(No Control - 23. Change Your Ticket)

It seems like an eternity before I get a reply back.

From: @jessie_braddy: I have a date with my laptop. Don't be jealous! x

My heart lurches at the first part of the message - for a second I think she's telling me she actually has a date. But then I read on and find myself feeling relieved.

I'm going to ask her out. Here goes.

To: @jessie_braddy: Think I am a little bit. How about a date with me instead? Would your laptop mind? x

I'm actually quite proud of that one. See, I can be funny when I don't overthink things.

From: @jessie_braddy: I don't think my laptop would mind at all. I'm sure I can shuffle a few things around x

BACK OF THE NET. Wait, was that definitely a yes?

To: @jessie_braddy: So is that a yes? x

From: @jessie_braddy: Looks like it is :) x

I'm grinning stupidly. She said yes to a date. Get in.

"You look pleased with yourself," Mum remarks.

"That's because I am," I say cockily.

To: @jessie_braddy: Great. Shall I pick you up at 8? We could go for some dinner x

From: @jessie_braddy: Sure. Do you need directions? x

Ahahaha I'm laughing, she just said directions.

I resist the urge crack a pathetic joke about One Direction.

To: @jessie_braddy: Your postcode is in my Sat Nav. What number are you? x

From: @jessie_braddy: Flat 2. I'll look out for you x

I need to get her number. Balls, I'm gonna have to tell her I put mine in her phone. I have a feeling she hasn't seen it.

To: @jessie_braddy: OK. Text me from your phone so I have your number x

From: @jessie_braddy: I would but I don't have yours! x

Ah. Awkward. Yes you do, Jessie Braddy.

To: @jessie_braddy: Yes you do. Check your contacts ;) x

It's a couple of minutes before I get a reply.

From: @jessie_braddy: How did your number get in my phone?

Uh oh. No kiss on the end. She's probably thinking I'm a stalker.

To: @jessie_braddy: I put it in there, in case you wanted to text me x

From: @jessie_braddy: You put it there?? When?!

Oh my God, she really didn't know it was there. That makes me happy - at least now I know she wasn't ignoring me on purpose.

Still no kiss though. I hope she isn't pissed off.

To: @jessie_braddy: When I gave you a lift home and you thought your phone was playing up. I put my number in your contacts x

I finish the last bite of my bacon sandwich and take my cup of tea into the lounge. I flop down on the sofa and my text message alert beeps. It's from a random number, and just says Hey, it's Jess x

I quickly save her number and text her back.

To: Jess: How do I know it's definitely you? You could be a crazy stalker ;) x

I laugh at the irony.

From: Jess: Ditto. You're the one who sneaked your number in my phone without telling me. Maybe you're a crazy stalker? x

Shit - busted. I chuckle again. She has a point. I know people have pretended to be me in the past to get girls. I hold my phone out in front of me and hold two fingers up, and snap a selfie.

I examine the picture on the screen. It's horrendous - I look like a pervert. I run my hand through my hair, trying to make it look tousled, and give a thumbs up to the camera, before snapping another picture.

This one is even worse. I'm not even smiling - I was concentrating so hard on not looking stupid that I ended up looking even more stupid. This is why I don't do selfies.

I hold my phone up again, give a thumbs up and grin.

"What are you doing?" Gemma asks from the doorway just as I snap the picture, and I jump guiltily.

"Nothing," I say quickly. I glance at this picture and decide I will be here all day at this rate.

"Are you taking selfies?" she asks incredulously.

"No," I lie, and quickly attach the picture to my message thread with Jess and press Send before I can change my mind.

"Don't lie, yes you are!" Gemma laughs. "Who are you sending them to?"

"No one, I'm not," I lie again, and quickly type a message to Jess to accompany the picture.

To: Jess: Will that do? x

Gemma laughs again. "You are such a loser."

"Get lost," I mutter, and start to grin as my phone lights up with another message.

From: Jess: I suppose. Good job you sent me that or I may not have recognised you tonight x

I laugh out loud. I really like her sense of humour.

