First, First Dates

NIALL'S POV

I was so confused about what the lads were talking about until Liam gave me Lennon's phone. Her background was the picture of us at the beach that day two years ago. That was the day I almost kissed her, I wanted to kiss her so badly then, I want to kiss her now. I glanced over at her sleeping on Louis' shoulder, she was so cute when she slept. I wanted to tell her how I felt about her, but I definitely didn't have the courage.

I could feel my cheeks burning and Liam had to share it with everyone. Thank god Lennon was still sleeping.

"Why would she keep that picture as her background?" I asked, confused. Why would she keep that picture, after two years, as her background? It didn't make much sense to me.

"Because she LURRRVVVVVEEEEESSSSS you!!" Louis yelled. I felt my face get even more red. She didn't love me, she kissed that guy, Matt, even his name makes me mad. I can't stand that guy and then she goes and kisses him and ruins everything, though I cant help but want to forgive her. Snap out of it, Niall.

All of the sudden I felt Lennon's phone vibrate in my hand, as well as ding simultaneously. I glanced down at the phone out of curiosity.

Zac ;)

'Hey babe, how does tomorrow at 5 sound? We could go see a movie then get some food! x'

I couldn't help myself from reading the text. I felt my insides boiling over as I glared at her phone. Babe? And did he just ask her out?

"Who is Zac?" I spat after a moment. I could've sworn I saw Lennon slightly stir as I said this but I just brushed it off. I was jealous, I thought, and I hated it.

LENNON'S POV

Crap! Of course Zac had to text me right then, the exact moment that Niall had my phone in his hands and I was supposedly sleeping. Perfect.

I wanted to get up and snatch my phone from Niall but I didn't. I could hear the jealousy in his voice when he said Zac's name; the way he spat it out. Could he really be jealous? Could what the boys said really have been true? Thinking this through, I couldn't help but fall asleep.

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Ehh I hate headaches, how they make your head, well, ache and stuff. Yeah I can't describe headaches, whatever, that doesn't mean that I didn't still have one.

I rose from where I was laying and rubbed my head with my cold hand, my hands always managed to stay really cold and I don't know why. I looked at my surroundings, where the heck was I? I didn't remember until I looked on the ground to see Louis sprawled across it with his blanket in a messy ball next to him. He was wearing pajama pants with soccer balls on them and a red tee. Niall was next to him but he wasn't wearing the same thing, in fact, he wasn't wearing nearly anything. He had on a pair of red mesh shorts and no shirt. I couldn't help but stare at his perfectly shaped abs and his muscular arms; he was definitely more built than he was two years ago, but hey, this was nothing to complain about.

"Don't drool now," I shot my head over next to me seeing Harry sitting up from the other side of the long couch smirking at me. How long had I been staring? Ughhhh!!! I put my hand on my forehead, shaking my head, obviously embarrassed.

"It's okay, Lennon!" he said laughing. "You're lucky I was the only one awake, though, Louis would never let you forget this," he said with a huge smile, revealing his dimples.

"Thanks Harry," I responded, flinging the covers over my body causing me to shiver. I swung my legs over the side of the couch and stood up. I nearly tripped stepping around Liam, Louis, and Niall, trying not to wake them. Where was Zayn? In his own bed, no doubt. After avoiding the boys (and getting laughed at by Harry yet again), I stepped into the kitchen and turned on the kettle for tea. No, I'm not British, but my mom got me hooked on tea at a young age. Harry walked in a few moments later with no shirt on either.

I saw Harry come towards me and I thought he would walk past me until he stopped behind me and whispered, "I know you were awake last night," he smirked.

I threw my hand over my mouth but pulled it down quickly, trying to play it cool, "I have no idea what you are talking about," I said confidently.

"You were blushing the whole time..." he said as he set out two cups for tea and grabbed a bowl for some cereal, sitting down at the table. I sat down across from him, ending the conversation there, I hope no one else noticed this, especially not Niall. I grabbed my phone from its place on the counter. I looked at the picture on the lock screen, frowning. Then, I looked at the time: 10:30!?! I jumped up and grabbed my shoes, getting a weird look from Harry. I wasn't supposed to be here late let alone stay the night! I had to meet up with Sandy in an hour and I was nowhere near ready.

"Was it something I said?" Harry said fake-hurt.

"No Harry, I'll text you later!!" I said sliding out of the door.

I ran out of the apartment complex and to the bus stop, somehow remembering there was a pickup at 10:45. I looked at my phone: 10:42. Perfect.

When I got to my hotel, I ran into my room and got ready for my long day of shopping with Sandy.

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NIALL'S POV

After rubbing my eyes, I stretched my arms out on either side of me accidentally punching a sleeping Louis in the face, well not sleeping anymore. He looked at me annoyed, punched my shoulder, and turned back over to sleep. Why was Louis next to me? The events of last night came flooding back to me: me burning Lennon, then my talk with Zayn, then that picture, and then, Zac.

I pushed myself up with my arms behind me, stretching my now sore back from sleeping on the hard floor. I glanced next to me and neither Liam nor Zayn were there. Zayn was definitely not up before me meaning he had slept in his room last night, that arse.

I slowly got up as I heard the front door slam shut. I made my way into the kitchen, hearing the kettle screeching. I shut it off and walked over to Harry (no Liam though), he was eating cereal and his free hand was moving quickly across his phone.

"Morning Nialler!"

"Morning Haz. Who just left?" I questioned, remembering hearing the door close.

"Lennon," he said as if it were no big deal. He glanced back down at his phone as I winced hearing her name. How could she be so close yet so far away? How could we go from almost being a couple to not even acknowledging each other? I hated it.

