"Sleepwalking" Lissie

"Maybe it was me" Sody

"Propaganda" Briskeby

"Headspace" Lewis Capaldi

Carolin

I was rocking my body, my arms around my knees. The footsteps continued on and on, but they never got to the closet. The smell from the clothes was soothing and I felt safe as long as the door was closed. I tried keeping tabs on the time, but minutes glided into hours. A part of my brain tried to tell me that there wasn't any danger, I had taken care of that, but my body was in full panic mode. I kept my eyes open, but the closet was dark. After a while I could feel my eyelids gliding shut. "No, Fraser, you have to stay awake. You can't let him get you." My pep talk helped some, but it wasn't long before I felt the drowsiness take over.

I woke with a hammering heart, someone was outside. I saw the door open slightly. My whole body tensed and prepared to fight. But the voice that came wasn't the voice I anticipated. My eyes, accustomed to the dark, wouldn't let me see the person speaking, but the soft voice calmed me. I pressed my back up against the wall, making me as small as possible.

"Carolin?"

I didn't answer, maybe I could stay invisible.

"Sweet heart, it's me. It's Niall. Remember me?"

Niall. Not Simon. The smell from the clothes. That was Niall. I must have made a sound, because Niall sat down on his knees and reached tentatively for me. "That's right. Only me. You're safe with me."

I made a move, my hands loosened from their grip. He kept talking and I woke more and more. When my brain convinced my body that we were safe, I leapt forward and almost knocked both myself and Niall to the ground. He opened his arms quickly and put his knees to the floor to keep us steady. My tears flowed, and I held on for  what seemed an eternity. Niall never loosened his grip, he just held me, stroking my hair. When my eyes were somewhat dry, I leaned a bit backwards to see his face. I could see tears in his eyes as well, and I tried to apologise.

My explanation was messy and didn't make sense at all, but he seemed to understand anyhow.

"You're safe, I won't let anything happen to you. You're safe. I won't let him touch you." He kept going and going until my body finally relaxed. We sat on the floor in front of the closet, the room was dark except for a small light by the bed. I took a deep breath and touched my injured side hesitantly, afraid I had ripped something open, but it seemed ok-just a little sore.

Niall talked; "I shouldn't have left you; I know you've been struggling more with this than you let show." His eyes were dark. I didn't answer right away, I wanted to find the right words. "It isn't your job to stay behind with me, Niall." I straightened in his arms. "I want it to be." Our voices low in the dark room. I laid a hand to his cheek. "I know, and it makes me so happy. But this is not the right time." I felt him nod against my head. "Want to tell me about it?" I hesitated, but decided it was a good idea, then it would maybe seem like a bad dream. I talked and he listened, and right then that was all I needed. No questions, it was like telling a diary all your deepest fears. The fact that I couldn't see his face helped, and his chest rising and falling in an even rhythm was hypnotizing. I talked until I had nothing left inside, and it was cathartic.

After a while he shifted below me, "I need to straighten my legs," he said with a small laughter. On rubber legs I tried to stand, it wasn't graceful. We both laughed trying to stand up, and the rest of our fight earlier disappeared.

"Listen, the others have made a table reservation, do you want to join us? Get out of the house a bit?" I didn't need long to say yes, that was way too tempting. "I just need a quick shower, and remind me to tell the police where we are going?" Niall nodded, saying he would run out to the car while I was in the shower. I was tempted to ask him to join me, but in some way, I felt that it would ruin the moment we had just shared together.

In the hot shower, I took a moment to think about the day-it had been a rollercoaster. Niall was right, I did lock my feelings inside, but that had been the only way to deal with the memories. I handled my stepfather and thought I had buried it deep enough. The occasional panic-attack was to be endured. Maybe, just maybe, I had deeper scars than I wanted to believe. The thoughts of my mother for example. I had talked about her to Niall and realised that I missed her. Could I forgive what she did? I didn't think so, but I didn't need to forgive her to miss my own mother.

