Harlow was simply...too much for Mona to handle sometimes. Mona's reasoning? The outfit Harlow picked out for herself to wear for Fright Fest.
"Bruh," Mona groaned, internally wincing because she had no doubt started saying it when Zayn began throwing the word around as a joke and now it was somehow embedded into her vocabulary. "It's cold outside."
Harlow shrugged, pulling on leggings as if that would shield her skin from the cold. "So what? I'm not gonna let a little wind stop me from looking cute." She snapped her fingers for emphasis, grinning at Mona through the reflection in the mirror, and all Mona could do was give her a look, raising her brows and pursing her lips, all while shaking her head.
"You're impossible," Mona tutted, rising and making her way to Harlow's closet to snag one of her NYU hoodies. "It's cold outside and when you start to cry about it I'm just gonna laugh at you."
"Aww," Harlow cooed, checking her hair once more in the mirror before turning around to face Mona. "I expect nothing less from you." Before Mona could come up with another response though, Harlow's ringtone was blaring from somewhere beneath her unmade bedsheets. She rolled her eyes, because leave it to Harlow to leave her phone buried under a pile of sheets and pillows. She managed to grab it before the call rang out, answering with a breathless "hello?" even though she had nothing to be breathless about. "Time to go!" she exclaimed after wrapping up the call, squealing a bit as she slipped the phone into her tiny purse. She tugged on Mona's wrist until she was rising to her feet. "Aren't you excited!"
Mona couldn't lie, she was actually looking forward to it, so much so that she couldn't even suppress the bright grin that had crept along her features at the sight of Harlow's excitement. "Obviously," she got out through her giggles, allowing Harlow to pull her out of the room and through the apartment to go outside. Harlow babbled delightfully all the way down the elevator and through the lot in the back. None out of the six of them owned a car—Harry used to have one but his mom convinced him that it would be cheaper to simply use public transportation when he used to incessantly complain about how little pocket money he seemed to end up with—but Louis did. Their group was rather large though so Zayn convinced his cousin to lend another one to them for the day. Once they headed out into the lot, Mona and Harlow joined their usual group, which included Louis and—much to Mona's lowkey discontent—Cleo.
Cleo and Niall were already standing together, giggling away at something Louis said, and Mona tried to tamp down the urge to groan out loud when Cleo doubled over in her fit of chuckles, her head leaning forward to rest on Niall's shoulder. She hated herself for the way her blood boiled when Niall's hand went around to rest on the small of her back, loathed the way she couldn't help but think that Cleo probably looked better with Niall than she ever did.
Zayn nudged her shoulder, snapping her out of her thoughts, and when she glanced over at him, he was raising his brow at her, the ghost of a smirk passing over his features. "Ready to go?" he asked, though Mona knew that was not at all what he'd rather be talking about. But, in his typical Zayn way, which Mona greatly appreciated, he gave her an out and she snatched at it, nodding her head as he gestured towards his cousin's car.
"I call shotgun," Mona got out rather amicably despite the fact that—no matter how much she denied it—the sight of Niall and Cleo made her heart fall to her stomach and caused the rise of her blood pressure. Zayn scoffed under his breath a bit, shaking his head before unlocking the car, and Mona knew he was slightly disappointed in her because he hated it when she tamped down her feelings like that.
Mona heaved a breath of relief when she settled in the front seat but her moment of ease was soon disrupted by Niall and Cleo climbing into the back, both of them laughing obnoxiously loud. "Hey, Mo," Niall got out breathlessly, nudging Cleo with his elbow as if that would help her giggles subside.
"Hi, Mona!" Cleo greeted, biting her lips a little to suppress the chuckles still bubbling from her throat. Cleo was radiant, with her blonde hair and sun-kissed skin, and she looked so nice sitting next to Niall, and Mona really fucking hated her.
"Hey Cleo," she returned rather cordially, shifting her body in her seat so that she was facing the two of them in the back, because she didn't really hate Cleo, she just disliked herself for getting so riled. "What's up?"
