//Hey guys! I just want to appologize for how long this update took, but I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it! Only 41 more days until WWA Pasadena! The NA leg of the tour started last night, I'm excited for all the vines that will come in the morning. I've uploaded a picture of the tide pools for this chapter, and also uploaded pictures of Syd and Britt's dresses in chapter 11. As always guys, I thank you so much for reading this far and staying with me on this! I absolutely love hearing your feedback and comments and encourage you to please share with others, recommend to your followers, do the little pic-quote things, and just get the word out there! :) x.X\\

Sydney 

I use to fall asleep at night, imagining what I would do if I met the boys. I dreamed of different scenarios: meet and greets, airports, clubs. Would I cry? Would I embarrass myself by screaming? How would I pose for a picture? Which boy would I speak to first? Only two minutes, what do you say? It reminds me of a song I use to sing in church: 

"When I stand in your presence, to my knees will I fall? Will I sing Hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine..." 

And that’s all I could ever do; imagine. It almost seems fitting that I would attribute a song of worship and praise to my personal idols.  

I recall these nightly rituals and fascinations as Liam helps me carry my bags to the hotel lobby. While I stand at the reception desk checking out, he wanders off. As I'm signing the receipt, he returns with a man in hotel uniform and a luggage cart. I really didn't need that, but I smile at him in thanks.  

"I'm not lazy, I just wanted my hands free in case they were needed for something more important." He murmurs in my ear as he slips his fingers between mine, leading me to the parking lot. 

I turn away to hide the warmth spreading across my cheeks and immediately regret it, now missing the warmth that his lips left against my ear just moments before.  

"So what's the plan today?" He asks, putting distance between us without letting go of my hand. 

Great. He thinks I don't want to be close to him. Ugh! But I'm not going to make it obvious that I do. 

"Well, we're getting you a new phone, right?" I say, smiling and casually swinging my body back in towards his. I can do this. I can act like he's just any other guy that I might date. I can be flirty, and sweet, and normal. I just need to find a balance between not screaming and smiling like an idiot, and not speaking at all.  

"I have Verizon, is there a store near here?" 

God his accent could kill me.  

"There's actually one just a couple of blocks away, but, I was kind of hoping we could get outside of Pasadena a bit?" 

I'm a fangirl, I know how crazy we stalk. He seems to know what I'm thinking because he nods his head in agreement.  

"Ugh, sorry. I always lose my keys in here." I say, letting go of his hand to dig through my purse.  

"Which car is it?" he asks and I remember that the bell hop is following us.  

"Oh sorry! It's the black Soul there." I say nodding towards my baby in the corner. I eye my MRSPAYN license plate and start to panic. 

"Here, Liam, would you mind starting the car for me? I need to move some stuff around in the trunk." I ask, thrusting him my keys.  

"Oh. Sure." He says, sounding surprised by my sudden change of voice.  

"I just want to get the A/C running, it's gonna be hot." I say, sounding a bit calmer. Anything to distract him, I swear if he sees it I'll die. I lift the trunk and begin helping the staff load the bags into my car as Liam opens the drivers side door. 

The car beeps and the bellhop lifts my second bag into the trunk. The engine buzzes on as I shut the hatchback.  

"I'm so whipped on her tiny little.. She's a tempting animal Spends too much and I never tell her know Drives me nuts and she got me by the throat..." 

I clamp my hands to my face! Oh my God! Rushing to the front of the car, i reach to switch the keys off, but he beats me to it. The engine cuts and Liam steps out from the drivers side door. I'm still too embarrassed to remove my hands from my face, but I peak through my fingers to see his reaction, hoping my embarrassment will be cute enough to refocus his attention. His eyebrows are squinted and his face is slightly cocked to the side and his expression looks.... worried? Uncertain maybe? 

"How." He pauses, "Did you get that?" 

I bust up laughing, lowering my hands beneath my nose so only my mouth is covered.  

"Off of Youtube" 

"It's on Youtube?" 

