I wake up to my phone ringing, which is odd because no one calls me; it's only text messages these days. I look at the phone and smile when I see John's name across the screen.

"Hey! What time does your flight land?"

"I am already here. Surprise!"

"You're here in London!?!"

"Heathrow Airport. I just landed and I am waiting on my driver."

"Awesome, I am so excited to see you. Do you want to stick to our plan and meet at your hotel for dinner?"

"Sounds great. I will see you soon."

John just released his latest album and is coming to England for two weeks to do some promotional work and two small shows. I am so happy he is here. Honestly, he could not have come at a better time. Since I had seen Niall two weeks ago, my nightmares have intensified. I think my friends are getting tired of my neediness. I know John will help me take my mind off of everything.

Since the morning at Harry's there have been a few more articles published. Two of the articles were about me and Harry hanging out around London. We decided that we were not going to let a few photos or articles change our friendship. We continued on like nothing ever happened. One of the articles was about me being in London and questioning why I am here. Thankfully they have not figured out that I moved here and work as a research assistance. I am hoping to stay out of the news and let them think that I was just visiting. One article was difficult for me to see. It was about Niall with Ellie Golding. The picture of Niall and Ellie really caught me off guard. They were out to dinner and they looked really cozy. I can't really get mad because I was the one who never got in touch with him. The morning after he found me at Harry's was the last time I spoke to him. It was just hard for me to see him with someone else. This meant that I may have lost my chance with him. No one knows how long they could possibly be together for.

It's around 7p.m. when I arrive at John's hotel and we decide to go out for a nice dinner. As we walk down the city street to the restaurant, I catch someone snapping photos of us. John looks up and the man gives him a smile while I look down at the ground to avoid eye contact. It has become second nature to look down or away from the camera. It's is a skill that Niall taught me.

Once we are out of his view, I say to John, "Sorry about that. I have been getting photographed a lot lately."

He looks down at me and shakes his head, "Aren't you full of yourself. I think they wanted a picture of me. You know John Mayer the famous musician. No one wants a picture you." He nudges me with his shoulder and laughs.

"Shit. I'm sorry. I always forget you are a world famous musician because to me, you are just my friend John."

He puts his arm around me and smiles. "It's ok Olivia. One of the reasons I love you is because you are so full of yourself."

"I mean some guy wrote a song about me. Have you heard it?" I duck my head under his arm as his holds open the door to the restaurant for me.

We enter the restaurant and a few eyes turn to us. This time realizing that it is John they are staring at. We take a seat and order some drinks and appetizers to start. Once the waiter leaves the table, we chat about what I have been up to. I tell John about London, my job, and my recent run-in with the paps. He fills me in with his schedule for the next two weeks and he mentions something about a charity event.

"I have a favor to ask?"

I take a sip of my drink. "What's up?"

"I have a charity ball tomorrow night and I kind of need a date."

"Tomorrow? That's kind of last minute. How many other girls did you ask before me?"

He smiles at me. "I had a date and it fell through. It was a short lived hookup. I was hoping that you would take pity on me and come."

"Ugh...John, you are killing me."

I sit for a minute and think whether this could be a good idea or not. It would be exciting to dress up and get my hair and makeup done. I would need a dress. I don't have anything fancy to wear to a ball.

"Earth to Olivia. Are you still with me?"

"Sorry. I was just trying to decide how I would make you repay me. But yeah, I will be your date."

I phoned Sophia last night when I got home from dinner with John and asked if she had a gown that I could borrow for the ball. We talked a few minutes about some ideas and she said she has the perfect dress for me. She told me she would stop over after class.

I took a half day off from work so that I had time to get ready. When I hear a knock at the door, I jump up practically skipping to answer it. I know that on the other side of that door is this amazing dress I am going to wear tonight. Sophia has amazing taste and I know she will have the perfect dress for me. When I let her in she has a black garment bag draped over her arm and a tote with several pairs of shoes.

"Let me see, let me see!" I exclaim.

"Well hello to you too. And no. You cannot see it yet. I need to consult with Flora first." She opens her arms and gives me a quick hug.

"She is in her bedroom hiding from me. She said that I am being annoying because I won't stop talking about tonight."

"Yeah, I can see why she would say that." She smiles at me. "Why are you acting all crazy and excited? It's not a date or anything."

"I know. I am just excited to do something different and get all dressed up."

Sophia disappears into Flora's room to consult over my look for the night. Flora agrees to help with my hair and makeup. After about 15 minutes, they come into the kitchen where I just opened a bottle of white wine. I hand them each a glass and we discuss how I want my hair and makeup. They won't let me see the dress until after they are finished with the makeover. With our glasses and the bottle of wine we head to my bedroom to get ready. When they are finished with the beautification process, Sophia opens the garment bag and pulls out an emerald green dress that matches the color of my eyes. It is a beautiful full length formal gown. It has a sweetheart neckline covered in a shear green fabric that covers my chest leading to an "O" neckline and cap sleeves. There is beading that runs from the top of the satin neckline down to the bottom of the belt and then disperses as it runs down to the bottom of the dress.