She smiled. "Nothing much. Just hoping no one at work'll be mad at me because Louis talked me into taking the day off to come today." That made sense. Mona'd been wondering how she even ended up with the group of them, but she remembered that Cleo was the receptionist at the firm Louis used to intern at. She worked with Harry at St. Mary's Hospital in the evenings as well, and Mona deliberated how she was able to do both things and still look as radiant as she did.
Mona shrugged. "It's alright to take a break sometimes." She didn't know why Cleo felt the need to explain herself, though Mona figured she might've been too obvious with her displeasure, and a pang of guilt hit her at the realization that Cleo might think that Mona hated her when in fact the opposite was true, no matter how much she would like to deny it.
At that, Niall laughed, reaching back for his seatbelt and gesturing for Cleo to do the same. "She tells me the same thing all the time," he said to his blonde-haired friend, to which she laughed too. "Very philosophical my Mona is."
Mona rolled her eyes. "That's only because you think studying in your free time is cool," she retorted, turning around in her seat again just as Zayn opened the door to the driver's side, settling in with ease. Zayn waggled his eyebrows at Mona and she simply pursed her lips at him, rolling her eyes. She should've gotten in the same car as Harlow.
As soon as Louis started to drive just a few ways ahead of them, Zayn pulled out of the lot, being sure to keep Louis's car in his line of sight.
Mona tried to focus on the blur of the cars beside them once they'd merged onto the highway, but she couldn't help the way her lips continuously tugged downwards into a frown whenever Niall and Cleo would burst out into giggles behind her. She didn't know what the fuck they were doing. Hell, she didn't want to know either. All she wanted was for them to shut the fuck up because irritation was slowly crawling up her bones and closing around her windpipes until she felt suffocated in the stuffiness of the car.
She rolled down the windows, once again focusing her attention on the moving cityscape. Beside her, Zayn was stifling his chuckles behind closed lips, his elbow resting a bit out the open window, and Mona glared at him. "What's so funny, Zayn?" she all but spat. Niall and Cleo didn't seem to notice, instead laughing along to whatever the hell they found so amusing.
"Mmm, nothing?" Zayn got out, though Mona knew it was taking every ounce of his willpower not to laugh out loud. "You just look so funny when you're...you know." He waggled his brows at her again and if he wasn't the one driving the car right now then Mona would've slapped that smirk right off his face.
Just as she was about to retort with something undoubtedly snarky, her phone buzzed with a text.
Harry: Are you having a miserable time too?
Mona rolled her eyes. He was like a fucking psychic or something. She huffed out a frustrated sigh as she typed out her response.
Mona: No Harry I'm having the grandest fucking time right now, fuck off.
She tilted her head back to rest against the headrest of her seat, her fingertips instantly wandering to her mouth, the click of her nails between her teeth exceptionally loud even with the sounds of the car.
"Stop biting your nails, Mo," Zayn got out robotically, his attention trained on the dark blue of Louis' car ahead of them. "'S annoying, y'know."
Before Mona was even able to think of a response, Niall was pitching in from the back seat. "I always tell her that. Bad habit our Mona has."
Mona didn't really care for Niall's two cents on the situation at the moment but apparently Zayn did, a wicked smirk curving along his lips. Mona wanted to punch him for finding her situation comical, but because that was a bit too dramatic, she settled for a glare instead. "Gotta keep your Mona under control, Nialler," Zayn said, amusement laced in his tone, and Mona twisted her jaw to keep from coming up with a snarky response. "Bad habits are hard to break after all."
Niall hummed from his seat and Mona crossed her arms, though her position didn't last for long because Harry was texting her again.
Harry: ://///
Harry: I'm not mocking you okay!
There was a pause where the little ellipses in the corner of the screen appeared and disappeared several times, and then:
Harry: Louis and Liam keep arguing for reasons unknown and Harlow is facetiming with one of her sisters and I'm feeling a little left out right now.
Harry: You don't have to be so hostile all the time ugh
Mona sighed, pouting a little, before typing out her response.
