1      Niall POV                                                  Day 1 of Tour: Salem

Charlotte had her back towards me, dainty arms wrapped around her mum's neck. They hung onto each other for quite some time before Ms. Hemming broke away, wiping her hazel eyes.

"You should get going, baby," She said. "There's supposed to be a lot of traffic."

I could hear Charlotte’s sad smile through her voice as she replied, "Ok."

Ms. Hemming kissed Charlotte on the cheek once more. She let go of her daughter’s hand and walked towards me. Charlotte turned to us, her dark eyes looking at me sweetly. I smiled as comfortingly as I could. I knew this part would be hard for her, leaving her mum and all.

"Boys," Ms. Hemming rested a hand on Liam's shoulder. "Take care of my baby."

"Yes mam," Liam said in all seriousness.

Ms. Hemming looked up at the tall, broad young man standing in front of her. She bit her lip and nodded, something Charlotte often did. Soon Ms. Hemming was standing before me, her small hands draped across my own. "I'm glad she has you," She said softly.

I swallowed a lump in my throat. "I'm glad, too," I replied.

With a forced smile and a second glance at Charlotte; she ducked into her Durango and drove away.

"Are you okay?" I whispered. My arms drew her closer to me; pressing her narrow back up against my stomach. She leaned her head and smiled up at me. Her dark eyes squinted, focusing on my face in front of the sun.

"Yeah. I'm fine," She breathed. "I really want to do this."

I nodded, glancing at the four guys who were all standing around us.

"We want you to do this, too!" Louis playfully punched her shoulder, attempting at some levity. It worked: he got her to grin.

A loud grumbling sound turned us all around. Nearing us was a huge black bus. It made its way through the deserted parking lot, making the crows scatter. The windows were shaded, it was as tall as an average house, and it was about the length of an RV.

“There it is,” Harry said.

“It’s much nicer than the last,” Zayn added thoughtfully.

The bus pulled up to us while the automatic doors folded open. A short, stout man with a curly mustache popped his head out of the door and waved us forward. He didn’t look very friendly, and Charlotte seemed to get this impression as well. She looked up and me and made a face.

“Come on then!” The man called. “Your boss wants us at the first signing in a measly hour!”

“He’s our manager, not our boss,” Louis corrected. The man rolled his eyes way up into the back of his head, not even caring enough to respond.

Liam went ahead first. Zayn, Harry and Louis followed. I took Charlotte by the hand and led her inside of our new tour bus. She seemed reluctant but excited. I was feeling the same, actually.

Inside; the floors were carpeted in beige and the walls were painted grey. A long leather couch was pressed up against the left side of the bus. On the other side was a bench in front of a table that stuck up out of the ground.

I walked past the TV that hung above the refrigerator that sat next to the breakfast table. There were three sets of bunk beds; one set on the left side and two others on the right. At the very back of the bus was a small door, which I assumed went to the washroom.

“I call this one!” Louis screamed as he threw himself on the top bunk. He had chosen the one nearest the fridge and the TV… figures he gets the good bed.

Harry ran past Charlotte towards the beds. “I didn’t know we were choosing beds!”

“I want a top bunk!” Zayn whined.

Charlotte giggled before calling after them, “I don’t want a top one so someone can have mine.”

Louis rolled out of his new crib and landed on the ground with a thud. “What are you just too cool for a top bunk?” He said dramatically, “Everyone wants a top bunk!”

She shook her head, “I’m afraid of falling.”

“That would be a good name for a song,” Zayn said quietly as he relaxed on the top bed of the left side bunks. Harry was on the one directly under him.

“What would? “Everyone Wants On Top”?” Harry cackled.

“Shut up, you know what I meant.”

Liam pointed to the last two. “You get those,” he said he said to me and my girlfriend.

Charlotte skipped over. She flung herself on the twin sized mattress and looked out into the walkway. She craned her head up to see my face. “I guess that means you get the top one, babe. Is that alright?”

I nodded, leaning down to kiss her on her full lips.

“Save it for the bedroom!” Harry joked.

