Piper's POV:

What the hell were we doing? Erick had told us long before One Direction arrived that we were not to interact with them unsupervised. And here we were, about to interact with them, unsupervised.
When the elevator arrived at their floor, we paused before getting out. I glanced a Sky, who looked worried. This was the first time we’d ever broken any of Erick’s rules. It was a great feeling, but it also made us a little nervous. What if Erick had placed video cameras around the apartments?
We went up to the guys’ apartment, apartment 1103. Ours was 1203, so I assumed this had to be theirs. Especially because I could hear them laughing and talking loudly through the door.
Skylar took a deep breath before knocking on the door.
“What? Oh, it’s them. Shhh, lads,” I heard Louis say, and then it sounded like a stampede was coming at the door. We glanced at each other nervously. What the heck was going on?
Niall was the one who opened it. He smiled at Skylar as he said, “Hey! Come on in!”
He grabbed Sky’s hand and pulled her in. She giggled for a second before glancing back at me. I smiled at her, and nodded for her to go on. I followed them inside.
It was like our apartment, architecturally speaking. It still had the same big living room opening into the dining room and small kitchen. Furniture-wise, the boys had chosen less modern furniture – the kind of furniture you’d expect to see in a suburban home. There was a plush sofa, a wooden coffee table, and an easy chair. They had a similar wide-screen TV connected to an Xbox. Zayn and Harry were playing a game – FIFA, I think – and they were really into it. Louis and Liam were standing a few feet away from the door, smiling awkwardly.
“Hey, you made it,” said Louis, enveloping me in a hug. I don’t know why he was so friendly to me – we had only laughed a bit in the restaurant. But I hugged him back anyways. It was only right to do so.
Liam smiled and nodded upwards.
“Reagan asleep?” he asked, an awkward smile forming on his lips.
I nodded.
“Yeah, she wasn’t feeling too good,” I admitted. It wasn’t an exact lie; Reagan wasn’t feeling good. Just not the way I was implying.
“That’s too bad. I was hoping she’d come down and hang with us,” said Liam a little sadly. I smiled apologetically. Poor guy. He had no idea what he was getting into with Reagan.
Louis slung his arm around me.
“So, what d’you want to do? We have FIFA,” he said, gesturing at the TV. “…or we have some more beer if you’re still thirsty.” He had a devilish glint in his eye, and I laughed.
“I’m underage, unfortunately,” I admitted. “Not that I wouldn’t go for that.”
“Then why not? It’s not like you’re going to get caught or anything!” laughed Louis. “C’mon, do it. Please?”
I glanced back at Skylar. She and Niall were talking on the far end of the couch. She was smiling broadly, looking completely at ease. I was glad that part of the plan was working.
“Fine. Like you said, why not?” I said, trying to be cool. If this were any other person, I would never do this, but since it was Louis…well…I wasn’t going to let my morals stop me.
“Great. I’ll grab the beers and we can drink it out on the balcony in my room,” said Louis, rushing off before I could stop him. If anything, I didn’t want to be alone with Louis because I knew I’d be reckless. I needed Skylar’s presence to ground me down. But Louis was so sweet, and I’m sure nothing would happen…
Louis came back with the beer, grinning from ear to ear.
“You ready?” he asked.
“All set,” I replied, smiling. He nodded towards the hallway and I followed him into what would be my room. He had decorated it in reds and dark blues, and it was pretty modern. There were a few framed pictures on his night stand; one of him and Harry – I guess they were good friends – and him and a tall, slim girl with wavy brown hair who I assumed was Eleanor. I tried not to look obvious as I peered at the picture. She was way prettier than me, plus skinnier. I felt mildly self-conscious as I followed Louis out onto the balcony.
“You know…my balcony is right above yours,” I said, peering upwards. You couldn’t really see, but I saw some of my plants sticking over the edge of the balcony above.
“Really? So you have, like, basically the same room as me?” asked Louis incredulously.
“Yeah, though I can say, your room is a lot different from mine,” I admitted. It was true. My room was painted a light green, with a white fluffy bedspread, antique furniture, and old, 17th century style lamps. I had a canopy bed, and gauzy curtains that fluttered when I left my windows open.
“I’d like to see it sometime,” said Louis, not looking at me. I nodded in response. I’m sure he didn’t mean it in a sexual way, I was sure of it.
We sat down at a table for two. Louis cracked open a bottle for me and handed it to me. He got out his own and clinked it against mine.
“Cheers, mate,” he said, his eyes glinting in the near-dark. The outside lights were on, and the sound of traffic floated up here from below. The air was summer-warm, and I felt a little tingly as I sipped the beer. It didn’t taste half as bad as it did in the restaurant.
“So…” said Louis, leaning in. “What’s your favorite band?”
I thought for a moment.
“Hm…hard to say. I like lots of different music. Mainly pop, to be honest, but I like a few indie bands,” I replied honestly. During interviews, I always said it was the Beatles and kept it at that.
“Like what?” he asked.
“I like Mumford and Sons, they’re pretty good. Um…Bastille I guess. And I love the Mowglis, they are amazing,” I replied.
“Wow, you have interesting taste,” he said, smiling.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I laughed.
“Nothing, it’s just strange that you’d like pop and indie. Most people only like one or the other,” he said.
I laughed.
“I’m different, I guess,” I admitted. “I’ve always been a little different from everyone else, to be honest.”
“I can tell. You’re not like the rest of your band,” said Louis, his face growing serious.
I sighed.
“I know. I’m always the one making sure they don’t do anything stupid,” I said sadly.
“You never have time to be yourself,” he said for me.
I nodded.
“You need to loosen up, have some fun. It never hurts to have fun,” said Louis, smiling again.
“I wish. Scarlett is constantly talking back to Erick, Lucy’s retreating into her shell, Skylar doesn’t think at all before she acts, and Reagan…Reagan just doesn’t want to follow the rules,” I sighed.
“What’s wrong with her?” asked Louis. I glanced up. He looked generally concerned.
“She’s not eating,” I said. “She’s never been fat, but she’s never been like drop-dead skinny. And I think the media is getting to her. She’s constantly giving out her number to random guys, she’s seeing her ex-boyfriend who uses her…plus she drinks and parties all the time…” I stopped and looked at the beer in my hand. “But I shouldn’t talk I guess.”
Louis laughed.
“Drinking-wise, no, you shouldn’t. But that’s tough. What’s gotten her into this?” asked Louis.
“I don’t know…I think it might be the fact that we’re always being watched, and there’s this constant pressure to look good…she once got put on some fashion police column, and it was after that she stopped eating.”
Louis nodded sympathetically.
“You have a lot to worry about,” he said.
“I just want her to be happy,” I replied, looking at the stars. They were dim because we were in New York City, but I could make out the brightest ones.
“Are you happy?” asked Louis out of the blue.
“Why do you ask that?” I asked, startled.
“I don’t know, you’re worrying so much about Reagan’s happiness that it seems like you’re taking too much time away from yourself. You don’t really have a chance to be happy,” he said.
“Since when did you analyze people?” I asked a little haughtily. I didn’t like it when people tried to diagnose me.
“I don’t. It’s just my own opinion, based off what you told me,” said Louis, taking a sip out of his second beer bottle. I was on my second too, and I was starting to feel a little dizzy.
I giggled.
“What is your opinion of me?” I asked a little dazed. I felt like a big curtain had been draped over me, and I was struggling to get out of it.
Louis leaned in, his breath warm.
“I think, lass, that you are drunk,” he said, before kissing me full on the lips.