Don't Let Me Fall (A Liam Payne Fanfic)

CHAPTER TWO: Breathing Room Please?

CHAPTER TWO: BREATHING ROOM PLEASE?

When the doors slid open with a ding!, I found myself face to face with Celeste's door. "Wow Celeste, are you loaded or what?" I mumbled to myself, marveling at the marble panels framing the door. There was a note attached to the door. "Hey Elaina, I'm sorry I wasn't here to meet you. I had to open the doors for Kristie's bakery. Kristie's flat key is under the doormat, so you can still go ahead and surprise Kristie. She lives in the attic-converted-studio/flat AKA the ninth floor. I'm not sure when she'll get home though. But you can go ahead and make yourself at home; she won't mind, I mean, you're like her long-lost sister or something. Have fun! -Celeste." I read the note, laughing to myself and shaking my head. I've missed Celeste too, but it was time to put Plan: Surprise Kristie in action. I reached under Celeste's doormat and fumbled for the key. I rode the elevator all the way up and gingerly unlocked Kristie's door. I caught my breath; it wasn't as fancy as Celeste's apartment (or I should start referring it to as a flat now), but it definitely was Kristie's style. Where there were no walls, billowy curtains served as privacy dividers. The flat still had unpacked boxes but there was a definite air of hominess. I dropped my suitcases in what looked to be a spare room or the guest room and wandered through Kristie's flat. I smiled fondly as I walked into a One Direction wall plastered room which could only be Olive's room. Olive was Kristie's half-sister and I adored Olive. I treated her like my own little sister. I fingered through Olive's tea set and smiled at the crowns and tutus scattered across the floor. Sighing, I walked out of Olive's room and sat on the couch. I checked my phone: 11:37. I yawned again and absentmindedly headed toward the kitchen, which was easily accessible since it was in the center of the flat. I stopped dead in my tracks when I noticed a tray of chocolate cupcakes sitting out on the counter. "Oh Kristie, you shouldn't have," I said aloud. Those chocolate cupcakes looked droolingly delicious. I started to reach for one when I realized two things: one, Kristie and I haven't seen each other since high school, and two, technically I was trespassing. I retracted my hand guiltily. But man... those cupcakes looked really yummy, and I had a long flight without any chocolate and Kristie knows how chocolate and I get along. Without any further thoughts, I reached for a cupcake and hopped up on the counter next to the cupcake and started to sink my teeth in it when the door opened. Kristie stood there open-mouthed while I looked like a kid caught guilty getting her hand caught in the cookie jar. But that soon passed as I squealed my excitement of seeing her "OMG Kristie! You're FINALLY HOME! I've missed you so much! It's been too long!" I beamed. She stared at me for a few seconds, speechless.

She started to sign and speak "Elaina, what a lovely surprise! I haven't seen you in years," she gushed. "Wait... How... How did you find me?" she stopped and stared at me.

I laughed, signing and speaking, "Well I just got off the plane only two hours ago since I'm moving to London because I got the swimming scholarship!" I sang happily. "I knew Celeste lived here and we came up with a plan to surprise you and here I am!" I pretended to pout, "It has been so long. You never replied to my messages."

Kristie laughed and ran to me, hugging me and was just about to say something when a rather British, rather familiar male voice boomed out. "Hi, I'm Louis the Tommo Tomlinson of Direction One and this is reuniting old friends!" I almost had a heart attack. We weren't alone. Instead, there were five familiar faces that I would know from anywhere standing in the middle of Kristie's flat.

"Kristie...." I murmured "Is he.... Is that... Are they...Am I..." my voice trailed off, unable to comprehend the scene before me. I blinked hard, "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" I asked my grinning best friend in a hushed whisper. "Please pinch me," I whispered, "Please pinch me so I know I'm not dreaming... I just got off a plane...It was a long flight... I'm definitely dreaming," I mumbled to myself. "This is a symptom of jetlag, seeing One Direction in front of you when you get too tired."