Mona: Sorry :/
Mona: Niall, Cleo and Zayn are irritating me rn, I wasn't trying to be mean.
Mona: Mostly Zayn tho.
Harry: Aww :(
Harry: It must be bad because you actually apologized to me
Harry: Unless this is niall and you're pranking me right now
She couldn't help the scoff that bubbled from her lips, shaking her head slightly.
Mona: No you piece of shit, it's Mona.
Harry: Okay now I believe you.
Harry: Again with the hostility, jeez
Harry's text messages, Mona realized, were always as whiny as him. She couldn't complain though. He was the only one not getting on her nerves at the moment.
Mona: What were you saying about Louis and Liam?
Harry: They keep bickering and it is VERY annoying
Harry: Like, I thought Li would wanna sit with Harlow but he ended up sitting in the front and I'm in the back with her.
Mona: He has been a bit moody lately
Harry: I think he and Harlow are in a fight. The only person he's spoken to so far is Louis and they haven't been nice words
At that, Mona actually bit her lips to keep from chuckling under her breath. She'd forgotten she was on a road trip and that she was sitting next to Zayn, who noticed everything even though he made it seem like he didn't care. "Who're you texting there, Mo?" he asked slyly, glancing at her for a split second. "Secret boyfriend or summat?"
Mona sent him a dry look, knowing fully well what he was trying to do, because sure enough Niall was piping up from the back again. "Boyfriend?" he asked, though Mona could hear the laugh in his voice. "Impossible."
Mona just grunted in response and apparently Cleo found that funny because she started giggling. The sound wasn't as annoying when it wasn't combined with Niall's, to be quite honest. I'm terrible, Mona thought with a shake of her head, because she will definitely be going to hell because of her thoughts today. Instead of carrying on a conversation with everyone else, she typed out a response to Harry and his answer is almost immediate.
Mona: Everyone thinks I'm texting my secret boyfriend haha
Harry: Oohhhhhh trying to make Niall jealous? ;)
Mona: I can't stand you....
Harry: It's okay. I understand ;)
Harry: I give you permission to make Niall jealous like he's making you jealous :)))))))
Mona: Shut up.
Mona: I REALLY can't stand you.
Harry: Awww I love you toooooo! <3
Mona couldn't quite suppress her smile anymore, because texting Harry improves her mood immensely. She didn't know how long they'd been talking, but leave it to Harry to continuously come up with stupid things to say. He'd been relaying a particularly snarky comment Liam made in regards to Louis when Mona finally gave in and let out a little giggle thinking that no one would be paying enough attention to her to hear it.
Boy, was she wrong.
"Who're you texting?" Niall asked, attempting to peek his head over her shoulder before Zayn scolded him and told him to sit down. Mona didn't have to look back to know that he was pouting. "Mo!" he prodded after being significantly chastised by Zayn, who went on and on about the hazards of not wearing a seatbelt. "Monaaaaa!"
Cleo laughed loudly, and Mona nearly dropped her phone at the sound. "Are you jealous, Niall?" she teased, and Zayn snickered wickedly, not even bothering to hide it.
"No," Niall sputtered out defensively, and Mona could imagine the brilliant flush of his cheeks as his blood rose to the surface of his skin. She didn't want to look back at him simply because she might just laugh in his face, but she wondered if he was rubbing his fingers over his heated skin like he was so prone to doing. "Just curious."
Secretly, Mona felt a flash of satisfaction at the flustered chuckle that fell from Niall's lips, but the burn of annoyance was still simmering beneath the surface of her skin, and it didn't help that Zayn kept laughing at her or that Niall and Cleo had resumed their incessant bantering and giggling in the back. Mona wasn't one to be dramatic or whiny or just plain bratty, but she was only a simple human being with emotions just as everyone else, and deep down she had to admit that the flare of frustration she felt from the fact that Niall was giving his attention to someone else must mean something.
She didn't want to think about it. All she knew was that it was going to be a long car ride.
