"Alright, not to be dramatic, but I think I just saw the most beautiful girl on Earth and she's pretending not to notice me. Cheeky " i whisper to Niall smirking, my tone amused.

We're in a hotel somewhere hot—Spain, I think, but it could be Portugal. We flew in last night after a show, but the cities are starting to blur into each other—One Direction tour chaos, you know how it is. The boys and I are out by the pool messing about, trying to shove Niall off the floaties again while Zayn pretends he's too cool to splash anyone, Louis daring Liam to do backflips off the edge.

I'm mid-laugh when I spot you—laid out on one of those lounge chairs, pretending to read some book I can't quite see the title of, sunglasses on, legs stretched out like summer was just made for you. You look calm, effortlessly so, the kind of calm that draws your eyes before you even know you're looking.

You keep sneaking glances when you think I'm not looking, but I am and now I can't stop. At first, i thought it was a coincidence, that you just happened to glance in my direction, but then it happens again and again. Sneaky little peeks, just long enough to make me wonder, before you tilt your head back down to your book, pretending you weren't watching at all.

I'm halfway through planning what i'd say—something casual, not too weird—when Liam cannonballs right next to me. Massive splash. Water goes everywhere. I hear you squeal—softly, more surprised than annoyed—and you sit up, sunglasses sliding down your nose slightly as you look down at the damage Liam made—a wet splash right across the page of your book. I flinch, half mortified, half amused and before I can stop myself, I'm already moving.

"Oi, sorry about him" i say, jogging over, brushing wet curls back from my eyes. I'm trying to play it cool but I know I'm dripping and grinning like an idiot. "We usually keep him on a leash but management says it's a bad look" i joke.

You glance up at me—properly, this time—and i swear, for a second, the rest of the noise fades away.

"Did we ruin the ending or was I meant to make a dramatic entrance right about now?" i nod at your book.