Charlotte gently pulled away and shot back, “We are in the bedroom, genius.” Then she continued to kiss me. Someone threw a pillow at us; causing all of the lads to laugh hysterically. Charlotte blushed and then began busying herself with unpacking the things from her suitcase I had been carrying into the storage space under her bed.

I sighed and smiled. Pulling myself up into the top bunk I made sure not to kick Charlotte in the head. There was a small window about the size of a bread box looking out into the empty parking lot. Three tiny shelves were up against the wall of the foot of the bed. They were only big enough to fit a few picture frames or postcards.

Charlotte’s thick lashed eyes peeked at me. I reached out and tugged her braid playfully, making her giggle.

“Alright!” The chubby man clapped his hands and groaned. “Here are the bus rules: No horseplay, rough housing, or running around while we are in motion. Are we clear?”

“Crystal!” Louis replied halfheartedly.

I noticed Charlotte’s reluctant fingers rise just above her chin. Liam must have noticed too because he said, “What’s your question, love?”

“Never mind… it’s stupid.”

The man shrugged and turned around. “No hold on!” Liam called after him. Liam smiled at Charlotte encouragingly, “Go ahead and ask away.”

She glanced at the scary man with the shiny head and dull eyes. “I was just wondering what we were supposed to call you…?”

He looked taken aback- like he never assumed Charlotte would actually have a legitimate question. “Eagle Trex,” He answered seriously.

We all stared at the man.

A few seconds passed.

The man blinked, staring back at us.

A minute passed.

“HAHAHAHAHA!” Harry erupted. He was followed by a giggling Louis and a hyperventilating Zayn. I let out a breathy laugh and Charlotte threw her hands over her face to hide the teasing smile.

“Laugh all you want!” Eagle screeched. He turned on his heel and marched to his seat. Before he slammed the small door to the front seats of the bus, he glared at us. We all continued to giggle as the bus pulled out onto the highway. I hoped he couldn’t hear us from his tiny room.

Louis tried to speak, “He’s like- like a BALD EAGLE!”  He spit out more laughter.

Charlotte flung onto her mattress and buried her face in the pillow. I clutched my gut and tried to steady my breathing.

“Oh God that was funny,” Harry said as he wiped a tear from his eye. Zayn hiccupped.

Charlotte turned her face around, “We probably hurt his feelings.” She frowned, making a crease in between her thick eyebrows.

God she was so cute.

“Probably wasn’t the first time,” Louis shrugged. The lads agreed with nods. “Besides, the ass deserved it.”

Charlotte’s eyes went wide as she glanced back worriedly to the driver’s seat. “Louis,” She scolded. Tommo took a sip out of his water bottle and jumped back in his bed. Charlotte sighed and continued to fold her sweaters and stack them neatly in the cupboard.

Smiling to myself, I pushed my luggage to the foot of my bed. I wasn’t really in the mood to unpack… So I just leaned back against the thin wall that separated my head from Louis’s feet. The pillow was fluffy and quite tempting. I gently closed my eyes and told myself I would only rest for a minute.

Charlotte POV

I had just set my Star Wars snow globe on the middle shelf when I heard Niall’s light, even, peaceful breathing. Smiling to myself, I readjusted the picture of Max. I ran my fingers across the small frame of a picture of my mom and me. I hadn’t brought a lot… I knew we wouldn't have much room.

I searched around my purse for a copy of my prom picture. My mom had gotten it developed that morning.

It was weird looking at the snapshot of Niall and me. Was it really only last night? So much had happened between now and then!

After we had left prom, Niall and I rushed back to the suite. Our words rushed together in excitement and eagerness. Liam and the guys were enthusiastic for me to come on the publicity tour. Paul on the other hand took some convincing. He and management argued that I would be a major distraction.

“Charlotte would never get in the way of our tour! No way, not now not ever,” Louis had said.

With an hour or so of persuasion; he finally agreed. The six of us then drove down to my house in the suburbs to talk to my mom. I prayed she would be as understanding as she usually was. The boys were preparing to beg in my favor: but she was easy to convince. Mom was sad of course, and I was too. But she could tell how much I wanted to go with My Directions.

