Chapter 37
Kora’s P.O.V.
“Hey, Ni?” I called out as I walked into our hotel suite.
He came stumbling out of the bedroom, tripping over the suitcases we had piled everywhere. He caught himself by slamming his palm on the wall then stood up straight and casually walked over to me as though nothing had happened. “Hey, love. How was the aquarium?” He kissed the top of my head after hugging me.
I chuckled. “It was a lot of fun! I wish you could have been there. Did you get the video Harry sent you?”
He nodded, exposing his braces as he grinned. “Yes and I loved it. You looked like you were having a blast.”
“I was.” I smiled back at him. “Did you get a new guitar?”
He shook his head. “I have to be honest; I didn’t skip the aquarium to go get a new guitar. Mine never went missing.”
My eyebrows furrowed, hurt welling in my chest. “Wh-what?”
He pulled out a small velvet box from his pocket and held it out to me. “Open it.”
“Niall, what does this have to do with you not going to the aquarium?”
“Just open it.”
I sighed and took the box, popping the lid. My jaw dropped as soon as the diamond on the silver band glinted in the light. Tears immediately sprang to my eyes, my hand covering my mouth. I looked up at my Irish boy. “Is this…?” I couldn’t finish the sentence.
“It’s an engagement ring, yes.”
My heart pounded in my ears. “But Niall, I’m only seventeen.”
He chuckled, taking the box out of my hand and pulling the ring out. He picked up my left hand, sliding the gorgeous ring onto my ring finger. “Before you freak out on me, just listen. Yes, this is a real engagement ring, but I’m not asking you to actually marry me. Paul and I discussed it and we figured out a way for you to stay with me and never have to go back with your parents.”
I smiled, predicting the rest of his plan. “Fake engagement?”
He nodded. “Fake engagement. They can’t take you away from your fiancé.”
I glanced down at the ring on my finger, my smirk momentarily fading. “This will work, right?”
Niall’s fingers slid under my chin and tilted my head back, forcing me to look into his crystal blue eyes that never failed to make my heart flutter. “If it doesn’t, we’ll run away. We could hide and never be found. Don’t worry, Red, either way they’ll never get you back.”
*****
I wrung my hands together then let them fall apart, then twisted my fingers together again. My teeth were dug into my lip, the pain nowhere near distracting enough to keep me from noticing the growing knot in my stomach. Niall was announcing the ‘engagement’ at the concert tonight, before they ever even begin to sing. It was ten minutes before they went on, ten minutes before the whole world would know, ten minutes before my life would change. Fans would hate me and think I must be pregnant for us to get married so young. If only they knew it was fake and only to protect me from my insane family.
The ring felt like a massive weight on my finger with a huge spotlight screaming ‘Look at me!’. All the crew had asked me about it and I had to pretend it was real and that I had already started planning the wedding. That would be the worst part; lying to everyone. I loved the ring, I really did, and I loved Niall even more for trying to help me, but the looks people were giving me made me uncomfortable and made me want to hide in a supply closet.
Which happened to be exactly what I was doing right now.
I knew Nialler was looking for me. I heard him running back and forth, yelling my name and getting more worried by the second, but I was ready to be found yet. I needed a couple minutes of alone time before the whole auditorium was ready to murder me.
Maybe they won’t want to murder me, just throw things at me and call me names. I could handle that. I couldn’t handle an angry mob with pitch forks and torches though. That would be nearly impossible to run from. Just imagine a girl running down the streets of Atlanta with this huge crowd of Directioners with torches and pitch forks and whatever other sharp objects they could get their hands on…
I shook my head as my phone started to ring, bringing me out of my moment of insanity. I glanced at the screen and saw Niall’s name. “Hey.”
“Kora! Where the heck are ya? I’ve been lookin’ for the past thirty minutes!”
“Sorry… I needed some time to myself. I’m in the supply closet outside of your dressing room.”
