"Got time for a game of footie lads?"
"Hell yeah!" Louis leaped out of the couch, positively excited with his eyes sparkling and bulging from there sockets. "We've got tons of time!"
"Race you lot out to the park," Harry called, rushing out through the ranch-slider. A giggle burst from my mouth when he kicked his toe on the lip of the door and hopped the few steps from the deck before bounding across the lawn and vanishing through the gap in the tall trees that divided the property and the park. Louis nudged the football up from it's spot in the corner of the room and then took off after him.
Liam's warm hand landed on my chest as I jogged over to the door, stopping me.
I rubbed my nose, "what?"
"It's cold out, and you're already sick. You should grab a jersey at least," Liam said, trying to push me backwards. I stood my ground.
"I'm not sick."
Liam's warm tawny eyes circled and he sighed as he retracted his hand, "whatever you say Nialler. Still, jersey?"
His muscled arms stuck out from the short sleeves of his T-shirt, crossed over his chest as he stood guard in front of the ranch-slider.
Childish stubbornness and spite caused me to shake my head, "nope, it's not cold."
I nimbly slid outside through the gap he'd left and then chased after Louis and Harry before he could stop me. Admitting to being sick sucked, especially when I wasn't even sick in the first place. No one else was wearing a jersey, why had Liam chosen me to go all mother hen on?
Once out on the park I darted between Louis and Harry and swiped the ball from them, dribbling into the corner as Liam approached our wide circle.
I made sure to turn away as I sniffled and sneezed twice, not wanting to give Liam the satisfaction. The autumn air was ever so slightly cooler than I'd anticipated, it was making my nose run. I wasn't sick.
"Go inside if you're not feeling well Ni, I can take these two on my own," Liam murmured as we lined up in the centre of the field, the ball trapped under my foot.
I snorted, "no you can't, and I'm not sick!"
"I heard you sniffling and sneezing all night, dork."
"Are we ever going to start?" Louis complained, stomping his feet. Harry kicked the back of his knee teasingly. As the continued with their playfighting Liam swiped the ball from beneath my shoe and took off down the field, straight past the two loser rolling in the grass. I ran after him lazily, choosing to ignore the hot air I was breathing, and how much my throat ached from the cold.
At the last second Liam booted me the ball and I gave it one last tap, "goal!"
Louis' head poked up from the pile of limbs still tangled in the middle of the field. I chuckled as he whacked Harry's leg and yanked him to his feet, pointing at Liam and I standing triumphant beside the goalposts.
"Not fair!" Harry yelled, "we weren't ready!"
"It's on now, you cocky pricks!"
The game went on for the best of a half hour before I ran out of energy and lost all enthusiasm. I couldn't be bothered, win or lose I didn't care anymore. However, Liam was still watching me like a hawk, patiently waiting for me to give in and let him take me inside for a hot shower and a dose of cold and flu.
I coughed and slowed my run to a jog, letting Liam chase after Louis. The thought of a hot shower made my numb fingers and toes buzz with excitement but the larger part of me wouldn't give in to Liam, I couldn't let him think that he was right when he wasn't. I wasn't sick, and I would deny it as many times as it took to get him off my back.
Next to me, Harry dropped onto his bum with a loud exhale, "I'm exhausted!"
I stared up at the grey sky as drop after drop landed on my forehead, slowly increasing in heaviness and frequency. The water started running down my neck under my clothes where it seeped into my bones and finally chilled me right to my core.
Harry laughed as a harsh shiver rattled through me from my head to my toes, "cold?"
"No," I huffed, narrowing my eyes at the raining sky. My hair was already becoming damp and wet. I had to keep moving if I wanted to keep this act up.
The grass instantly turned to mud as I ran after Louis and Liam up the other end of the field. Liam was still trying to gain possession but Louis hadn't noticed me so it was easy to pinch the ball out from underneath him. Wiping my dripping nose I began for mine and Liam's goal, the both of them hot on my heels.
"That's my ball Horan!" Louis laughed, sticking a foot out to try and steal the ball back. Unfortunately it was at the exact same time my nose tickled and my eyes shut as I sneezed into the air. The foot in my way wasn't known until I'd tripped over it and skidded across the grass a few metres before finally coming to a stop.