A loud bang interrupted my train of thought.

“GOD DA-” Harry’s husky voice said. I peeked out of my bed cubby and saw him lying face down on the beige carpeted ground. I raised a brow.

“You alright, man?” Liam asked.

Harry quickly sat up and brushed himself off. A flip of the hair later he responded with, “Yeah we’re all good.” He looked up at Zayn’s top bunk and narrowed his eyes. “Beds in this place aren’t made for two, apparently.”

“Why were you even trying?” I said, a smile sneaking onto my lips.

“For future reference,” Harry winked. My amusement was replaced with an awkward embarrassment. A hot blush crept up my neck and onto my cheeks. He cackled at my reaction.

Zayn leaned out of his bunk and looked at me. “You know, for when-”

I quickly interrupted, “I KNOW WHAT HE MEANT, ZAYN.”

“Do you really? I would be happy to explain,” Harry grinned devilishly. I threw my pillow at him, which he skillfully caught with one hand.

“Leave me alone,” I tried to say seriously but came out in giggles.

As their laughter grew louder I gave up. I walked my way into the living space of the tour bus. Liam was on the couch with his computer on his lap. He looked up at me when I came in, smiling sweetly.

“Are they bothering you too much?” he asked with a slight grin, “I can pound ‘em if you need me too.”

I laughed and sat down next to him. “Nothing I can’t handle,” I replied.

“Can you handle eight weeks?”

I nodded, “Yep.”

He reached out and tugged on my braid playfully, “Good. I want you here as long as we can have you.”

Louis sauntered in wearing a striped shirt and jeans. He caught my eye and nodded before ducking into the small fridge. His hands scavenged around a few water bottles and yogurt packages. “Dammit,” he mumbled. Louder, he said to us, “Who in their right mind would put five teenaged lads on a bus and not give them any grub?” He slammed the door with finality.

“Maybe we can go to the supermarket after the signing,” I suggested.

Liam looked up from his laptop screen, “We get done with the Salem signing at about eight.”

“Yeah,” I smiled. “And after that we can hit up the local Wal-Mart or Safeway.”

Louis traced his jaw with two fingers, showing he was considering the offer. “I like it…” He smiled good-humoredly.

I glanced to the closed door of the front seat, “Do you think he’ll go for it?”

“I’ll make him go for it,” Louis clenched a fist. I giggled while Liam rolled his eyes. “No one keeps One Direction from getting what they want.”

I turned around on the couch to face the window. We whizzed past tall green pines and roaming cows. The cars seemed small from our height on the bus. I saw a marker on the road stating we were only a few miles from Salem.

A nervous knot formed in my stomach.

Coming into the tour, I knew it would require meeting fans and going public. But Salem was the first step. I would be introduced to the people as Niall’s girlfriend… and as their friend.

“What if the fans don’t like me?” I thought with a bite of my bottom lip. “They’re going to hate me.”

“Who’s going to hate you?” A concerned Liam asked.

“What? Who? No one,” I rambled.

He raised a thick brow and then went back to whatever was on the bright screen of his computer. I turned back to the window, propping my elbows on the back ledge of the couch.

Music started to play. I heard Harry laughing, and Zayn was talking on the phone. Louis was shrieking mockingly. I rested my head on my folded arms as Niall started to snore. My eardrums grew raw at the loud pounding of a Macklemore album.

“Can you handle eight weeks?” Liam repeated.

I focused on my blurry reflection in the window. I watched my round lips say, “I can.”

Harry walked by in nothing but his thin undies. He pounded his naked chest and gave me the peace sign just as Louis and Zayn ran in. Zayn had Louis’s left ear and was twisting it, causing Louis to yelp. Zayn laughed menacingly before they both fell to the floor in a mad wrestle match.

Niall appeared. “Do we have any food?” He yelled above the chaos. “I’M HUNGRY,” he screamed louder, wanting to be heard.

Liam looked at me with a grin. “Welcome to One Direction,” He said.

ONE DIRECTION…

I was touring with One Direction.

My life was complete.