Niall and I ended up in the suite he was sharing with Liam and we both had our guitars out. We decided on a song by The Script, both of us playing and singing and not paying attention to a thing in this world. Liam walked in and stopped to listen to us. As soon as we finished the song, he gave us a round of applause. I turned to look at him.

"Not bad. Great to see you two getting on. Don't let me interrupt."

Niall smiled, "Yeah, Stevie is actually really cool."
"Awe, thanks Ireland."

Liam turned and walked to the bedroom and shut the door.

"So, Stevie, any other hidden talents?"
"Unfortunately," I sighed, "no. I would love to learn piano one day though."

"Maybe Liam could show you. He plays a bit."

"I would never impose, I know how busy you lot get."

"Yeah, but we have a lot of down time. You should see the pranks we play."

I went a little rigid. "Like when you stole all of my things?"

He instantly turned red. "Yeah, listen, I am sorry. We were only 'aving a laugh."
I didn't want him to feel bad, it was in the past now. Maybe if I told him about the photos, he'd know that I have a funny prank side too and that would ease the tension.

"Can I tell you a secret?"

"Do you trust me to keep it?" He grinned.

"I-" I wasn't sure now that I did trust him.

"Don't worry, I aren't gonna tell anyone."

I breathed deep. "As my own form of personal revenge, I took like, 50 bad photos of you guys tonight."
His face suddenly dropped it's happy demeanor.
"I would never give them to Paul or anything. They are just on my laptop. You know, for a laugh." I tried to smile.

"I think you should go." His jaw started to clench.

Shit. He's going to tell Paul.

"Niall, listen -"
"No. Go."

I rushed out of the suite, I left behind my guitar and my pride. I am going to get fired. He is going to tell Paul what I did. Paul warned me to not fuck this up.
As soon as I walked into my room, I slammed the door and tears started to stream down my face. I angrily crammed all of my clothes into my suitcase. I went to my laptop to delete all the photos. I was so mad at myself. I ruined his trust, he will surely tell Liam and the rest of the band. They will hate me. I messed up my chance. I ruined this...
How was I going to tell Paul? He told me that the boys were mad at their last photographer for screwing them over. I am such an idiot.

I walked over to the desk in my room, opened my laptop and started typing up a letter to Paul. I will just tell him that I have an emergency at home and I need to get home to take care of everything.

Dear Paul, I regret to inform you that I will not be able to finish the tour after tonight's show. I have had a personal emergency back in Seattle that requires my immediate attention. I sincerely apologize for the short notice and I appreciate the opportunity you have given me. I will forever be grateful of the experience that this tour provided me.

Best Regards,

Stevie
My cursor hovered over the send button. It was like my finger couldn't let me press it. My hand was contemplating my future.

There was a soft knock at my hotel door. I ignored it, I was not willing to face Paul or the boys. I just wanted to go home. Another knock came at the door, this time with more urgency.
"Stevie." The voice came through the door and stopped my heart.
It was Niall. He was going to yell at me. He told Paul. They were both in the hallway.
"Stevie, please open the door."

"Ireland, please go away. I want to be alone."

"Okay, but I got a key from the front desk. I can open the door if I wanted to. I am trying to give you the chance to open the door. Please, Stevie, open the door. Let me in."

I hesitated. "Niall, I don't want you to see me right now."

I heard the electronic key enter the door and it unlocked. He opened the door, coming in without my permission.

"You must be sick, you called me Niall. We both know th-"

He stopped when he saw the tears streaming down my face. He looked around me, glancing at the bags that were packed and ready to go. He held my guitar in his left hand and he looked lost for a moment.

"Stevie...." he whispered as he set the guitar down. "What is wrong?"
He reached his hand out to grab mine, but I pulled back.

"Stevie, love, what is going on?"

There were tears welling in my eyes. I couldn't hold it in any longer. The tears started to stream my face again and I fell into Nialls arms.
"P-Paul is going to fi-fire me."

"What? Why would he fire you?"

"Because I took those stupid fucking photos and he told me that y-you guys had fired your last photographer for something like this." I sobbed even harder.

"Oh, Stevie..."
"I know you guys already hate me and Paul is going to fire me and no one thought I would last at this job and I know you already told everyone and no one wants me here anymore." I sniffed.

