“I keep forgetting that I’m old enough to drink here.” Lily giggled.

Josh, Pete, Lily, Karen and I were all seated at a high top table inside Terrace. Lily was looking over the drink menu, trying to decide which drink she’d like. She told us a story about how she got drunk after prom and at her graduation party and had us all cracking up. So I wasn’t worried about this being her first go round with being drunk, but maybe the fact that this was a higher end place to be getting an 18 year old drunk at.

Lily was sort of my Ryanne of London now. I felt a certain protection over her, but at the same time I realized she was old enough to take care of herself.

“I’m ready!” Lily announced, as I flagged a waiter over. “I’m just gonna have a margarita.”

“Oooohhh tequila, just like my girl!” Pete smiled. “I’ll just have whatever’s on tap.”

“I think I’m going to get a glass of bourbon on the rocks tonight.” I smiled.

“I’m getting a cosmo, because why not.” Josh smiled.

“And I’ll have the same as him.” Karen smiled up at the waiter.

After he left, we fell into soft conversation.

“So Lily, Spenc told me you study at Parson’s, are you from the city?”

“Oh gosh no. I’m actually from a small town in Minnesota.” She smiled.

“That explains the accent.” Pete smiled. “Which town? I interned at a brokerage in Minneapolis during undergrad.”

“Stillwater, right over the border from Wisconsin. Not too far from the cities.” She smiled.

“What a beautiful place Minnesota is, that’s for sure.” Pete smiled.

“Are you from the city then?” she asked back.

“Nope, I’m from Seattle but I studied at NYU. I doubled majored in business and finance. I did the internship between my junior and senior year over the summer and had a job lined up before I finished the fall semester of my senior year. I worked for the Hattley-Gront brokerage on Wall Street since I graduated.”

“So you really had life all figured out then, huh?” Karen butted in.

“Yeah, I worked very hard to get where I am, but I was fortunate to get a job right out of school.”

“And he’s being modest. He’s the youngest Vice President the company has ever had.” I smiled, as the waiter brought our drinks.

“Wow, you guys really are a power couple.” Lily giggled, taking a sip of her margarita. “Whew. Strong.”

“They always are here.” Josh smiled.

I took a sip of my bourbon, catching the eye of a tall, tanned man scanning the tables. I stood up, heading over to him.

“Zayn!” I called out. “And look what the cat drug in.”

Louis was standing behind Zayn, smiling widely. I wasn’t ready for both of them to show up. I was just expecting Zayn. I wouldn’t have time to calm Lily’s nerves for this. She was in for the shock of her life. After receiving a hug from both the guys, we made our way over to the table. As we neared our seats, Lily’s eyes grew eight times the size they normally were.

“Guys, just so you know, we out celebrating with the new intern. She’s kinda freaking out over the fact that you were even coming...” I pointed at Zayn. “So the fact that you’re here too, just please go easy on her.”

“Us? Not go easy on her? What? I mean, how dare you assume we’ll take the piss out of her.” Louis wiggled his eyebrows.

“Oh my god.” She’s going to quit, I thought. These guys are going to make her so nervous, she’s going to quit.

“Lads, lasses.” Zayn smiled as he reached the table, shaking Pete and Josh’s hand, hugging Karen before stopping in front of Lily, whose face was beat red. Louis following in Zayn’s motions. “And I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure of meeting such a beautiful intern before, have we Lou?”

“Nope, I don’t think.” Louis tossed a smirk at me. I mentally face palmed. The poor girl was probably peeing her pants.

“Well, I’m Zayn and this is my less handsome friend…” he pointed over at Lou.

“Louis, I’m Louis the more appealing friend.” Louis smiled at her.

“Hi…hi, hi I’m Lily.” She smiled, surprising me. “And it seems you already know I’m Spencer’s new intern so I don’t need to fill you in on that.”

“Lily, what a lovely name.” Zayn smiled, taking the empty seat next to her, Louis sliding in the booth across from Zayn. The waiter grabbed their drink order, Louis getting a dark beer, Zayn opting for a rum and coke.

“Thank you.” Lily smiled. So far, so good.

“So Lily, how is London treating you?” Louis asked.

“It’s lovely, I’ve only been here a few days, but I’m sure it can only get better.” She threw a smirk at Lou. She was a fast learner. Or maybe it was the fact that her margarita was polished off and she had to barely weigh a hundred pounds. Liquid courage, is the best courage. I watched her grab a waiter, ordering a second. She’d be just fine.

“You know who’s really missing out tonight, Spencer?” Zayn looked at me.

“Who would that be, Zayn?” I tested him with my eyes.

“Little old Nialler. I just think it would be great if Niall was here.” I stared daggers into him.

“Absolutely not.” I said. “No.”

Pete leaned over whispering in my ear. “Is he suggesting Niall would like Lily?”

