You Make Me Strong

Chapter 10

"That was incredible," Harry panted as they ran backstage.

"I told you it would be!" Niall beamed. Harry laughed and nodded. "I'm just buzzin' that was amazing."

"You two were simply fantastic. You'd never know this was your first college show," Jason told them. Both Niall and Harry smiled. "I knew you guys would fit in nicely."

"Thank you Jason," Niall smiled. "It means a lot."

"Let's get some food! I'm starving," Dom called out. Everyone agreed and started for the parking lot. Niall pulled out his keys and unlocked his car. Before they got there Harry grabbed his hand.

"Hey," he whispered. Niall turned around to face him. Without warning Harry threw is arms around Niall and hugged him tightly. "I couldn't have done this without you," he said softly. Niall put his hand on the back of Harry's head and kissed his cheek.

"You did it all on your own love," Niall replied. Harry shook his head and pulled away.

"No, I was a mess. I wouldn't have even made it here today without you with me. You were there with me backstage when I couldn't get myself together. You are my rock Niall." Niall's heart swelled.

"I'll always be here for you Harry. Don't every doubt that." Harry smiled leaning in to kiss Niall. Niall returned the gesture and kissed him. "Bout time you kiss me when you aren't upset," Niall teased. Harry chuckled and nodded.

"You're amazing Niall."

"You're amazing," Niall whispered. "Now let's go eat. I'm starving." Harry laughed.

"Let's go bud." The two boys got in the car and drove off. At the restaurant the boys ate while beaming about the show. All of the upperclassmen where blown away by the two boys' performance. Especially Harry. Niall had proved himself to be a showmen but Harry had given them cause to worry due to his very apparent nervousness. But he had blown they all away. The performance he'd given that night was the best he'd ever shown them. He was on top of the world. He had the support of his group and more importantly the support of Niall. He looked over at him and watched his pretty blue eyes look around the table and his huge smile, braces and all light up his face. Harry's heart thumped hard in his chest every time he looked at Niall. Niall looked over at him and smiled and put his hand on Harry's leg. Harry smiled back before turning his attention back to the group.

They sat there for the better end of two hours before everyone decided they were too tired to keep going. The two boys walked back to Niall's car and drove back to the dorm quietly. Harry was exhausted from the day he'd had and he knew Niall had to be as well. When the pulled into the parking lot Niall and Harry both got out. Niall took Harry's hand and walked him back to his room. Harry really didn't want Niall to go. He'd enjoyed Niall being there with him the night before but he was nervous about asking him to stay. Niall must have read the look on Harry's face because as Harry opened the door he spoke.

"You gonna be alright Haz?" he asked kindly. Harry nodded shyly wanting to say no, wanting to say he wanted him to stay. But Niall being Niall read Harry like a book. "I could come in for a while if you wanted." Harry smiled. That was all Niall needed to see so he nodded. "All you had to do was ask Haz."

"I know I just didn't want to be super clingy. You've done a lot for me today."

"And I will continue to do so. You've got to be tired. You've had quite the day." Niall walked with Harry inside before kicking off his shoes. "I'll stay for a bit alright? Don't want Louis to get any ideas," Niall smirked. Harry's face got warm but he smiled.

"We can just watch a bit of TV for a while," Harry suggested.

"Sounds good." Niall got into Harry's bed with Harry closely behind. Niall pulled him in being the big spoon making Harry feel safe. Harry rested a hand on Niall's arm that he had wrapped around Harry. The two boys lay there quietly not needing to say anything to each other because both boys knew what the other was thinking.

They lay there for some time. Niall felt Harry's breaths even out so he was sure he was asleep. He slowly and carefully untangled himself from Harry and got out of bed. He smiled when he looked back and saw Harry had not moved. He put his shoes back on but just before leaving he gave Harry one last kiss on the cheek. He quietly slipped out of his room before returning to his own. It was past one in the morning so he wasn't sure if Louis would still be awake or not. But when he opened the door he found Louis wide-awake starring at the TV memorized by a video game.

"Eh, there you are!" Louis beamed pausing the game. "You guys were incredible tonight."

"Thanks Lou, I'm really glad you came," Niall told him honestly. He started to change out of his concert clothes and get into something more comfortable.

"Harry was awesome mate. He really blew me away." Niall smiled.

"Would you believe he was puking his guts out like twenty minutes before the curtain went up?" Louis looked at him stunned.

"For real?" Niall nodded.

"He was racked with nerves all week and they just got worse the closer we got. I told you that's why I was with him last night."

"Yeah but you didn't tell me he was that bad."

"Yeah it was rough honestly. He threw up several times before the show he was so nervous." Louis just shook his head. "Yeah, something to look forward to in future shows," Niall joked.

"So tell me after all that you two made it official." Niall paused. They hadn't said anything about the status of their relationship. Niall felt like they were official. He felt like he was Harry's boyfriend but no label had been put on it. It lead to a sinking feeling in his stomach. Maybe Harry wasn't as serious as Niall was. Niall was the rock Harry needed, maybe that's all he was getting out of this. "I'll take your silence as a no then?" Louis asked. Niall shook his head.

"We just haven't talked about it," Niall told his dismissively. Louis didn't take the hint.

"Well why not? I mean it seems to me like you guys are pretty serious. I wouldn't spend this much time with someone and put the effort in like you have if it wasn't something." Louis's words gave Niall no comfort. In fact it just made things worse. He felt so strongly about Harry but now he doubted Harry's feelings for him. Maybe all this was just played up by Niall in his head. Up until this point Niall had been the one putting all the effort in. He was the one going out of his way to make sure Harry was ok. He was the one that giving in the relationship. Maybe that's all he was to Harry. Niall shook off the thought. That couldn't be true. He knew better. Harry had to feel something for him. Otherwise he wouldn't have been so open and vulnerable with him. Right?

"I don't know Lou. I mean we really just haven't talked about a label. We're just," Niall paused, the words getting caught in his throat. Now Louis had seen the effects of his words.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by that," Louis started. Niall knew he had no idea what he was saying. He couldn't blame Louis for his thoughts.

"No Lou it's ok. I'm just really tired and I think I just need to go to bed." He saw the look in Louis's eyes and he sighed. "Really it's ok." Louis just nodded scared to say anything else that might upset Niall. "Maybe tomorrow you and I can go do something. We've haven't gone out in a while." Louis smiled a little.

"That'd be nice." Niall crawled into bed, his mind still racing. He faced the wall so Louis couldn't see him and closed his eyes hoping, praying that sleep would find him soon.