"Are you freaking kidding me?" Niall exclaimed, jumping out of his seat and dashing over to me at the speed of lightning. He fell down next to me and I realised his body heat was radiating outwards and making me feel....well, at home. Like this was where I was supposed to be. Forever.

Niall grabbed the laptop from my sweaty palms and raked his eyes of the bright screen, clearly intent on finding evidence to prove me wrong.

"Sooooo....." Louis dragged the syllable out, tentatively. His eyes watched us knowingly though and seemed to narrow in on how close we were. I couldn't blame him. We were practically touching and that made me uncomfortable- wasn't Niall supposed to be mad at me?

"Looks like she really is alive. But how? I thought she was killed in a car crash." Niall frowned, his brow creasing a little in confusion.

"Survived but ran? Covered up an attempt at suicide? Could be any reason for it, really. The police don't tell all their workers everything." El shrugged, picking her already raw nail. She'd picked the cobalt polish, that she'd applied so meticulously the week before, off and couldn't seem to stop.

"But they'd tell them something that could help the case, surely? And that is just hindering it!" Zayn stared in disbelief.

"Unless........unless somebody tampered with the files." I slowly concluded, realising there would have been a window of opportunity between the time when Ronnie sent the files and us receiving them to have intercepted the files.

"Like who? This Anni group?" Harry threw his head back against the cream wall in frustration.

"No. I mean this Angelica Walters person specifically." I replied, slowly moving myself onto the plush carpet in an attempt to get away from Niall.

"Huh? Why would she want to make us think she was dead?" Niall narrowed his eyes to slits as he followed me onto the floor- can't the damn boy take a freaking hint?

"Duh!" I rolled my eyes in comic frustration. "She knows we're onto her. Or at least, onto Anni. So she wanted to make it seem like she had nothing to do with Paul....you know..um...." I trailed slowly.

"Yeah, we get it Kayleigh." Niall shook his head at me like I was stupid. Suddenly, Liam threw his hands up in the air and spoke for the first time since this whole discussion had begun.

"Oh for god's sakes! Niall, just apologise! You know you were an arsehole- that was what our whole conversation was about barely ten minutes ago! Apologise to Kayleigh and let us all get on with our lives! I cannot stand this....this tension! It's driving me fricking nuts!" He clasped at the hair that was barely there, looking at us like we were immature children.

Niall blushed a deep, beetroot red. He was clearly embarrassed his band mate had just given him away and I stifled a laugh as he cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Look. I was an arsehole, okay? I shouldn't have said those things to you about El. They weren't fair....forgivesies?" He looked me in the eyes, his eyes huge and face overly cute. How could you be hostile to a face like that?

"Niall, it shouldn't just be you that's apologising. I was wrong for overreacting. But I still think you should have at least talked to me!" I laughed and threw my arms around his shoulders, pulling him in tightly for a hug.

Slowly, his arms came around my back to rest just above my tattoo though I don't think he realised that. I felt safe and snug in his arms and I felt warmth coursing through my veins and making my heart pound. When Niall hugged me, I felt like we were the only people in the world and all my problems, worries and 'abilities' had melted away. Everybody feels like that when their best friend hugs them, right? This is normal, right? This isn't to do with.....wait! My thoughts suddenly jerk to a halt when I realise Niall is still touching me. He can read my mind and I really don't think he wants to hear what was about to go through it right then and there.

Then I realise we are still sitting there, arms wrapped around each other. I pull back and glance at my hands that were writhing uncomfortably in my lap. I hear Harry coughing awkwardly and spot Zayn glancing away to the left. Yep. That hug lasted far too long.

"So......" El coughed, clearing her throat of phlegm and putting her hands on her hips. "Show me the abilities you two have. We can finish that discussion later." She indicated us both sternly, clearly meaning something totally different to the subject of Angelica. Oh dear.

"Well, I....um....I can fly." I shrugged as her eyes widened.

"Show me!" El said, clapping her hands in excitement.

"Okay. The last time the boys saw this the voice hadn't explained what to do so I'm a tad better at it now!" I grinned. Before anybody had any time to react about my statement, I shot up from my sitting position and stood straight. I cleared my mind of everything and focused on Niall, imagining him slowly lifting me up.

When I felt my legs leave the ground, I opened my eyes one by one, the reality still not quite having set in. I wiggled my toes and then imagined Niall guiding me around the room, his hands on my hips. As I flew through the air, arms outstretched, I felt an involuntarily shiver shake my body. I glanced behind me and saw the boys' and El's mouths hanging open. I decided that was enough for today (as I felt a little light headed) so I gently began to guide myself to the ground.

"Jesus! You have gotten better!" Harry laughed as Louis looked over his shoulder, astonished.

"I guess. It helped having someone show me what to do." I replied instantaneously before slapping my hand over my mouth in utter shock that I had let that slip out. They were going to think I was mad when I explained.

"Sorry, did I just hear you correctly?" El began.

