Chapter 36:

"Wait, you're saying none of the boys are single?" I raised my eyebrows at Rosie who nodded violently. We were both crammed into the hotel bathroom as we got ready for the club. Niall had practically begged me to come along, telling me that all we were going to do was dance and have fun with the other lads. It'd taken two kisses, four hugs, ten 'pleases' and one look from Rosie to make me agree.

"Yeah. Hopefully it doesn't get out to the press for a while or you'll be able to hear the breaking hearts all around the world." Rosie laughed lightly as she applied just a bit of eyeliner across her upper lids.

"So Liam has Andie, Zayn has Summer, thanks to us," I paused to fist bump Rose, "Harry has you, Louis has Juliet, Niall and I. Yeah, I guess they are."

"Even Josh is taken. Apparently him and Lilly went official this afternoon," the petite brunette added.

What? Why didn't Josh tell me?

"Ah. I'm assuming she's going tonight?" I spoke through gritted teeth, eyes focused on powdering my face.

"Yeah. She's hilarious! She has the funniest jokes. I met her this morning when Harry and I came back from my house. Her and Josh are going to get along gre- Okay. Why are you making faces into the mirror?" Rose demanded to know as I crossed my eyes and fake gagged at the mirror.

"Oh. Uh. Just not a huge Lilly fan. Not sure if I exactly.. Trust her." I shrugged, looking back into the mirror at myself. I could feel Rose looking at me with analyzing eyes. I turned to her, hands on hips. "What?"

"Maybe you should talk to her. Get to know her!" She suggested with a tilt of the head before going back to her make-up.

"What is with everyone telling me to talk to her and give her a chance? Jeez," I complained, "I just don't like her and it's obvious she doesn't like me. So why should I pretend to get along with her?"

"Just talk to her. Not when everyone else is around, just when you're alone. Believe me, she reminds me a lot of you."

~*~*~*~

Having a one-on-one with Lilly didn't exactly happen on purpose. It was more of an accident. Yeah, a definite accident. 

The club had been crowded from the second our group of seven entered. It didn't help that Harry and Niall had all decided to come. Bodyguards were also placed strategically around the small area.

I continued to subconsciously pull down the tight purple dress clung to my body that Rosie had thrown at me earlier. I felt like I was on show, especially being with two fifths of the biggest boy band in the world. Eyes were practically glued to us the second we walked over the threshold. 

The only thing that somewhat calmed my nerves was when Niall took my hand and squeezed it tightly. The entwined feeling of our fingers and the knowledge that he was right beside me definitely calmed my nerves.

"I love American clubs! They're so cute!" Lilly squealed out, barely heard of the music. 

I didn't notice much difference in this club than the one back in London that Juliet had dragged me to. The flashing lights, the crowded dance floor, the fluorescent colors everywhere, the drinks that were getting handed out left and right. Yeah, it seemed exactly like the one in London.

"There's a booth over there, let's go snag it." Rosie pointed out a secluded table that was large enough for all of it. We all nodded in agreement. 

"What do you want to drink, babe?" Niall asked me, motioning he was heading to the bar.

"Just a coke, please. Thank you," I smiled up at the Irish boy who started off. Josh decided last minute to join him and to grab Lilly a drink.

"Talk to her now," Rosie muttered in my ear before taking Harry's hand and leading him to the dance floor.

"You're horrible at time and place, Rose!" I yelled after her, positive she hadn't heard me. I was right. 

I saw Lilly roll her eyes at me. I locked my fingers around the edge of the table, holding tight to keep myself from saying or doing anything. There was an awkward silence for five minutes while we waited for our boyfriends to come back.

Longest five minutes of my life.

"Here you go," Niall placed the drink in front of me with a smile. Josh slid in beside Lilly, his arm going over Lilly's shoulders. Niall leaned over and pressed a kiss to my forehead, "I'll be right back. Gotta go to the little leprechaun room."

"Alright," I let my eyes roll back at his phrasing for going to the restroom.

