Erica's POV

I can't believe I only have a week of classes left. These three weeks have passed by so quickly. Time with Ian has passed by so quickly. I've been consumed by him, in a good way. We work on projects together, we spend so much time together. He's been a huge help in adjusting to the city. Yes Heath and Kristen are around but Kristen is working at a dental office, Heath is off on location and I feel bad interrupting any time they get to spend together. So Ian is there to assist.

We have one week of classes left, a week off, then I start at the Historical Society. I'm thrilled, I've been there a few times just to check it out and I love it. I love the feel of it, it feels old, just the way I like things.

I haven't talked to Niall in probably a week. The longest I've gone without speaking to him in a while. I know he's started back up with the American leg of the tour. It's safe to say I've missed him dearly but I keep trying to push on. Telling myself over and over again that he doesn't like me like that anymore, and that's okay. Not everyone I meet is going to share my feelings.

Ian likes me, I know he does. He's so thoughtful, opening doors for me, paying attention to the way I like my tea, waiting for me when class gets out, he's always holding my hand and laughing at my terrible jokes. I like him, just not like that. I want to, I want to so bad. But my feelings for Niall are just not over yet, as much as I want them to be gone. I've been embarrassed too much by Niall, I shouldn't like him like that still.

I'm meeting up with Ian tonight for drinks, well him having drinks, I can get into a place but I'll just be having water. It doesn't bother me, we'll be meeting some of his friends as well. Heath is on location once again, Kristen is working, so it's just me in this place.

I fiddle with my phone before I decide to call my mom. It's been a while since I've spoken with her, it helps that now were only three hour time difference away. It rings twice before she picks up.

“How's my favorite New Yorker?” She giggles and I instantly smile. As much as my mother and I are different, she's still my mom.

“Hi mom. How are you? How's California?” I ask pacing around the kitchen.

“California is beautiful, like always, I've got a nice tan to return with. And your class? Internship hasn't started yet, right?” She asks, I can picture her face, trying to think of my schedule.

“Not for another two weeks. Class is good, I've only got a week left. Ian and I are hanging out tonight with some of his friends.” I've told her about Ian so I don't have to explain all of that.

“Well that sounds like fun. I've heard Simon talking about the boys playing in Jersey next week. Are you going?”

I let out a huff. “Um, yeah, Niall invited me, I haven't really decided if I want to go or not.” I tell her truthfully, no sense of hiding from my mom.

“Why not? You and all of them are all friends right?” I can hear her wrestling around with some papers, opening windows of some sort.

“Well yes we're friends, it's just a drive, and the thought of standing with thousands of screaming girls is never my idea of fun. I've been to their concerts before.” I've gone to their shows in London every time they have one, except this last one.

“Erica June Crowe, just go. It will be fun. Invite Ian, Kristen, and Heath.” I laugh at the thought of Heath and Ian attending a One Direction concert.

“It's just, I don't know, things with N-”

“Oh, I've got to go Erica, I'm needed, I'll talk to you later!” The phone beeps in my ear singling that she's hung up before I've even had a chance to explain my story. She has no clue of my feelings of Niall. As far as I know she doesn't, but moms usually know things you don't tell them.

I flip through the channels of mindless tv, commercial breaks over here are forever long. I swear, more commercials than actual shows or movie. I decided to start getting ready for the night, I've picked up some more clothes at H&M, my new favorite store for cheap clothes, including some dresses that I've decided I need to wear more of.

I take the time to carefully curl my hair, leaving it in lose waves and painting my lips red for the night. I pull out a short black dress with sleeves and my higher heals. I love dressing up with the occasion calls for it. Ian isn't picking me up tonight, I'd rather he did but the bar is only a few blocks from where I live so it shouldn't take me long to walk and it's still warm outside.

The three flights of steps are getting easier to run up and down, I'm not close to running a marathon or even a half but it is getting easier. I love how alive this city is at night. It's alive all the time, it really is the city that never sleeps. I walk with a bit of a crowd, even if this city is large I'm still not entirely comfortable walking around alone at night which is why I wish Ian would have come and picked me up but oh well.

I find the place easily, an Irish bar, of course it is. Its only eight so they're not checking ID's at the front door yet as I make my way past the crowd at the front and towards the back where I see Ian and a group of people.