"Yeah. You did. Look, you'll think I'm mad but....well....this voice started speaking in my head, out of nowhere. It was crazy and I honestly don't know where it came from- I was pretty scared! But it started showing me, well, guiding me really, through the abilities I have. It explained all four of my abilities and how to use them." I blurted out, wincing. They were going to think I'd been hit in the head, repeatedly, with a rock.

"Seriously? What other abilities do you have? And what did he explain?" Niall grinned, his fingers grabbing my shoulder painfully. "Sorry." He quickly removed them. "I didn't mean to hurt you." Buggar had read my mind- again.

"Um.....I have healing, telepathy and the ability to heal from silver. Once. Because that's the only thing I can't heal myself from using my 'regular' ability." I took a step back when I saw Niall's eyes light up.

"Did he say you could only speak with your Match?" Niall quizzed, frantically.

"Yes......"

"We had the same person teaching us how to use our abilities! But he said I'm different, that I can only get my powers from my Match. Whatever that means. He said I could only use my abilities with my Match because that's where they originate from."

"Did he explain what the hell a Match was?"

"Seems to be the person you end up falling in love with and having kids with. Like Zayn said, those symbols on your back show how many you're going to have."

"Err.....guys? Mind enlightening us?" Zayn broke our small conversation hurriedly. I think he sensed we were getting slightly off track,

"Sorry. Kayleigh and I were just saying that we had the same person teaching us how to use our abilities." Niall quirked his lips to one side, suddenly very interested in his feet and the back of his neck.

"We got that mate!" Harry scoffed, visibly rolling his eyes. "What Zayn meant was mind enlightening us to how this is all significant?"

I looked at El and I knew we were thinking the same thing. I really don't want to admit this out loud as I know what it would mean for all of us. We'd never look at each other the same way again. So when nobody else notices, I give El a minute shake of the head, warning her not to say anything. This is going to have to stay a secret.

"We don't know." I lie through my teeth, though they all can tell when I'm lying.

---

In an attempt to work out who this Angelica Walters person was, the boys, El and I came up with a cunning plan. We obviously knew she had something to do with One Direction because her name kept cropping up everywhere and the boys said they were even able to find somebody with the same initials, albeit her name was Ashley Weatherspoon. So we were going to throw a party and invite every team member of One Direction to come. This should give us a few hints.

We had to do it carefully but then Liam came up with the idea of an exceptionally late birthday party for Harry. Though he'd openly admitted he knew it was the beginning of March and he wasn't insane, he had suggested it would be a good cover as they hadn't been able to celebrate his birthday while on the tour.

Once it was all explained, it seemed perfect.

El and I had agreed to go shopping for decorations and food as well as clothes for the party. The boys had simply rolled their eyes and groaned but it was then I remembered somebody, quite a big somebody. And I panicked.

"Shit. Liam, have you talked to Sophia recently?" I asked him frantically, remembering the note the killer had left me.

"About three hours ago, yeah. Why?" He asked suspiciously, clearly confused as to the answer I was trying to get out of him.

"No, it's just...well...not to worry you, but, remember that note I got left?"

"Yeah...."

"Well it seemed to suggest that the next place the killer was going to strike were the 1D girlfriends- especially if I didn't give myself into the police. El's here and Perrie's perfectly safe because she's on tour but Sophia......"
"Crap. I'll call her and get her down here asap. Thanks Kayleigh." Liam grabbed my shoulder to show his gratitude as he dashed from the room.

Slowly, the other boys left the room until it was just El and I left. She turned to me with a very pointed look on her face.

"So what are you going to do about Niall?" She asked slowly, her face clearly showing she was more interested in my decision than anything Niall had to do with it.

"I don't know.....I mean.... I don't get why it's him. Him of all people." I put my face in my palms, confusion washing over me like a wave, engulfing me in blackness and dragging me out to more dangerous waters.
"You have to accept it Kayleigh." El shrugged, her head tilted to one side.

"Why? Why is it him? I don't even think I even feel that way about him, El! He's my fricking best friend!"

"Well, if you ask me, Niall has feelings for you."

"For fuck's sake. Why is love so confusing?"

"Look at me Kayleigh." El growled, grabbing my arms ferociously and holding my hands in hers. "Niall Horan is your Match. Deal with it."

---

The party was set for later that evening as we all wanted to get it over and done with. The boys were tasked with setting the house up and getting the refreshments and invites sent out while El and I got the decorations and went shopping. I'm sorry but I'm a stylist. I like clothes. Shoot me. I might be skint but I can always make room for a good top or dress!

El and I trawled round various shops aimlessly, not really looking for anything in particular. If I'm being honest, I couldn't quite get my head around the whole Match thing. How could Niall be my Match? I suppose there could be worse people to be a Match with but I just don't feel that way about him. Do I? Oh I need therapy. How am I supposed to decide if I like him or not if I practically have my whole life planned out on my back?

