Chapter 26         Charlotte POV                    Day 30 of Tour: Austin

“Charlotte hurry up! The movie starts in less than an hour!” Louis scolded from behind the bathroom door.

I set down the hairbrush. “Since when are you my secretary? I know when I’m supposed to leave, thank you very much.”

“Suuuure.”

“Leave me alone, Tommo.”

“NIALL! You’re girlfriend’s being mean to me!” He thudded himself against the locked bathroom door dramatically. I rolled my eyes and puffed hot air.

Niall was digging through his suitcase that was on the bed. “You probably deserved it,” His thick and sexy Irish accent replied.

I glanced at my reflection in the mirror.

“What do they see in her? All I see is a chubby cheeked, money sucking, lying cow.”

The words replayed in my mind. In attempt to clear the thoughts I shook my head. My hair swept across my bare shoulders and made me giggle.

“Umm why are you laughing?” Louis bugged me again.

“Leave me alone, Tommo.” I repeated. He was like the world’s most annoying best friend.

I readjusted the top of my dark blue sweater shirt. It wasn’t anything I was used to. It hung down off of my shoulders like some sort of flash dance shirt. It was casual but totally cute; which proved to be my style. Emily had forced me to buy the entire outfit at American Eagle; the top, the printed leggings, the sparkly scarf, and even the bow headband. Let’s just say I walked out of that store with a broken bank account.

I slipped into my worn black flats before spritzing myself with my new white citrus body spray.

“Tick tock my friend!” Louis tisked from the other room. He sure did love to get on my nerves.

I turned the handle and stepped into his view. “I’m all done now, Lou. Don’t worry.”

He smiled at me. “You look very pretty!”

I blushed.

“Niall doesn’t she look nice?” He and tossed me towards Niall like a rag doll.

I gasped inaudibly. Niall’s hands went out to rest on my shoulders before I could collide with him. “She certainly does,” he said. My cheeks reddened as I started to lose myself in his crystal blue gaze.

“Thanks.” I said quietly. I looked at his unhooked belt and half tied shoes. His hair was casually flopped to the side and he was wearing my favorite shirt; the white button up and the dark cardigan over top. How was it possible to be so effortlessly sexy? “I think you look terrific.”

Terrific?

Did I seriously tell Niall James Horan he looked TERRIFIC? I was such a loser.

He smiled bashfully.

“No, that’s not the word.”

I was just digging myself deeper.

“You look- you look-”

Louis laughed loudly from beside us. He caught me staring at him. “I’m sorry honey. But you can be so adorably awkward and I just couldn’t help it!”

I turned as red as a ripe tomato. “I’m not trying to be! That’s just who I am!” I whimpered in defense.

Niall used his finger to turn my chin to him again. “Thank you.” With a sharp look at chuckling Lou he sent the teenager out of the room. You could hear his laughter grow quiet as he walked across the hall to his and Harry’s room.

“Just ignore him,” Niall leaned into the mirror to button his shirt up all the way.

I rested a hand on Niall’s thick muscled arm to face him to me. I stood on my tip toes and buttoned his collar. “He’s right though,” I smiled. “I’m pretty awkward.”

He laughed, sending chills up and down my already unsteady arms.

I finished with the collar. Gathering up all of my courage I straighten the hem of the button up. His gorgeous eyes shadowed my hands as I tucked the white shirt into his jeans. Niall made no sort of argument. I weaved my fingers around the end of his belt to tug him closer. As our chests pressed together I finally looked up into his face. Niall smirked allusively.

Slowly he bent down to me. Niall’s strawberry lips brushed against mine teasingly. I gripped onto the leather tighter, not knowing what else to do. I waited until his mouth crashed against mine to wrap my arms around his sturdy neck.

Both of his palms rested against the back of my pants. He rounded his hands under me to lift me up into his arms. I proceeded to wrap my legs around his torso. I felt his breath hitch from where my thighs met his sides. I sighed into our kiss.

Something ached inside of me.

I don’t know how much time had passed before a loud rapping noise startled us both. Niall drew away panting, I got to my feet and tried not to pass out.

“Movie starts in twenty minutes!”

Niall barked, “DAMN IT LOUIS!”

His loud cackling rang through the closed door.

 *******************************************************

Niall POV

I sat down in my velvety red theatre seat with a sigh. Charlotte came up beside me and took her spot at the back of the theatre. The lights were still halfway up and a preview reel was still rolling. I jumbled the huge tub of popcorn to shake up the salt. Charlotte tucked her legs to the side and rested on me. I tried not to smile like an idiot.

“I haven’t been to a movie in ages,” She told me.

I shook my head. “Me either. But I like a good film.”

“Same,” Charlotte leaned in for what looked like a kiss. I closed my eyes and waited expectantly until I heard her deliberately chewing a loud mouthful of popcorn. My shoulders slumped as she giggled giddily.

“That’s just mean.”

She only laughed harder.

“SHH!” A grumpy middle aged man turned around and hissed.

“The movie hasn’t even started!” I argued in our defense.

“SHH!”

He turned back around and cursed us to his friend. My date looked like she’d been caught smuggling drugs across the border.

Who did this guy think he was?

I nudged Charlotte with my elbow to get her attention. Her mouth opened into a tiny ‘o’ as I reached into a box of M&Ms candies.

With a perfect aim I hit the guy square in the head.

Charlotte bit her lip to stop the giggles and buried her head in my shoulder.

The man spun around and eyed me. Casually I looked to the previews, pretending not to notice his death glare. He muttered something about ungrateful punks before continuing to watch the ads.

Charlotte peaked up from my dark cardigan. Her eyes sparkled at me.

“You’re too cute,” I sighed.

She scrunched her nose and made a silly face. “How’s that for cute?”

“Didn’t work. In fact, that’s pretty hot.”

Charlotte’s rich eyes rolled and her head tilted to the side. She wasn’t ever going to believe me.

Finally the lights dimmed down to nothing. Charlotte scooted even closer to me if it was even possible. Her head rested on my chest and my hand rubbed her waist. I absolutely loved it.

I loved her.

As the intro song started to play I decided to tell her that.

“Charlotte I lo-”

“SHH!”

I stared at the guy angrily.

Charlotte surprised me by appearing at my ear. Whispering so beautifully gently she told me, “I love you too.”

I smiled like an idiot.