Around the World [A Liam Payne Romance]

Chapter Two

                When we got to the airport in California, I was beat. Hours and hours of flying was only greeted by being driven an hour to a hotel in two separate cars with four huge vans following us with all of our bags. I was in the car with the other band members, and the five boys making up One Direction were in the smaller van in front of us.

                Once we finally arrived at the hotel, we had to go in through the back so any lingering fans hoping that this was indeed the hotel the boys were staying at wouldn’t spot them. Really, I wasn’t prepared to be so secretive and incognito if I was just in the band – but then again, I was the guitarist for a world-famous band.

                I yawned as the receptionist checked us in and the manager shooed us off to go upstairs. “Didn’t you get any sleep on the plane?”

                Blinking at Liam, I shook my head. “I can’t sleep on planes.”

                “Why?” He questioned as we walked towards the elevator.

                I shrugged, “I’m never comfortable enough, I guess. But I have to admit, I’ve never tried to sleep on a private jet before.”

                Liam Payne grinned at me, “Yeah, it’s brilliant.”

                We slipped into the elevator with the other boys and a few members of the band, all squeezing in and fitting way over capacity. From what I gathered from listening to the guys, it seemed like we’d be recording a few days here in California before the actual tour began. Apparently, the tour bus hasn’t even arrived yet, either.

                “Top floor,” Harry chirped. “Party floor!”

                I laughed, but rolled my eyes when Niall said lazily, “Before we even think about partying, lads, we need to order room service.”

                Zayn chuckled, “I am a bit hungry, too. Plane food doesn’t quite fill you up.”

                Josh, the drummer, nodded in agreement before groaning, “Could this elevator go any slower?”

                “We definitely broke it,” I teased.

                They chuckled, agreeing jokingly before the elevator doors finally – and slowly – slid open to let us pour out and onto the top floor. Since it was the top floor, it was a penthouse, which surprised me even further. That meant we would all be roommates on this entire penthouse floor rather than each of us having our own hotel rooms.

                I mentally tried to figure out how many people there were and began backtracking the boys’ names and place in One Direction. Of course, there was Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik – but there was also Joey, the keyboard player, Josh, the drummer, and Sandy, the bassist. And then there was me, the only girl member.

                “Everyone fend for themselves!” Louis screamed as everyone ran to find their own room.

                Panicking, my eyes widened and I scrambled to start running, pushing past Josh and effectively making him loose his footing as I pushed doors open to find a free room. Finally, I found an unoccupied room and practically threw myself into it like everyone else had, and sat on the bed in victory. A moment later, Josh stumbled to the doorway before glaring at me.

                “You think you’re funny, new girl?” Josh questioned teasingly and a bit flirtatiously, leaning against the doorframe of the room.