Broken Strings || Niall Horan [AU]

● PART THREE: 18 | together

"Time for your surprise!" He yells. "Come on."

"Actually, Harry, there's no need for-"

"Come on!" Harry persists, and he grabs their wrists a little too tightly, pulling them eagerly through the crowd. Niall is about to protest, but then he thinks about how much Harry has done for him -- he saved his life nearly four months ago, for God's sake -- and he realises that he may as well just let Harry show them whatever he's got planned. Besides, it might be fun. Niall throws a quick glance across to Anna, and she grins at him; it's clear that she's excited for whatever this surprise may be, too. 

Before long, they're stumbling out into the almost-empty street. It's apparent that the majority of people are either inside the pub or off getting drunk somewhere else. Liam has joined them -- and he's carrying what appears to be some kind of picnic basket -- but Louis and Zayn are nowhere to be seen. "Ready, Harry?"

Harry nods, and he finally lets go of Niall and Anna's wrists. Niall rubs his skin as if he's just had handcuffs removed. 

"So, what exactly is this surprise?" Anna asks. 

"You'll see," Harry grins. Niall and Anna share a small, apprehensive smile as they follow Harry and Liam down towards the park. They walk beneath a canopy of trees, the night air cool around their bodies. And then Niall sees it: a tartan picnic blanket, stretched out across the grass in the centre of the park, a lone candle sitting alight in the middle. 

It's all awfully cheesy, but Niall can't help but smile. All words have left him; he's utterly speechless. So instead he simply gasps, his mouth wide with a blissful feeling of awe and surprise. 

Liam lifts up the picnic basket. "A midnight picnic for you two," he declares proudly. "We set this up just before they announced the winners."

"You guys didn't have to do this-" Anna begins, but Harry cuts her short with a firm shake of his head. 

"I've never been one to meddle. But you two belong together, okay? Everybody can see it. By the end of the night, you'll be a couple. Alright?" 

"So this is what you've been whispering about, all this time," Niall grins. 

"Yup. Now, we're going to go celebrate our recent victory. And when we get back, you two better be locking lips. Okay?"

Niall and Anna laugh as they simultaneously reply, "Okay."

●

I watch as Niall reaches into the picnic blanket, my fingertips idly playing with the cool blades of grass beside me. He pulls out sandwiches, crisps, cupcakes, fruit. A huge bottle of Pepsi and two cups. Niall scoots up beside me; we sit cross-legged, our knees just touching. 

"It's funny," I say, "how they went through all this trouble just to set us up, when we're already together."

"Yeah," Niall replies. "But hey, I'm not gonna protest against free food."

"Neither am I," I say with a laugh. 

Niall leans back, looking up at the sky, which is just visible through the gaps in the trees. "Tonight has been so perfect," he breathes. "It's like some kind of crazy dream. I think I need you to pinch me."

I reach over and pinch him on his exposed arm, hard. He lets out a yelp and erupts into laughter. "Hey, that hurt!"

"At least you're not dreaming," I giggle.