Niall’s view:
I never thought I would say this but video games got boring. I resorted to YouTube. I watched funny videos of us and tried to comprehend what we were thinking in that moment. I watched how to dance videos and couldn’t understand how to dance. On the right column there were suggested videos and as I scrolled through I saw a picture of her. I clicked the video and saw a mob all around her. The camera was shaking badly and it looked scary. Soon it ended. I looked at another one and this was of her dancing in the park. She was working the media well because there was a nice crowd around her. She looked flawless as usual. I clicked another one and it was the same dance, different angle, and different user that posted it. I sat up and focused more on my laptop. This video was taken today. She was here in L.A., which I knew, but she was blocks away from me. That was a game changer. It was around noon. Tomorrow at noon I could go there and see if she’s there.
“Come in.” I said after the faint knock.
“I can't it's locked.” Harry said.
“Oh yeah.” I tossed the laptop to the side and opened the door. Harry shut it when he came in. “What's up??” I asked. I felt pretty good about my plan to talk to her. I bet this anxiety would go away and I would have her then –
“You have Liam fooled but I'm not that stupid.” Harry blurted out.
“What are you talking about??” Playing dumb never gets you anywhere.
“I know you like this girl. I saw the way you looked at her at the VMA’s; it was the way I looked when I saw Chase. I know.”
“If you're going to lecture me I don’t want to hear it.” I spat.
“I'm not going to lecture. I want to be your wingman.” Harry said sitting on the bed. Great.
“Why??” This was stupid but if anyone could get a girl the right way it's Harry.
“Well, I know you are still suffering from your anxiety and you seem to be pretty down because of this girl. I bet if you got talking to her you wouldn’t be so unhappy.” Harry had the right thinking but I was taught your happiness comes from yourself and not others.
“And if it doesn’t work??” I asked.
“Good luck.” He punched my arm then noticed the laptop out. He picked it up and set it on his lap. “What's this??” He asked with a teasing tone.
“That’s nothing.” I tried to shut it but he stopped me and pushed replay. I heard the song Bounce playing softly and his face was soft with a smile.
“You are pathetic.” He joked.
“Stop.” I blushed.
“This is sad.” He kept watching her though.
“Look, I just wanted to find out her name and that popped up.” Lying gets you nowhere.
“Liar. You had to see her dance.” He paused and watched for a minute. “She is really good.” He said again.
“I know. I watched videos on how to do those moves and it's impossible.” I chuckled because I was pathetic.
“Time to eat!” Louis yelled outside my door.
“Let’s eat and then we can talk about a plan.” Harry stood up.
“I have one.” I smiled feeling better about this. At the dinner table everyone was eating silently. No one wanted to say anything because it was awkward. Dinner sometimes is like this for reasons. This time it was my fault. Other times it's because Liam and Zayn had a fight. It's hard to take the silence when it's your fault.
“Where is Zayn??” I asked.
“He isn’t eating with us because he and someone had a date.” Liam said after a gulp.
“Perrie??” Louis asked.
“Not sure. He told me he doesn’t want anyone to know because he doesn’t know if it will last long.” Liam informed our quiet table.
“How is El??” Harry asked Lou.
“She is great. She is sick and feels crappy but I bring her, her favourite soup every day.” Louis is a sap, always has been.
“What about you Niall?? Any luck on that dancer??” Louis passed the conversation my way. I stiffened and Harry did too.
“There isn’t anything going on with her. I mean she is cute but I don’t like her. I know nothing about her to like her.” Good save and calm one at that.
“At the VMA’s you looked smitten.” Liam cooed.
“Like I said she's cute.”
“Cute is an understatement Niall. If I wasn’t with El I would tap that. She is someone I would want to just pull an all-nighter with.” Louis was gushing about her looks.
“You think she's that hot??” Liam asked.
“Don’t you??” Louis asked him. I watched them intently back and forth as they spoke about her.
“Yeah, but she isn’t that hot. I would do the deed with her but I wouldn’t want to date her. Is that wrong??” Liam asked Harry.
“Yeah.” He grunted out. He knew what was coming. I wanted to blow up and tell them not to talk about her like that but I can't. They would know I like her and haven’t even formally met her.
“Harry you can't say you don’t want to do her.” Louis said rolling his eyes.
“I mean, I want to, but I would at least like to know her first.” Harry looked at me apologetically. I nodded.
“Niall you ok?? You got quiet once we started talking about your crush.” Louis was being like this on purpose.
“I'm fine.” I strained out.
“I'm going out tonight. Who is coming with??” Harry asked changing the subject.
“I'll go.” Louis said.
“I'm in.” Liam smiled as he stood up.
“I think I'll hold down the house.” I smiled a devious smile. I was going to have my own little party.
“It's settled.” Louis said standing up as well. “Niall has dish duty.” They rushed off to get around as I took care of their plates and silverware. They left out of the house one by one waving to me. I waved back and then proceeded to do the dishes no one in this house takes the time to clean. Once I was done I headed upstairs with my prune-y fingers and grabbed the laptop. I typed her name into Google and started to stalk her. I wasn’t going to let her get away. As I pulled up a picture I heard a knock on the door. Who would be here?? I glanced at the picture and saw it was still loading exceptionally slow so I ran down the stairs to answer.
