CHAPTER 2
They stare at the pieces of plastic in their hands. The black marker was clear as day. All five names, right there. But... There was something else, special on each girl's case.

"I got..."

"Same here..."

"Me too..."

"Is it really them?"

"I think so."

"Who else would it be?"

"I don't know, but are we the only ones?"

What they'd seen was, under every guy they had something special with, was a number. Actually, seven numbers. Gina had gotten Liam's number, Julia had gotten Louis' number, Anya had gotten Harry's, Nikki had gotten Zayn's, and Anna had gotten Niall's.

Nikki breaks the silence. "Should we see if it's really them?" she asks timidly. "What if they're just messing with us? Write a fake number down to tease us."

Julia raises an eyebrow. "Would they really be that mean? But the guys were so sweet, I doubt they'd do that," she says stubbornly, shaking her head.

Gina takes a deep breath and takes out her phone. "Only one way to find out." She copies the number on the case and ignores the girls' pleas to stop bothering the lads. They all watch her type a simple text, saying that it was her and explained she'd gotten the number at the signing. She closes the message when it sends, and stares at her friends. "I think I just texted the real Liam Payne," she murmurs.

They sit in silence, all trembling. They were either going to talk to a huge celebrity, یا a complete stranger. Just knowing someone now had their number, who they didn't know, made the girls a bit nervous.

They all jump out of their skins when Gina's phone goes off. She opens the message and the group stands up at the same time. If آپ hadn't known better, you'd think they were robots, all programmed to do the same thing.

Gina's دل races as she reads it out loud. Crude grammar (Liam's AMAZING typing skills) and all, she recites, "Hey Gina. It's Liam. I guess آپ found my number, haha."

All the girls were wide eyed. "One Direction noticed us..." Nikki mumbles, her voice barely above a whisper. They all nod, unable to speak.

Gina starts typing and smiling at her phone. The others are unsure what to do. Julia gets the nerve to start texting Louis, but she gets scared and asks Nikki to press the send. With a roll of the eyes, Nikki takes the phone and taps the button.

"I just can't believe it really happened..." Anna murmurs. "I mean... Meeting the guys, and now this. It just seems so unreal." She looks up. "Like a dream! Someone pinch me!"

Gina laughs. "Rudy, I get that it's all a lot to take in, but that's just pushing it. This isn't a dream. We're all awake. And besides, we love آپ too much to hurt you."

Anna looks at Anya, who's playing with a leaf. "You're the most aggressive, آپ do it! Please, Anya?" she begs her.

Anya looks up. "Me? Aggressive? I don't know about that... I know I can break a few bones if needed, but I never have to. Do آپ guys really think of me like that?" she asks worriedly. She looks a little scared, as if that's the last thing she wanted to hear.

The four girls glance at each other before turning back to Anya. They struggle to find the words, but Julia finally speaks up, a bit nervous. "Well, you're special, I guess. You're a giant teddy bear, who's the least bit cuddly. You're the sweetest punk we know," she says with a giggle.

Nikki laughs a little. "You're all quiet, but we know آپ can seriously sass someone out. Remember, in fourth grade, when Rebecca called Gina fat and آپ screamed at her, and she started crying? I think that was the first time we heard آپ yell, and I liked this new side of you," she says with a sweet smile.

Anya looks at the ground sadly, pursing her lips. "I appreciate that آپ like that side about me, but I don't want to be looked at like that. I want to be a sweet girl. I'm a shy guy, but... آپ know... Not with the parts," she says, trying not to laugh.

Gina bursts out laughing. "Well yeah, but آپ can't be something you're not. Just be yourself. It's not like anyone here would judge you," she says with a shrug.

Anna smiles at her, then gets everyone laughing again, سے طرف کی saying, "So will آپ pinch me?"

Anya laughs, rolls her eyes, and pinches her friend's arm. It's light enough not to seriously hurt her, but hard enough to cause some type of pain. "Happy?"

Anna rubs her arm, frowning. "Yeah." Her frown almost immediately changes into a huge grin. "I'm awake. They seriously noticed us!" she squeals.

They all شامل میں her in their first fan-girl session since they'd seen the guys. They scream quietly and stomp their feet and try to keep their hearts from exploding.

When they finally catch their breath, they laugh, remembering they were still in public. "Eh, what've we got to lose? I mean... It's not like anyone here knows us," Gina says coolly, bringing the sunglasses off from the سب, سب سے اوپر of her head onto her eyes.

Julia laughs loudly. "Are آپ kidding? This is our regular hang out, if آپ hadn't known. Have آپ been asleep for the last 7 years?" she asks before putting her own shades on from the sunset.

All the girls put theirs on, since the bright مالٹا, نارنگی bulb in the sky was aimed right at them. "But this isn't everyone's. It's not like they come here every time we do," Gina defends herself.

The others shake their heads as she shrugs and leans back against the steps. Julia starts to tell them a story, one that they've heard so many times before. They just went along with it to make her happy. However, she gets cut off سے طرف کی a loud group of guys exiting the mall behind them.

They stand up to get a better glimpse of the noise makers. Not because they were mad, یا interested in dating them. They were just curious as to who was making all the noise. They take a few steps forward, trying to peer inside the mob of people.

Anna was so caught up in focusing on what was on the inside, that she didn't see the outside was a few steps in front of her. A moment too late, she realized she hadn't stopped walking towards them. She and the man fall to the floor. Both groups stoop down to help them up.

"Sorry, love. I was a little side track- Oh! It's you! Is it... Anna?" the man asks. Anna looks up and stares into gorgeous blue eyes. She soon realizes this was Niall. THE NIALL HORAN had just collided with HER.

Her sight adjusted from the bump as she saw the rest of One Direction with Niall. The others start to recognize them too. The lads smile at the girls, and the girls attempt to smile back. Anna collects her thoughts first and holds out her hand with a shy smile. "Right. Anna."
----------------------