I pulled my hand through my messy hair, sighing loudly.

"Niall, what's on your mind?" Harry asked looking up from his phone. I'm pretty sure he knew what was on my mind but he asked anyway.

"She completely ignores me, Haz. I didn't even do anything wrong!" I said raising my voice. "She was the one who cheated, not me!" I immediately regretted saying that.

Harry placed his phone next to him. He said nothing, just gave me an omniscient look. He knew something I didn't and he was keeping it from me. I knew him too well.

"What do you know, Harry?"

After a long silence, Harry spoke up, "I don't think I'm the person to tell you, Niall. You're gonna have to talk to Lennon about that."

"About what? How am I supposed to ask her if I don't know what you're talking about?"

"Niall, calm down." he said. "The first step is to actually get her talking to you, which she doesn't want to do. I would have to say that you have to break up with your Barbie doll, first. She might talk to you then, maybe."

Before I could say anything, he interrupted.

"And don't you dare tell me that you love Stacy because ALL OF US know that you don't, Niall. You haven't been the same since March, since the picture," Harry said. I think he was finished but I had nothing to say, nothing to argue. He was right, I didn't love Stacy, I loved Lennon.

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LENNON'S POV

"These are heavy!!" I yelled while Sandy laughed at me. I was currently attempting to juggle four bags of clothes, shoes, and accessories from various high-end retail shops. Sandy only had one bag, she was much better at not buying the whole store than I was. I was going to blow all of my money in a few hours, lovely.

This morning, I met Sandy in the Starbucks that she worked in and we were off. I changed from this morning. I had on a short, red dress with black tights and red lace-up platform heels. I had a red bow in my hair, pulling back the top layer loosely, and a minimal amount of makeup. I loved this outfit.

Sandy had on a black circle skirt with a loose blue top tucked in. She had on adorable combat boots and her awesome blond hair was curled and left down, she still had the pink dip dye. So cool!

"We should probably get something to eat real quick!" Sandy said, still laughing at my difficulties.

"What time is it?" I asked, knowing I wouldn't be able to check my watch with all these bags in my hand. Sandy looked down at her phone.

"4:32," she announced.

"Sandy, I would love to but I have, well it's ummm... sort of a date, I guess." I confirmed a time and a place for meeting Zac earlier that day. I had still felt some attachment to Niall but I had to move on , he certainly did, I think.

Sandy squealed, "Who? What does he look like? Does he have a brother??"

"Haha!! His name is Zac, he is tall and muscular with dark, spiky hair, and he is American. I know, I'm in England with tons of cool accents and I decide to go out with an American. And I don't think he has a brother, at least not one our age."

"Okay, well I'll help you get ready!! What time are you meeting him?"

"Five!"

"Girl we gotta get going!!"

I didn't have enough time to change my outfit but it was already good for the occasion. I did my makeup a little bit heavier while Sandy loosely curled my hair.

"You look gorge!!!" Sandy giggled as we stood in front of my full length mirror. I checked my watch: 4:57.

"Looks like we gotta head out! Wish me luck!" I said. We exited the room and at the bottom of the elevator, we went our separate ways, not without quickly hugging first!

"Lennon, don't embarrass yourself!" she yelled over her shoulder.

"Can't promise that" I said, honestly. I'm known for making a fool out myself, this morning for instance. Nevertheless, I'm glad I made a friend here.

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I went into the lobby and saw Zac standing there.

"Don't you look dapper?" I said, giggling.

"Wow Lennon, you look gorgeous!" I blushed furiously. He said gorgeous, not hot. Check one for Zac.

"Thanks," I said smiling at the ground.

We talked briefly on our walk to a movie theater close by. I insisted on seeing an action movie even though he thought I only wanted to see it because of him. Don't get me wrong, I love a good chick flick but action is the best!!

The movie was okay, not that actiony if you ask me.

Before you jump to conclusions, I did watch the movie and there was no kissing. He did put his arm around me but that's it!

Afterwards, I was starving, but that goes without saying. We went to an Italian restaurant called Appena Sufficiente,which I knew from my Italian class translated to Just Enough. Good name, I thought.

I ordered Gorgonzola Gnocchis... Oh my goodness, so good!! Zac ordered Chicken Piccata. He let me try some and it was really good too, I probably could've eaten both of our meals.

"Dessert?" Zac said, winking, after handing back the waiter our check. He had insisted on paying for dinner.

"Duhhh!!" I said laughing.

We walked around until we found a little ice cream shop called Nuts. It had magazines all over the walls that showed pictures of the shop with headlines like, 'London's Best' and 'Finest in the Country'. Yeah, we were eating here.

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We walked back to the hotel, ice cream in hand, amazing ice cream, I could not even explain it.

I finished my ice cream on the elevator ride up and made a mental note to go back there!

We walked to my room and I went to take my room key out of my black purse when Zac stopped me.

"Lennon, wait."

I turned my head, "What's up, Zac?"

He said nothing. Instead, he started leaning in to kiss me. His lips were descending on mine when I backed away. He looked at me confused and almost hurt. Crap! I need an excuse!!!

"I don't kiss on the first date," I quickly said, hitting his arm playfully. He smiled and gave me a hug and then went off to his room.

I slammed the door behind me and leaned on the door. I don't kiss on the first date? I've never been on a first date, ever. I've never kissed anyone but Niall and Matt (but that wasn't my decision). Why hadn't I kissed Zac? Something told me not to, but why?

All I know is that the whole date, all I thought about was Niall.

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