*Mackenzie’s POV (Evening, Tuesday the 15th)

I’m about halfway done recording my album now, music and vocals. After seeing what Em and Zayn went through taking so long for theirs, I didn’t want it to come to that for me. I decided I wanted the music and vocals to be recorded closer together so starting the first week of December, after the month long break Mr. Horan gave me after completing the writing, the pattern has been simple and effective.

I’ve been spending a few days getting a song’s music recorded, then recording the vocals right after. It’s worked really well so far having four of my eight tracks completed. We have a little more than a week before we leave for Chicago so the plan is to complete one more song before then.

Speaking of Chicago, Niall’s dad doesn’t know I plan on bringing Niall with. We’ve been putting off telling him because we’re trying to think of a good enough reason (seeing as we can’t tell him that he’s my boyfriend and I want to spend Christmas with him). It’s around dinnertime so he should be getting home soon.

We planned to bring it up when we’re all eating together when Em and Zayn are in the room too. They can back us up. Plus since even Mrs. Horan knows about us now, she can chime in. Hopefully just Niall wanting to see the city for the first time and it looking so pretty at Christmas will suffice. It’s the best we could think of.

At this moment, Mr. Horan comes in while I’m helping Mrs. Horan finish making dinner. “Hey, kids. Dinner smells wonderful! Oh you didn’t have to help, Mackenzie. You’re our guest in our home.” he says grabbing a plate, then kissing his wife. “It’s not a problem, Mr. Horan. I wanted to help out. I’ve been living here long enough that I’m starting to feel like family.” I say sneaking a wink at Niall.

Emily and I sneak looks to each other before all of us get our food and sit at the table. There is only silent eating for a few minutes and the four of us look at each other. We have to bring up Chicago sooner or later. I mean we leave in nine days and we already bought Niall’s ticket.

“Mr. Horan, you remember that the three of us are leaving for Chicago on Christmas Eve morning, right?” I bravely ask. “Yes I do! I hope you have fun up there. It’s probably beautiful this time of year, isn’t it?” he inquires. “Yeah it is. There’s the big Christmas tree in the plaza and it’s decorated so beautifully. And Millennium Park has an ice rink we’ll be going to. It’s really amazing.” Em chimes in.

“Anyway, what I was wondering is if Niall might be able to join the three of us there.” I say. “Yeah I really wanna see everything. It sounds so great. Can I go, pa?” Niall asks. We’re all holding our breath for his answer.

He looks at all of our faces and I guess that makes him cave. “Sure, why not? Have fun! It won’t quite be the same without you here, but we’ll manage.” he says taking Mrs. Horan’s hand. We all thank him and then go to our separate areas of that big house where we always go. Emily and Zayn go to their bedroom, Niall’s mom and dad watch TV in the living room, and Niall and I go to his room.

Once we get there and are positive that his parents are occupied, we tell Em and Zayn to come over. We have to discuss what we’re telling Niall’s parents about our living arrangements in Chicago and what all we’ll be doing just so there’s no suspicions.

“I can’t believe he agreed just like that!” I cheer. “I know, I thought he’d need a lot of convincing.” Niall says. “Okay, so where are we all ‘staying?’” Em asks. “Well, I’m staying at your parents’ house with you, so could we say that they’re staying with us there?” Zayn proposes. “Good thinking, Zayn. But really we’ll be staying at Mackenzie’s parents’ house?” Niall clarifies. “You are correct, sir.” Zayn replies.

“Devious. I love it.” I say. “Really, the things we’ll do there tomorrow are what we’ll actually do tomorrow, they just don’t know about Sammie’s party.” Em says. “Yes, but we need to divide everything up between the days anyway.” I say. “Okay, well you girls can figure that out ‘cause we’ve never been to Chicago.” Zayn says. That’s exactly what we do.

We logically divide up the things we’re planning on showing the guys and decide we’ve planned out everything perfectly. It’s really a shame that we have to lie when it would be so much easier for us to be openly dating and having the approval of my boyfriend’s father.

I feel really bad lying to the man who owns the label I’m signed to. I mean if he ever found out about this elaborate plan to deceive him, he could be mad enough that he could end my record deal.

I try not to think about that as Niall and I start to pack little by little. I can’t wait for the other girls to meet Niall in person. He’s Skyped with me a couple times when I talked to them and they seem to like him. Fingers crossed our plan doesn’t backfire.

Notes