He shakes his head and walks around the car to the passenger door. I pretend that I don't see him pause at the back and just get in to start it up again, being sure to turn the volume all the way down before hand. He gets in the car and I start to pull out before he can even buckle.  

The silence in the car is heavy, I can feel the pressure against my ears but don't know how to break it. I can't tell if he is regretting coming with me, but, it's not like he didn't know I was a fan. It would be stupid of him to pull away now, but you would think that he'd know I'm embarrassed and try to make me feel more comfortable. I grab my Ipod from the center consul and put it on random before handing it to him. 

"Here, pick something you like to listen to."  

He scrolls through and I'm half wondering what he thinks of my music taste while I navigate down Colorado Blvd and back towards the freeway. He finally settles on a song and I relax as I hear the familiar melody start. 

"Angel of mercy. How did you find me..." Liam's perfect voice sings along with Ryan Tedder as my favorite One Republic song plays. I want to sing too, but, I can't sing with Liam Payne. Oh it would be a dream come true, I just can't. Especially while things still feel so awkward.  

I pull off the freeway and into the parking lot of a Verizon store as Liam sings the last line to the song. I want to make a cute remark about how I wish I could keep him in my car to sing all my favorite songs to me, but under the circumstances, I really don't want to sound anymore crazy than he may already think I am. So instead I turn my car off and get out without saying a word. I wait for Liam to follow suit and step along side him when he reaches the side walk. I hate how awkward this is now. If this were any other guy I would have called him out on it.  

That's it. I'm supposed to be treating him like any other guy. I take a deep breath. 

"I'm sorry." What the hell am I sorry for? 

"Sorry? For what?" 

"I don't know really, but, you've barely spoken, or even smiled, since you've gotten in the car and I can't help but take it personally, considering, I'm the only one around."  

"I'm sorry." He says with a heavy sigh, stopping outside of the door and leaning against the concrete building. "It's just that son.." 

"I got it off of Youtube! I swear, it leaked forever ago, I'm sure millions of people have it..." 

"No. It's not that it's just..." He trails off and I can tell he's having a difficult time explaining. My palms are sweaty and I'm nervous. A lump forms in my throat as I prepare to accept whatever it is he's going to say. "I wrote that song. I wrote it with someone specific in mind, and, I don't like to think of her." 

"Oh." That's not what I was expecting at all. "I, am not sure how to respond to that. I'm really sorry that..." 

"No." He cuts me off. "You're right, I shouldn't even be thinking about it. Here, let's go in." He says, reaching out his hand and taking it in mine. He opens the door and steps into the store with me at his side.  

"Welcome to Verizon, my name is Rojalio please let me know if there is anything you need help with!" said a young man behind the center kiosk.  

"Uhh.... I just need to replace my phone, this one broke." Liam says, pulling a shattered IPhone out of his back pocket.  

"Oh if you don't have case then no warranty!" Rojalio says.  

"That's fine, I'll take a new one." 

"You will need to pay for full price." 

"Yes, I am well aware." 

I snicker. Their opposing accents only make this conversation more amusing.  

"It very expensive sir, would you like to look at cheaper option." 

"Can you just get him the phone he asked for? We're kind of in a hurry." 

"Yes. Sorry ma'am. Will be right back." Rojalio says before disappearing into a back room. 

Liam looks down at me disapprovingly and I shrug "Sorry, I was feeling a bit impatient." 

He smiles and relaxes his shoulders and I know that everything back to normal. Well, if you consider casually spending time with Liam Payne normal anyway. 

The rest of the transaction went smoothly and Rojalio even made sure that all of Liam's applications were reinstalled before we left. Now that he has a phone, I can't help but wonder if he's going to give me his number. I understand, for security reasons, why he may be hesitant. But as far as security goes, he has willingly taken off with a near stranger in a foreign country without his security guards.  

"So, do people know where you are?" I ask as we turn onto my street. 

"I told Niall that I was going to spend the day with you, but I also text everyone else once I got my phone working, just letting them know that I got a new one. So where are you taking me?" 

"Well, I wanted to drop my bags off at home and then, I'm sure you've seen plenty of beautiful beaches, so, I'm going to take you to an ugly one." 

