One Direction Imagines/One Shots

“THANK YOU WASHINGTON, DC! WE’LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME!” the crowd sends us ear piercing screams as the boys and I run backstage. What a night. I never get tired of the rush I feel after a concert, it’s exhilarating. The best part is that we’re never exhausted after a concert, it’s like a high, and we could go all night.
“Are you lads up for a drink tonight?” I suggest, after we’ve escaped the crowds of screaming fans and made it onto our tour bus. The boys all agree, and as soon as we are on safe grounds, we head out. Finding the most inconspicuous bars and pubs is harder than it seems, but it’s what we have to do to avoid our fans. Not that I don’t love our girls, but it’s not exactly a good setting to let loose in.
We find a small local bar, and settle down. It has worn wooden floors and walls, tables scattered around, and a bar stretching the full length of the room. The lads and I settle at the bar, and order ourselves some drinks.
“You planning on finding anyone tonight?” Zayn asked, handing me a tall glass of beer. I shrug, I’m not sure if I want to flirt around tonight. It starts to get old after a while, but the idea of settling down terrifies me.
After having a couple beers, I walk over to the jukebox. I’m concentrating on the music when I hear a teasing voice behind me.
“You know, you’ve been hovering over that jukebox for a good 10 minutes while I’ve just been waiting here for you to finish.” I turn around and face whoever it is, but I’m stunned before I can even come back with something witty. My God. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Her long brown locks flow freely down her back in a way that makes them look effortless, and her eyes are big and curious. I open my mouth to talk, but nothing comes out.
“Are you just gonna stand there or….?” I snap out of it and quickly move aside to make room for her. She leans over the jukebox and starts scrolling through the music, as if I’m not still standing there. Her focus is undeniable, and she has an air of seriousness that intimidates me. She’s like no other woman I’ve ever talked to.
I have got to have her.
“Is there a reason you’re still standing here?” Now she’s standing up straight and facing me, one hand on her hip and the other still resting on the jukebox. Again, I’m at a loss for words. This never happens to me, I ALWAYS know what to say.
“I just wanted to see what you would choose to play, that’s all.” She looks at me like she’s sizing me up, and then goes back to the music. I’m losing this one, I’ve got to get my game back on track.
“What’s your name?” I start with, hoping it’ll open her up.
“What’s it to you?” Looks like this will be harder than I thought. I clear my throat and lean in to watch her scroll through the music. She shifts to the side, farther away from me.
“I was just curious. Anything you’re looking for in particular?” I ask.
“What are you, some sort of attendant for the jukebox?” I’m taken aback by how hard to get she’s playing, but I don’t give up, and I won’t walk away from this one.
“No, just an interested bystander. You never did tell me your name.”
“It’s Rachel, now could you give me some space?” I back up a bit, so that I’m not hovering over her shoulder, but I don’t leave. Instead I take her all in, starting at her chipping nail polish on her toes, up her long legs in her tight skinny jeans, all the way to her stormy blue eyes. Damn.
“Are you done checking me out yet?” Her voice has an annoyance to it, but I also hear a smile in it.
“And what if I’m not?” She looks up at me, eyebrows raised. She quickly clicks a couple buttons on the jukebox and “Hey Jude” by The Beatles starts to play. I nod at her approvingly, surprised by her excellent music choice.
“Why do you look so surprised? What, a girl can’t have good music taste?” I put my hands up in mocking defense.
“Hey, I never said that. So tell me Rachel, what are you doing all alone in this little old bar?” She laughs, shaking her head.
“You’re a persistent one, aren’t you?” She starts walking towards the bar, and takes a seat at one of the stools. I quickly follow her and take the seat next to her.
“That’s what I’m known for, yes. But you never answered my question, what are you doing here all alone?” She orders a coke and rum, and then turns to face me.
“Who said I needed anyone to go out?” She’s a feisty one, and I’m not sure how to react to half the things she says. I clear my throat, trying to fill the awkward silence.
“Look, I’m not usually this lousy at flirting with a woman, but I’m just taken aback that someone as beautiful as you is out all alone on a Saturday night.” She smiles at me with an amused look on her face.
“You’re not used to being turned down, are you?” In the back of my mind I start to wonder if she even knows who I am. And I mean that in the least conceded way as possible. I kind of like being anonymous.
“I’m Niall, by the way.” She nods, and I know she has no idea who I am. She sips her drink, glancing over at me from time to time.
“So Niall, what are YOU doing out here, all by your lonesome self?” I glance at the other side of the room, where the boys are lollygagging by the pool table. I nod over in their direction.
“I’m not alone; I’m here with my mates.” She giggles at my accent, and I take that as a good sign.
“Your mates? Interesting. What’s someone with an accent like yours doing in D.C.?” She finally seems interested in our conversation, and I start to lean in to get closer to her.
“We’re in a band; we just finished a show here. Have you heard of One Direction?” I wait for the recognition to show on her face, but it never does.
