|| Hey guy's I just wanted to apologize for how long this update took - and how short it is! Steal My Girl comes out today! 5/5 just got to LA and I'm hoping to try and find them tomorrow. I'll be quicker on the next update. Can't wait to read your comments! OH! And THANK YOU so much for getting me to 7k!"

Sydney

The bedroom door slowly creaks open and a dark figure slips inside her room. Shadows cast upon the wall reveal a tall cloaked man. His arm stretched out, he grabs the blanket and slides it off her body exposing her porcelain skin, barely covered by her baby pink nightie. With one long finger, he strokes her arm... 

"Aaaagghhh!" I shriek. 

Two large arms wrap around me, pulling me into their chest. Soft lips brush my forehead and I snuggle in for comfort. 

"Ssshh. It's okay Syd. It's just a movie." Niall says as he brushes his fingers though my hair. 

Niall! 

I sit up straight in my bed, looking around to take in my surroundings. Curtains are pulled. Zerrie is snoring beside me. My clock says 10:18pm. 10:18 - is that all? I lay back down and pay my blankets in search of my phone. Finding it, I squint my eyes as the screen lights up, revealing a missed snap from Brittney.  

"SlaysLikeSlair: It wasn't who I thought :/" 

"What do you mean?" 

"SlaysLikeSlair: It was the ugly one, Mike or whatever. I don't even know how he got my number." 

Haha! Serves her right. 

"Aww I'm sorry B! Who did you think it was?" 

I know she was hoping it was the mystery guy from Niall's party, but, I'm hoping to catch her off guard so she slip and give me his name. 

"SlaysLikeSlair: Casanova!" 

This chick has got to be high. 

"WTF?" 

"SlaysLikeSlair: I've decided that that's what I'm going to refer to him as. :)" 

Yup. She's high.  

"Are you ever going to tell me who he is?" 

"SlaysLikeSlair: Eventually, but, I haven't given up hope yet." 

"Hope for what?" 

"SlaysLikeSlair: That I might see him again :)" 

"You know how horrible you are right?" 

"SlaysLikeSlair: I do ;). Anyway, I've got to go, your godson just wet the bed. Night S.  

"Ew. Have fun with that. Night B." 

The immediate loneliness that accompanies the end of our conversation is stifling. My stomach turns and I roll over to grip my pillow. What am I doing with Liam? Here I am all hung up, full of nerves, can't even sleep, over someone I barely know. I thought I knew him inside and out before I ever even met him, but in reality, I don't know anything more than any other fan girl, and I've surely spent more time with him. How have I managed to be alone with him so many times, and still know nothing? Anytime I try, he pulls away, and I'm left feeling insecure and unsure of myself. And I am not an insecure person. This is ridiculous, and yet here I am, lying awake, watching shadows dance across my wall.  

Rolling over on to my back, I pick my phone up again, holding it above my body, with one I squinted to keep from blinding myself, I type out: 

"Hey. Any chance you're still awake?" 

I have no patience right now. I toss my phone on the bed and head to the bathroom. There's nothing more calming than cucumber melon face scrub. Except a back rub, a backrub would be great right now.  

I close my eyes and imagine what a life with Liam could be like. It could be just like this, washing my face before bed, in a much nicer bathroom, and he would appear behind me and place his large, heavy hands on my shoulders... I can picture him, in a white tank and silver basketball shorts.  

I squeeze some toothpaste onto my brush and imagine Liam next to me doing the same. We would have his-and-her chrome sinks and a beautiful mirror that we took turns making silly faces at each other in.  

I spit out my toothpaste and wipe my mouth, shutting off the bathroom light and heading back to bed. I've always had domestic fantasies about Liam, doing simple - coupley things with him, and now, these fantasies are slowly coming to fruittation. As difficult as it is to wrap my mind around, I'm feeling better as I climb back into bed and pick up my phone. I see a new message and quickly open it as I crawl under the blankets.  

"Niall: I sure am =) So you finally decided to talk to Liam?" 

"Yeah. I did. Did he tell you." 

"Niall: Yeah, he told everyone. He was in a much better mood today." 

"I hope I didn't mess it up for you guy's tomorrow? :/" 

"Niall: What do you mean?" 

