Finding, Finding... Found.

Chapter 2

“What in the world are you guys doing here?” Alyssa asked after the shock has worn off. “And aren’t you filming a music video or something?”

“Yeah, we were, but our bus broke down, and the girls started running up, and we were rushing down, and-” one of the other guys spoke up.

“Wait, you’re all part of that band? One Direction?” she stated in disbelief. Whaaaat?

“Erm, yeah. Please don’t scream, or anything. We’ll just… stay behind. While you teach,” Louis piped up before the five of them gingerly moved towards the back of the classroom.

“Miss A!” one of the kids, Tommy, raised his hand. “I saw a dinosaur yesterday!”

Alyssa sighed inwardly, before answering Tommy’s question and thus officially starting the class. As she started teaching, she started forgetting about the five boys at the back of her class, one of whom was staring at her intently, as if he remembers her from somewhere.

***

 “Bye kids!” Alyssa kneeled down to the kids’ height and patted each of their heads before waving them goodbye. After all of them have left, she walked towards the five boys.

“It’s been almost two hours,” Alyssa stated blandly, and their eyes widened with surprise.

“Normally people wouldn’t want us to leave,” the one with curly hair admitted, studying her. He was curious as to what Niall had found so interesting about her, so much so that for the whole ninety minutes she’s been teaching he couldn’t keep his eyes off her.

“Well, this is my classroom, so I believe I at least deserve a proper explanation?” she took a stool and sat on it, facing the boys. She didn’t like standing above them – it felt odd, to say the least. “And erm, can you please tell me your names before you begin?”

“Harry.” The curly one began, his lips curled up into a grin… that suited his face and made him look much more adorable, as much as she hated to admit it.

“Liam.” The more serious one of the lot said, raising his hands as if requesting for a handshake. She shook his hand out of politeness.

“Zayn.” The quieter one of the lot mumbled, and she nodded appreciatively.

“Lou-”

“I know your name, I saw you using the megaphone,” she smiled.

“Well you didn’t see the part where our bus broke down and we had to-”

“Niall.” The blondie of the lot interrupted his friend’s rambling.

“Niall?” Alyssa repeated. “Niall.”

Niall scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. He wasn’t used to girls not screaming in his face, and the way the girl said his name… it was as if…

No, that’s impossible. He ignored the constant nagging at the back of his mind, and boldly hugged the girl in front of him. After all, that was often how he got out of awkward situations – he hugged the other party. He felt her tense up at first, but to his relief she slowly relaxed, and even as they let go of each other their faces remained close.

“Hi,” she whispered, their eyes staring intently at each other’s faces.

The resemblance. He couldn’t take it anymore. The memories, flooding back into his brain. The guilt that ate him up during his earlier teenage years, the agony he felt when he realized she was alone…

He ran out of the classroom.

“What in the world just happened here?” Liam questioned out loud before running after his best friend.

Alyssa shrugged as casually as she could, but she avoided any direct eye contact that would betray her emotions. Then she realized something. His accent.

“Hey, he’s Irish?” Alyssa looked towards the others.

“Yeah, his accent’s pretty cool huh,” Harry cocked his head towards Alyssa, who nodded in relief. If he’s Irish, he can’t be that Niall. I mean… the Niall was British.

She nodded, and then looked questioningly at Harry. “So erm, what happened with Niall?”

It felt odd to mention that name after such a long time, but she could cope. After all, she knew that this Niall was different. Sure, he was blonde and had blue eyes, but when Niall had left her he had the hint of a British accent. People had the same names all the time. She had to deal with it.

“I’m not sure,” Harry’s eyebrows furrowed with worry for his best friend, but after a while his lips curved back into his trademark grin. “I’m sure he’ll be fine though. Now, what’s your name?”

Alyssa’s eyebrow rose in surprise. Wasn’t he worried for his band mate?

“Ignore him, he’s just testing his flirting skills on you,” Louis snorted appreciatively at Zayn’s comment, and Alyssa could not help but let out a small laugh at that.

“Should have guessed. The more flirtatious one of the lot, are you?” Alyssa grinned, and Louis snorted again.

“How did yo-” Harry started, but got cut off by Zayn.

“It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out, Hazza,” Zayn rolled his eyes then stood up. “C’mon, let’s go look for Ni.”

Louis and Harry nodded and the both of them stood up before Alyssa stopped them.

“Erm, aren’t the lot of you something along the lines of global superstars? Is that the term?” Alyssa inquired. Letting them go out this way would cause havoc, and if news got out in the streets that One Direction have been spotted here, it might cause mayhem in this kindergarten.

“Yeah, we kind of are I guess, but how does it matter?” Louis asked, and the other two nodded in silent agreement.

“I don’t think it’s wise to just… run out this way. I mean, Niall and Liam – is that his name? – would have caused enough trouble if they were seen,” Alyssa looked around as realization dawned upon them. “Can you guys please just stay here till your bus gets fixed? I’ll go look for Niall.”

“She makes sense, dude,” Zayn gave his input with a shrug. “We’ll stay here then… what’s your name?”

“Alyssa,” she smiled at the three of them before she went out of the classroom.

Karla’s classroom was empty as usual. After all, it was a Thursday and she always had to leave earlier on Thursdays to babysit one of her neighbors’ children. The other classes don’t end in another hour, so she felt that it would be safe for the two members to be out here. She hoped, at least.

“Erm, Niall? Liam?” She called out tentatively, not wanting anyone to hear her.

“We’re under the counter,” she heard Liam call out, and she heaved a sigh of relief as she walked towards the counter. When she saw the both of them huddled underneath, she squatted down beside them and raised an eyebrow at Liam, showing her curiosity.

“He sort of… had an anxiety attack,” Liam’s arm wrapped around Niall’s smaller frame protectively. It wasn’t hard to notice the sort of relationship they had was one where Liam acted like an older brother.

“Just some bad memories…” Niall sighed. “I’m okay, Alyssa, you can go ba-”

“What did you just call me?” Alyssa interrupted him.

Shit, Niall thought. I knew it wasn’t her. What the hell was I thinking?

“Alyssa,” Niall repeated. “But I’m sorry, I know it’s not your name, I-”

“It is,” Alyssa’s eyes widened as she saw Liam loosen his grip on Niall’s arms, now focused on what was unfolding in front of his eyes.