HARRY'S P.O.V.

It had only been a day since I had last seen Piper. A day! I didn't want to seem too attached so I only texted her when we had arrived in Miami. Last night was awful. I couldn't sleep! The show went well but then I ended up getting drunk, all by myself. Well, Niall joined me at first but passed out on the couch three drinks in. I was surprised that I refrained from blowing her phone up all night since apparently I woke up all of the guys, one by one, begging them to spend time with me. Actually, come to think of it, she was probably only saved from it because I couldn't find my phone until the next morning. Regardless, I was lonely. And I didn't like that. I didn't like relying on one person to make me happy. What was it going to be like when weeks started to pass between each time we saw each other. I shuddered at the thought and pulled my phone out. It had been blowing up all day, just like always but there were no new messages that I wanted to look at. She was still at her aunt and uncle's house and could have even been sleeping still. Why did I care? We were getting to know each other; not getting married. I put my phone down before I lost all of my dignity. Louis got out of his bunk and sat next to me on the bus couch.

"Morning.... or afternoon rather. Why are you awake right now; you're the reason we're all taking naps."

Louis yawned and gave me a glare but I honestly didn't really feel sorry. All of us guys have had nights like that.

"I can't sleep. But, it's alright. It'll get better. Won't it Lou?"

"Yeah, it will. It'll just take some time. Plus, what better distraction could you have than a worldwide stadium tour with millions of people counting on you to show up every day?"

I wasn't really sure if he was trying to be helpful or not, but I still couldn't stop thinking about Piper.

"It's not really working as a good enough distraction anymore. I don't have to think much about it until I'm on stage and that leaves hours sitting here. Thinking."

I rested my forehead in the palm of my hand, which was propped up on my knee. With my free hand, I picked my phone up again. I finally had a message I cared to read.

*FROM: Piper
Hope you are having a good day. We're on our way home. Call me when you have some time to chat ;)*

I didn't even care how desperate I looked; I scrolled to her name and pressed 'call' immediately. After a few rings, she answered.

"Well, that was fast."

Her giggle forced a smile onto my grim face.

"Tour buses aren't nearly as fun as they're cracked up to be. How has your day been?"

"Great! We took my cousins to the beach this morning so that my aunt and uncle could have some time to themselves and then we packed up to leave and got on the road about a half an hour ago. Where are you guys headed today?"

"Erm, Tampa?"

I looked at Louis and he gave me a nod of approval before climbing back into his bed.

"Really? That's so close to us! I really wish I could see you."

"Sorry, I don't know where things are in Florida. It's close to you? How close?"

"Well, about an hour and a half!"

"What? Why don't you come to the show tonight?"

She sighed into the phone. That wasn't a good sign.

"I can't. I have to go home because I have class in the morning."

Class? I thought she was older? What if she was under age? How didn't I think of that before? She seemed older!

"Class, eh?"

"Yeah, that probably sounded a bit weird, huh? I'm in college, well university I guess to you!"

She laughed when I let out a sigh of relief and I couldn't help but join her.

"What are you going to school for?"

I leaned back into the couch and rested my free arm across my waist, getting comfortable. I wanted to talk to her for a while.

"Well, pediatric psychology. I want to end up working in a school, helping kids who don't get enough attention and wouldn't get emotional help otherwise."

"That's very noble of you. You're going to make me look like a cocky, selfish bastard standing next to you."

"Oh, come on. Everyone knows you have a huge heart. You donate money that I could never dream of having access to."

"Hypothetically, if you had a lot of money, what cause would it go toward?"

"Wow, erm, probably the Save the Children foundation. They help protect children around the world that are much less fortunate, many living in war zones and such."

I grabbed a notebook off of the table next to me an jotted it down, without her realizing that I was distracted.

"That's a great cause, yeah. You know what? We really don't know anything about each other. How would you like to play 21 questions?"

"Yeah! That sounds like fun! You start."

I put a pillow down on one end of the couch and laid down on it, placing my feet on the other end, where they dangled over the edge.

"Alright, when's your birthday? And before you ask mine back, it's February 1, 1994."

"Sadly, I already knew your birthday which makes me a bit of a cougar, I suppose. Mine is February 6, 1992."

