Sydney 

"Sydiam your grande Orange Peel and Jasmin is ready" 

I roll my eyes at the name Brittney gave them for me and quickly grab my drink, avoiding eye contact with the server.  

"So what's up? Have you heard from Li yet? And why are you talking to Niall so much?" Brittney bombards me the moment I sit back down. I cringe when I hear her use my nickname for him. 

"Because, Niall was willing to give me his phone number and Liam wasn't." I say, showing my frustration.  

"So do you like Niall? Or do you like Liam?" She asks boldly, confronting the issue that I've been ignoring for days. 

"Right now, neither!" I say, trying to convince myself more than anything. 

"What happened the night of Niall's party? I just know that I was looking for you and Harry said that Niall had taken you back to the hotel, so I was stuck there."  

"I was drunk and being stupid." 

"So they kicked you out?" 

"No. No. I don’t know. You saw how Liam was being, all super sweet and wanting me around him the entire time, and then Niall took me to be introduced to some people, and tried to teach me to dance a bit, but when I came back to Liam he was acting all weird."  

"What do you mean?" She asks, leaning forward, eyes lit.  

I give her a strange look, but continue. "He just seemed distant, and disinterested in me." 

Brittney looks down at her feet, twisting the ends of her hair between her fingers. "Maybe he was jealous of you spending time with Niall?" She offers, biting her lip and cocking an eyebrow. 

I hadn't thought of this. "Maybe that’s why he was all over some chick just minutes later! He was trying to make me jealous back!"  

"He what?!" She nearly yells. 

I go on to tell her how I walked away to try and collect myself but came back to find Liam with some girl on his lap. I told her how instead of remaining cool and enjoying the party, I completely lost it and ran away crying like a 12 year old at the middle school dance. I still cringe at the thought of myself that night.  

"So Niall just, took you back to the hotel then? He stayed with you though right?" 

"I asked him to, but it was nothing, really."  

She gives me a look that tells me she isn't buying it. 

"Honestly, we ordered room service, ate ice cream and watched some movies. I slept on the couch!" I leave out that Niall slept on the couch with me. It wasn't intentional, we both just happened to fall asleep during the movie. "What about you though? What did you do at the party?"  

I can tell by her smile that it’s not so much what she did, as who. I know that, as a human being with any amount of moral fiber, I shouldn’t be so understanding of Brittney’s promiscuity, but I guess it’s just something I came to accept about her years ago. She rushed into marriage at 19 when she found out she was pregnant because she wanted the stability, but Brittney was never cut out for marriage and everyone, her husband included, knew that. I don’t think he knows that she still sleeps around, I think they just choose not to talk about it. Despite her sexual habits, she’s a great mother and has the most beautiful little boy.  

 “That bad, eh?” I ask her jokingly. 

“Not bad at all. It was good. Really good!”  

“So are you gonna share?” 

“Not yet. I’m still hoping for a round two if possible.” 

Round two? Well at least that confirms it wasn’t Liam. Not that I was really scared or anything, he had made it pretty clear that he wasn’t interested in someone who’s married. I was curious about who it could be since there were a lot of important people there, but, I knew Britt would only tell me when she was finished with him.  

“What did you two do yesterday though? Him and... well, he left the house early to go looking for you and then you two didn’t come back for hours.” 

“We went to the beach!” I half squeal, reaching over and squeazing her arm. “It was such an amazing day. Oh. My. Gosh. I swear, he is perfect!” Finally. This is what I’ve needed all weekend, for my best friend to join in my excitement. To be happy for me and confirm all my reasoning’s for why I think he really likes me. By the end of my story, whether Brittney was on board or not, I had convinced myself that Liam was as interested in me as I was him, and I was ready to apologize for being so irrational this morning. I couldn’t wait for him to text me.  

I grabbed my phone to check and see if I had gotten anything and noticed a new text from Niall. I open it to see a picture of a beautiful sunset and his message: 

“Hello Phoenix!” 

