Maddie’s POV

I felt the cool breeze fluttering on my skin before I even opened my eyes. Yesterday’s events played over in my head and the pain came flooding back.

Still keeping my eyes shut tightly, afraid to see what the new day would look like, I stretched my arms and legs fully, feeling the muscles groan as I did so. I relaxed again with a small sigh and lay there for a moment, before opening my groggy eyes. I blinked rapidly because of the light streaming in from the window.

I froze. I usually kept the curtains shut over the closed window. So why did I feel sunlight and a breeze?
Suddenly I felt another presence in the room and my heartbeat increased. I turned around cautiously and my heat nearly stopped abruptly.

Niall stood in the center of the room uncertainly. He looked at me, unsure of my actions. I took a half-step backwards and my voice cracked while asking, “Wh-what are you doing in here? How did you get in here?”
An apologetic look crossed his features, which the sunlight hit perfectly. He paused before speaking and pulled out something from his pocket and offered it to me. “You left your phone last night.”

I stared at it, not moving an inch. He sighed and placed it on the table. My eyes stayed on him, questioningly. He cleared his throat. “I guess you’re wondering how I got in here…”

I rolled my eyes and sat down on the bed. He smiled ever so slightly and continued. “Well I came here to drop it off outside your door, but it-it was kind of open…”

My eyebrows furrowed. I was never so forgetful as to not shut my own door. He pointed behind him and my gaze stopped. Sure enough, the door was open, just a crack. I closed my eyes in frustration. I heard movement and felt a warm hand brush my arm. My eyes flew open and I flinched away from him. Sadness filled his eyes.

“I’m so sorry, Maddie, but I had to see you again…I couldn’t just let you leave like that.”

“Niall…” I whispered painfully, my voice scratchy. He shook his head. “No, don’t speak. Just listen to me right now.”

He watched me carefully. I looked at him pointedly and he took a breath. “Okay, I know…I know this isn’t easy for either of us, and I don’t know why, but…I want to be your friend. That’s all. I can tell you don’t want anything more than that and I will respect that. But I think….I think I need you. I know that sounds insane, seeing as we just met, but there’s something about you; I feel like I’ve known you forever and I want to know you more. I really do,” he added when I stared at him in disbelief.

He wanted to be more than friends? No, that couldn’t be right. I just heard him wrong. I shook my head and looked up at him. “But why?”

“Why? Are you serious? Because you’re amazing! You’re a real person and I honestly don’t know very many of those. And…and I think you need a friend right now.”

“I don’t need anyone—“ I began to mumble automatically, but he cut me off. “Yes, you do. I don’t know you very well yet, but I can tell you have a hard time getting close to people. You’re really polite and kind, but if someone wants to know you more, you start to shy away. And I don’t want that. I want you to open up. No more hiding. No more running away, you got that?” His clear blue eyes bored into mine, not quavering at all.

I felt unsure of myself. It must have been obvious, because he took my hands gently in his and whispered, “I promise to be here for you, when you need me. I’m not going anywhere.”

Deep inside, I felt the hesitation. Something telling me it couldn’t be real; that he didn’t really want me, and that I wasn’t worth anything. That I just tore things apart. And I was tired of listening to it. I’d lived my whole life that way; not trusting myself with others. I needed a change. I needed to trust Niall. So I met his gaze bravely and nodded. His eyes widened and I nodded again.

A look of pure joy swept across his face and he picked me up and swung me around, laughing. I stumbled as he put me down, shocked. “Sorry, sorry!” he laughed, ecstatic.

“But we’re just friends.” I said firmly. He agreed, but I thought I saw the light in his eyes fade a little, but I dismissed it; it was probably the light. I smiled, hoping it was a happy smile, and he returned it.

“Okay, okay, now I have to get ready for today, so you need to leave,” I said as I shooed him out the door.
“Wait, what are you doing today?’ he asked while shoving his foot in the doorway, so that I couldn’t slam it.
“I’m going sightseeing. I’m in London aren’t I?” He laughed. “May I join you after I get out of rehersals?”
I shrugged. “If you want. I’m pretty boring though.”

I thought I heard him mutter something under his breath, but decided that I really was going crazy. “Anyways, I’ll meet you…at the London Eye. At six thirty tonight,” he said.

I nodded and smiled at him. “See you then.” He waved goodbye and allowed me to close the door. I stood still for a moment, completely taken aback with myself. But this was a new me, and I needed this, I kept telling myself. This would be good for me, I thought firmly, before heading off to get ready for the day.


Niall’s POV

Her eyes met mine through the crack in the door. “If you want. I’m pretty boring though.”

“You’re anything but,” I breathed to myself. Her eyebrows pulled together a little, and I snapped out of it.

“Anyways, I’ll meet you…at the London Eye. At six thirty tonight,” I told her. She nodded and smiled.

“See you then,” she waved happily and I returned the wave. The door shut and I turned around. I was happy she’d agreed to be my friend, but I couldn’t help but want more. I pushed these feeling deep inside me, knowing I couldn’t have her like that. I’d rather have her as a friend than not at all. So I smiled contentedly and left her hotel, making my way through the streets.