Louis cackled and swiped the ball back gleefully, turning back to his goal. Liam followed after, his clothes plastered to his figure. His shorts were glued half up his arse too but he didn't seem to notice.
I sat up with a grunt and quickly acknowledged the stinging pain in my leg. Harry crouched down beside me as I plucked a piece of grass from the cut running from my knee to the bottom of my shin, shuddering furiously as the cold continued to nip away at my every fibre. My fingers were frozen solid.
"Ouch," Harry said over the rain, pulling a face.
"Stings like a bitch," I rasped in agreement, my jaw clacking about.
"Must've been a stone in the ground," Harry determined, peering down at the muddy grass.
"Goal!" Louis shouted.
I met eyes with Liam on the other side of the field. Something about me on the ground shivering as if I was possessed made him run over and join Harry next to me, inspecting the bleeding slice on my shin.
"Shit, sorry Ni," Louis said as he approached, "didn't mean to hurt ya."
I shrugged as he scratched at the back of his neck, "y-you d-did-didn't kn-know."
"I told you to get a jersey," Liam huffed, shifting his wet hair off his face as the rain continued to pour. The word I'd use to describe it now was torrential. Keeping my eyes open was a mission because they were simply filling with rain water within moments.
I tried to tell him that I was fine, that I most definitely did not need a stupid jersey, but something in me clicked and all that came out was a fit of coughs that made my throat hurt even more. Harry fist thumped my back but it didn't help.
"Let's get him inside, we're gonna need to clean his leg up," Liam said, shielding his face with his hands.
"No," I exclaimed, "l-let's just k-k-keep playing!"
Even when I actively tried to suppress the shivering I couldn't stop it.
"It looks deep Ni, better off to take a look at it," Louis said, taking hold of one of my arms. One hand wrapped around my trembling hand while the other encased my elbow, "upsie daises. . ."
"F-fuck, hurts!" I groaned, coughing again. Liam went to grab onto my other side as if I needed crutches to walk. I would've rolled my eyes if I could open them, it didn't hurt that much.
A mildly offended look crossed Louis' face as I wriggled out of his grasp and stalked off in the direction of the house, my arms wrapped around myself in a tight hug as I limped on.
I was far ahead enough that nobody could see what I was up to, but even on my own I was too stubborn to let any of the sneezes or coughs out. By the time I finally stepped inside my nose was tickling furiously and my chest was burning. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror in the entryway and my entire face screwed up into an unattractive knot, red and dripping.
A single cough sputtered past my guards and I ended up doubled over next to the couch, shaking water everywhere.
"Sit down Ni, I'll grab something to clean you up with," Liam said as he entered the house, ushering Louis and Harry inside before locking the door behind himself with a shiver.
"He'll wet the couch," Harry pointed out.
"I'm gonna get changed," I croaked.
Louis shifted away with a grimace, "definitely don't want those germs."
I opened my mouth to defend myself again but Harry cut me off before I got anywhere, "you're congested Ni, we're not deaf, or stupid. Shut up."
Growling under my breath, I stalked off the the room I was sharing with Louis. We'd only arrived today so my belongings were scattered all over my bed, hanging out of my bag. One hand to my freezing nose I sluggishly grabbed a hoodie and something long and comfy to keep my legs warm. On my way to the bathroom I sneezed and tripped, knocking my cut leg on the door-frame. A strangled gasp left my lips as I tumbled into the bathroom, hardly catching myself on the vanity. More sneezing as I straightened up and peeled my saturated shirt off.
It hit the floor with a slap that made my head hurt.
Standing in the middle of the room butt naked and so cold that I couldn't make myself bend over and pick up my hoodie, painfully breathing past my stinging throat and barely able to keep my eyes open, I finally admitted to myself that maybe I had come down with something over the past couple of days.
Not that I would admit it to anyone else. It was only a cold, after all. I'd survive just fine on my own.
Once dressed I stuck a pair of socks on and blew everything I could from my nose and sinuses. A knock on the door made me quickly drop the paper into the toilet and flush it away, as if caught in some dirty act.