“Yes.” I said through gritted teeth. “I will not have the boys, fraternizing, with my intern. My 18 year old intern.”

I tuned back into the lads conversation with Lily, getting my glare locked on both of them.

“So Lily, do know we’re in the band One Direction?” Zayn smirked.

“Yeah, I think that’s just common knowledge these days.” She shrugged.

“So you know of our bandmate, Niall Horan?”

“Heard of him.” She sipped her now refilled drink.

“He’s quite a lovely lad.” Louis said. “We’ll make sure he’s around for our next gathering.”

“Okay.” She looked at me confused.

I nodded my head towards the ladies room, she got the hint. “Excuse us.”

I waited until we were in the bathroom before I said anything. As soon as the door closed, she let out a sigh.

“I know you think you’re my intern so you need to be professional, but with these guys, give it back.” She looked at me, confusion clouding her eyes.

“Are they suggesting Niall would find me…attractive?” she looked up at me.

“Yes, that’s exactly what they’re saying, and granted I think he would, you’re his type, but you don’t want to get mixed up in that.”

“Okay.” She nodded.

“It’s not that I don’t want you to find a boyfriend or anything, I just want you to be aware that Niall isn’t the best with dating. He’s more into the find a girl and have sex with her, type gig. I want you to be happy, not shattered cause Niall Horan humped and dumped you.”

“I understand, I wouldn’t even consider that anyways, I’m here to intern and learn. Not to fall in love.”

“But hey Lily, if it happens, let it happen. I was young and in love and trying to learn once too. So I get it.”

“I don’t mean to over step my boundaries, but do you mean with Harry Styles?”

I closed my eyes and let a deep breath filter out my nose.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have…” I held up a hand for her to stop.

“No, it’s fine.” I laughed nervously. “I’ll fill you in on that story another time, but yes that’s who I meant. I just want you to know that what I went through, dating a member of an internationally successful boyband, it isn’t all the glitz and glamour you’d expect. The guys, they’ll try to hook you and Niall up, they’re like that.”

“Spencer, I haven’t even met the guy.” She shrugged. “Besides, like I said, I’m here to learn.”

I knew deep down from the very start she was the perfect intern. But I also knew she was still just a regular 18 year old girl. The chance to even be near Niall Horan should make her insides explode. I could tell she was giddy about meeting the guys and the potential of Niall finding her beautiful. And maybe I was being selfish because I didn’t want a romance to distract her from her internship, but honestly I was just being protective.

“I trust you. I just want you to know this kind of stuff. We work with a lot of celebrities, younger male celebrities, that are going to come in, flirt endlessly because they can, and make you feel a certain way. I just want to make sure you’re going to be okay. That’s all.”

“Can I say something that might be completely unprofessional?” she asked. I nodded for her to continue. “You seem less like a boss and more like a friend. And that’s something I like. I’ll be able to come to you with problems at work easier and I won’t be as afraid to speak up.”

“You can talk to me about anything, work or personal. I’m here whenever you need me. We’re colleagues, and yeah technically I’m your boss, but I always try to be a friend as well. I’ll be the boss when I need to be and the friend in situations like this. We go out for drinks a lot, and you’re always welcomed to join us.”

She hugged me, unexpectedly but I didn’t falter. “Thank you. For this opportunity and for being completely and ridiculously famous but as down to earth as they come.”

“Hey, don’t thank me. Like I said before, you got the spot cause you’re talented, and as for being famous? I don’t look at it that way, I’m just a girl with a fashion dream doing what she loves. People just care.” I shrugged. “Now let’s go get hammered.”

“I’m game.” She smiled the entire way back to the table, arm in arm with me.

“Remember, give it back.” I whispered as we separated to sit.



--------------


“So Lily, how old are you?” Zayn asked.

“I’m 18.” She smiled.

“Oh I do like them young.” Louis smirked.

“Yeah, Emily is two years younger. Where in the world is she tonight?”

“I don’t know.” Louis swigged his beer. “She’s more popular than I am these days.”

“The struggles of dating a Victoria Secret Angel, huh Lou?” Zayn cracked a smile.

“Oh yeah, it’s the worst.” He rolled his eyes. “Banging body, gorgeous face, smile that lights up a room, and that thing she does in bed with her tongue that would turn every Pope ever into a sex fiend, yeah it’s such a struggle.” Louis smirked.

“Lucky bastard.” Zayn mumbled.

“How about Spencer then?” Louis looked at Pete. “Does she do the Pope tongue thing too?”

“Dude.” Pete laughed. “Someone cut the kid off.”

We all laughed at Louis’ stage of drunkenness. He was well passed pissed and on his way to blackout. The boy puts them down like nobody I’ve ever seen. And sadly the only people who could control him were god knows where.

“That’s fine, don’t answer. I can always just ask Harold.”

“Lou.” Zayn and I said at the same time.

“That’s enough.” Zayn said. “No more drinks.”

