Niall’s flat was nice, and you could tell he lived there alone. The décor was basic and coordinated; I guessed he had had some help with that. It had a comfortable feel to it. Out of habit, I slipped my shoes off and left them by the door. He dropped his keys in a bowl and after kicking off his Nikes, padded across the living room. He disappeared around a corner.

I turned to my left and saw a small, bright room. Its theme was obviously his band. Plaques and awards hung on the wall and shelves, all adorned with the One Direction logo, as well as pictures of Niall and the other boys with fans, celebrities, and what I took as family members and friends. I smiled to myself; this was his life and he loved what he did. I felt he was very proud of his and his band mates’ accomplishments.

Footsteps behind me approached until they stopped at my side. I turned my head to glance at him; his eyes were fixed on a picture toward the middle of the wall. It featured the band in what looked like a hospital room, all standing around a young girl. She appeared to be recovering from radiation treatment. I thought it was so sweet that they took time to visit their fans, especially the ones whose life was so riddled with difficulties.

Niall removed his attention from the photo and met my gaze. “I really like this,” I said softly, gesturing to the display of pictures and awards. He nodded. “I like to show people I enjoy what I do.”

“I can tell,” I mused. We stood there for another few moments before my placed a hand on my shoulder and guided me back through the living room into the kitchen. He’d set out some food: snacks and drinks and candy, all in little bowls.

I grinned. “This is adorable!” I exclaimed, rushing over to the counter, taking a handful of skittles. He soon joined me, fitting more food in his mouth than I thought possible. We grinned at each other goofily and took the food over to the black, plush-looking couches that occupied a large portion of the main room.

“So. Any preferences?” he asked, waving his hand toward the TV console, which was completely filled with movies.

I set down my personal stash of food and browsed through his collection. I saw lots of my favorite titles, but I couldn’t decide which one to choose. I picked out several and rejoined him.

He cocked an eyebrow. “What?” I protested, “I can’t decide.” He chuckled. “You’re so cute, you know that?”

I snorted. “Please.”

“But it’s true.”

“Okay, fine, I’m cute.” I said, looking angrily down at the carpet. “But that’s all I’ll ever be. I’m just cute. I’m not beautiful or even pretty or—“

He quickly interrupted me, by placing his hands on either side of my face, trapping me effectively and forcing me to meet his gaze. His blue eyes penetrated the darkness in the room and blazed with some emotion that I couldn’t put a name to. He held me firmly, yet gently, as if he were afraid to break me, as if I were a delicate piece of artwork. As if I was of any value to him.

His lips parted, to speak, I assumed, but instead he leaned forward, closing the distance between us and plant an infinitely light, gossamer kiss on my forehead. I was so taken aback by his actions that I did the only thing I could think to do in this situation that was surely not even reality; I shut down.



Niall’s POV

I viewed my life so differently now than I used to, back when I lived with my family in Ireland. I only grew more successful in my career and became closer with my friends and family; that’s all I have ever wanted from life. I didn’t ever really think of finding love. I’d just assumed that it would happen on its own timing, and when it did, I would happily give in. Sure, I’d dated girls before and I’d loved girls before, but I knew I had yet to be in love with someone.

And let’s get this straight, I do not believe in love at first sight. To fall in love with someone, you have to feel so much more deeply than simply being infatuated with them. You have to know them, inside and out, and they have to know you, perhaps even better than you know yourself.

No relationship is perfect, but the best ones, the ones in which the couple is truly in love, will stay together until death parts them, the way it was meant to be. People in love will not let anything separate them.
I have never experienced these feelings before in my life, and I have always assumed that one day I would find the perfect person for me, my princess. I didn’t know who she would be, or what she would be like, and I’d like to think she would be a certain way, but I also could not have been more wrong. She exceeded everything I had anticipated.