"Ah, you know, it isn't really true, what they say about me liking older women."

"Well, then. I'll definitely help clear your name in the tabloids. I can see it now 'HARRY STYLES FINALLY DATES SOMEONE CLOSE TO HIS OWN AGE.'"

We both laughed. She was actually younger than most of the girls I had been with. Age just honestly doesn't matter to me.

"Ha. Ha. It's your turn."

"Okay, hmm. This is difficult. I can Google anything I want to know."

"See, that's just not true. Sure, you can find out facts and probably my birth certificate, but think deeper here."

"Well, alright. If you weren't in One Direction and you never tried out for the X Factor, where would you be right now? I know, you have probably been asked that in interviews but I want a detailed answer."

I thought about it and my mind automatically went to Andrea. God, what the fuck, Harry? You can't tell her about that over the phone. Besides, it was too soon.

"Well, I would have just graduated, so I'd probably be at university like you. I don't know what I would study. I only ever wanted to sing. Maybe I would have tried to get into a performing arts academy or something but I probably would have tried to be a lawyer."

"And I would have never met you. What's your favorite thing to do?"

"Hold your horses! It's my turn...." I thought for a couple seconds, "What's your favorite thing to do? Besides snogging me, of course."

"Very funny, you might not need help looking like a cocky, selfish bastard."

We both chuckled before she continued.

"Travelling. It's my favorite. I wish I could just own an apartment in ten different cities throughout the world."

She sounded as though she was thinking really hard about it, her voice starting to sound melodic and dreamy.

"That would be my answer, too. Before the band, I probably would have just said something silly like football with friends, but I just didn't realize how much I was missing out on. I wish I could just be on permanent holiday."

"Isn't that basically what your job is?"

"Well, sort of. It's definitely the next best thing. But, I would love to own flats all over like you would and actually be able to live in them all, just like alternate every month or so."

"Wouldn't that be nice."

She was cut off by something that Riley said and then it was her voice that was ringing in my ear.

"Alright, look. You guys can talk when we get home. It is very lonely to sit here driving while Piper's on the phone with you. I can't even listen to your CD!"

I snorted and she gave the phone back to Piper.

"Guess we better listen to the person in charge of my life at the moment. I'll text you, Harry. Oh, and sorry that I can't come tonight. I really wish that I could but I'm so exhausted and I know I'll sleep through my alarm if I do."

"It's okay. I'll think of you during a couple songs. Only a couple, you got that? Besides, tomorrow we'll be in Orlando and I'm hoping we can stay together after the show, what do you think?"

I could hear her smile as she spoke.

"Of course, Harry. I can't wait."

It was silent for a few seconds until she continued.

"It was really nice to just talk to you."

"Yeah, don't get used to it yet, we have one more night together before we do too much talking."

"You're such a guy.... Oh, Riley says to tell Liam hello and that she'll see him tomorrow."

"Alright, I will. Goodbye, love."

"OH! Wait. One more question. What is your tattoo of?" I almost forgot to ask her.

"You noticed that, huh? Beatles quote. 'Living is easy with eyes closed.'"

"That's awesome. I can't wait to get a better look at it. Goodbye, love."

"Bye, babe."

I hung up feeling a lot better than I did before. Sure, I wouldn't see her that night but I did have the next one to look forward too. Maybe that's how I'll have to take it. One planned meeting at a time. Great. But, her tattoo. I love it! The Beatles are a legend; an inspiration really. But, why such a sad lyric? She seemed to be a lot more complex than I thought. That was a good thing though.

Liam jumped out of bed and stretched his arms, yawning.

"Was that Piper? Are they coming tonight?"

"Yeah, it was her but they can't make it. Riley said to tell you hi and she'd see you tomorrow."

He grinned and pulled his phone out of his pocket.

"Li, she's driving. Call later."

He scowled and shoved his phone back in his pocket. We were going to be on stage in another six hours so we needed to get off the bus and start sound check.

"COME ON BOYS, LET'S GET TO WOOOORK!"

I always found amusement in waking the guys up that way. I felt a pillow hit my head and they all remained exactly where they were. At least I was in a better mood than before.

Notes

I will probably post more later today so if you want me to, please comment <3 Oh, and take a moment to adore this picture of a silly Harry ;)