I don't know if there is some sort of bro-code I am intruding on by confiding on Niall about Liam all of the time, but, sometimes guys are easier to talk to, especially N.  

"I was stupid and brought up Sophia again, he said he didn’t want to talk about it and that he was going to bed. I think I upset him." 

Now that I've typed it out to Niall, it really doesn’t seem as big of a deal as my mind was making it. I really just wanted him, Liam's friend, to reassure me that all was okay, and then I would sleep fine.  

Buzz. 

"Niall: You want me, don't you?" 

What? Why would he respond that? Maybe it was for someone else? Or he's drunk? 

"WHAT???" 

"Niall: Well you obviously don't want Liam if you keep bringing up his ex, so it must be me you're really after ;) You've got a strange way of going about trying to get to me, but, it's okay, we can tell him together =)" 

"Oh! My Gosh! You are crazy! lol I didn't mean to - I just, well - I get curious! I don't want to make the same mistakes as her - but how can I avoid them if I don’t know what she did." 

I ignore the slight warmth in my cheeks as I wait for his response. He is such a flirt, but, after my dream I am feeling sensitive to the - idea- of anything more than him being a friend.  

Buzz. 

I grab my phone. 

Buzz. 

Oh my.... The picture of Niall and I from the hotel bar flashes across my screen. I quickly swipe the notification before my music starts to play. 

"Hello?" I whisper as loud as possible.  

"Hello." Comes Niall's thick accent.  

"Sorry I don't want to speak too loud, I think my roommate is asleep." 

"That's not a problem, I can hear you just fine." 

There's an awkward silence while the sound of my heart beat fills the room. The phone in my hand gets slippery, and I climb out of bed, beginning to pace back and forth across my small floor. What do I say? I don't know why he called, but I can't just ask him that. 

"Are you still there?" 

"Yeah, Yeah I'm here." I say a little louder this time.  

"Okay, well listen, I don't think you need to worry. He likes you. You should have seen him for those 2 days that you didn't talk." 

I smile as Niall does exactly what I needed him to do.  

And then I remember that he can't see me smile, and I'm supposed to respond. 

"Oh, ummm, well, it was partially his own fault." I finish confidently. It’s just Niall. Quit being so damn awkward. 

Just Niall. What has happened to my life that I can ever say 'just Niall'. 

"Why are you laughing?" Niall asks. 

"Just, realizing the ridiculousness of the entire situation. I am, I'm on the phone with Niall Horan!" I say, laughing more this time. 

He laughs too.  

I sit down on my bed, still tapping my foot because it's impossible for me to hold still when I talk on the phone.  

"I just, I feel like I don't know him. He doesn't share anything with me that I don't already know." I say, finally voicing my concerns. 

"Well, if it makes you feel better, none of us know what happened between him and Sophia. He never told us either. Maybe, start by asking him things about his sisters, or why something is his favorite. I don't think he's trying to keep anything from you, he just doesn't want to talk about that." 

He's right. I know he's right. I'm just hung up on Sophia. I throw myself back on my bed and look up at the ceiling. 

"I know you're right. I think it's just the whole 'when you're told no, it makes you want it more' type of thing." 

"Oh I know. I feel that way about food." 

I laugh. "So what are your secrets Niall? What do you keep from the boys." 

"Nothing." He says mater of factly.  

"mmhmmm."  

"Really. I tell the boys everything." 

"Okay okay, whatever you say." 

"Was their something you wanted to know about me Sydney?" 

Actually yes, but, no.  

"Maybe another time." I say with a smile in my voice. 

"So there is something?" He presses.  

"Yeah, but, we can save it for another time. I'm getting tired." 

"Awwww."  

I crawl back into my covers and hug my pillow to my side, the phone pressed against my ear. 

"Thank you for calling me Niall. I feel a lot better." 

"Any time." He says, sounding a little disappointed.  

"I'm sorry, I just really am getting sleepy." 

"No you're fine, I should sleep too." 

"Good night Niall. Sweet dreams." 

"Sweet dreams to you too Sydney. Don't hesitate to call if you have any nightmares or anything. I'm here." 

"Okay." I giggle before hanging up. 

But I can't help but think again of the dream I had. It wasn't quite a nightmare. But only because of him. 

I don't need to call Niall when I have nightmares - he rescues me in my dreams.