"Crazy line for drinks. Maybe we should have thought more about coming to a club on a Friday night," Josh laughed.

"Who thinks? Not us!" I teased, earning a smile from him. "But life's more fun with a little risk, eh?"

"Oh, Ms Tommo, are you coming out of your shell?" Josh joked.

I stuck my tongue out childishly at him. "Just realized we only get to live once, gotta live it up."

"So basically YOLO?" Josh laughed, a twinkle in his eye.

I cocked an eyebrow at him. "A what-o?"

"YOLO? You Only Live Once?" He tried and I just shook my head. "It was a huge phrase a few months ago, but basically everyone just hates it now."

"Glad I missed out on the phase," I laughed.

"I feel so bad for you, missing out on such a huge part of this generation." Josh mock-sighed and I laughed harder. We were interrupted by Niall coming over and tapping Josh on the shoulder.

"Mate, we gotta go talk to Joey." Niall said with urgency, eyes flashing with annoyance. Josh offered an apology, jumped up and followed Niall over to one of the buff bodyguards in the corner. 

And this was how Lilly and I got to have our deep one-on-one.

"Such a hoe," she muttered under her breath.

I was taken aback momentarily, before crossing my arms and glaring at her. "Excuse me?"

"Oh, you weren't meant to hear that," she let a complete fake smile slide onto her features. "But since you did.. Flirting with someone else's boyfriend while she's sitting right there is a little low, don't you think?"

"I agree. That's extremely low. But talking with a guy friend doesn't exactly qualify, so no need to get anxious your boyfriend's going to leave you." I huffed, staring the blonde down.

"Talking? Ha! You were practically telling him you were easy," she scoffed, her own arms crossed. Her eyes glinted with anger.

"Josh knows better than that. Oh and heaven forbid he talk to any girl that isn't you!" I shot back.

"Not when the girl is practically asking him to teach her what YOLO means," Lilly sneered. "It's downright despicable. Especially when the girl has a boyfriend. You don't deserve Niall."

"Oh, really now? My boyfriend? The one you make googly eyes at every time you see? The one you hang over? Hm, I wonder why you're dating Josh. Maybe because he works with a world known boy band? Hm, crazy coincide you showing up as he gets famous," I mocked a pondering position, anger laced into my voice.

"What? You don't even know me!" She all but screamed. "I came back because I needed Josh and surprisingly, Josh needed me!"

"Why would Josh need you when he had us?" I jeered.

"Because the girl he was hopelessly in love with was dating his best mate, you idiot! Thank God he got over you fast. I have no idea what he saw in you. Poor Niall, though. The boy is too in love with you to notice what a witch you really are." Lilly sank deeper into the seat. Her arms were crossed and she was no longer staring at me, but at the table.

I fell silent, looking at the blonde girl and for once realizing just why she seemed so possessive about Josh. I was about to speak up and say something, when Niall and Josh showed up at the table looking somber.

"Unfortunately the party's ended before it really got to start. The paps found us," Niall sighed, offering me his hand. Josh helped Lilly up and the four us made our way to the back exit.

"What do you mean the paps found us?" Lilly questioned as we weaved through the crowd. She had to pretty much yell in order to be heard.

"It means there are a dozen guys out there with cameras, demanding to know where Niall and Harry are," Josh said through gritted teeth.

"If we don't leave now, we could possibly get forced to stay here for quite a while, waiting for them to give up and leave. The longer we're here, the more people show up. We were supposed to be under the radar tonight, we had a few decoys set up, but they all seemed to fail." Niall sounded annoyed as Harry and Rosie joined our group.

The bodyguards surrounded us. The back exit swung open and we were rushed out. The bright lights from cameras immediately blinded me. I felt Niall's hand on my waist, helping me to get to the car.

Lovely night it ended up being.

Hmm, why do YOU think Lilly is acting so weird? Favorite part of this chapter? Let me know in the comments! Don't forget to vote! Love you guys <3