"Well that will be memorable." he says laughing.  

I join him. "It really isn't a pretty beach, but if you're willing to climb out on some rocks, there are some tide pools that make for really pretty pictures, plus, it will be a fun drive." 

"If you like it, I'm sure we'll have a good time." he says, reaching over and squeezing my hand. I look up at him and smile. 

"We're here!" I say as I switch off the engine.  

I have a small house, cottage really, but it's in a city so no one would ever call it that. It has a gray stone setting on the outside and a cute wooden fence. Nothing to brag about, but, nothing to be ashamed of either. I pop my trunk and run around the back of the car to get it opened before he can make it out. He may have already noticed my license plate, but, it doesn't mean I want to bring any further attention to it. I pull the larger of the two bags out of the trunk and Liam helps me with the second, taking both in his hands to carry in the house for me.  

"Thank you." I say sincerely. I love that he's such a gentleman.  

I follow behind him as he leads the way to my front porch and I can't help but let my eyes wander below his belt line. It's so nice when he decides to wear pants that fit him right. I unlock the door and let him into my home. Zerrie runs up and begins jumping on us before Liam can even get through the door. 

"Quick, shut it! She'll run!" I say as I try to hold my bullmastiff by the collar.  

Liam looks a bit intimidated by her size but seems to relax as her monster tongue finds his hand.  

"Wow she's huge, what's her name?" 

"Umm...." I laugh at myself, "This is impossible, no matter what I do I'm just going to be embarrassed today."  

He looks up questioningly. 

"Her name is Zerrie." 

"Zarry?" He asks. 

I point to her name tag for clarification and he laughs at me.  

"Mrs. Payne and Zerrie, that's very cute!" 

My temperature rises ten degrees as I feel the blood rush to my face and my heart fall somewhere below my uterus. I look at my toes and twirl my hair around my finger trying to only look half as uncomfortable as I feel.  

"I..." I can't speak. What do you say to that? 

"I was right." He said. "I knew I was your favorite." 

"Oh my gosh, can you not! Cockyness does not look cute on you!" 

"Everything looks cute on me!"   

"Except those stupid shorts you're wearing, my god what made you put those on?" I say, hand on my hip while eyeing him up and down. 

"They're Harry's. If you don't like them, I could always take them off." He says while reaching for the tie. 

"Oh god no. Please! Don't temp me! I'm trying to maintain my dignity here!" 

"And what? Seeing me naked would ruin that for you?" He says lowly, taking a step closer to me. 

"Sleeping with anyone, casually, shows a lack of self respect." I say, trying to convince myself why I believe this. 

"Sleep with you? Well that’s quite a presumptuous assumption. Now whose being cocky?"  

"Fuck you!" 

"Why Sydney, I don't think I've ever heard you swear before. What a dirty mouth you have." He says as he brushes his thumbs over my lips, closing the space between us. My face flushes and a lump forms in my throat. I lick my lips, my subconscious preparing for what may come next.  

AARF! ARF! 

Zerrie bellows, interrupting our moment. I step back and turn to pat her head, silently thanking her. If he had kissed me, who knows where it would have lead. 

Who am I kidding, I know exactly where it would have lead, right beneath my One Direction bed spread. This keeps it more interesting though. Keeps him wanting the little things rather than pushing for.... everything.  

"Umm... let me just put this in my room." I say, grabbing the bags from the floor and wheeling them to the hall.  

"I'll help you, which room is yours?" 

"You are not coming in my bedroom." I say sternly. "Just stay there." 

"Do you live here alone?" He shouts down the hallway. 

"No, I have a roommate that just moved in last week." I shove the bags in my room and quickly shut the door in case he can see through walls or something. "I haven't gotten to know her too well yet, but, she seems really cool. Her name is Rae, she's a year older than I, and she's really short. That's literally all I know about her so far." I say as I walk back towards the kitchen.  

