When I was at the front of the stage that night, the boys were hamming it up. Zayn kept winking at the camera and doing this half smile that makes all the girls scream bloody murder. Harry kept touching himself and I admittedly got a little aroused. I loved that the boys were giving me so much to play with, this was a photographers dream. Diana started to play and Niall and I made eye contact for a little longer than usual. He was absolutely the cutest and I am so glad that he convinced me to stay. I wanted nothing more than to jump on the stage and hug him, but I figured if I did the horde of girls behind me might do the same.

The songs weren't sounding quite as awful as I recalled them being. I caught my fingers tapping on the shutter button, and my feet moving to the along to the beat. I was going to be the official poster girl for a poser sellout. I forgot for a few minutes that I was supposed to be taking photos of the boys. I was just getting lost in the music. Thousands of screaming girls broke my thoughts up and shattered my ear drums as soon as What Makes You Beautiful started playing. Just those few notes drove the crowd absolutely wild. It was in that moment that I decided I needed to change my focus. This was the song that drove millions of girls to dream about dating Louis, to dream of kissing Liam's full lips or run their fingers through Harry's fluffy hair. The song that made millions want to touch Zayn's perfectly sculpted cheekbones and stare forever into Niall's blue eyes. I decided that these girls needed a truly authentic feel. I grabbed my film camera, put a flash on it and climbed on top of a box near the stage. One of the security guards helped me stand up straight. These girls were singing like their last breath was coming and their entire life depended on it. They were so lost in the moment that every shot I got was pure gold. I turned to look at the boys and Liam was the closest to me. Our eyes met and as soon as I positioned my camera to take a photo, he pulled the goofiest face. For a moment, I thought I was going to have a ruined shot, but I realized that I had to use it. This is what this was about, capturing every aspect of these boys, professional, goofy, young boys.

I was going to have to endure these songs and the blood curdling screams for two months. It was somehow exhausting and exhilarating at the same time. I was starting to feel at home.

---

After the show, I went to my room to unwind from the crazy day I had. A hot shower sounded like the most heavenly thing on the planet. My arms and feet were sore from all the standing and weird angles I had to get into. This tour might kill me.

I walked into the bathroom and turned on the water. I took my hair tie out of my hair and started taking off my bracelets and rings. I rubbed my right wrist, which I had hit rather hard on the metal divider at the concert. I swear, I am going to end up in a cast before the end of this tour. The top of the mirror was starting to get foggy and I was so ready for a shower.

There was a faint knock at the door. I was ready to curse anyone that was on the other side.

"Just a minute!" I called out, a little too exhausted to sound nice.

I almost felt bad to keep them waiting, whomever they were, but I was seconds away from my lovely hot shower. I opened the door to see Liam standing there.

"Liam."

"Stevie."

I loved the way he said my name.

"Niall isn't here."

"I know that." He chuckled.

"Oh. Well, can I help you with something?"

"Will you come downstairs with me? I want to show you something."

We started at each other for what felt like years. His warm brown eyes melted my soul.

"Um, yeah. Will this be quick?"

"Absolutely not." He grinned at me.

"Okay, let me turn off the shower really quick."

I turned and walked into the bathroom. I turned off the water and felt sad that it was going to be a while until I was underneath it's stream. I pulled my hair up in a little ponytail and put my bracelets back on.

"Okay, I am ready."

He grabbed my hand and lead me down the hallway. He was grinning and gripped my hand tight. He lead the way like a child that needed to show his mother something he did. We arrived to a room, 2307, and stopped.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"Are you selling me to someone?" I retorted.

"What? No!"

He took out his room key and opened the door. I peered past him, my curiosity getting the better of me. Before me, there was a gorgeous grand piano. My eyes lit up with excitement. Was he going to teach me to play piano? I loved listening to songs that were specifically on the piano, they were so haunting and beautiful. The way a pianist moved their hands so gracefully across the ivory keys and the most wonderful melodies flowed out of them. Liam looked at me and smiled.

"So, you like it?"

"You bought me a piano? That won't fit in my suitcase, Liam."

"No, I did not buy you a piano!" he laughed.

I wandered over to the piano and I sat down. "Then what are we doing?"

"I am going to teach you to play."

I stared at him, trying to take in what he just said.

"Really?" I asked.

"Really."

"Really, really?" I was still tying to comprehend what was happening.

"Yes, really, really."

The way he smiled, the way his eyes crinkled and his cheeks turned up, it was magic. I could stare at him forever.

"How did you know I wanted to learn how to play?"

"I overheard you telling Niall that you've always wanted to learn. So, I am offering you my services."

"I do. I love pianos, they always sound so beautiful."

"Let's start."

---

"I hate piano."

"Stevie, you do not hate piano. You hate that you don't know how to play it yet. It's only been 30 minutes. You can't expect to be amazing from the start."

I threw my hands up in defeat, Liam just laughed.

"It's not funny, Liam."

"Oh, but it is."

We spent another 30 minutes playing and me getting more and more flustered. I could play guitar, and that was a skill considering how uncoordinated I am.

"Maybe I should not play the piano. It doesn't suit me well."

"It is going to take time, Stevie. I promise that I will continue to give you lessons."

I was getting lost in his eyes again. They were so inviting, it was hard not to stare. I wanted to know everything there was to know about him.

"Can I interview you?"

"Excuse me?"

"Off the record, of course. I am a photojournalist after all. I haven't had anything to write in days. Please?" I smiled.

"What sort of things do you want to know?"

"Personal stuff, like we would ask our friends when we were 12."

He laughed, "Yeah, alright."

"How old are you?"

"I will be 21 at the end of this month."

I am sure the look on my face was shock because he suddenly looked confused. I certainly couldn't take him to go get a drink yet, and my rule was that they had to at least be drinking age to be interested in them. This is my job though. I should not be feeling anything towards him. That was inappropriate.

"Are you shocked by my age?"

"No - er, yes. You don't act like a 20 year old. At least not like the ones I have met."

"You say that like you are that much older than me. You're what? 22?"

"Er, no. I am almost 26."

"You don't look it." He smiled.

"It's the purple hair."

He laughed loudly, "Definitely."

I started to get lost again. His laugh, his smile, those eyes... I could just stay here in this moment forever.

His phone rang, bringing me back down to earth.

"Ah, I gotta take this. More practice tomorrow?"

"Yeah, great."

"See you later, Stevie."

I watched him walk to the balcony and answer his phone with a huge smile. I stood up and walked to the door, still kind of in a daze that I am going to have the best two months of my life.

Notes

I am reposting, there were some edits that I needed to make to that I wasn't able to do with the edit button.