Luke’s P.O.V.

I turn around when I hear screaming and Niall looks at me like he’s been caught. However I realize that he hasn’t been caught. He’s been found.

“Luke, we can get mochas later.” Niall gulps, grabbing my hand. “Right now, we need to get the hell out of here.”

I hold back for a second and pull him back too. “Wait Niall, listen.”

“We don’t have time for that!” he exclaims, trying to tug me out of the coffee shop.

“Dammit, Niall, listen! The screaming stopped.” I yell. I’m sure that we’ve already attracted much attention in the Starbuck’s shop. An elderly couple looks at us in annoyance, probably thinking we’re a couple of crazy, hormonal teenagers.

“False alarm,” Niall blushes after a while. I roll my eyes at him and pay the person at the cash register, who looks extremely shocked to see Niall. It’s a guy, but I guess when a member of the biggest boyband in the world in standing in the shop you work at, it is anyone’s right to be shocked.

The employee asks for an autograph, explaining that his girlfriend is in love with the band, and that’s how he had recognized Niall. Niall apologizes to the guy for making such a scene in the shop, and the two end up making conversation until a couple walks in to order. Niall and I sit down at a table for two away from the windows and Niall apologizes to me as well for getting so worked up.

“Do you always panic this much when you think paparazzi are following you?” I ask, sipping my peppermint mocha.

“No,” Niall admits. “But you’re here with me, and I really don’t want to scare you away from me because of the whole famous package I carry with me. I just want to be a normal guy, you know, going out with a girl to shop and get mochas on a Friday afternoon, but it’s so hard with the career that I have.”

“Niall, I don’t think the paparazzi are going to scare me,” I smile warmly. “After all, I don’t think anything could scare me more than losing my mother.”

“I just,” Niall pauses, running a hand through his hair stressfully. “I don’t want to bring you into the world that I’ve managed to get away from by spending time with you. You make me forget about all the paparazzi and shit, and I don’t want that to somehow affect you.”

“So your saying that you want me to be a secret?” I question. I’m not happy with this, if it’s what he’s intending on saying.

“No,” Niall shakes his head.

“Then what are you trying to say?” I gulp. My heart hurts as I stir my mocha with the thin black straw. Niall is the only person I’ve cared so much for, and it would hurt for my feelings to be rejected by him.

“Look, Luke,” NIall sighs, taking my hand.When I retract my hand from him, a look of pain hits his face. “I don’t want you to be a secret. I want the world to know that you are the girl I like. I just don’t want you to get the wrong kind of attention.”

“What, you mean hate?”

Niall nods, keeping his head low.

“Niall, I honestly don’t care what people think of me.” I inform quietly.

“I understand that,” Niall nods, running his thumb over my hand. “But sometimes, it really does get to you.”

“You’ve gotta take risks in life, sometimes,” I say, my eyes drifting towards a guy flirting with the lady who had taken over the cash register. “Even if it could cost you something.”

“But I don’t want to take a risk if it costs you.” Niall answered almost inaudibly, stirring at his mocha. I feel my should sag and my throat begins to close up. I know I’m about to cry, but I can’t. Not in front of him. Soon enough, I realize that in crushing my cup, the hot liquid coming out from the opening at the top. I stop and turn away to take a small breath.

“I don’t understand you.” I breath, my eyes boring into his. And then I stand up and walk away before my heart can make me stop and turn back to him. I drop my mocha in the trash can as I run. I don’t even know where I’m going, but I get weird looks from people as I rush past them. It seems that whenever I become comfortable with something, lets say, a person, they seem to think the exact opposite of me.

I guess that’s why I devoted my life to the woods and to my dog. People are horrendous things that some devil created. All they do is hurt and crash and burn. Nothing will ever change about that. I push past people, mumbling an apology once in a while until I give up and start walking. I’m probably far enough from Niall anyway. I sit down on a bench in the middle of the mall that’s next to an indoor fountain. It’s quite big, water shooting up from the middle to crash back down into the pool of water. There are other people seated down on the other benches surrounding the fountain. Couples kiss, kids dance around, girls go over what they’ve bought together.

Then I remember I left my dress in Starbucks.

Forget the dress. I’m not going to go to Niall’s stupid party anyway. Maybe it’s because he rejected me. Maybe it’s because I’m too sensitive of a person. Maybe it’s because I’ve never had a friend before, but I break down in the middle of the mall. I try to keep my sobs quiet, but I really just can’t hold it in anymore. My hands shake and I feel so alone.

Until someone sets their hand on my shoulder.

I look up, my eyes most likely bloodshot. Callie stands in front of me, her eyebrows scrunched together in worry. Callie Way is a bit like my on again- off again friend. Shes theres for me, but we really don’t talk all too much. I don’t consider her a friend at all, but at least she acknowledges my existence.

