After the show in New York City, there was a show in Camden. After that show, the boys were going to Canada to perform two shows. I didn't have a passport so I flew to Chicago after the Camden show where I'd stay until the Chicago show. Eleanor was flying in the day after and I had convinced Jenny to let Eleanor to stay at our place so she didn't feel lonely. The boys were flying in to Chicago the night before the concert right after their Detroit show, so Eleanor and I volunteered ourselves to wait at the airport for them.

"I can't wait to see them!" Eleanor said gripping my arm as it was announced their flight had landed.

I laughed and nodded, "Yup, I bet Lou feels the same way!" I said. I was just as excited as Eleanor. I had only been away from Niall for about a week but the phone calls just weren't enough - I missed him terribly. The hazy memories that came up and now and then didn't help at all - they only made me eager to fling myself into his arms when we saw each other again.

Within a few moments the boys appeared looking exhausted but their faces brightened when they saw El and I waiting.

"Lou!" Eleanor ran forward into Louis' waiting arms. I smiled at the couple before turning my attention to Niall.

"Hey." I said shyly, hugging him. He smiled at me and mumbled a "hey" back. I frowned, my heart dropping slightly, something felt wrong.

As if he noticed my concern he offered a weak smile, "I'm fine love, just really tired and starving."

I smiled back, aaah that explained everything, "Then let's get some food into you!" I said cheerfully as we made our way to the car waiting for the band.

-----
The concert the next night was incredible, and despite Niall's odd mood he seemed to perpetually be in, I was ecstatic to see my hometown cheer on the boys as much as they did. I felt my voice would go hoarse from all the cheering I was giving.

"I'll never get used to seeing them perform." Eleanor said with a soft sigh, "It's always brilliant."

"Mm." I agreed unable to reply with much else as the boys ran offstage shouting and yelling.

"Awesome show guys!" I said grinning like an idiot.

"The best!" Eleanor added.

"I'm better then rest though, right love?" Louis asked draping his arms across Eleanor's shoulders. She laughed and began to rant about how sweaty and gross he was. I laughed at them before I felt Niall tap my shoulder.

"Can we talk?" he asked quietly. Immediately alarms seemed to go off in my head and my instinct was to shout no! no!

"Sure." I said softly, allowing him to lead me to an empty dressing room. I sat down and for a moment the room was quiet, which I was grateful for. Because the words Niall spoke next shattered my world.

"We need to break up."

My body froze, and I felt glued to my seat. My head began to buzz unpleasantly as it tried to process what he had just said.

"What are you-"

"I don't want to be with you anymore. I waited until Chicago so you'd already be home. It's over." His voice sounded oddly robotic but the meaning still rang true in my head. I looked up at him, willing myself to not tear up, but with his next words it was impossible.

"I doubt you care much anyway, it's not like you remember anything anyway. So I'm not going to bother." Each word seemed to stab me in the stomach and I was thankful that he exited the room right after that, because I immediately doubled over, silent tears rolling out of my eyes. My entire body, my entire [i]being[/i] was in pain. Why? He was right, I didn't remember, I shouldn't care. But that didn't stop the tears, or the crippling pain.

I didn't know how long it took for anybody to find me, as all my senses seemed to black out. I couldn't hear, couldn't see, couldn't [i]feel[/i]. Just the next thing I could feeling happening was Louis' arms wrapping around me and Eleanor trying to soothe me with words and Harry shouting something about giving Niall a good knock around. A thought occured to me during this commotion.

"This is the catch..." I whispered between my tears. The catch was that Niall and I were never meant to be together at all, it was foolish of me to even think such a thing. I had had my fun as Cinderella but now it was midnight and my carriage had turned into a pumpkin - and I deserved every bit of pain I now felt for ever wishing such a foolish wish in the first place.