It wasn't until El decided it was time to drag me into River Island that I made up my mind. I had to figure this whole thing out with Niall, work out if he really felt the same way. And, if he did, what the hell we were supposed to do about it because I couldn't keep working for the band if that was the case.

I said as much to El who slowly spread a devilish grin across her face. I knew that look and I mentally groaned because I could pretty much just guess the words about to spring out of her mouth.

"MAKEOVER!" She screamed, loud enough for the shop assistant to give us an odd look. "And since this is your favourite shop, let's start here!"

So for the next half an hour, we worked our way through the humongous River Island, searching through racks of dresses, tops and shoes. I'm fairly certain this was not what was meant when the boys put us on decorations duty but to be fair to us, we had got everything we could possibly need and more.

Finally, we reached nearer the back of the shop and into the older clothes. This was one of my favourite parts as you could get really good deals on gorgeous clothes. I picked my way through the sales rack before my fingers found some fabric that felt great against my skin. I pulled it out and realised the dress was my definition of perfect.

A maxi dress that would hang just above my ankles, the dress was a dark navy colour with a silver belt around the middle. It had a single, wide strap that was twisted and allowed the back to droop slightly. I loved it, dashing over to El who grinned when she spotted it.

"Try that on. Now. We might be going undercover to work out who this Angelica Walters is however this is also mission Find Out If Niall Likes You, don't think I don't know what brought this on!" She breathed slowly, shoving me gently in the direction of the changing rooms.

I slid in to an empty cubicle and dropped my top and skinny jeans in a messy heap on the floor. Okay, so I was twenty one and perfectly capable of figuring out if a guy like me. I could do that with ease. But this had a whole lot more riding on it and I had to figure out if I shared the same feelings. God damn it, I felt like a thirteen year old trying to work out if a guy liked her- silly and insecure.

I slid the beautiful fabric over my head and it moved over my body in ripples, outlining my features and complimenting my red hair. I was happy with the way it looked but El also had to agree. I was barely outside the curtain when I worked out what her answer was. Buy it. She'd gasped loud enough that now customers were looking at her like she'd gone insane. Truthfully, she probably had.

"Perfect! Buy it! It's beautiful! Now come help me with mine!" She grinned, clapping her hands and jumping around in circles like a five year old who'd just been given sweets.

I rolled my eyes, changed and paid for the dress and wandered back to El. She was busy browsing the lighter, more baby tones of the same collection and eventually found one we both agreed was very El. Though this wasn't initially intended to be a shopping trip, I was exceptionally glad it had turned into one.

By the time El and I had made it to the car park and were pulling out of the space, it was gone five o'clock and the party was due to start in under two hours. Nervously, I glanced at El as we pulled up to the house and began to unload the bags. I truly couldn't breathe and it felt like the time I had thrown up on stage when acting Mary in the school nativity play. I was exceptionally thankful only Niall and Marissa knew about that incident.

Marissa. She was still ignoring my calls and texts, even though Zayn kept insisting I stop trying to contact her. She's still, and always will be, my very best friend and I can't imagine life without her. But I'm going to have to try because, as it turns out, she hates me now.

The amount of times I've cried over this is astonishing, you'd think I'd be used to pain and lies and cheaters by now because I've had my fair share. Sometimes I wish we were all just normal people, going to school or university or meeting on a group holiday or something like that. But at other times I'm grateful for all of this and I know I should be grateful all the time because that's what gave me my job. Sometimes, though, I feel alone. And that's what scares me the most about the whole Niall situation. That he'll hate me and leave me alone.

I take a deep breath, gather my rambling thoughts and head into the house. I can see Harry dancing randomly around to a You, Me at Six song that I can't remember the title of and Liam clapping to the side of the room. Zayn and Louis I can see are hanging out in the conservatory that leads from the living room but there's no sign of Niall. Wow. Am I that desperate that, when I don't know where he is, I panic?
I glanced at the clock on the wall when El had thrown the door open and pushed me into the hallway.

There was under an hour to go and I was left stunned by the amount of time it took us to get home. El ran into the living room, whispered some hurried instructions to Harry about the decorations and then
returned to me, inviting me to her room so we could get ready.

Shaking, I followed her up the stairs, well aware of who we may run into at any point. Luckily, we made it to El's room without any mortifying incidents and we quickly began to change. I shut my eyes tight as I breathed in and out. It was hard to believe that tonight was the night where my whole life could be ruined. I just hoped El hadn't got this wrong.

When seven o'clock struck, I balloted my hands into fists and hurriedly finished my makeup, praying the foundation I applied didn't look cakey.

"You look fine, Kayleigh," El laid a hand, gently, on my arm "everything will be okay." I guess it's going to have to be. We slowly leave El's room and make our way down the staircase arm in arm. It's then that I come face to face with Niall for the first time since arriving home.

"Wow," I hear him murmur beneath his breath.

Notes

Heya!
So this chapter has two breaks in it, just to build up the tension for the next two chapters!
Shit is about to go down!
Let me know what you all think!

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Love ya'll and have a great Tuesday!