“I have a secret to tell you, and you have to promise me that you won’t tell anyone,” Your friend blurted in the middle of a game you two were playing.
“Um…okay?” You were kind of taken back. Her secret came out of no where.
“Promise!” She demanded.
“Okay, okay. I promise,” You said, linking pinkies with her.
“Okay,” She started, pausing to take a breath, “You know Niall, right? Niall Horan from One Direction?”
You squealed. “Of course I do!”
“Well, he’s my cousin,” She said, crossing her fingers.
You stared straight into her eyes, waiting for her to say she was joking. But, when she said nothing for a few seconds, you suspected that she might be telling the truth. “No way,” You whispered.
“Yes way. I decided I should tell you because…he’s coming home tomorrow,” She smiled.
“Oh my God, (Y/F/N)! Uh, can I…meet him?” You excitedly chirped.
“You have to be here by 7:00 tomorrow morning,” She nodded.
“I will be here!” You shouted, not able to control your excitement anymore.
“I thought so,” She chuckled, looking down at her watch. “I think it’s time we go our separate ways. I’ll see you tomorrow?” She raised an eyebrow. Why was she even asking you that?
“YES!” You jumped up, squealing.
You made your way home (which was in walking distance), hoping that tomorrow would come faster. You rushed inside, and told everyone that would bother to listen to you. Your sister was screaming with you. The whole night you screamed and smiled non-stop.
Brrrrrring. Brrrrrring. Brrrrrring.
The alarm sent you shooting up in bed. You glanced at the clock. 6:00. One hour to perfect yourself. You threw yourself out from under the covers, wondering how you managed to even fall asleep last night. You went straight into the bathroom, across the hall. You stared in the mirror, shaking your head at your bed hair. You jumped in the shower, finishing earlier than usual. You brushed through your hair, 100 times. The outfit you picked to wear was one of your favorites; skinny jeans with a smiley-face t-shirt. Simple, but you liked it.
You ran out the door, making it to your friend’s house at 6:54.
“I’m here!” You exclaimed, standing at her door. The door creaked open and your friend was standing there, with a finger pressed to her lips.
“Shh…the rest of the world is still asleep! Come in,” She welcomed you inside her familiar house. “He’ll be here to visit me in like twenty minutes.”
“This is so exciting!” You beamed, plopping down on her couch.
“You could say that. It’s been months since I’ve seen him!” Your friend joined you on the couch, straightening out her shirt.
You two sat there, basically screaming together. You were staring out the window when you heard a knock on the door. Oh snap.
“I got it,” Your friend said, rushing to the door.
You watched anxiously from the couch as she slowly answered the door. You heard a loud squeal followed by a low chuckle, and you knew right away it was him. You took a deep breath, and stood to meet them at the door.
“It’s been like forever!” Your friend cried, holding onto Niall like he was a teddy bear.
She finally let go and smiled at you. “This is my best friend in the whole world, (Y/N). She’s here a lot.”
You lifted your hand to wave it, but got cut short when you felt two arms wrap around you and lift you into a huge hug. “We give hugs in this family,” Niall said, letting go of you.
You nodded, shutting the door behind him. You followed him and your friend into the family room. You stood there awkwardly while your friend told Niall just about everything he missed in the months that he had been gone.
“So what’s your story?” You looked up when you realized that question must have been directed toward you.
“Um…” You struggled to find words. You didn’t even have a story!
“She’s shy sometimes,” Your friend saved you, smirking at you. “She’s very nice, though.”
“How come (Y/F/N) never told me about you?” He smiled at you.
“Yea, (Y/F/N), how come you never told him about me?” You asked your friend, smirking back at her.
“I don’t know. It never came up, I guess,” She answered, earning a nod from Niall and another smirk from you.
“I’m hungry. Do you people eat around here?” Niall joked, walking into the kitchen.
“(Y/N) makes amazing Mac and Cheese!” Your friend said, shoving you into the kitchen.
“You do?” Niall asked.
“I do?” You asked.
“She does,” Your friend confirmed. “And she’d be happy to make you some, Nialler.”
You glared at her from the corner of your eye, mentally making a note to punch her later.
“Yay!” Niall cheered, smiling at you.
“Yea…” You slightly nodded, walking up to the stove. You pulled a pot out of the cabinets and placed it onto a burner, filling it with water. You turned the stove top on, in hopes that the water would boil quickly. You watched them from the kitchen, admiring the fact that you were making Niall some of your Mac and Cheese. You literally had to use every muscle in your body to not start screaming again.
After a while of magic in the kitchen, the Mac and cheese was finally done. Phew. You served some up on a plate for your friend and a huge amount for Niall. You happened to know about his love for food.
“I’m done!” You shouted and watched as they both raced into the kitchen. You handed them their plates, smiling to yourself. They were definitely related.
You leaned against the corner as they completely devoured your masterpiece. “Well?” You asked, hoping for the best.
It was silent for a moment before Niall blurted, “You’re like the best cook ever!”
“It’s just some Mac and Cheese but…thanks?” You blushed.
“I told you,” Your friend smiled.
After the exciting lunch you shared, everyone drifted towards the basement where your friend had the massive TV.
She went off to “find something”, leaving you and Niall alone in the basement.
“So…you cook a lot at home?” He asked, breaking the silence.
“Sometimes,” You nodded. “Mostly just on special occasions, though.”
“So me being here is a special occasion?” He smirked.
“In a way, yes,” You giggled.
“It always is,” He sighed. “I’m just…THAT special.”
You laughed, already dreading the moment you’d have to leave. “(Y/F/N) didn’t tell me till yesterday that she was related to you.”
“Really? I thought she’d…brag or something?”
“Actually, no. She just admitted it to me yesterday, and told me not to tell anyone else,” You said.
“Yea, I asked her to keep it on the down low, but I didn’t actually expect her to listen to me,” He laughed.
“So, what’s it like? Being all famous and stuff?” You wondered.
“Well, it’s definitely…fun. A lot of work,” He answered. “You have pretty eyes.”
You stood there staring at him for a moment, like you always do, before you shook yourself back to reality. “Um…thanks. So do you!” Nice one.
He chuckled. “(Y/F/N) knows me like the back of her hand.”
“Okay?” You laughed. Where the heck did that come from?
“She left me in here with you, knowing I’d just find another reason to like you.”
“You like me? Like, like-like me? Or just like me as a friend?” You managed to blink.
“I’m pretty sure I like-like you,” He smiled.
“Oh, wow,” You whispered.
“Sorry if that was a bit fast,” He looked at you.
“No, no. I…uh…I like you too,” You smiled. How could you not?!
“Good,” He smiled in return, offering you a spot next to him, which you gladly took.
You couldn’t help but wonder, How do these things happen?!