//Sorry I didn't get this finished yesterday - I went 5sos stalking (yes, I saw 4/4). Thanks for all the reads! And thank you all so much for sharing with your friends! I look forward to all your comments, they're my favorite!

Please be sure to add @WastedBrittney and @WastedSydney on Twitter//

Liam

The day goes by excruciatingly slow. Sound check was a mess and everyone back stage was on my last nerve. No one spoke to me. Even Zayn kept his distance, and I preferred it that way.  Every time Niall picked up his phone I fantasized about my laser beam eyes cutting off his arm or some other form of badass unrealistic torture. I then would proceed to look at my own phone, to see if she had text me. Every time I saw a blinking light, I would get my hopes up, only to find that it's my mom, or Paul, or some one else that wasn't Sydney.  I don't even know if Niall had given her my number. Did she have it and was intentionally not speaking to me, or did he just not give it to her?  

"Hey man." I jump at the sudden hand on my shoulder and look behind me to see Harry. "We really need you out there tonight. 

I nod my head, "Yeah." I know he is refereeing to my mental state and he's right. Forget about the girl - there's 70,000 girls out there who do want me, and are screaming their hearts out for me right now, I need to make them happy. 

"Hey Harry!" I shout ahead as he starts to walk away. "Thanks man!" I say, running to catch up and give him a hug.  

He smiles and wraps his arm around me as we walk out to the stage together. With two simple words and a smile I can express my appreciation and he understands. This is  why I love my brothers, and I can't let anything, or anyone, come in between that.  

…. 

The exhilaration of performing for a crowd never gets old. The bass of the drums pushes the blood through your veins, the screams of the fans match the excitement in your chest and the fireworks make you want to burst off of your feet. You jump, and you swing and you run and hop and you put the overwhelming rush of emotion on stage with all you've got - and the crowd just screams louder. We fuel each other. Their enthusiasm makes us move, our moves make them more ecstatic and it's a never ending circle. Who needs speed when you've got fans like these?  

Winding down after a show always takes a bit, and sometimes it's more fun to just stay pumped. Not tonight though. The rest of the guys head to the pub and I decide to hang back at the hotel. I'm not moping around, I'm not feeling down or anything, if anything I'm still running on the adrenaline from the show. If Sydney is done with me, then, I'm disappointed, but, I'm not going to let it push me back into the train wreck I was becoming. If my few days with her taught me anything, it's that I make bad choices when I drink.  

I put some music on the TV and pick up my phone to see if Michael wants to come chill with me. He's probably just playing CoD anyway.  

"Wanta come chill?"  

I send in a quick text to Mikey. My phone vibrates again right away. 

"So, why only blondes?" 

I'm confused for a moment when I realize the message isn't from Mikey, but, from an un-saved number. It's Sydney!  

"Because, brunettes remind me of my past."  

I respond, admitting to her what I had never fully admitted to myself. I save her number and plop down on the couch, crossing my legs.  

"Sydney: And me?" 

"You're nothing like my past. You're what I want for my future."  

I press send with a smile on my face. It may be forward, but, this is what I should have done in the first place. Being careful has never gotten me anywhere with her. Plus, girls eat this shit up.  

A stiff knock at the door snaps me out of my ego-trip. Tossing my phone to the other side of the couch, I get up to answer.  

"Decide to stay in tonight?" Michael asks as he enters my room with a bag slinged over his shoulder. 

"Uh, yeah... I just wasn't feeling it tonight." 

"No need to explain." he says, giving me a knowing look. "I brought games, can you order some room service?"  

"Pizza?" I ask 

"With Mushrooms!" 

I nod and make my way over to the night stand to call and place an order. 

"Alright it should be about 30 minutes." I say, hanging up the phone and joining Michael on the couch. 

"Your phone was vibrating." He says while handing me a controller. Ignoring his gesture, I grab my phone and open the text from Sydney. 

"Sydney: Then why wouldn't you leave me with your phone number?" 

Damn. I look at Mikey whose already engrossed into his game. I really want this to work out. I don't even know why, but, I need to fix it. Sighing heavily, I type my response. 

"Because, I was scared. We get stuff leaked a lot, and we've all had people close to us betray us in some way. I should have trusted you though. You've handled this past weekend very well. I'm sorry I didn't give you more credit." 

I set my phone down and pick up the controller.  

"Sorry man, just doing damage control." 

"You finally talking to that chick?" 

"What makes you think that?" I ask, getting defensive. 

"Your smile." He says, smirking at me. 

His observation causes me to smile more. 

"Damn is it that obvious? I feel like a whipped little bitch, but I just want to make things work." 

"It's cool. If you guys stay together, maybe her friend will come around more. I'd like to hit that again." 

My jaw drops. If I had been drinking, I would have splattered it everywhere for sure. 

"Dude, no way! It was you who hooked up with her at the party?" 

"I would barely call that a party." 

"What do you...." I cut myself off, noticing my assumption was wrong. He gives me a strange look and I realize I've paused for too long. 

"We were drinking, it was kind of a party." I say, saving face. 

"Yeah, well, she was crazy! And I liked it."  

I shake my head and decide not to say anything.  

"What?" He asks. 

"I'll be sure to put in a good word for you." I say as I press the triangle key on the controller, finally taking out Michael's guy. 

