Chapter Text
Niall pov
"Nialler hurry up" Louis hollers as races ahead of me and slaps me over the back of my head as he passes me.
"Oi dick 'ead t'at 'urt" I grumble but walk a bit faster as we are running late again and coach will kill us for missing warm ups.
"me me me. Bla bla bla T'AT 'URT" Louis mocks as he jogs back to me and stops right in front of me.
"Walk t'en. T'ough' we were late" I mutter and nudge him to keep walking.
"We are nialler my boy. We are. Hey isn't that styles' car?"
"Yeah. T'ink so" I grumble as I glance over at the black corsa. It's a very clean car but it has a lot of.... problems. Last week it was the window that wouldn't wind up. A few weeks ago there was a leak in the petrol tank. A few months before that the brakes were faulty. You get it. It's a hazard. It's a death trap.
"He's left his lights on. Twat" Liam scoffs.
"Bless. Ah well. No harm done"
"It'll drain t'e battery" I frown and stop walking.
"What?" Liam mutters and looks at me like I have two heads.
"Leavin' t'e ligh's on. It'll drain t'e battery" I repeat. I told them both months go I was doing a course on mechanics so I can go into that after college. Shows how much they listen to me and my interests.
"How'd you know that?" Louis laughs.
"Never min' " I sigh and head up to Harry's door. He's very.... how do I put this.... weird? He's full of tattoos (So are Liam and louis) but he's got really long hair that he's always got in a man bun or in plaits which is weird on a man. He's younger than me but like 6 foot tall and really all muscle but he's got no coordination what so ever. He's always decking it over his own feet or forgetting how long his limbs really are. As I said, weird.
"Hello?" Harry mumbles as he opens the door. Shirtless and with a mouth full of toast.
"Hiya mate, you've er- lef' you're light's on. On yah car" I mumble as I try not to stare at his chest. I'm not gay. Not even curious. Never even had a second thought about a boy. And then there's harry. Harry who is adorable yet manly. Harry who is huge yet so small. Harry who is... making me question my entire sexuality by being topless.
I look at my shoes.
They're a little muddy and could do with a clean. That's from the footy I guess. Wouldn't expect a football player to have clean shoes. Would think he didn't do anything. And why aren't I wearing matching socks today? What's going on that. Whys one blue and the other green? Did I get dressed on the dark? And is that a bruise or mud-
"Oh shit. Thanks niall" Harry pulls me out of my thoughts by skipping past me and turning the car lights off.
"You know me?" I mutter as he comes back for his Chelsea boots and slips them on.
"Yeah. I know you. I mean- I see you- seen you! I've seen you at um college" he stutters then laughs lightly.
The way his eyes crinkle up, makes me want to smooth them out. The way he speaks, such a raspy and melt in the middle voice. The way he pronounces certain words makes me want to pronounce them that way. I want to run my fingers though his chocolate curly hair that he's left down today which is rare. His lips curl up into a perfect curve and I want to taste them. See of they taste as good as they look. See if they taste like strawberries and apples like I've imagined they do-
No. Snap put of it niall. You haven't imagined it.
I blink a few times and Harry coughs nervously before walking slowing to the car.
"Want a lift?" He asks as I walk down the path to find Louis and Liam have gone. Great friends they are.
"Oh. Um- can't- 'ave footy" I say lamely. When did he put a shirt on? I mean I'm not complaining because now i can concentrate on what I'm saying. Not really because now I know what's underneath and I miss it. I wanna run my fingers over those toned abs and trace every single tattoo whilst he tells me what it stands for.
"I know. At college. Which is where I'm going" he frowns a little but shakes his head with a smile. That's the thing about harry. He's beautiful on the inside as well as the outside. Like now?
I'm being a complete div and he's not laughing at me or calling me weird or stupid.
"Are you okay niall? You seem a bit distracted" Harry asks softly and grabs my arm softly. I flinch as his hand touches my arm as my stomache does back flips and my head goes dizzy. Harry notices and he frowns as a flash of hurt dances across his face.
"Okay. I get it. Not cool enough for you to be seen with me" he sighs and heads over to his car. He doesn't sound angry or hurt or jealous. He sounds disappointed. Like he expected more from me and I've let him down. And that isn't a feeling that sits well in my stomach.
" 's not t'at" I say quietly. Half hoping he doesn't hear me so I don't have to explain. The way he stops walking and turns to face me tells me he did. He heard me.
"So what is it? Have I upset you?" He frowns.
"No. Course not 'arry. I 'ardly know you" I mumble.
"And you think I'm gonna murder you in my car on the way to college?" He laughs gently as he shakes his head again. It's not an angry shake. More like a 'that's insane and totally ridiculous'.
"No I jus'. 'M not gay" I whisper.
"I'm giving you a lift to college for your stupid football training. Not forcing myself on you in the back of the car" he scoffs then adds on "just because I'm gay doesn't mean I go after every guy I see. It's also not contagious" he half snaps looking to where I'm cradling the arm he grabbed.
"G- good. 'M datin' Ellie an'way" I stammer.