It was sent 28 minutes ago. I quickly respond: 

“It’s beautiful! Hope you had a nice nap :)” 

“What’s that?” Britt asks when she catches me smiling at my phone.  

“They just got to Phoenix.” I say, showing her the picture.  

“So Liam still hasn’t text you then?” 

“No! He just got there, he wouldn’t have had the chance to get to a phone store yet.” I say in his defense. I’m certain he will soon. 

“Should I ask Niall about it if he doesn’t by tomorrow?” I ask her, “Or would that be really weird?” 

“I don’t know she says…” Her expression mimicking my thoughts. 

“Yeah, I thought so.” 

“Well hey,” She says standing up from her seat and grabbing her trash, “If he doesn’t text you, I guess he makes your decision easier doesn’t he?” She winks and walks to the trash can. I get up and follow her out the door.  

But my heart had already made it’s decision, it wanted Liam.  

Liam 

The bus was stopped when I woke up. I pulled my curtain back and blinked as the suns rays made it’s way in through the heavily tinted windows. It was quiet and I suspected everyone had gotten off the bus. I sit up and pull a shirt on before making my way down the aisle to the side door. Pushing the lever down and the door open I squint as the harsh light finds my face. Niall stands in front of me taking a picture on his phone. A picture that I know he isn’t posting on Instagram.  

“Hey there sunshin’” Zayn says as he puts an arm around my shoulder. I look at him and laugh as I realize we’re both wearing the same thing: gray sweats and a black tank top, complete with a beanie. 

“Have you been in my suitcase again?” 

He shrugs.  

“So what’s the plan for tonight Z?” I ask. 

“Plans? I thought you were done with the party scene? What happened with the girl this morning.” 

“I don’t know man, I don’t know.”  

“So is it over then?” 

“I don’t know.” 

“Don't let this one go. I like her." He says before patting my back and tossing a bag over his shoulder. I follow him towards the hotel doors, preparing myself for the crowd that’s sure to be outside.  

Niall 

The view from my hotel balcony isn't nearly as nice as it was in Pasadena. It's not just that Arizona is dry, brown, and flat, it's also that Harry is on a yoga matt with his arse in the air. Not exactly what I wanted to see in the moonlight. I bet Sydney would get a laugh though.  

I pull out my phone and tap the screen to focus before snapping a picture. I quickly send it to her and toss myself on the bed, waiting for her response. I know everyone is different through text, but she hasn't been as responsive over the past couple of hours. Just less "haha's" and emojis and more questions about what I'm doing, where I'm at, etc. I think she's trying to find out what's going on with Liam. I'm not sure what happened between them this morning, just that it felt awkward and Liam hasn't said much since.  

I should probably talk to him. I don't know what happened or what he thinks, but I need to clear it up now. I stand from the bed and start to tell Harry where I'm going, but with his eye's close, headphones in, and legs raised, I decide it's best not to interrupt him. I turn towards the door and 

"Owe!" I moan as the door swings in towards me. 

"Niall man, what are you doing there! There's a door!" 

"Ugh.." I say rubbing my forehead. "I was headed out." 

"Where to?" Louis asks me. 

"I was just gonna go talk to Liam." 

"Too bad lad, him and Zayn just left." 

"What? Where to?" 

"I don't know. Out to a bar of some sort I presume." 

"Maaannn..." I say, shaking my head. I walk back into the room and sit on the bed. Louis sits down next to me.  

"So what are you boys up to?" He asks me. He begins laughing when he catches site of Harry.  

"Let's get him." He says mischievously as he nods towards the bucket of ice on the in table. I ignore my vibrating phone and jump up to grab the ice as Louis tip-toes towards the balcony door.  

Brittney 

"I warned you about hurting Syd. - B"  

I hit send and plug my phone into the wall next to the bathroom mirror before shutting the light off and heading to bed.