~
Harry: Mona I feel like my head is going to explode I can't take it anymore
Mona rolled her eyes at Harry's message, though she had to admit being stuck in a car with Liam and Louis constantly arguing must be pretty bad. When she didn't respond immediately, another string of messages quickly appeared.
Harry: I'm serious
Harry: I can't do this I'm abot to rip my hair out
Harry: About*
Harry: They won't stop no matter how many jokes I tell I just don't know what to do
She sighed, glancing over at Zayn who seemed to be very focused on the road. "Hey," she said, because she was getting a bit impatient too. The ride was taking way too long. "Zayn," she said again when he didn't respond, and she continued to call his name until he gave a noncommittal grunt. "Are we almost there?" Her phone was still buzzing with messages, and behind her Niall scoffed. Everyone ignored him. "Zayn."
He hummed a bit, eyes scanning the signs. "Yeah, we're almost at our exit." Mona nodded and took the opportunity to text Harry so he didn't have a heart attack in the back of Louis' car.
Mona: Don't worry we're almost there
Harry: I'm taking your word for it :(
Mona shook her head at Harry's dramatics. He could probably rival Harlow, Mona thought briefly, and she wondered what Harlow was doing if she was ignoring Harry in favor of her phone. She decided that it was too trivial a matter for her to dwell on and instead focused on the landscape shifting outside of her window. She nearly laughed in relief once she saw the winding rollercoasters of the amusement park coming into view, and just as she expected, her phone started to blow up with all types of ecstatic and hysterical emojis from Harry.
What happened in the car after Zayn had maneuvered his way into the parking lot and pulled into an open space was a mystery, at least it was to Mona, because as soon as Zayn turned the ignition off she was out and off to find Harry, ignoring Zayn's rather loud bout of laughter—because he was an ass who enjoyed pushing her buttons—as well as Niall's confused call behind her. By the time Mona got to the space where Louis' car was now parked, Harry wild hair was already in her view, his tall and lanky frame stalking rather aggressively towards the entrance.
"Harry!" she called to get his attention, because Mona didn't really like running and that was what she would have to do in order to catch up with him. "Wait up, will you?"
At the sound of her voice, Harry's slouch straightened, and while he didn't turn around, he didn't continue walking either, allowing Mona to catch up to where he was standing. There was a rather endearing pout etched onto his features, his arms crossed over his chest very childishly, and Mona thought he looked absolutely hilarious because his hair was flying wildly in the wind and he just looked like a 5 year old about to throw a tantrum. "You look like shit," he huffed out in a greeting.
Mona couldn't hold back anymore, unable to stop the loud cackle that bubbled from her gut at the way Harry snarled at her. He wasn't wrong, with her hair pulled up into a messy ponytail and her frame drowning in Harlow's oversized NYU hoodie, she looked more like someone who was ready to spend a day lounging on the couch than someone attending an amusement park. But hell if she cared. "Is someone in a bad mood?" she cooed obnoxiously, though she supposed that's probably what happened to a person when they spend the better part of a couple of hours with someone like Zayn. "Do you need an ice cream to make you feel better?"
Harry frowned and Mona laughed again, reaching out to tug on his arms so she could hug one to her chest and pull him towards the entrance. "They wouldn't stop arguing!" he got out exasperatedly, and Mona could see by the disheveled state of his hair that he probably considered pulling a fistful of it out in his frustration. Which is a big deal for Harry by the way since he was so serious about his hair. Or the length of it, rather. Mona didn't know what it was with him and haircuts. "I think I've got a migraine. It was awful."
Harry continued to rant as they stood in the admissions line, and Mona couldn't really do anything but nod occasionally and listen patiently because Harry deserved that much after the "absolute car ride from hell" he just had. She was soothingly stroking her fingers through his curls when she realized that the rest of their group was nowhere to be found. That didn't seem to bother Harry, though, as docile and tactile as he was around everyone. Instead, when they got to the ticket counter, he was so out of it that he bought tickets for everyone, telling the woman behind the register to give the wristbands to the guy who introduces himself as Louis—or rather, the "bloke with the weird swirly hairdo and cheekbones sharper than knives"—and then dragging Mona into the park.
