Chapter Text
“I never planned for it to go this far.”
I sit on the edge of my bed, holding her note in my hands, reading the words over and over and over.
“I’m sorry, I never wanted to hurt you.”
My eyes haven’t left the paper in hours, those words now embedded in my head forever. Slowly I get the strength to look at the dress lying to my right. Her dress. It was folded very nicely, not a single piece out of place, it still smelled like her perfume.
“Don’t try and find me, please.”
I set her note on the table next to my bed, slowly I stand up and walk towards my closet. In the very back, buried under old winter coats, I find the soft velvet hanger I never got around to using.
I turn and walk back out to my bed, emotions taking over me again as I feel tears well up in the corners of my eyes. I quickly wipe them away and walk towards the dress. I don’t want to unfold it, I don’t even want to touch the soft fabric ever again. I ignore my fears and take a deep breath before reaching out.
My fingers graze the light blue lace that’s wrapped around the side of the dress. Carefully I pick it up and watch it unfold, taking the hanger and sliding it through the straps, making sure it’s placed perfectly in the grooves so it doesn’t slip off. I turn around and with the dress in hand I walk back to my closet.
I’ve pictured her clothes hanging in here, taking up most of the space and leaving me to use the forgotten dresser. Never did I think this is how it would end up.
Slowly I push some suits out of the way and hang the light blue dress in their place. As I stare at it, hanging so delicately, I’m flooded with memories. I pinch my eyes closed before I can remember too much, her words instead start filling my head again.
“I never planned for it to go this far.”
~~~~~~~~
*Six months earlier*
The door of the pub opens, a cold draft hitting me in the back. I don’t look up, it’s probably another regular and the assignment I’m doing is due tomorrow. I hear footsteps walking in my direction and someone sits in the seat right next to me.
I’m about to get annoyed, considering the pub is completely empty, but when I look over the words disappear before I can even open my mouth.
Sitting next to me is the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. Her long dark brown hair flows over her sweater, soft curls frame the bottom and parts of it are still sticking up from the wind.
When she turns her head and looks at me, piercing green eyes stare into mine and my mind goes completely blank.
“Hi” I manage to say after an awkward pause. She smiles softly at me and right as I’m about to speak again she starts talking.
“You’re Niall right?” She asks and my eyes immediately go wide, how does she know my name?
She seems to realize my confusion and quickly speaks again. “Sorry, I think we u-um have a class together, I sit a few rows behind you…” she trails off, a blush growing on her face.
I feel bad cause I’ve never seen her before. I definitely would’ve remembered if I had.
“I’m Adelia.” She says and reaches her hand out.
“Nice to meet you, Adelia.” I say back and take her hand, it’s cold to the touch but somehow still so soft. I notice she holds on to my hand a second longer than normal. Just then the bartender comes over and clears his throat, all she asks for is water.
She turns and reaches into her bag that’s sitting in the chair next to her, I try to look inside without her noticing but all I can see are some papers.
She pulls out a sketchbook and a bag with expensive looking colored pencils. I look away and go back to my writing, I couldn’t figure out this song for the life of me.
A few minutes of silence pass, only interrupted when the bartender brings her water over. She takes small sips but never looks up from her book, hand quickly flying over the page and scribbling noises are the only thing filling the pub.
I take this moment to look at her more, she’s wearing a light blue dress that goes just below her knees, lace snakes up the sides and stops right under the straps.
She has a white cardigan on and a long leather coat is folded over her lap most likely cause it’s below freezing outside. Her face is soft, her features less extreme than most and she has this innocent glow.
Suddenly my phone buzzes and both of us look up. It’s a text from Louis, shit. I totally forgot I was supposed to meet him at my flat and let him in. I text him back and quickly start packing all my stuff up.
“Where are you going?” Adelia asks and looks up at me.
“Oh, um I have to meet up with a friend,” I say quickly, “He’s waiting in the cold for me so I have to hurry up.” I add with a small laugh and she smiles softly.
As I put my bag over my shoulder I hear the sound of a page ripping and suddenly she’s holding something out to me.
"I uh… here you go.” She says very fast and before I know it she’s running out the door.
I turn the paper over in my hands and my jaw drops. It’s me. She drew me. In just the short ten minutes we were sitting here she managed to create the most thoughtful thing I’ve ever gotten.
The colors are beautiful. The way she was able to capture how the light was shining off my hair, the folds of my shirt and even the freckles on my nose.
I look at it in awe for I don’t even know how long till my thoughts are interrupted by my phone buzzing again. Louis’s getting more impatient as the minutes pass.
I quickly put the delicate paper in my bag, hoping it doesn’t get crushed, and I run out to my car getting in as fast as possible.
“Adelia” I whisper to myself, staring out of the window to look at the fields in front of me.
Adelia