"Does the beach we're going to allow for dogs? We should take Zerrie with us." He suggests as he rubs her tummy. Oh my gosh could he be anymore sweet? That means we wont be able to stop any place for dinner, but, I don't want to point that out and be called presumptuous again, so, I agree to the plan. 

I grab each of us a towel, a blanket to share, some snacks and a doggy bag for Zerr, and then we head back out to my car.  

"Holy cow, it's already almost 3 o'clock!" 

"Is there a time limit?"  

"No, I'm just surprised is all. Depending on traffic we should be there around 5."  

I turn on to the 110 S and roll the windows down. There's nothing I love more than driving my car with the wind in my hair and the music blasting. I look over at Liam scrolling through my ipod and recall all the times I've driven alone and imagined him beside me. All my PG fantasies of simply riding in the car with Liam, and here I am, here he is, with me.  

"Liam..." 

"Yes?" He says, looking wide-eyed and lost, as if being awoken from a trance.  

"Never mind." I say, shaking my head and laughing at him. He presses play and sets the ipod back down. I roll my eyes as I hear the beginning of the song. 

"I'm bringing sexy backk.." 

"Yah!" I interject on time. 

"Them other boys don't know how to act..." 

"Yah!" 

"I think it's special what's behind your back..." He sings, wiggling his eyebrows." 

"Oh god, I can't do it anymore!" I laugh over the music.  

"Dirty baaaabbbbeeee..." He sings with a lip bite. 

"You need to find a new song now!" 

"I'll let you whip me if I misbehave...." 

"Seriously! You're going to make me crash! We will both die and my poor dog will have no one left to feed her." 

"Go head be gone." 

I reach over and press the 'Next' button.  

The next hour passes without us ever finishing a single song. As much as I love flirty confident Liam, silly laid back Liam is definitely my favorite. My nerves finally pass as we spend our time joking and arguing over songs, and if it weren't for his accent being a constant reminder, I could almost forget that he wasn't someone I've known for years. As we enter San Pedro, I lower the volume on the sterio.  

"Sorry, this bridge makes me really nervous, I need to focus." 

"Woah!" Liam says as he looks at the 5 lane bridge we have come up on.  

"Ssshhh." I say, breaking lightly. "I have a fear of draw bridges, this is horrifying." 

"Then why did you.." 

"Ssshhh!!!!!" 

Liam reaches over for my hand and I shake my head no. 

"Sorry, I just... I'm really nervous. I need both hands." 

He places his hand on my thigh and lightly squeezes. My heartbeat slows to match the rhythm of his soft caress. If I'm going to die, this is the perfect way to go. Zerries panting and the sound of cars passing us is our soundtrack as we finish crossing the bridge. It's 4:30pm when I pull off the freeway and on to a main street. 

"I thought we'd drive through some place real quick since neither of us have eaten since breakfast." 

"Is there an In N Out around here? I haven't been there in months!" 

I shake my head ay his typical tourist request and switch lanes to make a left at the next light. 

"Yes, we'll get you some In n Out."  

"You're the best!" He says, reaching over and enveloping me the best he can around my seatbelt. 

"LIAM!" I shout. "You're going to kill us!" 

He laughs at me while pulling away and turning the music back up.  

We each order a number 2 with animal fries and I get a couple of bunless patties to feed Zerrie once we reach the park. The streets in San Pedro are narrow and I've only made the trip here once before so I travel slowly while Liam uses his phone to navigate us. We get lost once because apparently left in England actually means right and I should have been aware of what he meant, but we find our way eventually and I park us as close to the water as I can. Liam offers to take control of Zerrie while I grab our blankets and I'm thankful again for his love of animals.  

I spread the blanket out across the dark sand and pat the space beside me for Liam to sit down. Zerrie lays at the foot of the blanket and waits for me to serve her. I break up pieces of burger and put them in her dish I brought and then poured her some water in another. Liam and I eat our dinner in a comfortable silence as we watch the waves crash over the sand bar. 

"So, tell me your story." Liam says. 

"My story?" 

"Yes, like, 'I am Liam James Payne, I am 21 years old and am from Wolverhampton, England, and I am a famous popstar.'"  

