Niall: You sit uncomfortably at the long dinner table, the formal setting making you bite the inside of your cheek out of awkwardness, as you push around the undercooked asparagus on the porcelain plate. "So (Y/N), Have you met Thomas' girlfriend, Marlone?" she asks, and you cough, choking on the small piece of roast beef you were chewing, since Thomas was your ex-boyfriend, and he is at the dinner table. You clear your throat, the awkwardness filling in the empty pockets of the mixed conversations. "No, I haven't..." you say quickly, coughing again. "Oh, you should, she is fantastic at baking... Are you currently seeing anyone?" she asks, and you look at Niall quickly, before remembering what to say. "Oh not really... Just a couple of dates here and there..." you say, Thomas' eyes boring into you. "Oh that is fantastic, (Y/N). Thomas just got onto Varsity Football Club." She says, almost brags, and you practically vomit from her stuck-up personality. "That is great!" you exclaim, exchanging awkward glances from across the long table with Niall, who is currently trying to stifle his laughter. "One day, he will be playing for Liverpool..." she gushes, and you raise your eyebrows in feigned interest. "You mean Manchester United..." A familiar accent speaks up, and you bite your lip, trying to contain your laughter. "No, Liverpool..." Thomas says, narrowing his eyes at Niall. "Oh, right. Sorry. I forgot that the mediocre players go to Li-" You cough loudly, stopping Niall's sentence, cueing for him to stop talking, before a fight breaks out between the two guys. "Well, this is a lovely dinner..." Niall speaks again, after a quiet minute, making you shake your head. "It really is..." Thomas' father speaks, thanking your parents. The conversation draws on about the weather, current events, and Thomas' oh-so-bright future, when your phone buzzes in your lap. You look around, before checking your notification, trying not to seem obvious. "Leave?" it reads, and you smile, looking up from your lap obliviously, as if everything were normal. You nod at Niall, before quickly responding. "Yeah. Give me five minutes." He looks at you and nods, before you slide your chair back, quickly walking over to your mother, trying to pull your 'sickly' facial expression on. "I'm not feeling well, my stomach hurts..." you whisper, and she looks at you and nods, cueing for you to go upstairs. You excuse yourself from the guests, giving Niall a quick smile before leaving the formal dining room. You walk up the steps, pulling your heels off as you go. You walk into your room, locking the door, before you change your skirt and button down blouse for your skinny jeans and oversized sweater. You hear a pair of footsteps approach your room, and you listen closely. "(Y/N)..." his voice whispers, and you quickly open your bedroom door. His smile makes your stomach flutter with butterflies, excitement lurching your blood. "Alright, so I'll be back in five. Just lay in bed, just in case..." he says, and you nod quickly, flashing him an excited smile. He disappears down the hallway, and you roll into bed, covering your attire with the comforter, pulling the most tired looking expression on your face as possible. Soon enough you hear two pairs of feet walking down the hallway, and your bedroom door slowly opens. "(Y/N), honey? Are you feeling alright?" your mother asks, and you shake your head 'no'. "I feel terrible... I think I have a stomach virus..." you mumble, Niall trying his bite his smile back behind her. "Oh dear, I am so sorry. Do you want me to stay up here with you?" she asks, and you shake your head. "No, that's okay. Niall said he would..." you say, and she gives him a genuine smile. "You guys are adorable..." she says, and you furrow your eyebrows together. She looks between you and Niall and smiles. "You guys really think I didn't know you guys were dating for almost four months? Please, (Y/N), Niall, give me a little more respect than that..." she says, making you and Niall smile. "So you're okay with it?" you ask skeptically. "Of course I am dear. Niall asked your father and I months ago for permission. It just took a matter of time..." she says, and Niall turns a deep shade of red. "Well, off to bed you go, (Y/N). Your stomach hopefully will settle..." she says, giving your forehead a kiss. "I think Thomas' mother's casserole poisoned me..." you mumble. "It poisoned us all, dear. Poisoned us all..." she says before disappearing out of your room, closing the door behind her. "Holy shit. That was clo-" you both become quiet when you hear your mother's voice near your bedroom door. "Please, she doesn't need you in her room." She says, and you and Niall exchange confused glances. "Thomas, I promise you, Niall is an amazing caretaker. Don't worry." She continues, and Niall smiles in satisfaction. "Thomas, go downstairs. She doesn't need you right now..." she says, and you hear footsteps go down the stairs. "Or ever..." you hear her mumble, and both you and Niall burst out into laughter. "Alright, babe. Ready?" Niall asks, and you nod, pulling the comforter off of you. You slip on a pair of Vans, and grab your phone off of your nightstand, as Niall peels off his button down shirt, revealing his white v-neck. "Don't look at me..." he says playfully as he undoes the buttons on his slacks and you roll your eyes, turning around and towards the window, pulling it open. "Alright we're good." He says, slipping on a pair of Vans he stored in your closet, before pulling a jumper over his head. "Ready?" he asks, pulling the screen cover off of the window, the cold air chilling your bones. You smile to yourself, as he helps you out of the window. "Wait!" you hear from your room, and your heart stops. "Aww shit." You mumble to yourself, the feeling of being caught sneaking out, not as badass as you thought it would be. Your mother stands close to your window, her arms crossed over her chest. "I-uh-this isn't what it looks-" "Here, take this..." she says, handing Niall a folded fifty-pound note. "So you guys can go to proper dinner..." she says, smiling. "Oh, are you sur-" "Niall, stop worrying about me. Go have fun, okay? The back door will be unlocked, and the alarm won't be set. Be safe, alright loves?" she asks, before closing the window gently, winking at both of you. Niall climbs the vines down from your window to the ground, as you follow. "Holy hell. Did your mother just help us sneak out of her own party?" he asks, and you smile, your mind as confused as his. "I think so... and she gave you fifty pounds... what the hell?" you ask, and Niall laughs. "Did you really ask her and my father to ask me out?" you whisper, and he looks at you and nods. "Yeah, if I'm going to ask you out, it's going to be legitimate. And if I'm going to sneak you out, according to your mother, it's pretty legitimate too..." You smile at his genuine kindness as he grabs your hand, walking down the driveway towards his car. "I can't believe my mother helped us sneak out... to go on a date... and she basically told Thomas to go fuck off..." you say, smiling at how wonderful the night is going. "I swear I love your mum..." he says, giving your lips a kiss before opening the passenger door for you to get in.
