I, I, I don't wanna fi-i-ight

Don't wear no ti-i-ights

And I can't fly-y-y

I'm no, I'm no superhero-o-o

Cher Lloyd's voice rings throughout my room. My hand sneaks out from underneath the warm covers. I pat my hand up and down feeling for my phone. Where did I put it?

I, I, I don't wanna fi-i-ight

Don't wear no ti-i-ights

I open one eye and see my phone on my bedside table. I stretch for it, but my hand falls short. I don't want to get up. I slide across the bed stretching my hand out.

And I can't fly-y-y

I'm no, I'm no superhero-o-o

I finally grab hold of my phone. I bring it over to me and hit the green button.

"Hello?" I yawn.

"Where are you?! I come back to the dorm to find all of your clothes gone! I know we don't talk much, but you could have told me you were leaving!" My LFAA roommate, Riley, screams in my ear making me wince.

"I didn't think you would have cared." I rub my eyes with my left hand.

"You didn't think I would care?! I'm your roommate! You may avoid me every chance you get, but I do care. I'm not some heartless person!" Riley screams in the phone again.

"I'm sorry." I apologize starting to feel guilty.

I didn't think she would notice that I was purposely avoiding her. We weren't best friends or extremely close. Everyone back at LFAA normally keeps their distance from me. I just assumed that she would be like them. So, I would go back to our dorm when I knew she wasn't there.

Riley is also a fan of One Direction. I don't want to risk becoming good friends with her and then have her use me. I've been down that road one too many times.

"You should have told me." Riley says in a calmer voice. "Left a note or something. I though you were kidnapped. Where are you anyways?"

"I'm staying at my brother's flat for the summer." I tell her expecting her to freak out.

"Oh. That's cool." Riley says taking me by surprise.

"That's it?" I sit up in my bed. "You're not going to freak out and start asking questions?"

Riley starts laughing. "No. I'm not like those girls here. Your brother is the famous Zayn Malik. So what? Yes, I'm a fan, but I'm not going to use you to meet them."

"Really?"

"You would know that if you didn't avoid me." Riley replies. "I've tried to be friends with you multiple times. You always assumed that I would use you."

Great. Now I feel terrible. I wish I could trust people easier. I have such a hard time now. It feels like the only people I can trust is my family. I shouldn't have assumed Riley would be like everyone else in the school.

"Can we start over?" I ask Riley.

"Of course!" Riley instantly says.

"Thanks." I glance over at the digital clock. "I need to go get ready. I'll try to talk to you soon."

"Okay! Bye!"

I hang up. It's ten in the morning right now. I should really get up and shower. Niall said around eleven meaning I have a hour to get ready.

I fling the covers off my body. I swing my legs off the bed and stand up. I wonder if Zayn left yet. I trudge over to the bathroom and shut the door behind me. I never took my hair out of the bun last night. At least it's not in all knots. I pull the hair tie out letting my brown hair flow down past my shoulders.

Shower time.

I wouldn't take a shower if I didn't have to. Considering how I was dancing last night, it's probably best that I do. I'm glad Zayn bought some shampoo and conditioner for me. I love the way guys smell, but that doesn't mean I want to smell like them.

I finish my shower up quickly. I keep a tight hold on my towel wrapped around me. I walk out of my bathroom to my closet. What to wear today? I look out my window to see what the sky looks like. Surprisingly, it's sunny outside. It still has a chance to rain, though.

I know what I'll wear. Once I pull on a bra and underwear, I grab a pair of dark wash skinny jeans. Now where is my green long sleeved shirt? I flip through my shirts hanging up. I know I hung it up yesterday. I spot it halfway on the hanger. I grab a black tank top and pull that on first. Then I pull on the green long sleeved shirt.

I grab my black converse and carry them out to my room. I plop on my bed. I grab my duffel bag from the floor and set it on my lap. I dig through it looking for two things. First, I need a pair of socks. Second, I need my black scarf. I find both of them easily. I tie my converse tightly and tuck the shoelaces in.