“Hey!” A short, long haired, brunette said cheerful.
“Selena??” I hugged her and twirled her around.
“Horan!” She laughed.
“What are you here for??” I asked.
“Tour is getting pushed off for a few dates and I thought I would visit the ole big house.” She smiled stepping in.
“How long are you here??” I asked happy to see her. She is great for advice.
“Just tonight and some of tomorrow, then it's off to work.” She frowned.
“Hey at least we can hang out.” I suggested.
“That’s why I'm here!” She said happy again.
“So what do you want to do??” I then realized I had no life.
“Well, I was hoping to stay in tonight and just relax.” She sat on the couch.
“Well you can help me stalk someone.” I proposed.
“Horan has a crush??” She smiled cheekily.
“You can't tell anyone.” I was nervous she would get mad because if Harry was right she liked me. I hope he's wrong.
“Of course.” She smiled sincerely making me feel better.
“Her name’s Izallouis.” I said walking up the stairs with Selena following.
“Like the dancer??” She was smiling really wide now.
“Yeah.” I blushed.
“Horan you have competition.” She sounded sad.
“What do you mean??” I asked closing the door behind her when she was in my room.
“Justin has taking a liking to her.” She looked genuinely sad about it.
“No he hasn’t. He wants you back.” I tried to cheer her up.
“Have you seen the pictures??” She looked like she was about to cry. My heart ached at her look. Then I registered what she asked me.
“What pictures??” I asked now scared it was true.
“Here.” She took my laptop and clicked around. Her eyes sulked even more and glossed over. This wasn’t going to be good. “Does this look like he wants me??” She asked me handing me the laptop.
“Are you kidding me??” There Justin was on the counter and Izallouis kissing him with her back to the camera. It looked like more than one of those tiny pecks and they looked like they were enjoying themselves. I clicked the picture to open up the news article and read about it. It was talking mainly about her and how she was new to the industry and getting Justin’s attention was a big thing for her career. I got pissed with every word I read but I didn’t stop. There was a whole album dedicated to them. Most of them were from lunch earlier today with Ryan and someone no one knows.
“I think they are dating.” Selena was trying her hardest not to cry.
“Come here.” I held her under my arm. She finally cried and her makeup went to shit. This was all shit. Justin said I would love her. He might have meant that as a friend but then he takes her before anyone else can have her.
“I want to get him back.” Selena said through sobs.
“Well he told me a few days ago over text if I would talk to you for him. He told me he wants you back so all we need to do is make him jealous.”
“Niall you're brilliant!” She smiled up and me.
“What??” I was lost at my brilliance.
“You and I fake date to make them both jealous!” She sounded devious enough to actually pull it off.
“Selena that is rash. We should just talk to him. I'm sure something is going on that we don’t know about.” I reasoned.
“Niall, he is with her. Kissing isn’t something you just do to anyone.” She had a very logical point but paps take anything and everything they can get.
“I'm not dating you. I'll call him.” I pulled out my phone and dialed his number. It rang, and rang, and rang until his voicemail popped up. I looked at her biting my nails.
“He didn’t answer.” She stood up and started to pace.
“We could go to his hotel.” I suggested. I was going to get her back with Justin so Izallouis could be with me.
“Yes.” She was sniffling again. I grabbed a jacket for her and handed it to her. She took it and put it on. We walked out to the car and got in. We were on a mission so there was no time to talk. I sped to his hotel which was considerably far. We pulled up and parked. There weren’t many paps out right now because someone was having a party and they needed to get every picture they could of famous people drunk. Chances are Louis and Harry would show up in pictures tomorrow.
“Justin Bieber's room??” I asked the lady at the check in and out desk.
“You are??” She asked even though she knew.
“Niall.” I said. She flipped through a list and nodded.
“He's in room 268.” I started to walk with Selena but she grunted. “She isn’t on the list.”
“I don’t care. She is coming up there.” I continued to walk. The lady was too gob smacked at my attitude to do anything. Selena was holding my hand as I pulled her around the hotel looking for his room. I stopped at the correct door and knocked. There wasn’t an answer. I knocked again. There wasn’t an answer. “He’s not here.” I said looking at her. This was a problem and something neither of us thought about.
“Let’s just go back to your house.” She said with a smile for me.
“We could wait but –”
“No, I want to go home. Your home.” She smiled.
“I'll call him again and see where he is at.” I said taking her back to the lobby. There were a few paps outside but not too many. We walked right past them holding hands and got into the car. Driving off was hard because they were crowding the car but we managed to get on a stretch of road and take off. I pulled out my phone and called him again.
“Still no answer??” Selena knew when I put the phone in my lap.
“Look at my messages, he said he wants you back so I highly doubt those pictures were real.” I tossed her my phone. She read my phone screen intently as I pulled into the drive.
“I just want to go to bed.” She gave me the phone back.
“Ok, go to my room. I'll be up in a minute.” I said opening the door. She walked upstairs as I called him again.

Notes