“Oh, a band. Where did you play?” I give her a weird look, but I continue talking anyway.
“The Verizon Center.” Her eyes bug out and she chokes on her drink a little. It dribbles onto her lap and I quickly grab a napkin and hand it over to her.
“The Verizon Center? Were you an opening act or something?” I can’t help but laugh at her bemused expression, and I shake my head.
“No, it’s our show. We’re quite popular actually, mostly with teen girls. I’m surprised you’ve never heard of us.” She studies my face, maybe trying to see if she’s ever seen my face, but nothing registers.
“I guess I need to start listening to the radio more often.” She still looks baffled and I take the opportunity to try and win her over.
“Yeah, it gets a little crazy on tour, with just us boys. I love my job and being on the road, but I miss being, well, normal.” She gives me a genuine smile this time.
“I bet.” She puts some money down on the bar and starts to get up off her seat.
“Wait, where are you going?” She starts putting her jacket on, stops, and looks at me.
“I’m leaving.”
“You can’t leave; we were just starting to talk.” She’s starting towards the door so I follow her out the bar and onto the street. She’s walking at a brisk pace, clearly trying to lose me.
“Look, I have a lot of stuff to do tonight. I just want to get some coffee and go home.” I speed up so that I’m ahead of her, and stop her in her tracks.
“How about I buy you your coffee? I just want to sit down and talk, and then if you’re still not interested, I’ll leave you alone.” She seems to weigh her options, and then rolls her eyes.
“Alright fine, just follow me.” I walk next to her down the streets, trying to keep my head low. The last thing I need right now is a herd of fan girls scaring Rachel off. We end up in a small 24 hour coffee shop on a mostly deserted street corner, and we sit down at a small table. I order us both coffee, and she sighs heavily, placing her chin in her hand.
“So what is it you want to talk about, Niall?” It’s hard to focus with her staring at me like that, especially with that sexy grin on her face. I play it cool, taking a gulp of my coffee.
“First, I want to know why you were alone at that bar.” I get yet another roll of the eyes.
“Alright, I was waiting for someone, okay?” I look at her confused, and I realize by the pained look on her face she must have been stood up tonight.
“And they never showed?” She shook her head, and suddenly became very interested in her coffee.
“Not that I care.” She adds, even though it’s clear that she cares very much.
“Well, whoever left you waiting missed out.” I got another real smile out of her for the second time.
“I figured he wouldn’t show up, I wasn’t surprised to be sitting alone all night.” She won’t look me in the eye, and the snarky undertone she’s had all night has quickly faded.
“Why do you figure that?” She twists the ends of her hair on her finger tips; clearly nervous about discussing whoever it is she’s about to tell me about.
“Someone I’ve known for a long, long time. It’s always been complicated.” I shake my head; they good girls are always in a “complicated” relationship.
“That’s bullshit. If he can’t take you seriously you can find someone who actually treats you like you deserve.” She giggles, and it’s the cutest sound to ever escape a human mouth. Everything she does makes me smile.
She goes on to tell me about her job at a magazine publishing company, and her dreams to be an aspiring journalist. The “complicated” guy doesn’t believe her job is “practical”. I told her he was a moron and she could be anything she wants to be. I got my third real smile for that one.
Listening to her talk is easy, it feels like second nature. I tell her about what it’s like on tour, how it feels to be well, famous. She listens in a way that most people don’t, she seems to actually care. I feel a connection that I’ve only felt with my closest friends. I talk to women all the time when I’m out, but it’s never felt the way this feels. I’ve never wanted the conversation to never end, and I never want this one to end.
“Would you like to walk me home, Niall?” We walk several blocks to a small apartment complex, then up 3 flights of stairs to her door. We stand in silence for an awkward amount of time, before I finally decide to speak.
“You know, when I noticed you I was taken aback by how beautiful you were, and don’t even think about rolling your eyes at me. I’m serious. Whoever this “complicated” guy is doesn’t deserve you, and I’m sorry he left you sitting all alone tonight.”
“I’m not.” I look at her confused.
“You’re not what?”
“I’m not sorry he didn’t show up, because then I wouldn’t have met you.” Our eyes lock and I feel that instant connection from before. My heart is pounding and I’m worried because I’ve never felt nervous about telling a woman goodnight. I run my hand through my hair, unsure of what to do next. She notices my discomfort and laughs. Next thing I know, her lips are pressed against mine, and we’re kissing. Starting out as a peck, I get lost in her, and my arm loops around her waist. Her soft lips part and it goes from a peck to something more. I pull her closer, and she melts into me. Our lips move in rhythm with one another, almost like it was meant to be.
She pulls away slightly, so that the tips of our noses are touching. I can’t help but break a smile, and I get my fourth real smile of the night.
“Call me sometime, Niall.” That mischievous grin is back, and before I can even stop her, she’s opening her apartment door and heading inside. Still in shock, I watch as the door begins to close, but not before I catch her smiling for the fifth time that night.

Notes