It is almost time for John to pick me up so I hurry and put on the gown and look at myself in the mirror. The dress looks beautiful with my red hair sweeping over my shoulder with loose curls. Flora does an amazing job on my makeup giving me a smokey eye and a peach color lip.

John sends me a text saying he is downstairs waiting. Flora quickly grabs my phone and tells John to get his ass out of the car and be a gentleman. Within a minute John is knocking at the door. When I open the door his mouth drops.

"Olivia, you look so amazing. Just perfect. Everyone will be jealous that you are the woman on my arm tonight."

"Thank you. You clean up pretty good yourself. Let's get out of here before these two start to take pictures like we are going to the prom." I yell into the other room, "Bye Sophia and Flora. Thank you for everything."

As I shut the door I see the two of them peeking out from the living room. I shake my head and smile back at them being cute. I am so glad they have become friends. It makes me happy that I forming my very own group of friends by combining the old with the new.

Once we get to the event the valet opens my door and I realize that there is a red carpet full of media. John gives the valet his keys and comes to stand next to me.

"Are you ready?"

I look down the walk way. "No, not really. I wasn't expecting press to be here taking photos."

"You can skip the photos and head inside if you would like but my management is making me do the red carpet."

I look around and try to make a quick decision. "Fuck it. Let's do this."

John extends his arm for me to link my arm with his. We take about 20 steps and the chaos begins.

"John over here!"

"John over here!"

"Who are you wearing?"

"How is the new album?"

"Who is your date?"

I swallow hard at the last question wondering what he will say.

"This is my friend Olivia. She has been so gracious to come with me tonight so that I didn't have to come alone and look like an even bigger loser than I already am."

His response makes me laugh. I don't know how I am going to make him look better when I am just as big of a loser as him. I start to see some of the press talk amongst themselves. They start to focus their questions and camera at me.

"Olivia over here!" Then I hear a single voice ask, "Are you the same Olivia that dated Niall Horan?"

I just stand there and look at them blankly. John looks at me out of the corner of his eye and squeezes my arm. He leans down and whispers in my ear. "Let's head inside. Just ignore the questions."

Once inside, I take a deep breath. I am happy I made it inside without any other questions. Hopefully no one else pays me any attention tonight. It was dumb of me to think I could get away no one recognizing me. John heads over to the bar to get me a glass of champagne and him a glass of whiskey. Once my nerves calm down we make our way around the party and chat with some of John's friends and people he knows from the charity.

I excuse myself to use the restroom while John heads back to the bar. I tell him to grab me something a little stronger than champagne. I don't have to use to the bathroom but wanted to check my hair and makeup just in case anyone else recognizes who I am. Once I reapply my lip stick I head back out to find John. He is not at the bar where I left him so I start to take a walk around the room. Everyone looks so glamorous with furs and diamonds dripping off of their bodies. I was feeling a bit intimated. I start to approach a group of people chatting and I suddenly realize that Niall is among those in the group. I quickly turn around in attempt to avoid him but I didn't get away quick enough.

I hear him call out from the group of people, "Olivia!"

Fuck. I stop and turn around slowly to find him standing in front of me.

"Oh, hey Niall. I didn't know you would be here tonight."

He looks at me with longing eyes. "Hi. You look absolutely beautiful tonight. The dress matches your eyes perfectly."

I look at him and think the same. He looks hot as hell in his black suit.

"Thank you. I borrowed the dress from Sophia."

"Well it was a good choice." He reaches out to touch me but stops himself. "What are you doing here?"

"I came with John. He is in town for some promotional work."

I stand in silence not knowing what to say next. I look around the room looking for John. I could really use that drink. After a minute or so a girl with blonde hair approaches us. It just so happens to be his new girlfriend, Ellie Goulding. For some reason I just assumed Niall would be here alone.

Ellie places her arm on Niall's arm like she is staking out her property. "I have been looking all over for you, Niall."

"I'm sorry. I just saw a friend and wanted to say hello," he explains to her. He then introduces us. "This is Olivia. Olivia this is Ellie."

I reach out my hand to shake her's. "Nice to meet you."

She stares at me for a few seconds to assess the situation. I am pretty sure she knows who I am.

Niall looks uncomfortable as he is trying to figure out what to say. "Olivia spent some time on tour with us on the US leg. She recently moved here for school."

