Loving someone is not always about fairytales and fantasies, it's about truth and realities.

I walked down the long hallway with Claire's hand in mine. I had to grip it tightly so she wouldn't pull away and leave. It's something she might actually do, considering she hated the idea of going anywhere with me now. 

"Where are we going?" Claire complains as I pull her down the hall. Her frown doesn't falter. 

"It's a surprise," I say, smiling at her. She doesn't smile back. When I reach the door I was looking for, I take a deep breath. I put my hand on the doorknob and twist, pushing it open to reveal five familiar boys.

Claire squeals with excitement and the boys all smile wide. She runs up and gives each member of One Direction a huge hug. I smiled, happy to see her not frowning like she usually is now a days. 

Today was Saturday and I was here at management headquarters preparing to start song writing with the boys. It would be interesting to say the least. I didn't have the slightest clue of what the song would be about or how to even begin. It's the first time I've collaborated with anyone else before. How are we supposed to take six peoples’ thoughts and smush them into one song? 

I brought Claire along because her prissy attitude lately has been getting on my nerves and I knew the only way to make her happy was to let her see the boys again. There was nothing to hold me back now that everything is behind us. I've tried to discipline her for being disrespectful, I've tried giving her candy to brighten her mood, I've even tried buying her stupid toys to make her happy, but nothing worked. This was the only option left and apparently the only thing that would work. 

She clung to their legs as I grabbed a bottle of water before we began. "I hope it’s okay that I brought her. She really missed you guys and she won't be in the way," I say to them. They all shrug it off saying it's no problem.

After their little reunion I tell Claire to grab the toys she brought along and go play off to the side so we could get to work. She smiled and nodded, happily leaving. Wow, that was an easy fix. She's the same old Claire she used to be. Amazing. 

"So should we start?" Zayn asks, settling down on one of the many couches surrounding us. I nod and we start to write our song. 

~~~~~

When we finished writing the song I was satisfied. I thought it was pretty good. 

"Do we have to go?" Claire asks, giving me the puppy dog eyes. I sigh sadly and look down at her. 

"Sorry Claire Bear but we have to leave eventually. You can see the boys later, I promise." 

She sighs but eventually gives in. I go to hug each of them goodbye. 

"You were great by the way," Niall comments. 

"Thanks, so were you," I respond smiling.

"Simon told us he would work out the recording schedule and let us know. We just have to get the song approved and we're all set to start recording," Liam informs us. 

"I really think this song is going to be good," Harry says grinning. I smile.

"Me too," I say. I take Claire's hand and say goodbye to everyone again before leaving the building and heading towards my car. When we get in I shut my eyes and take a deep breath. I lean my head on the steering wheel. 

"Lexi are you okay?" Claire asks, furrowing her eyebrows. I slowly remove my head from the wheel and nod. 

"I'm fine," I assure her. "For now," I mumble low enough so she wouldn't hear. 

~~~~~~~

"I want coffee!" Claire says smiling brightly. I laugh and roll my eyes as we walk into Starbucks. 

"Claire Bear you don't even like coffee." 

"I do now," she says crossing her arms stubbornly. 

"Are you sure? You've never had it before silly." 

She thinks about this, unsure for a moment. I chuckle.

"How about I give you a sip of mine?" I offer. She thinks, then nods. "And I'll get you a hot chocolate, just in case you don't like it," I say with a wink. She smiles wide and nods, bouncing over to the counter. 

After ordering I stand to the side waiting for our drinks. Starbucks was a busy place today and I had time to chat with a few fans while I waited. Our drinks were called just as I finished snapping a picture with two girls who gave me their Twitter names to follow. I said goodbye to them and turned to grab my coffee and Claire's hot chocolate. I handed it to her. 

"Be careful, it's hot. I don't want you to burn yourself," I warn her. She smiles, nods, and spins around quickly to go off and drink her hot coco. Apparently, just a bit too quickly.

She slammed into a guy around 5'11, spilling her steaming hot drink all over his clothes. He looked surprised to say the least. I stare from Claire to him with wide eyes. 

"Claire! Watch where you're going, please," I say, running over to get napkins. "I am so sorry about that," I apologize to the stranger. He was now smiling. 

"That's alright. It'll come out in the wash." 

