This was perhaps the first lull in conversation between us that held a twinge of awkwardness. Niall’s long musicians’ fingers tapped nervously on the steering wheel and I fiddled with my hands in my lap. I couldn’t meet his eyes, for fear of what I would find there. I had no idea what possessed me to act how I did back there with those fans, but I was pretty sure Niall didn’t like it.

I snuck a peak out of the corner of my eye to find his jaw clenched, muscles standing out on the smooth planes of his face. A vein jumped near his temple. I winced inwardly. He looked completely annoyed by my obnoxious behavior and was probably just going to drop me off at my hotel instead of taking me to hang out with the rest of the boys.

Niall spoke after a while. “What are you thinking?”

I was taken aback. He was angry with me and he wanted to know what I was thinking? I didn’t know quite how to respond, so I didn’t, even though I felt guilt gnawing at my heart. I heard him sigh quietly.

Around fifteen minutes later, he pulled the car into an unfamiliar lot and stopped in front of a building I had never seen before. He put the car in park, but left it on, and before I could even reach for the door, I saw him push the lock button. I glanced up at him in surprise and met his light blue eyes. His face was hard to read.

He still looked a bit angry and exasperated, but there was another emotion visible that I could not put my finger on. He met my gaze evenly for a minute and then whispered, “Don’t do this again; shut down. Please.” His eyes closed briefly before locking with mine.

“Look, I don’t know what this is,” he continued, gesturing between us, “but I don’t want to lose it. I feel like I’ve known you for much longer and I think you’re a really great person. I already told you that I am here for you, so please don’t shut me out anymore. I don’t know what I did, but I’m sorry—“

I interrupted. “No, please don’t apologize, you didn’t do anything wrong,” I said. “It’s just me, it’s what’s wrong with me. I-I’m not normal…I guess, if that makes any sense. I have a hard time getting close with people. I can pretend to, and I get along with others easily, but a real, intimate relationship, no matter what type, I just have problems with. And I don’t know why. I hate it,” I whispered.

Niall shushed me and moved closer, taking my hands in his. He looked pained and for some unexplainable reason, that alone caused a jolt of pain throughout my own body.

“There isn’t anything wrong with you, hear me?” he asked. I started to shake my head ‘no’, but he squeezed my hands, quite hard, and I nodded instead. “You just need to trust yourself, and me. I’m not going to promise you anything; that I’ll always be your friend, that I’ll always be here for you, that I’ll never hurt you, because I don’t know what the future holds in store. But I will tell you one thing. I will damn well try my best to help you.” He reached out and brushed a lock of hair that had fallen into my face behind my ear.

“Th-thank you. That’s sweet,” I mumbled, blushing.

“It’s the truth,” he replied simply. He smiled tentatively at me and I returned it. “Ready?” he asked. I nodded and we both got out of the car. He met me at the front and kept close to me as we entered the building.
“Who lives here?’ I questioned.

“This is Harry and Louis’s flat,” he explained as we reached an apartment on the third floor. He patted his pockets, only to be disappointed.

“Fuck,” he muttered to himself while knocking on the door, “left me key at home.”

I slapped his arm playfully. “Hey! Watch your language mister!”

“Sorry,“ he grinned sheepishly. I rolled my eyes and pretended to glare at him.

“Yeah, whatever, well I don’t like it when people curse. I’m mad at you.”

“Oh, are you now?” he chuckled, going along with it.

“Yes,” I said curtly, turning my back to him and folding my arms to my chest.

He mock-growled in my ear, “I haven’t forgotten that you’re still my hostage. You’ll just have to put up with me, then.” I jumped in shock when I felt his arms wrap around my waist from behind, trapping me against his warm, broad chest. He buried his face in my neck, nudging against it, and I felt an involuntary shiver run through my spine.

He blew softly behind my ear, causing me to squirm in his grasp. “Niall, stop!” I laughed.

Just then the door was pulled open and light flooded the hallway. Louis stood, his hand on the frame, leaning casually against it. “Well, well, what have we here?” he asked, a cheeky smile planted across his face. Niall stepped back immediately, releasing me.

Heat crept up my cheeks. “Uhm…hey Louis,” I mumbled and Niall waved slightly. Louis just grinned.

“Don’t just stand there all embarrassed-like, come in!” he said loudly. Niall placed his hand on the small of my back and ushered me forward, closing the door behind him. I slipped my shoes off politely and followed Louis through the entryway.

When we came into what I took as the living room, I saw Harry and Liam sprawled out on a large couch by the back wall and Zayn lounging in an arm chair next to them. Louis disappeared into the kitchen, calling, “Hazza! Get your arse in here and help me with the food!”

Harry groaned. “No…” he mumbled to himself.

“Harry,” Liam chided from beside him, “Go give him a hand.”

Harry leaned on Liam’s shoulder, covering his face with his hands. “Naww, don’t make me go,” he whined. Zayn snickered and Liam sighed.

“I’ll help,” I offered and began to walk to the kitchen. Harry shot up and sprinted to the kitchen before me, and Niall grabbed my arm, yanking me to a halt. “No, you don’t,” he said, “You just come sit down.” I stuck my tongue out at him and he rolled his eyes, before sliding his hand down my arm and lacing his fingers through mine, leading me over to the empty spot beside Liam. He plopped down and I sat in between him and Liam, removing my hand from his. A strange look passed over his face, and I was about to ask him about it when Liam got my attention.

“So how have you been Maddie?” He smiled warmly at me.

I returned the smile. “I’ve been all right, and you?”

“Been good, been good.” We continued to chat until Louis and Harry poked their heads around the corner. “Food’s ready!” they shouted together.

Niall and I both leapt up and ran into the kitchen, eager to eat. I heard laughs from behind us as we halted in front of the counter. Plates of food lay covering the surface, loaded with chicken and rice and all other types of food.

“Nando’s!!” Niall bellowed. I laughed; I’d heard of how much he loved that place, but I had never had it before.

Niall turned to me. “Get ready for the most amazing experience of your life,” he said seriously.

Notes

Okay, so I guess I lied...I did have enough time to write another, LONGER chapter tonight..there you go!!!