“Supply closest…? Why? Never mind, you can explain it in a second.” The line went dead as the door in front of me was pulled open. Niall took one look at me sitting on a mop bucket with my crutches propped beside the broom on my right and shook his head. “Kora, what’s wrong?”
“I’m afraid of what the audience will think of our engagement…”
“It doesn’t matter what they think. All that matters is that your mum sees it and reacts. Don’t worry, princess, I’ll protect ya from our fans.”
I smiled and pushed myself onto my feet and into his arms. “Thank you.”
He kissed my forehead before handing me my crutches and following me down the hall. We went straight backstage, gathering with the rest of the band. Everyone had their arms around each other and were in a huge circle, the usual pre-show routine. We melted right into the circle, listening to each boy give a pep talk to everyone else. Once the speeches were over, everyone put their hands in and threw them in the air, yelling out whatever came to mind.
I hobbled over to the side of the stage where Niall told me to stand while the boys ran onstage. It was only a matter of time now…
“Vas happenin’, Atlanta!” Zayn yelled, earning a whole crowd’s worth of cheers in return.
Liam’s voice boomed out of the speakers next. “How is everyone tonight?”
His response was a mixture of screams and wails.
“Are you guys ready for a party?” Harry asked, sounding as cheeky as ever. I rolled my eyes at the thought of the look on his face right now.
“Don’t get their hopes up, Harold,” Louis scolded. “This ain’t no party, obviously. It’s a concert.”
“Why can’t it be a party too?”
“You’re ruining the surprise!” I heard a thump and knew Louis must have whacked Harry upside the head.
“Ow! Louis!”
“Harry!” Louis whined back, his voice full of sass.
I rolled my eyes at those two, knowing the audience was loving every minute of their banter.
“Anyway….” Liam said.
I held my breath as Niall’s voice filled the building.
“I have some news for you guys!” He sounded more excited than he had when he was talking about it earlier. “Kora, come out here?”
Danielle pushed me forward, forcing me to hobble my way onto the stage. Screams greeted me as I waved to the audience and made my way to Nialler’s side. He put his arm around my waist when I stopped beside him, giving me a big squeeze of reassurance and causing me to release the air I was still holding in my lungs.
“You all know my girlfriend Kora-A.K.A. Red-right?” Niall asked, looking out at the crowd.
The usual screams answered him.
I waved again as Niall held the microphone out to me. “Hey, guys!”
“Well, we have an announcement.” Niall fiddled with the microphone, his nerves suddenly getting the best of him. He looked down at me, mouthing “On three?” I nodded and waited for him to start counting. “One.”
I took a deep breath. “Two.”
“Three.”
I held up my left hand, flashing the ring as we both yelled, “We’re engaged!”
There was complete silence for about two minutes.
Then the audience exploded.
Um... Hi.
So yeah, as y'all probably have noticed I haven't uploaded in like a month. Oops... I'm really sorry about that. I didn't mean for it to happen. I'm not going to make excuses, I'm going to be honest. I just haven't been in the mood to write. I kinda had writer's block, but then I just got busy with school and this weird little thing I discovered called a 'social life'. It's an odd thing that involves actually being around people. Strange, right? Anway, yeah that's basically why I've been missing. I'm not dead or anything in case any of you were wondeirng. Thanks for sticking around and being patient with me, though! That really means a lot. I love y'all :) <3
Oh! And Seashells won the voting thing so now you are all my Seashells! Thanks to Ayana for coming up with that name :)
I think that's all I wanna say so onto the question of the chapter.
What has been your favorite/best birthday present ever? Mine was from Katy this year. She got me a white fedora (which I have been wanting forever) then she made me a pair of 1D shorts! She cut off some jeans and used puffy paint to put One Direction stuff and my favorite Youtubers all over the shorts. They're seriously the most amazing things ever. Then she also made me a CD of two remixed One Direction songs (WMYB and One Thing) then a mega mix of their songs. I love it and it was the best present ever.
Hope y'all enjoyed the chapter!
PEACESKIES! xx Shel