What A Feeling

Niall warms up the soup, while Becca relaxes on the couch. He watches her from the kitchen. I’m not sure which makes my heart race more? How beautiful she is, or how she yells at the game on the tv? He wonders.
Becca turns to look at him. “What are you grinning about?”
“You.” Niall winks.
Becca rolls her eyes, returning to the game.
Niall hands her a bowl of soup, sitting down beside her on the couch.
“This is really good, Niall. Thank you for making this for me.”
“I’m glad you like it, B.”
As the game ends, he flips through the channels.
Becca yells out. “Stop! Moneyball’s on.”
Niall clicks on the movie.
“Oh good, it just started. Have you seen it, Niall?”
He smiles. “No. I take it, it’s one of your favorites though.”
“Of course, it’s about my team.”
“Well, I was going to ask you to teach me all about baseball, so maybe this is a good start.”
She gets a sparkle in her eye, moving in even closer to Niall, apparently happy to share her love of the sport with him.
Niall watches her intently as she explains the story behind the movie, and all the finer points of baseball; such excitement and passion in her voice.
I hope one day she’ll feel at least half as passionately about me as she does baseball.

“What? You’re grinning again.” Becca asks.
“You’re beautiful when you talk baseball.”
She swats his knee, then looks down, blushing.
Niall wonders. Will I look back at this someday and think, yep, that’s the moment I fell in love with her.

Later, after the movie, Niall orders pizza. They have some slices and watch another movie.
When the movie ends, Becca asks. “Niall, can we talk?”
He feels a lump in his throat. “Uh oh.”
God, please don’t let her say she never wants to see me again.
She crosses her legs, sitting directly across from Niall, on the couch. “I know that I’ve been sending you some mixed signals. I’m really sorry, I wasn’t doing it on purpose.”
Niall touches her bare knee. “It’s alright.”
“I’m just confused. I had a certain way of thinking, and lately I’ve been questioning that.”
Niall grins. “Because of me?”
Becca laughs. “Yes, because of you, you big dork.”
Niall flutters his eyelashes, complete with cheesy grin.
Becca pushes on his chest, laughing. “I’m trying to be serious, Horan.”
He pauses.
“I think we need to focus on just being friends right now.” She says.
“That’s all you want?” Niall asks.
“Um, well, um, I...I think we should just focus on friendship, and deal with anything else later.”
Niall grins. She wants more, she’s just scared.
“B, I just want to spend time with you. If you want to do that as friends, then I’ll be your BFF.”
Becca laughs. “Does that mean I have to get us matching best friends bracelets?”
Niall feigns shock. “Um, duh, of course you do.”

When Niall leaves Becca’s flat, he runs into Kara in the hall.
“Hey, have you been with Becca all day?”
Niall grins. “Yep.”
“And how did it go?”
“It was great, but anytime I spend with her is great.”
“Aww.” Kara teases.
“She just gave me the I think we need to just focus on being friends right now speech.”
Kara frowns. “Crap. I know she likes you as more than friends, Niall.”
Niall smiles, a twinkle in his eye. “It’s alright, I have a plan.”
“Oh really, what’s the plan?”
“I’m going to date her without her even realizing it.”
“Hmm, interesting. Well, I wish you the best of luck, Mate.”

Notes