He hugged me tight and started to pat my head. "I didn't tell no one love."

"What?" I looked up at him.

"No one knows. I was a bit angry at first, but I ain't no more."

"Ireland, are you being serious? So, I'm crying right now for nothing?"

"I am very serious."

It dawned on me that my mascara was running down my face.

"You saw me cry and there are tear stains and mascara on your shirt. You must think I am the biggest fucking nerd on the planet. And now I have to quit. I will never be able to show my face on this tour again."

"You don't have to quit, why would you say that?"

"You just saw me have a mental breakdown!" My eyes widened at this realization. "I don't know why Kevin suggested that I do this tour. He probably just wanted me out of the office so things would stop being awkward with Mark."

"Mark?" He looked at me puzzled.

"Um. My ex. He left me for another woman. And we work together. So, things were getting weird at work and neither of us wanted to quit and Kevin couldn't fire us."

"Sounds like a prick."

"Yeah," I smiled. "Kevin was the one that suggested that I take this gig. I didn't even know who you guys were when I was hired. I am just a photojournalist from Seattle. I don't deserve this job. I already typed up my emailed to Paul telling him that I had to leave the tour."

"You are so dramatic."

"Hey! I am no-"

"I am going to play you a song, okay?"

"Um, yeah, okay."

Niall grabs my guitar and starts to strum. This song sounds familiar.

"The front pages are your pictures,
They make you look so small,
How could someone not miss you at all?
I never would mistreat ya,
Oh I'm not a criminal,
I speak a different language but I still hear your call.
Stevie,
Let me be the one to light a fire inside those eyes,
You've been lonely,
You don't even know me,
But I can feel you crying,
Stevie,
Let me be the one to lift your heart up and save your life,
I don't think you even realize baby you'd be saving mine.
Stevie
It's only been four months but
You've fallen down so far.
How could someone mislead you at all?"

He stopped when he saw me crying again.

"Stevie, why are you still crying?"

I smiled through my tears, "because you are being super cool about all of this. I want you to know, I deleted those photos that were horrible."

"Damn, I kinda wanted to see Louis look like a twat."

We laughed about all of the photos I took. He made me describe every single one, even the ones of him. He promised me that he wouldn't tell the other boys and it would be out little secret. In this moment, I felt like I belonged. I felt like I was about to have the time of my life.

There was a knock on the door.

He looks at me, "expecting anyone?"

I look puzzled, "Nope, I wasn't even expecting you to show up Ireland."

Niall got off of the sofa and went to the door and it was Liam that stood on the other side.

"Niall?"

"Liam."

"What're you doing in Stevie's room?"

"Was bringing her guitar back, then we got to messing about."

Liam shifted his eyes from Niall, to me, then back to Niall.

"That was ages ago, mate."

"Why are you at her room?" Niall raised an eyebrow at Liam.

"I, uh, was trying to find you. You go missing in the early hours of the morning and no one knew where you were." Liam glanced in my direction again. I shifted in my seat, feeling uncomfortable.

"I reckon you've been keeping him out of trouble?"

"Huh? Me?" I look around for someone else to pin the question to.

"Yeah, you." Liam laughs.

"Well, Ireland is always trouble."

Liam looked back at Niall. "Is that her pet name for you? Or did she forget your name?"

"Funny."

"Liam, did you want to hang out with us? We were just discussing music, we could jam out together. Niall said you play piano. I am sure we could find one for you to play."

"No, I am okay. I was just looking for Niall here. I am just glad no one's kidnapped him, he's so tiny."

Niall looked offended and opened his mouth to defend himself.

"I think he is perfect."

I am pretty sure that Liam was making fun of Niall for being the same height as me. I never imagined that Liam would be intentionally cruel like that, but I guess he is a young boy.

"Thank you, Stevie." Niall was grinning wide at Liam.

"Well, Niall, we need to get ready to do a soundcheck. Hurry up and shower, then lets go."

"Right. Later Stevie."

"Bye, boys." I smirked.

I decided to shower since I felt like my tears were going to be 100% visible if I didn't. First, I deleted the email I was going to send to Paul. I changed my mind. I should stay. Niall put my mind at ease and I was going to stick this out, no matter what.

I deserve this.

Notes

I am reposting as I was not able to edit on any internet browser.