between Zayn and Liam and fold my hands on my lap, trying my best not to touch either guy.

The seven of us continue to talk for a while. I grow more comfortable being in a social situation of this magnitude. The guys ask us how old we are; I reply with 18 and Millie with 19. We explain to them that I’m from Grand Rapids and Millie is originally from Kalamazoo—about an hour away. Luckily, the guys don’t ask us where we met, for that might make the night a bit awkward.

“Well, I’m bored,” Louis announces, clapping his hand together.

Niall elbows him in the side. “Be nice!”

“What? I’m just ready to get this party started. How about it then, Harry?” Louis asks with a smirk.

“I’m game if you are,” Harry replies in a low, sexy voice.

Everyone but me stands up almost in unison and that leads to everyone turning and staring at me. With my stomach starting to churn, Zayn must have sensed how anxious I am. He takes my hand. “C’mon, love,” he says with a smile and he leads me out to the dance floor.
The loud dance music bellows from the giant speakers that line the dance floor. A swiftly-dressed DJ is pumping out the tunes from a stage far to my left. The light show is incredible. Green laser beams cut through the crowd as the patrons rub up against each other in a sloshy manner.

“Let’s go!” Niall attempts to yell over the music. He sprints to the dance floor, stopping on the outskirts of the pit. He notices a girl bent over, swerving her hips and shaking her ass. Niall decides he wants to try to do the same, but fails miserably.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait a second! Let me show you how it’s done!” Millie calls out, ghetto stomping her way over to Niall. “What you gotta do is, place your hands on your knees, curve your spine in, pop your butt out and swish your hips. Like this…” Millie then twerks.

“Okay, let me try this. C’mon, boys! Come join me!” Niall requests with a laugh. Louis and Harry run over and gets into position while the rest of the guys hang out around with me.
After a thorough twerking session, Zayn turns to me. “Well, we know that Millie can dance. Can you?” I bite my lip.

“Yes, she can!” Millie practically screams. “She can dance! Show ‘em, Ellie!”

And just like that, out of nowhere, my anxiety melts away as “Candy” by Far East Movement featuring Pitbull blasts out of the speakers. I strut over to Millie, Louis, Harry and Niall. I swivel my hips as I drop it way down low. I jump back up and pop my out my butt. I lift my arms up and then rub my hands down my torso, still shaking my ass. Just then, I make eye contact with Liam. I notice him staring at me and I quickly look away, blushing.

When the song is over, I decide that I need something to drink. I leave my group behind as I head for the bar but then I feel someone beside me: Liam.

“Hey,” he says to me with a lovely smile.

“Hi,” I answer back. I get up to the bar and ask for a bottle of water.

Liam leans up against bar, trying to act all suave. “Don’t you want something a little more grown up?”

I could tell he was trying to impress me. “Uh, honey, we’re both underage in this country.” I hold up the back of my hand, where the black X still stains my skin. “Plus, I don’t drink.” I turn to walk away, feeling a little remorseful that I snapped a Liam fucking Payne.

“Fair enough,” he says, following me. “Would you like to sit down with me?” He looks down and then back up at me. “Well, you don’t have to if you don’t want to…”

I look over at the rest of our group dancing the night away and suddenly, I lost my interest to dance. “You know what? I will sit with you.” I smile.

We find a circular booth; I sit away from the stage while Liam seats himself somewhat close to me to where he can still see our group raving it up on the dance floor.

“So you’re much of a dancer?” I ask him with a smirk.

“Nah, not me. Actually, really none of us can dance. But I saw that you can dance.”

“No, not really. I’m not really a clubbing type so I really just dance alone in my room.” I take a sip of my water.

“Well, I think you’re an awesome dancer.” There is a moment of silence between us as we both scramble to figure out something to say and then he asks, “So how did you and Millie meet?”

I look away. “That, my dear sir, is confidential information,” I reply, peeling the label off the water bottle in my hands.

He gives me an unsure look. “That’s a very peculiar answer.” I just chuckle.

Liam and I continue to discuss different topics, really getting to know each other. He has me laughing and really opening up. I completely forgot that we are in a crowded club. Liam eventually puts his arm behind me and begins to flirt with me. Sadly, I’m not much of a flirter so I just giggle like a dork.

Before I know it, the rest of the group comes over to us, telling me it’s time for us to leave. Normally, I would be jumping for joy on the inside but I find myself feeling down. We walk back through the VIP area and to the alley behind the club.

Liam stops me while the rest of the group carries on to the black SUVs with the tinted windows. “I had really fun tonight.”

“Me too,” I agree with a bright smile.

“Here,” Liam whispers, handing me a piece of paper.

I open it up to find a phone number written on it. “Wow, thanks!” It has been a long time since I have gotten a guy’s number. I look up at him and give him a spontaneous peck on his cheek.

“Ellie, let’s go!” Millie yells from down the sidewalk.

“Well, I got to go. Bye!” I then leave Liam in the alley and climb into the car with Millie.

Notes

Sorry this took so long to post. I was originally not going to continue this story but then after I saw 1D in concert and my friend Molly (the girl Millie is based off of) begged me to, I decided to write more. I have quite a bit planned so stay tuned.

Ellie's Outfit: http://www.polyvore.com/ellie/set?id=88717612&lid=2689917
Millie's Outfit: http://www.polyvore.com/millie/set?id=88718777&lid=2689917