Chapter 3
There were no more tickle fights that night. There were, however, a few pillow fights and even a banana battle... Which was interesting. By 3:00 AM, the boys were pretty tired. We decided to call it a night and go to bed. They guys all hugged me goodnight before retiring to their rooms for the night. It was a humid night, seeing as how it was early June, so I slipped into my light blue pajama shorts with green polka dots and my purple tank top. I wasn't tired at all since I was used to going to bed at midnight or later, New Jersey time, so I thought I'd occupy myself by putting some of my clothes away in my new closet.I opened the black door that didn't lead to the bathroom, and what instead led to every girl's dream come true: A huge walk-in closet with more space than I could probably fill. Mental Note: Thank Harry for the closet. I started organizing my new, amazayn closet, but by 3:40 I got bored and decide to try to sleep. I climbed under the cool white comforter and the quilt I had made with my mom in third grade, which I brought with me to England. I kept the lamp on, because I couldn't even stand the dark in my room in Jersey, let alone this new, unfamiliar one. By 4:00 I just accepted that I wouldn't fall asleep for a good hour, so I silently crept out of my room, using my phone as a flashlight as I tip-toed down to the kitchen. I crossed my fingers, praying I didn't wake any of the boys.
Once I made it to the kitchen, I flicked on the lights, but dimmed them just in case. I wasn't really sure why I went to the kitchen, I wasnt hungry, plus I'd feel bad taking their food without their permission. I was just kind of standing there, leaning against the cold granite counter top while staring at the rain drops rolling down the window, listening to the soft rumble of thunder when I heard an Irish accent behind me, practically giving me a heart attack. "Can't sleep?" Niall asked.
I spun around, slapping my hand to my chest. I relaxed a bit, not wanting to look like an idiot. (And proably failing.) "It's only 11:00 for my body," I shrugged, self-consciously sucking in my stomach, which was exposed due to the fact that the tank top I was wearing fit me well in fourth grade, before my growth spurt. "Sorry, did I wake you up?" I asked guiltily.
"No, I just get hungry in the middle of the night," he smiled. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," he added apologetically. I assured him that it was fine, and then I realized:
He had no shirt on.
I tried not to stare as he walked past me to one of the cabinets. "Hungry?" he asked.
"Sure, I guess." I didn't want to be awkward, I wanted to make conversation, but for God's sake, I was alone in the middle of the night in a dimly lit room with a shirtless Niall Horan. I mean what would you do in that situation? Other than start making out with him, which wasn't an option here. I mean I didn't like him, I just met him, but it was a pretty nice sight.
He pulled out an unopened box of Oreo's and poured two glasses of milk. My absolute favorite snack!
"Mine too!" he smiled at me, setting the glasses down on the breakfast bar. Had I said that out loud? I sat down in the stool next to him as he opened the package. The black and white cookies were lined up perfectly, and he took the one in the middle. I took one too, and dunked the whole thing in the cold milk, getting the tips of my fingers wet but not caring. When I had held it under for a good amount of time, I popped it into my mouth. It had softened to the perfect consistency. "I'm sorry about your parents," Niall broke the silence, speaking softly.
I swallowed. "Thanks," I replied. I mean I wasn't going to lie and say it was fine. Because it wasn't. "And thanks for letting me stay with you guys." I should probably thank the other guys, too, I thought to myself.
"No problem. Really, it's our pleasure," he said politely. I stuffed another Oreo in my mouth and chewed, pondering how to respond to that. I swallowed again.
"Don't speak too soon," I joked with a wink, trying to lighten the mood. He waggled his eyebrows, making me laugh.
"Uh oh, we're not gonna have to ship you back to America, are we?" he asked with fake fright. I smiled mischieviously at him.
"Maybe," I answered mysteriously.
"I'm sure your family, friends, and boyfriend would be happy about that." Oh. Okay. That last one listed caught me a little off guard.
"I haven't had a boyfriend in about three years, actually," I confessed, looking down at the counter and blushing while fidgeting with my fingers. Niall pretended to choke on the cookie in his mouth as I dunked another in my glass.
"Seriously?" he questioned, sounding strangely astonished. I nodded, a bit embarrassed.
"Why is that so surprising?" I asked, honestly confused. Was he being sarastic? I popped about my third or fourth cookie in my mouth.
"I dunno," he mumbled, looking down too. "You're just... really pretty, and you seem really funny and nice." I could see him blushing. Wait- Did he just say I was pretty?!
"Oh, thanks. You too," I responded dumbly, my own face turning a deep shade of red.
"Really, you think I'm pretty?" Niall joked over-excitedly, making me crack up. This boy could fix any awkward situation, he was absolutely hilarious.
"Yes Niall, you're beautiful," I laughed. But even though we were kidding around, it was so true. I stared at his adorable smile as he laughed, then into his stunning ice blue eyes. I instantly wished I hadn't. Chase could ruin any moment, couldn't he? I must've stopped smiling, because Niall did too.
"So... That boyfriend of yours..." Niall said, practically reading my mind. He hadn't phrased it as a question, but I could tell he was asking about him. Nothing direct, so I decided to start with the end.
"He broke up with me," I blurted. I probably sounded like a loser, talking about the guy who dumped me when I was thirteen. Niall just nodded empathetically.