"Damnit!"  

"Haha." I toss the controller and check my phone again. 

"Sydney: I'm not looking for any sort of attention from any of this. I only want attention from you, but I want you to feel secure with me. I hate to see you unhappy, and I never want to be the cause of that." 

"Oh! What did she say?" Michael asks, nudging my shoulder. 

"Fuck off!" I say, shoving him back. Words like that sound to good to be true. Cheesy as fuck and a bit shady, but I don't care how foolish I am, I want to believe her.  

"I know Sydney. I fucked up. Again. Will you forgive me?" 

"Look at you! You are all into this chick!" 

"Shut up Mikey! Go get the door." I say, as a knock sounds outside." 

"Sydney: I'm pretty sure I've heard those words before...." 

Michael brings the pizza over and begins eating. I know I'm shitty company right now, but at least he's being cool about it. 

"I know babe. Please understand, I don't want to sound like a dick, I just can never be too careful." 

I grab a slice of pizza and begin picking the mushrooms off before eating. My phone vibrates again before I finish. 

"Sydney: Oh I'm over that. I was pissed you didn't give me your number, but I can at least understand why. I'm pissed about the girl." 

Ugh. Fuck. I had forgotten about that. I put my food back down and respond. 

"I was drinking and it was stupid idea. Zayn shouldn't have let me. If Niall hadn't been trying to make me jealous, I wouldn't have tried to make you jealous." 

I can't believe I just fucking admitted to being jealous. And of Niall. I notice Michael staring at me and I get an idea. 

"What?" he asks, recognizing the malicious grin on my face. 

"You like Brittney?" 

"Well, I don't know if I like her, didn't really talk, but I liked doing her." 

"Well, how about you find out if you like her, I've got her number." 

Mikey hands me his phone and I type the number from last nights text message into his contacts list. Bitch.  

I check my phone again and my heart drops. 

"Sydney: You're kidding right? Don't try and put blame on anyone else. You made the choice, not Zayn. And if you had given me your number, then I wouldn't have been talking to Niall." 

No no no! This is going backwards! I thought we were past this. I look over to Michael and he's completely engrossed in his phone. Hoping he doesn't notice, I hold my phone out in front of me and snap a quick picture of me making a sad face. 

"You're right. I'm sorry babe. I really am."  

I type underneath before hitting send. 

"Did you just take a selfie?" Michael asks, laughing at me. 

"Shut up. Did she respond to you?" 

"Yeah." 

I would have pressed him for more, but, my phone lit up again and I grabbed for. 

"Sydney: You're lucky you're so dang cute! :)" 

I can't control the grin on my face as I quickly type back. 

"So you really wouldn't have talked to Niall if I had given you my number? =)" 

I set my phone down and finally grab my slice, of now cold, pizza. I turn to Mikey to ask him how his chat with Brittney is going when he excuses himself. 

"I uh, I'm gonna use your bathroom real quick." He says, pocketing his phone as he walks away. 

I shake my head and look down at my phone to see if Sydney has responded. Nothing. What if she's texting Niall right now too? That doesn't matter though, everything is good now, there's no reason to worry about anything 

"Hey bro! Hope you're having a good time tonight. Stay safe. " 

Michael's still in the bathroom doing God knows what. I tap my fingers and look around the room for something to distract me. I get up and walk to the mini-fridge. Open and shut it. Pick up the books on the night stand. Adjust the pillows on the bed. I walk back to the couch and check my phone again. Still no response. I'm tempted to take a shot of the vodka in the fridge, just to calmmyself, when my phone finally vibrates. 

"Niallator: Thanks." 

Thanks? That's it?  

"Are we cool?" 

No. I back space and start over.  

"Are you talking to Sydney?" 

My finger hovers over the send button when Sydney's name flashes across the top of the screen. I hit end and switch over to Sydney's message. 

"Sydney: Sorry, I'm falling asleep." 

"Sydney: I wouldn't have ignored him if that's what you're asking. But you definitely wouldn't have had a reason to be jealous. ;)" 

Michael comes out of the bathroom scratching his neck.  

"Hey uh, I'm gonna head back to my room now. I'll leave the game if you want to play." 

"Alright man not a problem. Be careful what you send her though, I don't think she's too trustworthy." 

His eyes go wide, but he nods his head before heading out the door. I pack up the pizza, pile up his games and shut the TV off. Changing into a t-shirt and boxers I grab my phone and climb into bed, dimming the lamp beside me. Holding my phone out, I take a picture of myself in bed to send to Sydney. 

"Wish you could fall asleep beside me =)"  

She responds right away with a picture of her own. Her hair is down and sprawled out over her shoulders, the blanket clutched in her hand and her eyes wide and innocent.  

"Sydney: Me too :)" 

I begin to type back when I receive another text. 

"Sydney: Night Li. :)" 

Li - I like that.  

"Goodnight Sydney. Sleep well, I'll talk to you tomorrow." 

I send before turning my light off and putting my phone on the charger beside me. I adjust my pillow and crawl underneath the blankets, rolling over to face the wall. 

Bzzzz! 

I turn back over and grab my phone to see another text from Sydney. 

"Sydney: why didn't you call me 'babe'? :("  

I smile. She's cute.  

"Goodnight babe. Sweet dreams <3"