“Luke, what happened?” she asks, sitting next to me on the bench. She holds a shopping bad in one hand. Callie is extremely beautiful and I truly do envy her looks.

“I tripped and fell on the ground,” I lie, crossing my fingers that she’ll believe. Instead, she rolls her eyes and turns even more towards me.

“I want the truth, Luke,” she says softly. Her chocolate brown eyes glisten with worry, dark against her lightly tanned skin.

“It doesn’t matter,” I shake my head. “It’s not like he cares anyway.”

“He?” Callie raises her eyebrows. Shit. My stupid big mouth strikes yet again. “Who is he? What did he do to you?”

“It’s no one.” I shake my head. I stand up, declaring the conversation over. I nod my head at her with a forced smile and walk away from her.

Or maybe it’s my fault that any of this happened, because I push everyone away. Maybe it’s my fault that I’m crying, because I don’t like to negotiate. I don’t like to be alone, but I don’t like to be disturbed.

And I like it that way.

---

Niall’s P.O.V.

I stare at the wooden table as people walk in and out of Starbuck’s. I’ve messed up. I’m just so scared that if Luke is exposed to the world, she’ll break down. She’s so fragile, but shes good at hiding it with that attitude of hers. It angers me a bit that she pouts when she doesn’t get what she wants, but I understand why that pisses her off.

I kissed her first. I suggested we hold hands that day in the woods. Yet I reject her when she suggests we try dating.

It’s all my fault.

The door chimes, signaling that someone has entered. I look up to see a dark haired girl strolling in. She walks with pride, but the look she has in her eyes in kind. Her nice body only reminds me of Luke’s. She walks up to the counter and orders her drink, laughing along with the working employee. She looks like a friendly girl. I guess I’m so caught up in studying her that I don’t notice that shes actually walking towards me.

“Hi,” she smiles, stopping at my table. I look up, praying she doesn’t know about the band I’m in.

“Erm, hi.” I nod. Her smile turns into a smirk and her crosses her arms over her chest.

“No one’s seen you yet, I’m guessing?” she spoke lowly. “It’s a pretty risky move, Horan, coming out to a public shopping center without any disguise. Well, at least she’s not a crazed fan.

“No one’s really noticed me at all,” I shrug. The girl shifts her weight out her hip and sticks out her hand.

“I’m Callie.”

“Niall,” I shake her hand, then she drops it. She studies my face carefully to the point where I get a little freaked out, and then plops into the seat across from me where Luke had sat.

“You’re sad, aren’t you?” she guessed, resting her chin on her hands which were propped up by her elbows. “What happened?”

I’m especially hesitant to tell her what's going on, but she really doesn’t seem like the kind of girl who would go tell the world my problems.

“Trust me, I don’t do blogs.” Callie rolls her eyes. God, she reminds me so much of Luke, especially when she rolls her eyes.

“Well,” I exhale. “there’s this girl that I’ve been friends with for a while now. I like her a lot and were sort of dating, only we’re not. So today, she pretty much suggested we become official but I chickened out because I thought she wouldn’t be able to handle all the pressure.”

“Well, that was stupid,” Callie snorts. “She suggested it, meaning that she’s ready.”

“I know.” I mumble, rubbing my forehead. “She’s never going to forgive me. She literally ran out of here and now she’s probably crying her ass off because of me.”

“Huh,” Carrie huffs. “I just ran into one of my friends crying on a bench. What a depressing day.”

“Tell me about it.” I sigh, picking at the lid of my cup. “I just wish I hadn’t let her walk out of here.”

“Yeah,” Callie snorts. “That might’ve helped a bit.”

I chuckled slightly at her extremely dry sarcasm. Shes a great person to talk to, but it hurts to talk to her because she only reminds me of Luke.

“What’s her name?” Callie asks suddenly. My head snaps up and I stare at her. I reckon that shes notices that I don’t necessarily trust her. “I swear you can trust me. I’m not exactly a fan of your music.”

I sigh and run my fingers through my hair. “Her name is Luke.”

Callie freezes. “Did you just say Luke?”

“Um,” I clear my throat. “Yes, why?”

“Luke Aesbury?” Callie questions. My eyes widen and I slowly nod in answer to her question. Next thing I know, Callie reaches over and gives me a good slap on the head.

“What the hell?” I hiss, looking at her as if she were a terrifying creature. She looks pissed off.

“You bastard!” she hisses back. “Luke is the girl that I saw crying on the bench. Oh my god. It all makes sense now. She told me she was crying because of a guy, but she wouldn’t tell me who. Then she just walked away.”

Luke told me she didn’t have friends.