Mona let out a rather uneasy laugh. "You realize that Louis was going to pay for us right? It was his treat." Harry huffed out an annoyed 'Whatever.' It was completely unlike him to frown for so long, irritation clearly radiating from him, and Mona pouted. "Harry," she cooed, playfully punching his shoulder. "Don't be so upset. It's just Liam and Louis, they argue all the time."
If it was even possible, Harry's frown deepened, and Mona instantly felt bad. "But it's weird when you have to sit through your friends fighting, Mo," he mumbled. She tilted her head, watching the way his features fell, and she realized that it truly bothered Harry when others weren't happy.
Mona sent him the smallest of smiles, tapping the corners of his lips with her index fingers so they'd lift upwards, and Harry let out a chuckle at the gesture. "They'll be alright sooner or later," Mona said quietly, and he smiled at that, leaning forward to pull her into one of his infamous Harry hugs, all tight and warm and slightly suffocating, and all Mona could do was giggle into his chest.
"Oi!" came a voice from behind them, and Mona recognized it as Louis'. "Which one of you paid for everyone's ticket?" When the two of them managed to turn around to look at him, they found that Louis' lips were tugged down into a rather endearing pout, his fringe drooping down onto his forehead. Mona pulled away from Harry only to hold her hands up in the air, shaking her head and raising her eyebrows like she didn't do it, and well, it wasn't a lie. Beside her, Harry shrugged sheepishly, and Louis groaned. "Harry! It was supposed to be my treat!"
Harry snorted out a laugh and shrugged again, and Mona was glad that he was in a slightly better mood. "You can buy us lunch them. S'no big deal."
While everyone sensed that Louis wasn't quite done, he let out a resigned sigh anyway. "Whatever," he got out in defeat, which was odd for Louis but Mona supposed it was quite draining to consistently argue with someone for a couple of hours in a car ride so she just let it go. Besides, knowing him, he would probably find a way to give Harry back the money. After a few more moments of good-natured banter, they were on their way, somehow splitting up into unofficial groups as they wandered into the park to decide which ride they wanted to go on first.
Mona wasn't really in the mood for anything to be quite honest. The wind had picked up, leaving a stinging in her cheeks, and one too many people in scary costumes had wandered up to try and spook her and she hadn't even been there fifteen minutes. She honestly didn't get the appeal of Halloween, or in this case Fright Fest, but each to their own she supposed.
"Wassap, doll face!" came Niall a few moments later in one of his obnoxious accents, swinging an arm over Mona's shoulders and pulling her close. It was second nature then, to rest her arm on his lower back, intrinsic to allow him to tug her into chest and leave a sloppy kiss along her hairline. Besides, Niall was warm, so it wasn't like Mona was going to push him away.
She huffed under her breath. "It's cold."
Niall laughed, as they neared the back of the line for the Dark Knight ride Liam was so excited about, though he wasn't anywhere to be found at the moment. Mona was pulling the sleeves of the hoodie over her hands to keep warm when they stopped walking. Niall took the opportunity to tug her into an embrace only to sneak a tiny kiss just under her jawline. "Is that why you're in such a bad mood?"
Mona rolled her eyes but she allowed Niall to coddle her for a few more moments, much to the chagrin of Harry, who was standing behind them and insisting that he should be involved in the cuddle because "I'm cold too, Niall, why won't you hug me!" Niall lifted a brow at him but Mona simply chuckled, raising an arm and beckoning him forward to join them and Harry slotted himself onto Niall's other side, giggling into his neck, and Niall rolled his eyes at his antics.
"Pain in me arse, both of you," he muttered, but Mona could hear the endearment laced just beneath his tone.