“Erica!” He waves and stands up, wrapping an arm around my waist. “You look fantastic.” He whispers in my ear making me smile. “Come meet everyone.” His head gestures towards the crowd of people as he pulls out a seat next to his for me to sit. “Okay, Erica this is Henry, Brittany, Natalie, Vince, Will, Katelynn, Jerry, and Laura, everyone, this is Erica.” He points people out, I'll never catch their names, it's not a good skill I posses, Niall is really good at remembering names.

“Hi!” I say to no one in particular, so many people, it makes me a littler nervous. I've noticed American's are obsessed with my accent and I find myself speaking more then I would like in social situations just because they want to hear me talk. It's kind of funny if you think about it.

I settle in and listen to conversation, you can tell they've all been friends for a while, I feel a little out of place as I sit in silence and absorb everyone. Its not that I'm having a bad time, I just silent. I feel Ian grab my hand under the table and rest on my thigh. Stroking his thumb on the back of my hand, making me feel a little bit more comfortable.
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After an hour Ian decided that we could leave. I wasn't going to disagree, I'd rather be hanging out without all that extra noise. He pulls me out of the bar and onto the loud street. “I'll walk you back.” He smiles at me.

We walk the few blocks back to my place, he's been here a few times. “Do you want to come up?” I ask before I even realize what I'm saying. God, what am I doing? I mess around with my hair, waiting for his answer.

“Yeah, that would be great!” He lets go of my hand as I mess around with my keys, finding the key easily and letting us in to walk up the three flights.

“I'm at the top so hopefully you don't mind the steps.” I smile as I lead the way to the top. We walk in silence, him just a few steps behind me. I'm quite proud of myself that I'm not even out of breath anymore when we get to my front door. I open the door easily enough, sometimes it gets stuck, I've still got a nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach. I like Ian, but I know I don't like him the same way I like Niall.

I slip my shoes off, always the first thing to go. “So this is it, living room, kitchen, bedrooms, and bathroom is down the hall.” I smile, I'm comfortable with Ian, he's done nothing to make me nervous and I'm a fairly good judge of character so him being here doesn't make me nervous, I make myself nervous.

“So should we eat something?” He rubs his hands together waiting for my response.

“Sure. We have some dip we can eat, that sound good?” I walk to the kitchen, drying my nervous palms on my pants. I rummage through the cupboards until I find the crisps and the fridge until I find the dip. I carry it all over to the coffee table and sit next to Ian whose already taken to turning the tv on to find something for us to watch.

We sit for quite a while, mindlessly chatting back and forth while watching the television program. My nerves have calmed down greatly, I feel like I'm just hanging out with Kristen. Minus the fact that Ian is a male. We have since finished off the food, Ian had gotten us both glasses of water, all though it would have been easier if I had gotten them since I know where the glasses are.

“Well, I'd better get going.” Ian stands and stretches his back, I look at the clock I couldn't believe it was close to two am. I've completely lost track of time.

“Right.” I stand with him, bringing the glasses and empty dip container to the sink to deal with later.

“Thanks for the invite, I know the bar wasn't that much fun but I'm really glad you came.” He smiles at me as I hug him.

“I had fun, I just didn't know anyone, I was okay with just sitting and enjoying conversation.”

“Well good, we'll have to do it again sometime. Do you have plans for tomorrow?” He's looking all around the room, seems to be either studying it or nervous about something.

“I'm planning on going to church, that's pretty much it.” I haven't been to church once since I've gotten here, quite slacking if you ask me.

“Well I'll call you. Last week of classes!” He sticks his hand out for a high five as I just laugh.

“All right, see you later Ian.” I start to open the door and notice Ian has gotten closer to me as he's preparing to leave. The nerves bubble up in my stomach, good nerves. I look up at him through my eyelashes as he leans against the open door.

“Bye Erica.” He leans in ever so slowly and our lips connect. Just briefly, my stomach exploding with butterflies. I haven't felt this in a while. We briefly part, our foreheads touching, I can see his smile as I gain some nerves and kiss him again. Just a bit deeper as his fingers find the base of my skull, putting more pressure against us. “Tomorrow.” He laughs and brushes my cheek with his hand.

I slowly close the door, not thinking about what just happened, although it's impossible not to think about. It's not how I pictured things but I like it. I think I'm starting to like Ian more than I had originally thought.

Notes

Can you believe how many chapters we've come?! Thank you so much for sticking with me! Things are messy here, Niall with other girls, Erica and Ian, and an ocean in between. Thoughts for whats to happen next? :)

Hope you all have a fantastic day! Thanks for reading, commenting, subscribing, and voting. Extra love to you all, you all make my day just by reading! :)

xoxo