"Y-yeah?"
I winced and massaged my shredded throat.
"We found some antibiotic cream, can I come in?"
No. Antibiotic cream always hurt like hell.
"Uh, yeah," I replied anyway, tossing my hair out of my face. It was drenched, and the previously undiscovered source of the water still dripping down my spine. Harry came in as I wrung it out best I could into the sink.
"Do you want me to do it, or you could, or I could get Liam," he rambled, holding up a white tube.
I shook my heavy head and plopped down on the closed toilet seat, gesturing at the gashed leg I'd left bare, my pants rolled up above my knee, "do i-it."
"You're still shivering," Harry stated as he crouched down in front of me, "maybe you should shower."
I groaned, having completely forgotten about that. Now that I was fully dressed I couldn't really be bothered and it was the saddest thing ever because the hot water would've felt so good. . .too bad I was too lazy.
"Nah," I rasped as Harry wet a washcloth and began dabbing away at the torn skin. He asked if I was okay every time I hissed, which only made it go slower. The warmness of the cloth began to feel nice after a while and I was nearly asleep before Harry went in with the cream and my eyes nearly popped out of my skull as my whole leg erupted into flames.
"Ow. . ." was all I could get out, too tired to express much.
"Sorry," Harry grimaced, "there, all done."
He scanned me over, "I don't think you can wear stuff like that to the interview."
"I'll ch-change later," I said, after a couple of seconds pause. I'd forgotten all about the interview we had that night. It'd vanished from my mind. The last thing I felt like doing was sitting prim and proper on a stiff couch while someone fired questions at me, ones that I'd answered a thousand times over.
I grit my teeth and reprimanded myself. We actually hadn't done a proper interview in a while. It would probably be fine. I was being dramatic.
"Come on then, Louis' making hot drinks."
That night when we got back from the interview I slunk off to my room and drowned back some cold and flu tablets before changing out of my jeans and tight shirt and crawling into bed. It was late so no one bothered me and within a few minutes all the noise died down until only the soft hum of the heating system could be heard.
Well, that and the sniffling that I just couldn't seem to stop. When I did hold off I ended up needing multiple tissues to mop up whatever gross substance had gathered in the end of my nose. I resorted to stuffing my nose with tissues and falling asleep before any more sneezes fought their way out.
The next day was a blank slate and I spent most of the day telling the lads that I felt fine, great even, there wasn't anything I needed and I had slept just fine last night thank you very much. I tried as hard as I could to be convincing but the blanket and the pocketfuls of tissues I carried around with me all day probably made me difficult to believe. Plus, I looked like a steaming pile of shit. I could wash my face as many times as I liked but nothing would make my bloodshot eyes revert to normal, or the bags fade. The redness on my nose and cheeks seemed there to stay.
Along with a cough, it seemed. A nasty, uncontrollable one that I hated with a passion.
One more night and my time of sitting around was over as we had a concert to perform, after rehearsals, lunch with some fans, and then soundcheck at the venue just before. It was a big day and all I could do was hope that I had enough medication and willpower to get me through it.
I held my aching chest as I swallowed a third tablet, leaning against the vanity heavily. The throbbing headache I'd woken up with wasn't making matters any better, I was pretty sure that I was dying. Admitting to the lads that I really wasn't feeling good after all was turning into a very tempting option but all we had was this concert and then two days of nothing. That'd be plenty long enough to get this cold of mine under wraps, and also time for the rest of the band to drive me crazy with babying me if I did say that I was sick.
Rehearsals had me dreading every passing moment. We'd gone over all this a thousand times, I knew where I had to be! So what if I was zoning out and forgetting occasionally, I'd be perfect when we were actually in front of an audience. Hopefully.
Lunch. The fans we'd invited were so friendly, the food looked amazing even though I couldn't actually taste it, but I still couldn't force myself into enjoying the couple of hours we spent sitting in that restaurant. My headache from earlier was still annoyingly present and I just felt plain sick. I kept coughing and it was embarrassing. Ignoring the constant glances from the boys was exhausting.
"You know, we could probably still postpone tonight's concert," Liam said quietly to me as we walked to the van that was taking us back to the venue for the soundcheck.