"Are we having a cuddle session?" asked a light voice from behind them, and none of them had to turn around to know it was Cleo. The line moved forward and as did their group, Harry inviting Cleo over into their circle of warmth and tucking her under his arm. "Hiiii!" Cleo was radiant and kind and an all-around appealing person to be around, and Mona noted the way Niall immediately caught onto her light, shining just as bright as her when he lit up with a grin, and Mona hated that she couldn't control the sinking feeling in her gut because she was never able to make Niall light up like that. "The others went on another ride and I was about to join them," Cleo started to explain, and Mona really didn't understand why she felt the need to justify her presence among them. "But then Liam and Louis started arguing? And Harlow and Zayn were just kind of in their own world so," she shrugged, "thought I'd join you guys."
Harry huffed out a laugh that sounded a little hysterical to Mona but she didn't want to comment on it. "You made the right decision. I had to sit through an entire car ride listening to that."
Cleo sent him a sympathetic pout which Harry seemed to latch on to, completely engrossed in her because she gave him her full attention and empathized with him, and Mona wondered how she did it, wondered how she was able to make others feel like they were the most important people in the world and not be completely stuck up about it. Cleo was that genuine person that everyone aspired to be and Mona could see why Niall seemed to be so drawn to her, or why everyone seemed to be so taken to her rather.
Mona was so engrossed in her thoughts that she hadn't realized that they'd gotten close to the front of the line, the excited shouts of people who had just gotten on the ride which had started to move becoming louder and louder. Apprehensively, she watched as it slowly crept up and up and up as rollercoasters tended to do only to drop quickly down a rather steep slope, and Mona noticed some loops that only had her throat closing up in nervous anticipation.
"Relax, darlin'," Niall murmured into her hair, and it was then that Mona realized how much she'd tensed up, still tucked safely under Niall's arm. He gently pulled her fingers away from her teeth, muttering something along the lines of "bad habit, Mo," something that, once again, she hadn't realized that she'd been doing. They were getting closer to the front of the line with each passing moment and somehow that didn't settle well with Mona, so she looked around to find other ways to distract herself only to realize that Harry and Cleo were no longer beside them but a couple of people behind them. "Who are ya lookin' for, Mo," Niall asked with a laugh and when Mona finally looked up at him she realized just how close they were standing next to each other.
Much too close for people who were just friends.
Niall scoffed. "What are you not gonna talk to me now? Is this how it's going to be, Namona?" His eyebrows were lifted in that way when he was amused, the cheekiest of grins curving his lips upwards, and Mona felt it then, the sunshine that she'd so often tasted on his tongue radiating outwards and warming her shivering skin. He held up a hand to his jumper clad chest, sending her a mock frown. "I'm hurt."
Mona didn't really know what to say because it was just one of those days where words seemed to fail her. She couldn't seem to string together any of them to even keep up a conversation with Niall, so she simply shrugged, glancing towards the back of the line again so she wouldn't have to look into Niall's eyes. When Harry and Cleo caught her eye again, she felt the question bubbling up her throat before she could stop it. "How did Harry and Cleo end up back there?"
Niall gave her a look. He pursed his lips in that endearing way of his and quirked an eyebrow at her. "What. Am I not good enough for you?" Mona couldn't help but huff out a laugh at that.
"I dunno, it's just..." Okay, now she was at a loss, because she didn't know how to explain it. "I figured that you would maybe prefer hanging out with Cleo today."
It was probably the wrong thing to say, or the wrong way to phrase it rather, because a smirk curved along Niall's features, his hands sneaking down to grab her waist as he bit back a laugh. "Why?" he asked, and there was laughter laced in his voice. "Are you jealous?"
It was a joke but Mona still snarled. "No!" Even though, yeah, maybe she was, because at least Cleo could have a decent conversation with Niall or any other person without nervously stuttering through it like an idiot. She pushed Niall away, quickly regaining her composure because they were a couple people away from the front and Mona could feel her anxiety creeping up on her.
"Holy shit," Niall breathed, and it was almost a whisper but then he started to laugh. "Holy shit, you are!" He threw his head back, a full-body laugh starting from his gut bellowing out of him and catching the attention of several people nearby. Mona felt a pang of satisfaction, because Cleo could do a lot of things but she couldn't make Niall laugh like this. "Aww, darlin'," he cooed, leaning forward and pressing several butterfly kisses to her hairline, his baseball mitt hands caressing her face, except it was more like he was giggling against her skin than anything. "No one'll ever replace you, you know that."
