Music;

"November Rain" Guns N Roses

"Stressed out" Twenty one Pilots

"Every breath you take" The Police

It was late before Niall came to find me, sleeping in the quiet library. He nudged my shoulder gently, but I woke with a start regardless, having dreamt of scary things that hid in the closet.

"Carolin, we're done for the day. Everything ok?"

I tried to rid my myself of the drowsiness, Niall hovered over me - dressed in sweatpants and a blue hoodie. I knew he was a famous multimillionaire, but right now he just looked like a regular guy. It was so easy to forget that, being around them like this. Looking around, I saw it was getting dark already, I must have slept a couple of hours. "I'm ok, just a bit off after the nap."

His blue eyes met mine, and I gave him my hand so he could pull me up from the couch. He kept holding it and I was standing close to him; he smelled like smoke, beer, pizza, perfume, it was perfect for him. Neither of us said a word, but it was a pleasant silence, anticipating somehow.

"Hungry?" His raspy voice was dark and low. My mind translated that into something more and I could feel my stomach tightening. I shook my head in response to my thoughts but said "Yes" at the same time. Niall just laughed at me. "We'll go out, get something easy." "Sure" I blinked. "I have to find me a hotel-room, Lewis isn't answering. I'll go back tomorrow, I just don't want to stay there tonight. I can still see that poor bunny." The image flashed before my eyes and I shuddered. "We have extra bedrooms here, love, no need for a hotel."
I hesitated, didn't want to push anything here, but nodded at last.

None of the others wanted to get food, they ordered in instead. I suggested a nice, little place that served excellent pasta not far from the studio-house. The evening was a mellow kind, with soft light and a promise of good weather the next day. If my soundtrack had worked it was "November rain" that came to mind first, although it is a bittersweet song. A bit shy, I told Niall about this, that I liked to fill episodes of my life with soundtrack. He didn't laugh but smiled a half-smile. "I think many do that, but maybe not as detailed as you," He said after I told him about different situations and the songs I would have put with them.

"What about now?"

I confessed to the Guns'n roses song and he thought about it.

"Why?"

"It's a perfect "walking in the streets" song, and with all that is happening now I need a reminder that nothing lasts forever, even cold november rain." I quoted the song. "Ok, from now on you must tell me whenever we are in a soundtrack-situation and we'll see if we agree on the songs." He looked excited. But then again, he was that kind of guy. Embracing life and the people around him so easy. Because of everything that had happened to me, I tended to be somewhat closed to others. Friendly enough, but I needed time to get close to someone. Most people didn't want to give me that time. Except Lewis. I met him in my first week her, he helped me get a job at a bar, and after countless nights out we had an unbreakable bond. "Deal, but it might be obscure." I warned him. "Bring it on!" he offered while opening the door for me. I rolled my eyes, but the little girl inside me applauded.

Halfway through the meal, Niall put down the spoon, "I know I invited you to stay with me, but you can say no, just so that's clear. We'll be leaving town for three days this week, doing some promo. But you can stay, no problem. There will be people working there during the day and security at night." He talked fast. I swallowed some pasta with a sip of wine. "I'm fine, trust me. I can't let him scare me away from my own apartment. Lewis will stay there with me, I'm sure."

At the mention of Lewis, Niall tightened his lips. "You've mentioned him before, is he a friend?" The way he said friend made me think he implied something else. "Yes, he's my best friend." I took another sip.

"And he didn't answer his phone all day?" Now he came off a bit snarky. "I'm sure he has his reasons." He didn't respond to that and started talking about the promo trip instead. I was listening eagerly, not having travelled so much myself. When I confessed that, Niall told me about his favourite places in the world. "It's just sad that we saw so little of the cities, or countries, because of the tight schedule. That's why we've agreed to add a day extra to each stay on this tour, and fewer dates. I don't know how we kept that up, but we didn't know of anything else." He looked around in the restaurant, and added; "Plus, we couldn't do this back then, the fans had gone mental."

"You know, I have quite the fan-base myself. I even have a twitter account following me. And I just realised that maybe I shouldn't joke around having mental fans right now".
Niall laughed so loud the whole restaurant turned to look at us, and I had to laugh along just because of that laughter. We finished the meal chattering like old friends and the time went fast.

Outside it was dark, but the temperature was good. Without speaking, we wandered along the streets. At last, he looked over at me; "What are you thinking about right now?" I shot a glimpse across the street; "I was wondering if there's someone out there taking my picture right now." I said with a low voice. "And then I was thinking that I hate that someone makes me feel like this. That I have to look over my shoulder, that I have to check before I open the door. That I have to run from my own home." Niall gave my hand a squeeze. I don't know when we started holding hands, but I took it gently away. He looked a bit taken aback.

I stopped. "Look, Niall. You're great, you've been my hero. But I'm a stripper you met two days ago. I don't know what this is." I gestured to his hand. "I can't handle a stalker who kills rabbits and Niall fucking Horan holding my hand in one take." I dragged my hood over my head and tried hiding as much as I could. He took a step back with a surprised look at his face. "Ok, ok. I get it. I think. But I just...like you." He stared at the ground. Puppy eyes ensued. God damn it, how could I survive this. In my head I heard Lewis talking; "Carolin, sweet baby girl. You might die anytime. Didn't you make a vow to live life when it's here?" "Fuck it, give me your hand." I said harshly, not in keeping with my intensions at all.

"No."

"Stop being grumpy, give me your hand."

"No".

He tucked them both away. "Fine. You wanna know what song plays now?" I cocked an eyebrow, but he didn't respond.  "Suit yourself." I started walking. Niall jogged to get up to me, but I ignored him. My phone ringing helped me in that, thinking it was Lewis finally calling me back, I answered fast. "You better have a good excuse for blowing me off, mister." I started the conversation. Silence. Then a strange voice said; "Well, darling, if I had known you wanted me that much I would have come for you sooner." I stopped and Niall bumped into me. He looked at my face and saw something was amiss.

I looked around and went to stand closer to the wall on the side of the street. Niall followed me and I put the phone on speaker.

"Who are you?"

"Now, now, where's your manners? Will you not introduce me to your friend?"

Niall made big eyes and looked wildly around. He could be anywhere, the streets weren't full, but enough people were walking around, enjoying the nice weather that it was hopeless to spot someone. One in four had a cell phone to their ear.

The stalker laughed, "Well, I am sure we will meet sooner or later, as it seems you have taking a liking to my Carolin. But then, she is a magnificent creature. How have you been, Carolin?" The voice was altered in some way, it sounded metallic. "Look" I said, "just leave me alone. I've been to the police, they'll find your fingerprints on the pictures and then you'll go to jail."

"Ah, but I think you are lying. I guess we have to wait and see. I don't know how long I can wait though. It has always been you and me. Or should I say YOU AND I, in honour of your little Irish friend you have made," He snickered. The laughter sounded evil. "You stay the fuck away from Carolin, you creep." Niall nearly shouted into the phone. "So protective. A real hero. So sad that it wont help you in the end, sweet Carolin. We will see each other again, I know where to find you."

He hung up, but the last words seemed as a sinister promise. "Now I'm thinking of The Police, "Every breath you take." I said while Niall tried to spot someone suspicious nearby. "Let it go, you won't find him." Then I grabbed his hand forcefully.