I coughed roughly into my sleeve and looked over at him as innocently as I could manage, "why would we do that?"
Liam grimaced in synchronisation with me. My speech was awfully distorted, thick and painful sounding.
He didn't even bother answering me as he herded me into the van before him. I slowly climbed into the back and slumped against the side of the van. The interior was sharp and uncomfortable but I couldn't hold myself upright. Too tired.
"I can make a two minute call Ni, just say the word," Liam murmured as he sat down beside me and locked his seat belt over his lap.
I shook my aching head and sighed, moving to lean against Liam instead. He was a lot more comfortable, and warm, "I'm alright. . ."
"You're stubborn," Liam huffed. He tossed his jacket over top of me, "get some sleep."
As if I had a choice in the matter.
When I woke up I was no longer in the van and my eyelids were still just as heavy as ever. Sleeping hadn't done me any favours. I blew my nose into a handful of tissues from my pocket as I sat up and surveyed my new surrounding blearily.
Soon, I spotted Louis sitting and having his hair done on the other side of the room. The dressing room. I couldn't remember getting there. Had I walked half asleep? When was soundcheck?
"I was going to wake you in five minutes, guess I don't have to now."
I jumped and sneezed as Liam sat down next to me on the long sofa I'd been laying on. He must've guessed my question by the confused look on my face.
"Soundcheck's already been. We let you sleep through it," he explained, "there's twenty minutes until we're due on stage."
"But, wha- how-"
"We had to carry your heavy ass all the way here, you're welcome." Harry flounced past, behind the couch. Liam patted my back as I began to cough into my fist. The sweet and sympathetic look on his face almost broke me down, the words were right there on the tip of my tongue, 'I don't feel good!'
"Start's been pulled forward, five minutes!" Louis screeched, leaping out of his chair.
"Niall, come here!" The stylist yelled, beckoning hurriedly. I stood up and breathed a shaky breath, guess it was too late now .
"Good evening, aren't we a noisy crowd tonight?!"
With every song I regretted the front I'd put up more and more, resenting myself for it. I'd gone and made everything difficult for myself in the long run, this concert was pure torture. The lights and the people, the singing, the energy I had to fake, it all made everything worse.
"You have a fever. . ." Liam muttered away from his microphone when I sagged into his shoulder somewhere in the middle of the show. Uttering a sore cough, I picked my head up and sang out a painful chorus.
"Sorry I sound like such shit," I croaked, the music pounding in my ears. The lights were far too bright to see anyone's reaction.
"You need your bed," Louis chuckled, thumping my back as we finally headed off stage an hour later. Although weak, the hit was unexpected and it made me stumble and trip over my own feet. If Liam hadn't caught me I might've had an unpleasant collision with the cold ground.
"Not the time Lou, he's not good," Liam said, straightening me up.
"Sorry I've been so defensive," I mumbled, tucking myself up into his side, "just wanted to push through."
"You don't have to Mate," Harry frowned, "you shouldn't have done that show."
"It's done now," I whispered as Liam assisted me up into the van, "thank god. . ."
Unfortunately I wasn't lucky enough to sleep through the drive this time around. As tired as I was my body was doing it's best to get back at me for all the coughs and sneezes I'd resisted during the concert. Like the other day out in the rain, I was shivering like mad and feeling the effects of the fever Liam had spoken of. My chest hurt, ribs heaving against skin.
Back at the house I was too tired to keep the boys from fussing over me for ten minutes before they literally tucked me into bed and left me to it, a glass of water and a box of tissues on the nightstand. I fell asleep quickly, dreading the doctor's appointment Liam had promised tomorrow morning.
After five minutes of examination it was determined that I had a chest infection and would need antibiotics in order to clear it. Much to the lads happiness I gave up on trying to deal with shit on my own and instead let them do whatever I wanted. I couldn't be screwed anymore. I'd had a rough few days and was perfectly happy to lay on the couch and do nothing for a couple of days while they took advantage of it, glad to be given the chance to finally do something for me without me fighting them about it.
I'd have to let my stubbornness go more often, because it really was nice.