“How do you know Luke?” was all I could say.

“She goes to my school. Or she did, before we graduated. Quiet girl, but she is truly lovely. I honestly envy her-“ Callie cuts herself off. “Hold on a second. You’re trying to change the subject. God how the hell could you do this to her?”

“I already explained everything you.” I say, though I’m quite intimidated by the tough look in her eyes. Callie narrows her eyes and I’m sure her teeth clench under her lips.

“I’m hoping that you’re planning on apologizing to her.”

“What would I say?” I shoot at her. “‘I’m sorry that I’m protecting you from a crazy ass world?’”

“Look kid,” Callie stood up and dusted her jeans off. “Luke and I may not be that close, but last year, everyone in the whole damn high school knew that Luke was stronger than most anyone. Sure, she could get beat up easily, but she’s strong at heart. She’s got her mind set on something, she goes for it. She won’t let stupid things like rumors break her down. Thats not how she is. So before you accuse her of being weak, just remember my words.”

Callie grabs her drink and starts to walk away, but then she turns back and places a hand on her hip.

“Got anything to say for yourself?”

I shake my head, sucking in a breath. Callie just told me, and now I feel incredibly stupid. I always knew Luke was strong, but I thought she just acted that way in order to show how fragile she was. I guess I had forgotten the fact that she was human, and that humans had their up’s and downs in life. I had just happened to step into Luke’s life and a major down point.

The next thing I know, Callie slaps a small piece of paper down in front of me on the coffee table. She gives me a stern look and looks straight into my eyes.

“Down let her down, Niall.” Callie whispers. “She’s worth it.”

Callie walks off without another word. I look down at the piece of paper and see a line of digits marked on it, along with a small note.

Call me if you need help. I’ll cut your throat if I don’t see a smiling Luke by next weekend.

I smile, because I read the note in Callie’s voice.

---

I ignore Niall’s calls for the first four hours where I’m home alone. I don’t want to see him. I don’t want to see anyone. I just want to be left alone to my own sorry misery. Hotshot sits on my lap as I lay in bed. I’ve cried enough. I think he’s tired of all the tears I’ve shed over the last few days. I wish that my mother were here to comfort me through this. Maybe she would show me how to deal with boys, because I’d never had to deal with one before.

I miss my mother more than anything.

I watch the clock because I’m supposed to go see my father soon. I watch the clock as the seconds hand clicks by, marking a second of the day passed. I wish the clock would move faster. Hotshot barks softly, more like a grunt. I look down at him and see his tongue sticking out. He pants softly, tail wagging. I know this means he wants to go for a walk.

I realize that I haven’t paid much attention to him at all. I’ve been so caught up in spending time with Niall My poor dog had been left out of everything. I force myself out of bed and walk over to my bedroom window. I press the back of my hand against the glass to determine the temperature. I decide jogging in shorts and a hoodie will be fine. It’s nearing around five in the afternoon by the time Hotshot and I set out. The sun is already beginning to set, but it’s a nice evening. The winds are mild so theres a nice breeze.

Hotshot runs by my side and we jog deeper and deeper into the woods. We reach our little place and I gulp when I spot the tree swing Niall had attached to the tallest tree in the small area. I sit down in it and push my legs back and forth to get the swing in motion. Hotshot runs around the swing from the ground, barking happily.

I wish I was enjoying life as much as he is.

Hotshot gets impatient from simply running around in circles and whines, begging for me to get off the swing and continue on jogging. I jog with him until we reach the waterfalls. He sprints towards the water before I can pick him up and splashes around in it eagerly.

I could use a swim.

It’s getting dark anyway, so I’m sure no one will come out here. I pull off my hoodie and my shirt, then my shorts, then step into the water. It’s not as cold as I thought it would be, but it still takes a few minutes of getting used to. I plunge underwater until I settle under the waterfall. There isn’t much water falling today, since it’s been a decently dry evening. I sink further into the water until only my hair can be seen from the surface, and swim along the edge of the large pond. As my feet kick, I run my hand over the wet rock that rests underwater.

The rock is beautiful, all the different shades and designs. It’s incredibly smooth as well, and it feels nice on my fingers. That is, until my finger runs over something rough. I stop and come up for a breath before diving back down to see what is so rough about the particular area of rock. That’s when I see it.

Carved deep enough into the rock are six words that give me shivers.

King Niall and Queen Luke’s Kingdom.

Notes

So.... last update was fifteen days ago. I'm sorry for any who has waited. I hope that you're still interested in this story. I honestly love writing this but school comes first. :P Hope you all aren't too fed up with me????

I would love it if I could get some comments and votes. Thank you!

Gah I just feel like being eeextra formal today. I dunno. It's a bit weird.