I laugh at his mater of fact way of announcing his 'career'. 

"Alright, well, My name is Sydney Kate Fletcher, I am 24, I am originally from Little Falls, Maine, and I am a columnist for a small magazine that no body has ever heard of." 

"Well Sydney Kate Fletcher, I would love to hear more, would you like to join me for a romantic walk along the beach?" He says, standing up and offering me his hand. Zerrie stands in response to his offer and I laugh at the both of them before accepting his hand.  

He leads me to the edge of the water and we walk hand-in-hand with the waves crashing against our ankles.  

"So what brought you to California?" 

"I came here after I graduated high school. Typical small town girl, just looking to lose herself in the anonymity of a large city."  

"Do you ever miss it? The small town?" 

I think a moment before answering. "Some parts..." I bend over and pick up a large piece of driftwood to throw for Zerrie. "I miss the idea of what you think it's like from an outsiders view. Small, tight-knit community, everyone growing up together, nothing ever changes. It's like time stands still there, the rest of the world moves forward but when I go back to visit, the only difference is found in the height of my siblings." 

"You have siblings?" 

"Yes, I'm the oldest of 4. My younger brother Charlie is 19, he got married right out of high school and moved just a couple of blocks away from where we grew up. Savanah is 14 and just starting high school this year, and Wyatt just turned 6 last month."  

"Was it hard leaving them?" 

"Terribly." I watch as Liam pats Zerries head and re-throws the stick for her. It's weird how much I admire his affection for her, but she's my baby and I love seeing him with her.  "but I didn't get along with my mom and I needed to get out of there." 

"What about your dad? Did you get along with him?" 

"I never knew him, but if he disliked my mom as much as I do, I'm sure we would have gotten along great." 

I can tell he doesn't know what to say after that, so I take the opportunity to change the subject. 

"So back to you.... what, really happened between you and Sophia?"  

I hear a sharp intake of breath and worry that I crossed the line, but his fingers stay interlocked with mine as he ponders his answer.  

"She did something unforgiveable." he finally answers, and I decide not to pry. I squeeze his hand to let him know it's okay. 

"Arghk!" I shriek as Zerrie comes out of the water and shakes herself off on us.  

"Aww poor Zerrie, you just want us to play with you huh?" Liam says, letting go of my hand and scratching squishing my dogs face in adoration. I shake the water from my arms and legs as Liam turns back to face me.  

"Whats the point in coming to the beach if you don't plan to swim?" He asks as he steps towards me, and in one quick move, scoops me up in his arms and flings me over his shoulder. 

"No! No Liam! No! This water is gross! Liam Stop!! Stop!!" I squeal pounding my fists on his back and kicking my legs to get loose. He uses his free hand to steady my legs so I can no longer squirm, which causes me to scream even more.  

"LEEEYYYUUUMMM!!! Quuuiiiitt!!!! Nooo!!!" I shriek louder. He's in the water above his waist at this point and I feel his grip on me loosen. 

"NNNOOOO!!!!!" I scream one last time before my head falls below the water. 

I spring back up the moment my feat touch the bottom and I wipe the water from my eyes.  

"I hate you!" 

"No you don't" He says, moving closer to me.  

"I really do, this water is awful, I feel gross."  

"You don't hate me Sydney" He says, shaking his head and taking another step closer.  

My heart beats in my throat as my body registers his proximity.  

"I might..." I say, losing my assurance.  

He shakes his head as he takes one final step to close the distance between us. Wrapping his arm around my waist he pulls my body in to his. I lightly press myself against him, letting him know that I want whatever comes next. He lifts his hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear, and then lets his finger trail down my jaw line and rest on my chin. He leans in and I close my eyes. His body presses against mine and.. his full weight is forced against me as we both topple into the water.  

I push him away from me as my head resurfaces and I wipe the water from my face. 

"Yeah, I hate you!" I say again. 

He grabs both my arms and pulls me on top of him while he hovers in the now shallow water.  

"Don't hate me Syd. Please?" He pouts, shoving his bottom lip out and widening his beautiful brown eyes.  