"Do you still have feelings for him?" Wow. That was a pretty personal question to recieve from a guy I just met, what, four hours ago? I remembered what Harry said about getting to know them and all, plus I felt like I could trust Niall, so I spilled the emotions I'd been holding in for three years.
"I don't know. I know it's retarded to still have feelings for a guy who dumped me three years ago, so I don't let anyone know I still think about him. Well, besides Harry and now you. It was just so sudden. It was like one week he was telling me about how much he loved me and how I was his life and shit, then the next it's like, 'Oh, jk, I don't like you anymore. Bye bye!' It just still hurts to think that he was just saying those things when I meant everything. And all the times I forgave him..." I felt Niall wrap his arm around me as I realized my voice was merely a raspy whisper and tears were rolling down my face. Oh my God. I did not just cry over my ex in front of Niall. I quickly wiped the tears from my cheeks and blinked, steadying my breathing. "Sorry," I apologized, forcing out a fake laugh, "I get retarded at night."
He had removed his arm by then, his big blue eyes full of sorrow. I had seen that in blue eyes too. But I refused to relive that memory right now. Right now, I was with Niall. "There's no need to apologize," he assured me, "I understand."
"Thanks," I murmered, still feeling embarrassed and stupid. I checked the clock. 4:30 AM. "We should probably head back up stairs," I suggested, finishing my milk and taking our empty glasses to the sink. That conversation did not just happen.
"You're right," he agreed with a yawn, putting the now half-empty Oreo box away. I couldn't deny how cute he was when he yawned. But I knew where crushes led, and I didn't need anymore heart break. He flicked the lights off, and right as I started using my phone as a flashlight, it died. Wonderful.
I literally hate the dark. I can't stand not knowing where I am, what (and who) is surrounding me, or what may be lurking somewhere. I know, I'm being insensitive to blind people, I'm sorry. But they have enhanced sense of surrounding. I don't. I let out a small whimper. I was so grateful when I felt Niall slip his hand into mine. "It's okay," he whispered in a husky voice, sending chills down my back and arms. "I can lead the way." He started walking, and I followed, trudging through the sea of black nothingness cautiously. The moonlight didn't even stream through the windows.
"If you walk me into a wall, scare me, or let go of my hand, sleep with one eye open tonight, Horan," I warned, half jokingly. He chuckled.
"You'll have to find my bed before you kill me," he teased. I pressed my nails into his hand to shut him up. "Ahh!" he exclaimed hushedly, releasing my hand.
"No!" I yelped, throwing myself in the direction of his voice and clinging onto him like a child in a haunted house. "I'm sorry! I won't murder you in your sleep, I promise, just don't leave me alone in the dark!" I pleaded. I heard him laugh again. My hand found his and I clasped onto it tightly as I detatched the rest of my body from his bare torso.
"Okay, deal," he agreed. "We're coming to the stairs," he cautioned. Joy. Either he read my thoughts or I said them out loud again, because he surprised my by swooping me up in his arms and carrying me up the stairs bridal style. I hated being lifted, but I also hated walking up stairs in the dark, plus I was too tired to argue. I could hear his heartbeat as I sleepily layed my head in the curve of his warm neck. I closed my eyes, not seeing any difference. Either way I saw black with imaginary splotches of color floating around.
Next drowsy thing I knew, Niall was laying me gently on my new bed. I half-consciously situated myself under the blankets and snuggled into my pillow as he turned on the lamp. I smiled in appreciation as I slowly opened my eyes to a squint, adjusting to the new change in light. Niall's face was illuminated by the golden glow, his sleepy blue eyes practically glowing. It would've been the perfect moment, if it hadn't reminded me so painfully much of the night I snuck out to see Chase at two in the morning.
We were up late texting one night during spring break, both of us just laying in bed, craving each others' company. He somehow persuaded me to risk my ass and go sneak out to meet him. We met at our favorite spot in town, my heart pounding a mile a minute. This was not the classic goody-two-shoes Haley I was, this was bad. But when I saw him look at me, his perfect pink lips parting as he smiled, his blue eyes glowing under the dim streetlight, that seemed to make it all worth it. Plus we both got away with it.
Niall's fatigued accent brought me back to the present. Back to the real world, back to what mattered. I closed my eyes so no tears would escape, and also so that I wouldn't have to look into that all too familiar, perfect, haunting blue gaze. "I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes to munch on Oreo's in the middle of the night," he whispered, "Goodnight, Haley." He kissed me on the forehead and I mumbled some sleepy form of goodnight. I heard him walk out of my room, but I could still feel his lips. Sure Louis had kissed me on the cheek when we met, and he and Liam kissed me on the cheek when they said goodnight, but their kisses didn't linger like Niall's did. I tried not to think about it, knowing that if I fell for him I'd probably just end up hurt. And with that, I drifted to sleep.
It's amazing how close you can become to someone through one conversation. One that lasts maybe half an hour. Crazy how two people can bond over a few Oreo's and a short voyage through a dark living room. I wouldn't say Niall was the person I was closest to, I had known him for about four and a half hours, yet I had already told him what I'd never told anyone before. Maybe it was a coincedince that Niall was craving Oreo's that night. Maybe it was fate that I couldn't sleep. Either way, I knew that if Niall and I hadn't had the conversation we shared that night, we wouldn't be as close. Whether destiny or chance, I will always remember that night with praise, and I'm beyond happy it happened.
**A/N
So how do y' all like it so far? I think its just so cute and adorable!😁 asdfghjlk
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