Chapter 5

                                    

                                          
I get downstairs and Paul is holding her back. Alexis.
                          
“Paul, what’s going on?” I ask, even though I already knew what was going on.
                          
“This girl is looking for somebody named ‘Lauren’. She insists that she’s up with the boys, she just wants to get up with them.” He explains. Alexis has an evil grin on her face, I knew exactly what she was thinking. I shake my head and she nods her head.
                          
She points to me, “That’s her!” She shouts.
                          
“No, that’s Ariana Grande. You’ve got to be mistaken.” Paul says.
                          
“Actually, you’re the mistaken one. This girl here, Lauren is her name, she used to be my best friend until you and your men mistook her as Ariana Grande and took her to Harry. She’s living this huge lie can’t you see?” She holds up a magazine of Ariana Grande, the real one, and how she knows about me pretending to be her. “Can you let me thru now?” She says, pushing Paul’s arms off of her. Paul let’s her go thru. He seems to be in shock.
                          
“Miss, is this true...?” He asks. I stay silent.
                          
“She even knows it’s true! Come on Lauren. Just tell the truth, you’re busted.” I couldn’t take her anymore, I take my fist and punch her right in the face. She holds her face and starts to cry.
                          
“You’re a bitch Lex. Get out of here.” I point to the door. She’s still holding her face as she walks thru the doors and out. Paul is still just looking at me, “So you’re not Ariana Grande?” He asks.
                          
“Please, don’t be mad. Liam and Harry already know.”
                          
“I can’t be mad at you when it’s my fault you’re in this mess.” He says as he sits down on the couch. I walk over to the couch and sit down beside him.
                          
“That time in the airplane bathroom... the example was about you and Harry, right?” He asks.
                          
“Pretty much, but it’s alright... I just told him, it was hard.”
                          
“He’s upset?” He asks.
                          
“I’d say so, now I’m just scared to tell Niall. He really likes me too,” I explain.
                          
“Just do it.” He says. “Just get it done and over with, so you can go home.” He says.
                          
“Thanks Paul, for being there for me. Even now that you know the truth.”
                          
“You’re very welcome... uh...” He forgets my name.
                          
“Lauren.” I laugh. Paul stands up, looks at me and smiles, then slowly starts walking away. Guess it’s time for me to tell Niall now... here goes nothing. I walk upstairs and stop at the door to Niall’s room. I take a deep breath and move my hand to open the handle. Right as I’m about to open the door, Niall opens it.
                          
“Ariana! I was just about to go and find you.” He laughs.
                          
“Yeah I was looking for you too.”
                          
“Oh you were? Okay well I need to talk to you.” He says walking over to the couch. I’m still standing in the doorway, slowly closing the door as he starts to speak.
                          
“So, uh, last night made me really think.” He says.
                          
“Yeah... me too.”
                          
“And I was thinking, well, I uh- I really enjoyed that last night.”
                          
“Niall, I was drunk out of my mind. I don’t even remember ANYTHING.” I say.
                          
“I know, but I’ve liked you for a while now. I know you like Harry but since you guys were in a fight and all I thought that you would maybe go for m-“
                          
“I’m not Ariana Grande Niall.” I interrupt him.
                          
“Huh?” He asks.
                          
“My name is Lauren and I’m a total One Direction fan that got mistaken as Ariana Grande the night of the L.A concert.” His jaw drops.
                          
“So, you lied?” He asks.
                          
“Yes. I lied. But I regret it all, I didn’t want to hurt anybody, I swear.”
                          
“Who knows?” He asks.
                          
“Liam knew all along apparently, Paul just found out like 5 minutes ago, and Harry...”
                          
“Harry knows? Is that why he’s mad?”
                          
“It is now... but not before. I understand if you’re mad at me I really do.” He doesn’t say anything; he’s just looking at the ground with his hands together, fingers linked. Do I say anything? The silence goes on for another 5 minutes and then I decide to say something.
                          
“I really didn’t mean to hurt any of you I just-“ Niall stands up, grabs my face and kisses me hard, huh?
                          
“Niall, what are you doing? You’re not mad at me?”I ask, sounding confused as ever.
                          
“How could I be mad at someone like you? It’s not like you murdered somebody, all you did was change your name, not your personality... I get the situation you’re in.” I feel somewhat relived.
                          
“Really?” I ask.
                          
“Of course, uh- Lauren, right?” He asks.
                          
“Yeah, Lauren Nedriss.” I add.
                          
“Lauren... don’t be down on yourself, I mean, yeah... you could’ve dealt with the situation differently, but you knew the whole time that it was wrong, and you eventually told the truth. Now THAT I’m proud of.” He says, coming in for a hug.
                          
“You’re different.” I say.
                          
“What kind of different?” He says, smiling. I smile back and say, “A good one.” I kiss his soft lips and wrap my arms around him. Niall Horan... likes me, for who I am. Me. Lauren Nedriss.