I jump off my bed and walk out of my room. It's really quiet in here. It reminds me of a scary movie. Where a girl is home alone and the murder is sneaking around the house with a huge butcher knife in his hand. I walk quickly to the kitchen feeling paranoid. If a murder comes after me I want to be by the knives. I'll need something to protect myself.

I need to stop watching scary movies.

On the kitchen counter is a small piece of paper. Zayn's messy handwriting is on it. I pick the paper up.

'Nat, the guys and I have left for the recording studio. Niall said he would be by around eleven. Please be careful. I don't want the paparazzi to harass you too much. Here is some money for you. Don't think about giving it back to me later. I want you to use it.'

Dang. My brother knows me too well. I guess I won't need to bring my own money. There is about a thousand euros here. It must be nice to have this much money all the time. I stuff the money in my pocket.

Knock, knock!

I jump. I get scared too easily. I skip over to the door and unlock it. Niall is standing out in the corridor with his hands in his pockets. He is wearing regular jeans with a red jacket on. I love his shoes. Niall has black high top nikes on. I love Nikes. They are my second favorite brand of shoes.

"Are you ready?" Niall smiles at me.

"Yep. Let's go." I say shutting the door behind me after I lock it back up. "Where are we going? I don't really know any stores around here."

Niall walks beside me. "There is a mall close by."

"Aren't you worried about fans?" I ask as we reach the elevators.

Niall presses the down arrow. "That's why we are going in the morning. Most teenagers go shopping after one."

"Smart." I say. The elevator dings open and we enter the small compartment. "Thank you for coming with me. I didn't really want to shop alone."

"That's why I offered. You're new here and I didn't want you to get lost." Niall replies.

The elevator dings again once we hit the first floor. I follow Niall out to the parking lot. Are we taking his car or mine? I continue following him to a black Audi R8 Coupe. My jaw drops. Is this his car?

Niall glances over at me and starts laughing. "It's not mine. It's Harry's." He explains. "He is letting us borrow it for the day."

I run my hand over the hood of the car. I think I'm in love. "How did he afford this?" I whisper in awe of the beautiful car in front of me.

Niall unlocks the car before opening the passenger's door for me. "Being in a band has it's advantages."

I smile at him and climb in. No guy has ever opened the door for me. Niall shuts the door gently before jogging over to the driver's side. I'm quite sure I'm in love with Harry's car. The interior is black leather.

"Could you put your seatbelt on, please?" Niall asks as he starts the car. The engine roars to life. "Zayn would kill me if you got hurt."

I snap out of my daze. I pull the seatbelt across my body and click it in place. "How dead would you be if you let me drive it?" I smile sweetly at him.

"Extremely dead." Niall says pulling out of the parking lot. "Zayn would kill me first then Harry would kill me. If you want to drive then ask Harry."

"Why would Zayn kill you?" I reach forward and turn the radio up.

"I'm not quite sure." Niall says truthfully. "He would find a reason to. He is pretty protective of you."

"If you knew why he was so protective then you would understand." I defend my brother.

"Sorry." Niall mumbles stopping at a red light.

"It's okay. It's sort of a touchy subject for us." I change the radio station.

Boyfriend by Justin Bieber starts playing. Oh gosh. I can't stand this song. I lift my hand up from the seat to change it, but stop when I hear Niall's voice.

"If I was your boyfriend, never let you go. Keep you on my arm girl, you'd never be alone." Niall sings quietly. "I can be a gentleman, anything you want. If I was your boyfriend, I'd never let you go. I'd never let you go."

I watch him sing and drive. I never realized how amazing his voice was. I mean I knew he was a great singer, but hearing him when I'm right next to him. Niall is freaking incredible!

I don't look away the entire time Niall is singing. I'm not even sure I blinked. When the song is over, Niall glances over at me. His cheeks turn a light shade of red when he realizes I was watching him the entire time.

"You're amazing." I finally say after a few moments of silence.

"Thanks." Niall blushes. Awh. I made him blush.