"Yeah. She's gorgeous isn't she" he grins and nods towards the car.
I nod and climb in the passenger side reluctantly.
"Yeah. Pretty"
"Not very nice though" he adds on as he starts the engine and sets off.
"Oi- watch yer mout' " I warn but there's no heat behind it.
"She isn't. She laughed at Jodie falling over. She really hurt her arm. Also, she threw paint in Oliver's hair during art" he said pointedly.
"Are ye' jus' gonna give me a lecture on me girlfrien' cos I'll ge' ou' 'n walk" I grunt.
"Your accent goes all think and broad when you're pissed. You know that?" He laughs as he indicates and turns right.
"Ye' 'm Irish, an' what" I mutter.
"Haha. It's cute" he smirks. The sexy smirk. The one that makes my jeans slightly tighter and my brain go all fuzzy. To the point where my mouth forgets how to speak. Words. Speak words. Anything. Nope. My brain is mush.
"So, how long have you and Goldin been dating?" Harry asks as he turns right again.
"Um- a year? 'R so?" I mumble. In all honesty i dont know.
"You don't sound too sure" he comments.
"Why d' ye' care. S'not like we're friends" I grunt.
"No suppose not, but you don't seem too into her considering you've been dating a year. Do you love her?"
"Ye. S'ppose" I mumble. I'm not sure. Do I love her? I mean I thought I did and then Harry came along with all his perfection and threw all my opinions and ways of life out of the window.
"You suppose? Wow. Hope you don't show her all this enthusiasm" he laughs as he parks the car into one or the college parking bays.
" 'S all yer fault" I snap.
"Mine? Why's it my fault you don't love your girlfriend?" He scoffs.
"I do. You jus' make me question everyt'in' 'bout me-self" I reply.
"Why? What do you mean?"
" I mean- I t'ink I- like ye"
"You think?" He asks softly looking me In the eye. I nod softly and look down at where my fingers are locked together on my knee.
"Why only think?" He asks kindly. He's not laughing at me. He's not judging me or telling everyone or showing of that he knows everything. He's kind and supportive. The kind of way a friend should be. The way Louis and Liam aren't.
I just shrug as a response.
"You said you aren't gay" he points out.
"M not. Never even t'ough' 'bout anot'er boy 'fore. 'Cept you. You make me question everyt'ing I am" I say honestly. Relieved I can finally talk to someone about this. Someone who understands and will listen to me instead of talking over me (louis) or brushing it off to the side (liam)
"How- how do I make you feel?" He asks quietly.
"Like- like I wanna kiss you. All t'e time. An' I wanna go out- like t' t'e cinema or bowlin' or somat. I- I wanna know w'at it's like- t- touchin' you" I whisper to my hands.
"Niall? Do you want to kiss me now?" He asks carefully.
I nod my head and close my eyes as the first tear falls. I wipe it away swiftly.
"Why are you crying?" He soothes and wipes my tears with his finger.
" dunno. 'M 'fused"
"It's understandable. Have you spoke to anyone about these feelings. Liam or Louis or your parents?"
"Louis only talks when it's about himself. Liam brushes everything to one side to deal with later. Me mam is set on me marrying Ellie and me dad is always working"
"I didn't know you're engaged" he frowns.
"M not. Ellie- she was me first time an' me mams quiet traditional with t'e fact I should marry her out of respect, Cos we fucked out of wed-lock"
"Ellie took your virginity?" He repeats.
"Fer fuck sake. You not listenin' to me? Yes. She took my virginity" I snap.
"Sorry. I am listening niall" he apologises and than I feel bad.
" 'm sorry" I mumble as well.
"I'm just suprised I think. I thought you lost it to demi when we were in year 9?"
"No. It was 'bout 2 months ago actually" I laugh softly but still feel shite.
"Why did she lie then? She went around lying- telling everyone you fucked her and you let her? Why?"
" 's easier than admittin' I chickened out" I say honestly.
"You got a lot of shit for that. Her dad put you in hospital. You were expelled for 2 weeks! Her brother poured his curry over your head in the dinner hall and it took three days to get the stains out of your blonde hair!"
"Wow. You 'member all t'at but you forget t' turn yer car ligh's off" I note bluntly.
"Why didn't you just tell the truth?" He sighs.
"Wha'? Tell everyone t'at I was 'posed t' fuck her and chickened out after I couldn't figure out how to use a condom?" I half snap half sigh. I should have told the truth. I know that. It's too late now and it won't change the past so why bring it up?
"And she blackmailed you?" He asks slowly and I can see the gears turning in his head.
"She said if I wasn't actually gonna do it - I should a' leas' pretend. She wanted t' get on the cheerleading team and that was her initiation I guess"
"You took all that shit and bullying so she could flounce around half naked with pom poms? And she's Ellie's best friend?!"
"Wha's it matter?" I grunt and grab my bag to leave the car.
"Niall! You can talk to me. If you need to open up about things. I'll listen" Harry says softly as I climb out of the car.
"Talkin's t'e las' t'ing I wanna do" I lie, closing the door and heading to the locker room to change and catch the last hour of practise.