Pete sat quietly, sipping his beer, not looking at anyone. I knew Pete was always a little uncomfortable with how close I was to Harry’s friends. It wasn’t like I meant for it to happen, they just became too good of friends to stop talking too. They usually knew not to bring Harry up in front of Pete, but sometimes Lou just gets a little too drunk.

“Ready to go?” I asked, placing a hand at the base of his neck.

“No, I don’t want them to think I’m running off because they mentioned your ex.” Pete shrugged. “I’m still having a nice time. I want to stay.”

Pete leaned in, placing a kiss that was never meant to be innocent on my lips. It started with as much fire as it ended with. I pulled back for air, looking up into his eyes from our seats. He was already looking down at me. I smiled sheepishly, thinking how truly lucky I was. Pete might not be spontaneous, or as outgoing as Harry was, but he was a better man.

“You guys make me sick.” Josh pretended to gag, pulling us from our moment.

“I disagree, they give me hope that true love and romance still exists.” Karen added.

“How did you guys meet?” Lily added, wide eyes smiling brightly, probably from the alcohol she consumed along with slight general interest.

With a giggle I laced my fingers through Pete’s on the table and started the story.

“Well, it was about 2 years ago. We were both at the same charity event. I was there because I’m a big supporter of almost all charities I can be, and Pete was there because his company was donating a large sum of money. I had noticed Pete when he was talking about the charity and the reason the company had decided to donate. I thought little of it, thinking he was married with a happy family or something. I don’t know. So at some point in the evening, I found myself alone at the bar. So I’m sitting at the bar, waiting for my drink when Pete comes up to me. He introduces himself and tells me that he too, noticed me while he was on stage. He tells me something about being the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen and I made some lame comeback about him being the most charitable man I’ve ever seen. He laughed and asked if he could buy my drinks and I said sure, cause who doesn’t love free drinks?” I smirked over at Pete, everyone chuckling. “But honestly, we just spent the entire rest of the event talking over drinks at the bar and before I headed out he asked for my phone number, called 2, not 3, days later and took me out on a date. And the rest is history.”

“That’s so sweet.” Lily smiled.

“Did he kiss you on the first date?” Josh pressed his lips together in a kissy face.

“You know this story, Josh.” Pete snickered.

“I know, but I’m asking all the questions Lily’s too afraid to ask.” He shot back.

“Fair enough. Kissed her on the first date, yes.” Pete played along.

“Consummation?” Louis wiggled his eyebrows.

“Go home you drunk bastard.” I sighed. “Zayn take him home.”

“About a month after we decided to date exclusively.” Pete shrugged, taking a swig of his beer.

“Which was when?” Karen encouraged.

“OH MY GOD!” I hid my face in my hands. “Since when did this become about our sex life?!”

“I thought we were celebrating Lily’s new position!” Pete added.

“Yeah, I thought so too.” Zayn smirked a smirked that made even me nervous. “So have you ever consummated a relationship, Lily?”

“Uhh…” she blushed, looking over at me. I shrugged, letting her know she could be honest or ignore him. She took a large gulp of her drink and looked Zayn in the eye.

“Maybe I have. Maybe I haven’t.” She wore a smirk that would rival even Zayn’s. “What’s it to you?”

“Well, I’m just curious. A pretty, little thing like you has probably had a few boyfriends.” He shrugged, nonchalantly.

“Besides, Niall likes a girl who knows what she’s doing.” Louis added.

“Ya know, I don’t really think short, pale Irish lads are my type.” She downed her drink, daring the guys to challenge her.

I loved this girl. She was going to be a great designer one day and she had the fight in her she needed to survive in this industry. Plus, she could hang with the likes of Louis and Zayn, it took some spunk for that.

“What about a tall, tanned Brit?” Zayn wiggled his eyebrows.

“I prefer American boys, actually.” She flipped her hair. “Or Australians.”

“Aussies are no good.” Louis tisked.

“Definitely.” Zayn added. “And Americans?”

“Are the greatest men on earth!” Josh nudged Pete.

“I’ll second that.” Pete smirked. “I mean look who this one ended up with.”

I giggled at Pete’s subtle dig at Harry. But didn’t even care. Louis had been sort of a prick all night, and I’d be sure to ask him about it later.

“Ouch, harsh.” Zayn cracked up, before looking over at me. “But hey by the way, has Liam called you?”

“Not lately, why?” I asked.

“Oh, um, no reason.” Zayn shrugged while Louis stifled a laugh.

“Zayn. Tell me.” I eyed him.

“You’ll find out soon enough, I guess.” He chuckled.

And that was all he said about it. So many things ran through my mind about Liam and Rachel, but we were having a pleasant, bantered filled night. I wasn’t going to push it any farther. And like he said, I’d find out soon enough.

Notes

heyyyyyy, just wanted to have a fun little chapter.

Harry is coming soon :) :)

enjoy xx