Niall came back to the room while I was drying off and I opened the bathroom door to be able to talk to him without yelling. "My clothing options are limited; I hope it isn't a fancy restaurant?" Niall laughed, "Have you met us?" I took that as a no. I had packed one dress and figured I could use that. It was simple but suited me fine; black and with a heavy fabric that made it fall in waves down my legs. I let my hair hang down and put a little makeup on. I shook my head at my reflection, I don't know why I bothered; the bandage took all attention anyway. I adjusted my hair so that it covered most of it and tried to forget it. Niall had changed to dark slacks and a white button up, he was beautiful. Tousled hair, and those eyes. But the best part was his beautiful soul, shining through all the time. He raised an eyebrow since my dumb ass just stood there staring at him.

"You look lovely," I beamed at him. "As do you, madam." He faked a proper English accent and bowed. I gave him my hand and he twirled me into his embrace. "That dress...I could devour you whole." I felt like a schoolgirl, giggling and blushing. "Well, thank you, good sir." There was a knock on the door, and it opened straight after. We both turned our heads, and surprised Harry. He smiled when he saw our positions, we stood like we were on a prom at the end of a dance.

His face lit up, "You're ready. Carolin; you look absolutely stunning." I blushed and Niall glared at me. "What? When Harry Freakin'Styles calls you stunning you have to blush." I gave him a kiss to calm him down, maybe I had hit a sore spot? It couldn't have been easy, they all were five good looking guys, in different ways. They had to have felt like competitors from time to time. I grabbed a cardigan and took Niall's hand, tugging him along.

I had some time to think in the shower, I hadn't been fair to Niall. I had been hot and cold, yes and no. It hadn't bothered me before; going into a make-believe relationship, knowing it would only last a few weeks. The difference here were the feelings I undoubtedly had for Niall, it made it all that scarier. I would give him what I got the rest of his time here and could only wish that I could let him go gracefully when the time come. There was the notion of the stalker hovering above me and prompting me to live a little, who knew what would happen tomorrow. The "Brick-incident" had scared me.

Niall, seemingly happy with my kiss, towed behind me while I chatted with Harry. They were all so down to earth, despite all their awards, million-selling records and money in the bank, it made me almost forget how famous they were.

We took the elevator down to the garage, a limo was wating for us, and I was reminded. I shook my head while laughing. Liam smiled at me, "What's so funny, Two-Face?" I rolled my eyes at his new nickname. "This is a poorly written fanfic: One Direction and the Stripper." Liam laughed back; "Trust me, there are way worse." I made big eyes. "You read them?!" All of them nodded, Louis explained: "Liam used to read aloud to us on the plane back in the days, some of them are..." He was at a loss for words. "Unbelievable" he finished. I snickered, I believed him.

I glided into the big car, and Niall took his place beside me. Settled, he grabbed my hand, held it between his and gave it a kiss. Louis couldn't resist and gave a mocking sound. "You are like teenagers; I was surprised you got out of that room." Serious again, I confessed I needed to get out of the house. "I was going mad, hearing and seeing things that wasn't there." My voice was low, but I knew they heard me.

I tried to brighten up; "So thank you for bringing me along, I can't tell you how much I appreciate it." They brushed it away and told me it was their pleasure while fiddling, somewhat uncomfortable with the praise. When we took a right out on the main road, I saw the police car following us. That reminded me once again of my crazy life. Behind the police car there was another black car, the bodyguards I presumed. The boys might have managed to go unnoticed when they were solo, but all five of them together? That meant chaos. I hoped we could get to the restaurant unnoticed.

Niall leaned closer; "What song would fit this?" I thought about it, a bit tricky. "I have to go with "Kiss you" from the amazing Take me home album." And then I kissed him. I didn't stop before I heard his heart hammering, "baby, me mine tonight, mine tonight?" Niall smiled while he kissed me back, and as if they had rehearsed it the four others shouted, "And if you, you want me too-oo-oo, let's make a move, yeah, so tell me girl if every time we touch, you get this kinda rush." My mouth was on the floor, before I had to pick it up to laugh my lungs out. Niall's laugh was louder than mine, and the others kept on singing. My very own, private concert.

