Chapter 12

Niall's Pov

“OH MY GOD!” Harry was staring at me, his features crumpled as he laughed. He clutched his stomach as he keeled over, dropping the black beanie he had previously ripped from my head. “WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO YOUR HAIR?”

“It’s not that funny!”

I was embarrassed enough about the new haircut as it is without the mocking of my fellow bandmates. I’d previously had sandy coloured hair with a few highlights in it, but the hairdresser decided to fully bleach me, turning me into a clone of Draco Malfoy. I officially looked like a light bulb. I punched Harry lightly on the arm as he rushed past me, it was his turn for a makeover from hell.

“Watch out for the scissors, wouldn’t want to cut them curls off.” Harry threw me a filthy look before melting it into a smile, and diving into the dressing room. I picked the hat back up off of the floor and sauntered down the long stretch of the hallway. The whole studio was new to me, I’d only been here once before for soundcheck a few days ago, and I got lost numerous times. Konnie Huq’s dressing room, then Cheryl Cole’s dressing room, there were too many rooms, I’d forgotten where I’d originally come from. After a few laps of the floor, I gave up and slouched against a wall, slowly dropping down to the floor. I whipped out my phone from my pocket, 1 New Message.

“I bet it’s not that bad! It’s not too short is it? I’ll look forward to see it on Saturday! :D x”

I grinned to myself at Ellis’ text, her voice speaking softly to me in my mind as I read it. I missed her voice. I’d been in London for three weeks now, and I was aching. Constant rehearsals, meetings, more rehearsals, never ending vocal training, choreography. It was insane, nothing I was used to.

Just as I was tapping out a reply, my phone vibrated mid-text, another message. Saving the draft, I opened the new one up.

“Oi Mullingar, where’d you run off to? Baby lost? ;)”

“Call me Mullingar one more time, Zayn. Kinda lost.”

Instead of a short vibration, a constant buzzing came from my pocket, a call. I wasted no time in answering, not bothering to see how it was. Wishing to myself for it to be Ellis, I was a little let down when I heard a Yorkshire accent talking to me.

“Vas happenin’? Where you at?”

“Ehm, a corridor.” Zayn laughed at my lack of information.

“Yes, which one? What’s around?”

“Dressing room 4, and Dermot’s dressing room. There’s green carpet, and a big w-“

The door I was sat opposite swung open, the bright light blinding me inside. A tall dark figured held the phone to his ear, grinning at me.

“You tit.” Zayn had already had his hair done, Harry was the last one to be treated. I followed him into the dressing room, and slouched down onto the empty sofa. Liam was curled up on a ball on a spinny chair, with Louis spinning him as fast as possible. Their hair was shorter, Liam with highlights. His slight Justin Bieber resemblance a bit more obvious now. Zayn came and kicked my legs of the sofa, taking a seat next to me.

“Let’s see it then!” He smirked at me, nodding towards the hat pulled down over my ears. He lunged forward to pull it off, but I slapped his hands away. He persisted, throwing himself onto me, causing a friendly but vicious battle to break out.

“Steady on girls!” Louis’ voice interrupted our war, a slight amusement in his voice. We turned our attention to him, breaking apart. He had stopped spinning Liam, who now looked as pale as snow. “Ready? GO!” 

Liam jumped up, a little too quickly. He swayed on the spot for a bit, before taking a few steps leaning dramatically towards the right. He’d managed to walk half a metre before stumbling over his own feet, crashing into the door rather harshly. Louis fell to the floor in a fit of giggles, me and Zayn collapsing back onto the sofa, laughter filling the air. Louis finally picked himself up off the floor, and walked towards me. Grabbing my shoulders, I clocked on to what he was doing, but didn’t react. Louis tugged on the material of my shirt, pulling me off the sofa. He slouched down into the spot I was in previously, smirking triumphantly at me. Shrugging, I walked over to the mirror opposite, the tiny bulbs illuminating my face. I couldn’t help but smirk at the resemblance of the bulbs to my new hair.

“Stop looking at yourself Niall!” Zayn threw something at me, it narrowly missing my left shoulder. I paid no attention to him, still nervous about my hair. I looked like a child again, all silly and naive. Too lost in my own thoughts, I didn’t see Louis sneaking up behind me, his hands reaching towards my head. In one swift motion, the hat was on the floor yet again, and four sets of eyes, including my own, were set on my head.

“OH MY GOD!” Liam’s deep voice laughed, the others unable to form words. “You look like a lighthouse!”

“Yeah alri’, it’s not that funny.”

“I think you’ll find it is!” Zayn hid behind a cushion back on the sofa, looking like a guilty five year old.

“Shut up!” I sulked over to the chair Liam was previously spun on, folding my arms in a tantrum.

“Alright boys, leave him alone! I reckon his hair is pretty useful actually.” Louis grinned cheekily at Zayn, grabbing the other cushion. I hesitated on thanking him or not, knowing there was a punch line to his comment.

“Go on.”

“I mean, if we ever lose electricity, we can use him as a flashlight!”