Savior

The Boy That Blushes

Unfortunately, the images may be pushed to the back of my mind for now, but I have the jagged scars on the bottom of my feet that will always be there as a reminder of His cruelty.

“Sorry, you just startled me. What’s up?” I tried to come off casual, but I could hear the slight shakiness in my voice.

“I want you to meet my boyfriend and his friend! They have a question for you!”

I want to decline her request instantly, but her excited smile makes me swallow my words. As soon as I nod my head she practically drags me out of the back door with barely any time to dry off my sudsy hands.

My eyes barely register a grinning blonde before they fall onto the familiar emerald eyes of my neighbor. I freeze immediately and utter his name in shock just as he does mine. I had only seen Harry once since I ran from him in the lobby when he walked into the building before me with reddened cheeks form the cold and hands full of groceries.

I stayed standing outside for another hour just to be sure I didn’t run into him.

“You two know each other?” Eliza points between us with furrowed brows and Harry seems to gain back his composure because he speaks up first.

“Yeah, uh, Layla is my –our,” He corrects himself quickly and gestures between him and his friend, “neighbor.”

“Wait, this is the Layla? The mysterious neighbor Layla? The one that you-,” The blonde suddenly stops talking and lets out a small yelp before scowling at Harry, “Fuck, mate. What was that for?”

Harry just keeps his eyes glued to the wooden counter in front of him, but I can see the faint pink color in his cheeks. I feel my own heat up because, obviously, Harry had mentioned our encounter on the balcony to his friend and I suddenly want to turn back around and hide in the back room.

The story probably went like this: “This weird mute chick tried to break into our apartment and then almost died trying to get back over because she wouldn’t let me help her! What a freak!”

I cringe at the thought and find myself glaring daggers into his stupid curly head. I don’t want anyone talking about me at all, let alone talking about embarrassing misunderstandings.

The air is filled with an awkward tension until the blonde breaks the silence again.

“Sorry ‘bout that. I’m Niall by the way.” He seems nice enough, but I stiffen instantly when he holds his hand out for me to shake.

I can barely stand when Eliza pats me on the back or just brushes by me, how could I possibly stand this stranger gripping my hand? I’m aware this sudden fear of contact is irrational, but it’s like my subconscious is so shaken up that any human contact –especially male- has me running for the hills.

The longer I stare at his outstretched palm like it’s a snake poised to attack the more his smile dims and I try to suck up my fear and just shake his damn hand. But, the second that our hands are almost touching images of Him twisting my wrist so hard it bruises and putting out a cigarette in the middle of my palm flashes though my brain and I instantly yank my hand back.

“Sorry. Germaphobe.” I mumble shakily as my cheeks flush and I hide my trembling hands behind my back.

Niall shoots Harry an odd look before shrugging his shoulders carelessly, while Harry has finally risen his head so that his dark gaze meets mine in a curious expression. The tension grows thick again and I scuffle my feet, eager to get out of here.

“What did you need me for, Eliza?”

“Oh yeah! I almost forgot that we had a question for you. What country had the first football team?” Eliza asks excitedly before looking between the two boys with a knowing smile that causes me to furrow my brow as my mind tries to remember the answer.

“I assume you don’t mean American football and actually soccer,” She nods her head in affirmation, “Then that would be The Foot-Ball Club founded in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1824 before it disbanded just seventeen years later.”

Both Harry and Niall look a little shocked at my answer, but even more impressed, while Eliza just looks between all of us with an excited grin. My cheeks heat up slightly because of how weird they must think I am.

“Are you a fan of football?” Harry asks, his eyes wide in what seems to be awe. I’m about to answer before Eliza practically jumps at the chance.

“No, that’s the best part! She just knows these things! She is like my own little encyclopedia at the café. Layla, when was coffee invented?”

“As earliest as the 10th century.” I don’t quite want to be under fire or have my weird hobby tested, but I also don’t want to come off as unfriendly.

“Who discovered it?”

“Goats actually did. Well, the shepherds in Ethiopia did after noticing their goats became hyperactive after eating certain berries.”

“Who hosted the World Cup in 1962?”

Niall seems delighted to hear my odd facts as he leans across the counter excitedly and begins to ask me questions. I can’t help but feel a little ganged up on by the eerily similar couple, but Harry just continues to stare at me in some sort of daze so I know he wouldn’t be of much help.

“Chile.”

“Who has won the World Cup the most times?”

“Brazil a total of 5.”

“Who is the most attractive man in the world?”

I open my mouth to spout out an answer almost instantaneously, but snap it shut when I actually let his question sink in and turn to him confusedly. I give the blonde a questioning gaze because that really is more of an opinion, but a mischievous grin just lights up his face at my confusion.

“Me, duh.”

It’s silent for about .2 seconds before both Harry and Eliza begin to laugh hysterically; hers, girly and soft and his boisterous, raspy, and low. I crack a smile at Niall’s joke and the pout on his lips when everyone begins to laugh at him, but it’s really Harry’s continuous laughter that makes a small chuckle escape my lips.

Something about the carefree sound has my heart hammering and my stomach twisting up and the feeling terrifies me, wiping clean any amusement I had. The laughter finally dies down as Eliza begins to tease Niall and Harry finishes sipping on his coffee while glancing up at me every so often.

“I’m gonna finish the dishes,” I interrupt Eliza who nods her head before turning to Niall, “It was good to meet you, Niall.”

“Same here, encyclopedia. I’m sure I’ll see you around.” I return his friendly smile before hesitantly turning my gaze to Harry who is already staring at me.

“Harry.”

“Layla.”

We both nod at each other with polite smiles before I turn to go back into the safety of the supply room quickly, squirming slightly from his intense gaze. When I turn to shut the door I catch a glimpse of Niall shoving Harry’s shoulder and grinning at him suggestively while Harry glowers at him with rosy cheeks.

The sight makes me stomach feel funny and I have a paranoid thought that they are talking about me before pushing it away entirely while remembering Niall’s words.

I’m sure we’ll see you around.

I have no doubt that he’s right and despite my initial anxiety I don’t actually mind the idea.

___________

#Hayla! So, what do you guys think of the flashback? What about Harry's cuteness (':? ALSO, what do you think about all this Zayn drama? I am honestly so sad he dropped out of tour, but I do understand /:

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