I crack. The corners of my mouth curl as I try to fight back a smile, but he notices, and reaches out to trace my lips with his finger.  

"I know what you wanted Syd..." My heart drops, "but what kind of man would I be, if I kissed you without asking your permission first?" 

Oh God. 

A normal fucking man. 

I can't.. 

"Sydney Kate Fletcher, may I kiss you?" 

And I can't help myself. I smile like a child whose woken Christmas morning to find a puppy beneath the tree. Like your first taste of freedom when you step off stage with your diploma in hand. I smile like only a girl could, when all her dreams of requited love begin to come true. And I look into his eyes, and nod my head yes.  

"I need to hear you Sydney, may I kiss you?" 

"Yesss..." I whisper, barely being able to form the words.  

The letters are still on my tongue when I feel his soft lips press against mine. 

You know when you dream and dream and dream of your first kiss with someone new, and when it finally happens, it never lives up to your irrational expectations? 

This is not one of those moments.  

My heart crumbles from within as I take in the tenderness of his kiss. Rays of sunshine burst through the cracks that have been breaking since the moment I first met him. My body shatters as he parts my mouth and grazes his teeth along my bottom lip. I run my hands across his shoulders, down his arms to his hips where I pull him in tighter to me. I press my chest against his while I lightly bite the succulent prize he's left within my mouth. His soft moan vibrates against me and I squeeze my legs together to keep from wrapping them around his waist.  

He pulls away and I breathe, remembering that that's necessary for life. He looks into my eyes as if he's searching for something. I look down to keep him from seeing me blush and he leans in to plant a small kiss on the bridge of my nose.  

"I've wanted to kiss you from the moment I first saw you in the lift,  but, I'm glad I waited. This was worth the wait." and he nods out towards the open water, pointing out the setting sun on the horizon. Purple and Orange shoot across the sky as the sun flares red across the waves. 

"It's absolutely beautiful." I murmur in awe.  

"And none of it compare to you" he sings softly, tickling my ear with his whiskers.  

What happens when he leaves tomorrow Sydney? 

A voice in the back of my head finally speaks up. I shake my head, ignoring the thought. 

"I'm glad Zerrie found a way to keep herself entertained." I say, nodding towards the beach where my beast of a dog is chasing seagulls in a circle.  

He laughs and stands up, cradling me in his arms. I loop my own around his neck while he carries me back to shore.  

"So why is it that you picked this beach? It really is gross." he asks.  

"Well for one, not many people come here, so there's a fair amount of privacy. And two, it has the most beautiful tide pools." 

"Tide pools? Why didn't we go and see those?" 

"Because you decided to throw me in the water instead." 

"Ah. Yes, well, I guess it was a fair trade."  

I smile as he sets me down in the sand next to our blanket. I pull two towels from my bag, wrapping one around myself and handing Liam the other. He grabs his phone and I decide to do the same.  

My Twitter notifications these days have been insane, I don't have time to even look through them all, but a link titled "Payne's new lady: Fan or Fake?" catches my attention. I open the article, save the pictures to my phone, and close it. For once in my life, I could honestly careless about twitter, rumors, and trends.  

"Hey, the guys want to get together for pizza back at Harry's, they want to know what time I'll be back there?" 

I can't help but notice his use of "I" instead of "we" and the sting of disappointment throbs through my chest. I check my phone. It's just after 8pm.  

"If we go straight there from here, we can be there in about 45 minutes, tops." 

"Are we going to drop Zerrie off first?" 

"It's out of the way, I'll drop you off first." 

"Drop me off? I'll go with you to take her home, that way you can change into something dry and pack whatever you need since we'll probably be staying over night." 

EeeeekkKKKK!! Keep it inside! Keep it inside. 

"Oh, I can come with?" I say, letting my excitement show a little. 

"Of course you're coming with." He says, laughing and pulling me into his arms. "You didn't think I was going to let you kiss me and then just leave me, did you?" 

I laugh with him, not admitting that that's exactly what I thought was happening.