To: Jess: Lol. Do I get one back? x

From: Jess: Why, have you forgotten what I look like? x

Woah, is she kidding? I've been thinking about her face all week. Among other things.

To: Jess: I never forget a pretty face x

I press send before I can wimp out.

From: Jess: Smooth talker. Here you go x

Ha, she just called me out again.

But I'm guessing she's sending me a picture. I wait impatiently.

My phone beeps and I snatch it up and open the message.

My heart does a weird double beat and my stomach flips over. She was right - I had forgotten what she looked like - she is way more beautiful than I remembered. And - what's this - a picture of me in the background... no way, is that on her laptop?!

I zoom in on the picture and I can see little One Direction stickers all around her screen, a One Direction pen and a mousemat with my face on it. Under normal circumstances I would be put off by this, but she's so laid back with me, it's hard to believe she's really that into the band.

Karen will go nuts when she finds out about this.

I look back at Jess's face on the picture and study it. She's sort of smiling, and her hair is pulled back in a ponytail. Her lips are shiny, like she's just put that lip gloss stuff on or something. And that dimple in her cheek... that is seriously cute.

To: Jess: Wow. And nice desktop background x

From: Jess: Thanks. I'm at my friend's desk though x

I start to laugh. She's so quick-witted.

To: Jess: Your friend has good taste x

From: Jess: Hmmm I'm more of a Louis girl ;) x

Oh.

Ok.

Is that why she plays it so cool? She prefers Louis?

To: Jess: Are you? x

I'd rather know now, to be honest, before this goes any further. I hope she's just playing with me.

From: Jess: Lol. No x

OK, good answer.

To: Jess: You definitely know how to keep a guy on his toes x

I love it. Seriously.

From: Jess: And you know all the right moves! Now stop texting me. I have to get on with my work or I'll have to stay late x

To: Jess: Wouldn't want to ruin your plans for this evening ;) see you later x

I stand up from the sofa just as Mum is coming into the lounge with her cup of tea.

"Oh," she says. "I was just coming to sit with you."

"Ah... slight change of plan," I tell her. "I sort of have a date tonight. In... London."

She raises an eyebrow. "Is this with Jess?"

"Yep." I can't stop the smile I can feel coming.

"So that's who you were sending selfies to!" Gemma pipes up from the armchair, and I pull a face at her.

"Good for you," Mum smiles back. "If she puts a smile this big on your face she gets a thumbs up from me. Remember what I said though - there's no harm in taking things slowly."

"I am," I nod. "We fly out tomorrow and I won't have any real free time until at least April."

"Where are you taking her tonight?" Mum asks.

"I don't know," I muse. "There are a couple of good places in Central London but I don't know if they'll have reservations at this short notice."

"Better get a move on then," she teases.

I give her a kiss on the cheek before I leave the room, and then take the stairs two at a time up to my bedroom. I pick up my bags and bring them downstairs, collect my sunglasses, keys and Green Bay Packers hoodie, and say goodbye to Mum and Gemma.

Mum gets all teary eyed again as she gives me a hug and I feel a lump forming in my throat. I'm not going to see her for at least a month, and I plan going straight to my house in LA at the end of the tour for at least a few weeks.

"Have a good time tonight," she sniffs as I get into my Range Rover. "And have a safe flight tomorrow."

I nod and wave to them both as I drive off, and as soon as I am on the motorway I call Jane, my assistant, and ask her to see if C London can fit me in tonight at 8.30. She calls back straight away with confirmation they can, and I tell her not to bother arranging me any security as I will be picking Jess up myself.

My next call is to Karen at Modest to let her know what I'm going to do. I'm not certain the paps will be out on a Thursday night but I wouldn't be surprised, and the last thing I need is another earful when pictures of me and Jess are all over Twitter and Karen realises she is the last to know again.

I dial her number and my stomach churns sickeningly as it begins to ring. I know she is going to be massively pissed off. I am not looking forward to this conversation one bit.