"I feel awful," I say, giving him the handful of napkins I picked up. 

He chuckles and shakes his head, revealing bright white teeth. "It's fine. Accidents happen." 

I bite my lip, wishing there was something I could do to help. As I watch him try to wipe off the hot chocolate from his clothes I study his face. His long hair was a sandy blonde color, and he had blue eyes. Crystal clear bright blue eyes that remind me of Niall. 

No. No no no. Stop. Bad Lexi.

I shake my head a bit to get the thoughts out. He looks up and smiles at me. 

"You look really familiar," he says to me. I give a weak smile and shrug. 

"I get that a lot," I say. I didn't feel like explaining right now about my album and One Direction and everything that's going on. 

"I'm Derek by the way." 

"Alexis," I tell him. "But everyone calls me Lexi, sometimes Alex." Who am I kidding? No one has really called me Alex since Jake...

A look of realization crosses his face. "I thought I'd heard that voice somewhere," he says, smirking. I blush and look at the ground. "You're on my radio."

"Yup, I guess that's me," I chuckle.

"I've heard about you before. Alexis Blake. Seen you on the news and stuff. And this must be the famous Claire," he says, smiling and looking down at her. She smiles back innocently. 

"She's a bit clumsy," I add, smirking at her. 

"I am not!" she protests. Derek and I laugh. 

"Claire could you go over there and claim that table before someone else does? It's the only empty spot in here," I ask nicely. She nods and runs over. "And don't spill anything!" I call after her jokingly. She sticks out her tongue from across the room and I laugh. 

"So," he says, leaning against the wall. "What brings you to Starbucks in the middle of a Saturday afternoon? Aren't celebrities supposed to have crazy busy schedules and no time for fun?" he asks jokingly. I roll my eyes playfully. 

"I like coffee and I had some extra time so here I am." 

He chuckles. "I think someone's here for you," he says, gesturing to the window where millions of photographers were aiming their cameras at us. "I should probably go. Don't want any rumors to start," he adds with a wink. "Can't have any boyfriends getting jealous, now could we?" 

I laugh a bit and roll my eyes. "And what makes you think I have a boyfriend?" He looked a little confused by the question. 

"Maybe the fact that every single magazine, website, and television show is saying you and that boy band guy are going out." 

"We were," I say. "But we aren't anymore." I don't let the hurt show on my facial expression. I keep smiling. Smiling through the pain. We're back to that, now are we?

He didn't ask why we weren't together anymore, which I appreciated. He didn't pry for information. Instead, he pulled out his phone and smirked at me. 

"In that case," he says, pulling something up on his cell. "Would it be a crime if I got your number?" 

I giggled and we exchanged phones, not even caring that the paparazzi were right there getting all of this for their gossip sites. The fans would eat this up, but I didn't even care right then. Because at that moment, talking to Derek, I forgot about Niall. I accomplished something I've been trying to do since the tour ended.

I forgot.

AUTHORS NOTE

ah shit :/ well you guys are probs pretty darn pissed right now eh? ;) HAHAHAHAH SUCKS TO SUCK XD jk i love you<3 anywhoo wanna know what happens? wanna know how niall reacts? COMMENT/VOTE/ and fan if you havent already(: and u should go read @xoxNiallersGirlx0x 's story One Day because it is seriously amazayn and im addicted to it x) btw the pic of sexiness that is absorbing the right side of your screen is Derek :) OH and i just wanna let you guys know how effing amazing you are x) like i feel like i dont tell you guys enough but the other day i got so many nice comments and every single comment i get makes me smile like an idiot XD like ill be in my living room and my bro will be like"why are u smiling" and ill be like "YOU DONT UNDERSTAND" XD lmao but yeah i love them so much and i love you poptarts because you are all so sweet and nice and just amazing people x) also some of u guys recommend my story to other people and it just makes me like sooooo happy so see you appreciate my writing so much and i just wanna give every single one of you a hug XD even tho thats like impossible lmao *internet hug* hehehe im sorry if you fanned me and i havent dedicated to u yet but my "who to dedicate to" list is like 696,969,690 people long so i have to write lots lots lots to get everyone on that list a chapter xP hahaha just cuz i love you guys <333333 I SEROUSLY FREAKING LOVE U POPTARTS DONT U FORGET<3 ok byeee(: