Scarlett.
'Niall.' I whispered, softly slapping him against the cheek. He stirred a little.
'Niall.' I whispered louder.
His eyes slowly opened up and a smile curled his lips when he saw me. 'Goodmorning.' He spoke. His morning voice was kind of cute.
I pressed my finger against my lips and motioned for him to come out of the shelter.
Once he was out, he rubbed his eyes. 'Jesus Scarlett. What time is it? Did you-'
I quickly pulled him with me, until we were far away from the shelter.
'Can you do me a favor?' I asked. He groaned a little. 'It's not like I'll be able to fall asleep again. You practically leave me no choice.' Niall said.
I shrugged. 'Sorry. Look, here's the thing. I want to go swimming again but I'm afraid to go on my own.' I explained.
Suddenly, Niall was wide awake. 'So, let's go then!' He said, walking ahead of me.
I rolled my eyes. 'You're not allowed to look at me, Horan!' I replied, running after him.
'Ah come on! What's the fun of that?' He said, pouting.
'That, dear Niall, is called privacy.'
He huffed, following me. 'But Scarlett, you've been swimming on your own plenty of times. Why are you afraid all of a sudden?' Niall asked.
'Well... it's just... I don't know. I'm just scared.' I said, silently hoping he would drop the subject.'There must be a reason.' Niall said.Great. He's definitely not going to drop it.
'Alright then. The last time I went swimming, I... I had the feeling someone was looking at me. It scared the crap out of me.' I lied.
Niall nodded, luckily believing my bullshit story. It felt bad to lie at him, though.
'So, what do you want me to do?' He asked. I shrugged. 'Just sit down on a rock and wait.'
'Alright. If you need help, I'm available.' Niall said with a smirk.
I rolled my eyes. 'I'm sure you are.'
A few minutes later, I was dropping the shawl and taking off my underwear, looking behind me from time to time, to check if Niall wasn't breaking the rules.
I slowly walked into the river, and did my routine. When I was done, I turned around and saw Niall staring at me with an open mouth.
I groaned. 'I'm never going to take you with me again.' I said, walking out of the water with an angry expression on my face, not bothering to cover my body.
'Oh. I'm sorry, I just... eh, well-' He stammered. 'Cut the crap and turn around.'
I shook my head, mumbling a few obscenities while putting on my wet underwear. I ignored the voice in my head, that was telling me I hadn't disliked it when he saw me naked and wrapped the beach shawl around my body, walking towards the shelter.
'Oh, wait. Do you want to swim too?' I asked, turning around.
He nodded and I chuckled when I saw his flushed face.
'Thanks.' He mumbled. 'Please don't look at me.' He said, almost pulling down his underwear.
I shook my head. 'You look at me and then you still have the guts to ask me not to look at you?'
'But.... but it's... embarassing!' He whined.
'Why?!'
He growled and turned around, giving me a full view of the bulge in his boxers.
I couldn't help it and started laughing. Niall quickly turned around and pulled down his boxers before walking into the water, taking it with him. 'I hate you!' He yelled before diving in.
I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye and took a deep breath, still chuckling.
After a minute or two, I opened the shawl and lay down on the stone, enjoying the early sunrays.I heard Niall coming out of the water and shrieked when he shook the cold water out of his hair, spattering me.
I laughed and watched him putting on his wet boxers. 'Fuck, that's cold.' He mumbled.
'Just lay down on a rock. You'll be dry in no-time.' I said, closing my eyes.
A few minutes of silence passed before I suddenly felt his fingers caress my belly.
'I'm sorry for looking at you.' He whispered.
I opened one eye and smiled. 'It's okay. I understand. It’s all new for you.’ I joked.
Niall fake gasped and slapped my thigh. ‘It’s not! I’ve had plenty of women. I bet I have had more women than you’ve had men.’
I opened both of my eyes and sat up, feeling a little sad. ‘I think you’re right.’ I replied softly.
Men never seemed to be interested enough to get to know me. In the past, that is. All the attention I was getting from these guys… it was something I really had to get used to.
‘Did I say something wrong?’ Niall asked, placing his hand on my shoulder. I looked at him and forced a smile. ‘No. Not at all. It’s fine.’
Niall shook his head. ‘You’re lying. Even an idiot could’ve seen that.’
I chuckled. ‘Well, you could know, then.’
‘You are so mean…’ Niall sighed.
‘Let’s go back to the camp.’ I said, getting up and wrapping the shawl around me again.
‘I really ruined this, you know.’ Niall said.
I gave him a confused look. ‘Why?’
‘We were having fun! And now you’re sad.’ Niall explained.
I shook my head. ‘I’m fine, really.’
He sighed and placed an arm around my shoulder. ‘I still don’t believe you, but okay.’
And with his arm around me like that, we walked back to the camp.
Louis just came out of the shelter when we approached it and he whistled.
‘Had a nice ‘swim’, you two?’ He yelled, while moving his fingers like quotation marks.
We laughed and I shook my head. ‘We’re just friends, Louis.’
What I didn’t see, was Niall’s expression when I said that. It was crushed. Hurt.
And that happened in a matter of seconds.
With just a few, simple words.

Notes

Oh god, I had really planned to write more, to give you guys one last, big, good chapter before I went on vacation.
But you don't wanna know how bloody hot it is here... I couldn't write until late in the evening, when everything cooled down a bit. So that's why this chapter is a little short. And crappy.

Anyway, as I previously said, I'm going on a vacation, so the next chapter will be in 2 weeks!

I don't know if you have vacation too ( it really depends on which country you live in ) but for the ones who do; have a lovely vacation and for the ones who don't; don't worry, be happy ;)

And to everybody, have wonderful days! <3

Bye lovelies. 'See' you in two weeks.
X H.