I guess he got it half right. I can forgive him since he is caught in this uncomfortable situation. Ellie moves closer to Niall and holds his hand. She couldn't make it any more obvious that she wants me to know he is hers. Then she suddenly leans in to kiss him. My stomach turns and I suddenly feel nauseous. I begin to think how I can get out of this situation without making it obvious that I am upset. Suddenly I feel a hand wrap around my waist. I look over my shoulder and see John.

"Here is the whiskey you ordered." He hands me the drink. My hand is shaking from how upset I am.

I give him a fake smile. "Thank you." And under my breath I ask, "Where have you been?"

He whispers in my ear, "Sorry about this."

"Sorry about what?" I look at him curiously.

I smile at him so Niall and Ellie don't think we are speaking about them. Suddenly John turns me around and kisses me, full on open mouth with hands in my hair, and even a slight dip backwards. When he stands me back up right, I just stand there looking at him. Wow that was some kiss. I touch my lips that are now tingling from the kiss. I can't believe he did that. He always knew how to make a scene. As soon as I come back down to earth after the kiss all I can think about is that Niall saw it. I don't want to hurt him. I can only imagine what must be going through his mind. I turn to look at him and he is glaring at John, clearly pissed off. Ellie on the other hand has no clue what is happening as she smiles that me and has loosens her grip on Niall. I guess she thinks me and John are together so she can give Niall some room to breathe.

John looks Niall in the eyes and says, "Good to see you man. How have you been?"

He replies, "I am good." Then he looks over at me and says, "We are going to head over to our seats. Maybe I will see you before we leave."

"Well it was great to see you," John calls out to Niall as he takes Ellie's hand and walks away.

"What was that all about?" I ask John while taking a sip of the whiskey.

"I thought I would help you out of an awkward situation."

"I don't think you fooled anyone but Ellie. Niall was so on to your game. Did you see the look he gave you?"

"He looked like he wanted to stab me. You have nothing to worry about O. I bet you will get a text from him by tomorrow afternoon."

"Doubt it. He is with her now."

"Olivia, are you blind? The way he was looking at you was unmistakable. He has it bad for you."

John and I walk over to our table for the night and we pass by Niall's. I notice as we walk by that he cannot take his eyes off of me. I wave and give him a smile. Maybe John was right. Maybe he is still into me.

Despite running into Niall and Ellie, the night was fun. We continue to drink many whiskeys through the night causing me to end up at John's hotel and passed out in his bed. The next thing I remember, I am being shaken awake by John.

"Olivia! Wake up. Olivia, please wake up."

I could hear fear in his voice as I open my eyes.

I turn over and look at him. "I'm awake. I'm awake."

"You were kicking and screaming in your sleep. I have been shaking you for a few minutes. I was about to call someone. You wouldn't wake up."

I sit up in the bed and look around the room. I try to slow my heart beat and take a few deep breaths. "I'm sorry. I have been having horrible dreams for weeks. Every time I see Niall they get really bad. I have not been able to sleep through a night without some type of nightmare."

"What happened that you are having nightmares?"

I play with the blanket and pull it up to my waist. "I don't really want to talk about it right now. Is that ok?"

"That's fine but answer me one thing. You said that every time you see Niall they get worse; did he do something to hurt you? Like physically?"

"Oh god no. Absolutely not. He would never lay a finger on me."

"Ok, good. I just had to check. I didn't know if I needed to go and find his boy band ass and kick it all over London." John gets up from the bed and heads back to the couch where he was sleeping.

I laugh at his attempt to sound tough. "Hey John, do you think you could sleep with me tonight. I just need to have a friend close by my side."

John gets in bed and crawls under the covers. He lies on his side facing me. I turn over to look at him. I can tell how concerned he is for what is happening to me. He has always worried about my well being and he is one of the best listeners in the world. I stare at him for a few minutes trying to fall back to sleep. He reaches over and holds my hand in his. His touch relaxes me. It is nice to know that I have someone one else on my side to help get me through.

"John, I change my mind. I want to tell you what happened."

So at 3a.m. I tell John about my nightmares and what happened in Houston. He just lays in bed next to me and listens. Of course he said all the normal things that everyone else did but he didn't runaway. He lies right next to me all night holding my hand. Eventually we fell asleep and I slept decent for the next few hours.

When I woke up that morning, John was sitting on the couch drinking coffee. I wanted to head home because I felt like complete crap, between drinking whiskey and our late night talk I am so tried. I tell John I am going to go home and steal a pair of his sweatpants and a shirt. I tell him to send the dress to the cleaners and I will pick it up from him in the next few days. He walks me down to the lobby and helps me get a cab. As we step out of the hotel, I am blinded by lights flashing in my face. Once I can see again, I see the paps surrounding us and John is pushing me into the cab before anymore photos can be taken.