I was still giggling when we arrived at the restaurant, and I reached for the door. Niall stopped me, "No, just wait till the security gives the go-signal." I sat back, remembering I was in a new world. Two minutes later the door opened, and Liam, who sat opposite me glided out. Niall stopped me and went out first, I saw him glance around before his hand came back into the car. I grabbed it and let him help me out. Outside I adjusted my dress and took Niall's hand again. Not letting him go this time. I saw the policemen stand outside their car, poor guys. Babysitting me. Then I felt the throbbing pain and was reminded that there was a valid reason they were following me around.

Liam strode up to the door and the doorman held the door wide open, Niall and me, Harry on his long legs was right behind me, Louis and Zayn followed him. They did it so smooth, they were just entering a restaurant, but it could just as well been a catwalk. Once seated the waiter came with the wine map. Harry waved it away, "Just bring us some beers. What would you like to drink?" He turned to me. "I'll take a beer too, a weissen, if you have?" The waiter nodded, and Niall looked at me. "What, I can't order a beer?" He smiled, "Sure you can. I just haven't thought about it as sexy before, but you made it sound mouth-watering."

Men.

As always, it was a pleasure with these guys, and I took a moment to appreciate this moment. I missed Lewis, but I had slowly realised that maybe I could make more good friends. Lewis had been occupied with the customer he met, and I hoped that it could lead to something more, even if it meant I would see less of Lewis.

I asked Zayn if he had talked to Sandra, and he nodded, mouth full of food. He swallowed and answered. "Yeah, I was supposed to see her tonight, but she had to work. Apparently one of the strippers hadn't showed up." I felt bad, knowing I was leaving them shorthanded. "She got called in at the last minute." He looked bummed. "It's rare we are gone long, this is the longest I've been away from work since I started, so she will likely have the weekend off." I reassured him. I thought about who it could be, Queen Anne, I reckoned. The meal lasted almost two hours, I felt sorry for the other guest; we hadn't been quiet. Once again, I was amazed of what stardom got you.

I saw one of the bodyguards whisper something to Liam as we were finishing up. He looked annoyed. "Paps here." They all groaned. "Ready, set, go?" Louis looked at all of us. I was confused. "What do you mean?" "

The paparazzi is here. We have to make a run for it."

I swallowed. "Ok." Niall gave my hand a squeeze, "Just keep your head low and don't stop. They will shout anything to halt you." I took a deep breath, not prepared for this at all. The bodyguard kept a look-out, he must have gotten some kind of signal, because he nodded, opened the door and rushed us out. The flash from the cameras started instantly and my instinct was to look up at all the shouting. Niall tugged me along and I trusted him to get me through, this was insane. How did so many show up in this short time? We were three meters from the car when I heard someone shout my name. In reflex I lifted my head and looked in the direction the voice came from. I looked into a set of eyes that scared me to death.  They glowed with passion, but not in a good way. I was hypnotized and Niall had to yank my arm to wake me up. "Come on, get in the car". I stumbled into the seats and had to grip Louis 'thigh to keep me from falling. Scooting in, Niall came behind me and the guard closed the door. Liam pushed a button; "Drive, but don't take the straight road to the house, drive around for a bit, maybe we'll lose them."

At once the car drove away while the paps knocked on the windows and screamed stupid questions.

I turned in the seat but couldn't see anything through the tinted windows. "Are you alright? They can be intense." Niall was worried. I fastened my seatbelt; the driver went pretty fast. "I'm ok, I'm just hearing things again." No way that could have been Mark. Could it?

Liam looked at Niall, "You better prepare Lynn. You've been sighted two times with Carolin, they will be curious." Niall's eyes was dark. Suddenly I realised there were aspects with this relationship I hadn't thought through. I just wanted one normal day.

I opened my eyes, realising things didn't disappear just because I closed them. My eyes landed on Zayn. He had something in his hands, seemingly forgotten. "What is that?" I nodded at his lap. He looked down. "Oh, one of the paps handed them to me and I grabbed them without thinking." He held up the two red roses, pushed the button to open the window and tossed them out. I looked at his movement in slow motion. Niall reacted to my body stiffening and I saw him spotting the flowers as they blew from Zayns hands. Our eyes met and I knew I wasn't alone in thinking that the count down had sped up.

I know that many of you are suckers for "dark 1D" I just wanted to write a story where they are nice guys;) Please vote and comment, it would mean the world to me 😍