I'm not a fan of Justin Bieber, but I could most definitely listen to him if Niall sang along.

•

"Just put your hood up." I say to Niall as we walk in a coffee shop. "No one should recognize you. Unless your fans are elderly people." I giggle nodding my head at a cute older couple.

We have been shopping for five hours. I've gotten everything I wanted for my new room. I told Niall I wanted to stop here before we headed back.

Niall pulls his hood up over his face. He smiles at the elderly couple. "I want a marriage like that." He comments.

"Maybe they are having an affair with each other." I suggest laughing. "You'll find the right girl for you one day."

We reach the counter at the same time. I look over the menu deciding on what I want. Niall orders a hot tea and a few cookies. I look over the menu again before ordering the same thing. I look over my shoulder to see the elderly couple leaving. I watch them walk out the door together.

A girl is standing outside the coffee shop with her back to us. She turns around in a circle and my hearts stops. I tense up immediately.

"Are you okay?" Niall looks at my face looking concerned.

I turn back to face him. I feel all the blood drain from my face as I realize she will be walking in here soon. "If I asked you to do something would you do it? No questions asked?"

Niall's eyebrows scrunch together. "Why?"

"Just answer." I say quickly. Niall nods. "Okay. This girl is about to walk in here. She's going to recognize me. I want you to promise me that you won't say anything. No matter what she says. Promise?"

"Wha-"

"Niall, promise me!" I say urgently knowing she could walk in at any moment.

"I promise." He says still looking confused.

The door chimes as it opens. I keep my back to the girl as I hear her walk up. The employee hands us our drinks and cookies. Niall takes the bag and his drink in one hand. I spin around and she locks eyes with me.

"Oh my gosh!" She exclaims. "Natalie is that you?"

"Hi Katie." I wince.

"What happened to you? After our eleventh year, you disappeared. Everyone figured you dropped out because of the situation." Katie giggles.

"I graduated earlier." I keep my voice low. "I attend London Fine Arts Academy now."

Katie bursts out laughing. "How did you get in there? I thought only talented people got in." Wow. She hasn't changed at all.

Niall opens his mouth to say something, but I shake my head quickly. He shuts his mouth. I notice his jaw is clenched together.

"Who's this?" Katie smiles at Niall.

"He's my boyfriend." I say. Whoa. Where did that come from? I lace my fingers with Niall's to make her believe me.

Katie looks Niall over slowly. "Are you sleeping with him too? I know how you move fast." She smirks at me.

"I didn't sleep with Glen." I snap.

Katie rolls her eyes at me. "Oh, of course not. That would mean Glen was lying about the whole thing."

"He was!" I argue feeling tears build up. "He said all of that because I wouldn't sleep with him."

"Whatever." Katie laughs. "I'll make sure to tell him that you said hi. I'm sure he would want to remember the girl he slept with within a month."

"You're such a bitch." I say as a tear rolls down my cheek.

"Maybe, but at least I'm not a slut." Katie crosses her arms in triumph.

I push past her and run out of the coffee shop. I throw my tea in the closest trash can. I run through the parking lot to Harry's car.

"Natalie, wait!" Niall calls out. I try to open the car door, but it's locked. "Come here." Niall pulls me in his arms.

I wrap my arms around his neck and bury my head in his shoulder. My legs give out from underneath me. Niall picks me up bridal style. I cling to his chest afraid to let go. He unlocks the car and sets me in the passengers seat. He runs to the driver's side. I curl up in the seat clutching my knees to my chest as I cry.

I hate her so much! It's been two years and she still finds the need to ruin my life. Niall keeps glancing in my direction looking worried. He stops the car and unbuckles my seatbelt.

"Come here." Niall grabs my hands and pulls me to him. I crawl over the middle console and sit in his lap. I wrap my arms around his neck once again. Niall pulls me close to him. I normally wouldn't climb in a guy's lap, but at this moment I don't care. I just want to be comforted.

•••

AUTHOR'S Note:

So, what do you think? Comments are very much appreciated.