Sorry it's short :/ It's 2:08 AM here, so I should actually be sleeping xD Enjoy<3

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Chapter 21 – Valerie’s P.O.V.

            Groaning loudly, I slammed my laptop closed and let my head fall onto it. I don’t know why I actually thought I would find something. A fiction story coming to life? Please. The closest I got to any result was a story about life. I really don’t need to learn about other people’s miseries.

            I don’t know why I even let my hopes get up. I don’t know why I even think there’s a slim possibility of a book coming to life. But I do know that I don’t want my book to be reality. I had to be one of those stupid authors with a depressing and heart breaking ending. Of course I don’t want that kind of damn reality.

            Still, it just seems so likely. The little lake thing, the meeting, the first kiss, the ride to school… It all matched perfectly with my book. The dialogue is slightly different, but that’s okay. If it were exactly the same, I’d probably shit myself before throwing myself off a cliff into a ring of sharks.

            My phone rang beside me, making me jump out my skin as I nearly pissed my pants. Stole My Heart blared through the speaker, earning a smile from me at the old 1D song. It was one of my favorites, if I’m honest.         

            “Hello?” I asked, not recognizing the number.

            “Valerie?” the thick Irish accent spoke from the other side.

            My eyes widened. “Niall Horan?” I asked shakily, my heart fluttering at the thought of having a second One Direction member’s number.

            Niall chuckled. “Sure is, love. Eh, listen. Do you mind meeting the lads and me somewhere for dinner? I’ll pick you up.”

            It’s been two days since I stayed the night at their hotel. Two days since I’ve seen Harry. No way in hell was I backing out of a dinner with One Direction. Mom is making my favorite spaghetti? Oh well. There’ll be other nights for spaghetti. Other nights to eat with One Direction? Highly unlikely.

            “Oh, um, well… sure,” I stammered, raking a hand through my hair. “Is there a specific dress code?”

            “Not really,” Niall said. “Just where whatever, if you want.”

            “How helpful,” I murmured, but then blushed when Niall heard and laughed on the other end.

            “I’m a helpful guy,” he chuckled. “I’ll pick you up in fifteen minutes, yeah?”

            “Holy Jesus, thanks for the last minute call!” I accused. “Sheesh, now I have to run around like a mad woman.”

            Niall chuckled. “Nonsense. You don’t have to try to impress us, Val. We like your overly excited personality.”

            My heart skipped a beat for two reasons; Niall used a nickname on me and they like my personality. “Whale…” I trailed off. “Thanks.”

            “No problem, love. See you soon.”

            With that, Niall Horan hung up. Niall fucking Horan was just talking to me on the phone. Will I ever get used to this? No. Should I get used to this? Yes. Why? So I don’t continue to scare the absolute shit out of them. But what would you do if you sporadically met your idols and actually had some sort of a love connection with one?

            Exactly.

            It was still bright outside, considering it was only 5:30. With the odd chilly weather, I shimmied on a plaid long sleeve button up and some skinny jeans. I wore my black boots with small heels, then brushed out my already straightened hair. I grabbed my sunglasses, right when I heard the doorbell downstairs.

            I grabbed my purse and phone and ran down the stairs, seeing Mom was already walking towards the door. “I got it!” I nearly yelled, causing her to jump as she turned to face me.

            “Goodness, Valerie. What is wrong with you?”

            “Only that Niall Horan is picking me home,” I squealed unintentionally. My eyes widened in embarrassment as I saw him leaning against the doorway. “And you heard that, didn’t you?”

            “Sure did,” Niall said, then let out a light-hearted laugh. “No worries, Val. Come on, the lads are waiting.”

            “You’re leaving?” Mom asked, her eyebrows frowning in confusion.

            “Mom, please. I mean, Niall Horan is asking me to go to dinner with him and the rest of One Direction. I love you and all, but I think we know who wins here,” I stated, as if it were the most obvious thing ever.

            Mom rolled her eyes. “You girls and your crushes,” she murmured. “Have fun. Have her home by eleven! It’s a school night!” she called after us.

            “Will do, Mrs. Anderson!” Niall called back, then closed the door after me.

            Niall led me to his car, smiling as he opened the passenger door for me. I thanked him, but then the weird curiosity sparked inside me. How come Harry isn’t picking me up? I know him the best, since I’ve been around him the most.

            As if reading my mind, Niall got into the driver’s side and awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. “So… we got a problem.”

            My eyebrows etched together in confusion as he started driving. I twisted in my seatbelt to look at him. “What is it?”

            Niall groaned, running his fingers through his hair. “Management is being an arse and they don’t want you seen in public with Harry. He’s supposed to be dating Kendall Jenner, after all, so they don’t want cheating rumors to spark up.”

            My heart sank to my feet, my face falling as I slowly leaned back into the seat. “So… that’s why you’re picking me up?” I asked quietly, biting my lower lip as I tried to make sense of it.

            Niall nodded. “He wanted to come, too, but management got pretty serious with their threats.”

            This caught my attention as I quirked a brow at him. “Threats? Like… death threats?”

            Niall chuckled, shaking his head. “Nah, nothing that serious.”

            “Then what?”

            Niall sighed, pursing his lips together, refusing to answer my question.

            “Niall,” I said firmly, staring at him. He still said nothing. “Niall James Horan, I swear—“

            “You know my middle name?” he laughed.

            My cheeks flushed. “Maybe I do…” Niall continued to chuckle, but his laughing cut off abruptly when I asked again, “What kind of threats?”

            Niall shrugged merely, but his eyes screamed sadness and worry. “They just said… well, if he keeps hanging out with you in public, then… They’ll break our contract and there’ll be no more One Direction…”

    That’s all it took for tears to lump in my throat and my heart to sink to my feet.