Mona didn't know that but she shrugged anyway. "Uh huh" she huffed sarcastically. Niall could read her like an open book and still, to this day, he kept his emotions so buried that she couldn't read him in return.
Niall pulled her into his chest and Mona allowed him to, taking the opportunity to ghost her lips just over his Adam's apple only to feel him shiver slightly against her. "It's true," he whispered into her cheek, holding her close, and Mona felt something surge throughout her bloodstream at the low drop of his voice, her eyes fluttering shut, blocking out the rest of the sounds around her. "I'm your Blondie, and you're my Mona darlin'. Simple." There was something about the breathy giggle that followed the end of that statement that had Mona's anxiety about the ride dissipating, a rather shy smile tugging the corners of her own lips upwards.
The clatter of the rollercoaster in the background was now audible again, nervousness creeping up her windpipes and closing up her throat and they were sosososo close to the front and Mona really didn't want to go. Niall seemed to sense that but he didn't say anything, instead placing a gentle hand at the small of her back, not pushing but not allowing her to slip away either. Eventually, they were next, and despite how much Mona had been internally attempting to calm herself down, it wasn't working. "Uh," she got out rather unceremoniously. She looked back at Niall, who was still rubbing soothing circles into her lower back with his fingers. "I don't—I'm not—" she sighed, "I don't think I want to go anymore."
Contrary to what she expected, Niall didn't whine or try to force her to do something she was clearly uncomfortable with. Instead, he smiled understandingly at her, pulling his hand—much to Mona's dismay, though she won't admit it—away. "Well," he shrugged. "There's nothing I can really do about that but," he leaned slightly against the rail, crossing his arms over his chest, and there was a spike of something akin to want panging in her chest. "If you do choose to go on then maybe you'll feel better? Like conquering a fear type of thing." He waved at Harry who was getting on a seat a few spaces behind them with Cleo. "Besides," he continued, glancing around before sneaking the quickest of pecks on her lips. "I've got you, yeah?"
Mona didn't have time to think about anything else because people were disembarking from the rollercoaster, the gates opening for those on the line to enter, and Niall simply raised his brows at her in a question. She didn't know how she responded, but Niall was taking her hands and leading her to the seats, assisting her in settling in before doing so himself. Everything from that point up until when they were making the slow descent up the slope was a blur, but she remembered freaking out when they were almost to the top and Niall somehow managing to graze her knuckles with his fingers in slight reassurance, and it was the touch that calmed her a bit.
She couldn't dwell on it too much because they made it to the top and then the ride went full-speed, and Mona could hear Harry screaming from way behind her even through the deafening sound of the tracks and then she started screaming because holy shit why was it so fast? And Niall was laughing hysterically beside her the whole time, whooping and shouting in absolute delight, and it was so amusing that Mona couldn't help but laugh through her own slightly terrified screams too.
When they got off Mona felt slightly better and Niall only laughed at her before reaching out to tame her windblown hair, and when they made their way towards the exit to view their photos, Mona couldn't help the bark of laughter that fell from her lips because they all looked ridiculous. Niall's mouth was open wide in a laugh, Mona's hair was blocking half of her, she was sure, frightened face, Harry was screaming his head off, and Cleo looked perfect obviously. And as Harry requested a printout of it, Mona only rolled her eyes at him because she was still trying to catch her breath, mostly from the ride but also because Niall had wrapped his arms around her from behind, murmuring "See? It wasn't so bad," into her hair, and despite how much Mona would've liked to deny it, she couldn't.
Because it was clearly showcased in the printed out photo that Harry held in front of his grinning face, that maybe she had a great time, and when Niall bumped his shoulder against hers as they made their way back to find the rest of their group, she found herself saying it out loud, relishing in the way Niall's face lit up and thinking that, yeah, she'd like to be able to get that reaction from him all the time.
Maybe she was just in too deep.