That Magical Summer

Chapter 26

“This just isn’t good,” Liam explained hanging his head to the floor as he paced it, “It’s not good for you. It’s not good for the band.”

 “I really don’t see what’s so-“

 “Look at this Niall. Look,” he shot the article into Niall’s face. The plain headline was big and bold reading: One Direction’s Hottie: Turned Naughty?. Directly below it was a picture of you and Niall, making out in the aisles of the supermarket. You two looked a bit crazy, like rabid animals on double shots of steroids. Your hands were wildly torn across Niall’s backside struggling to stay standing. The mounds of fallen products by your feet, not helping the scene in any way.

 “How’d you even get this?” Niall asked refusing to take any closer look at it.

 “We printed it off the internet as soon as we saw it. Niall this is all over twitter, tumblr, everywhere!” Liam exploded.

 “But I don’t get it. This literally happened not even 15 minutes ago. We went to the market and right back. I promise,” he slapped a hand across his heart.

 “The paps work fast Niall. You know that,” Harry butt in.

 “I guess. But this fast?” he asked wavering the wrinkled paper in the air wildly.

Liam nodded causing the room to erupt in chatter. Everyone was yelling and arguing like there was no tomorrow.

“Everyone shutup!” you shouted loud enough to get everyone’s attention, “Thank you.” You spoke when it was once again quiet. “Why are we even fighting?”

 “She’s right. What’s done is done. I-We don’t care what the paparazzi think, the fans think, we don’t care what anyone thinks,” Niall said grabbing your hand. You looked up at him admirably and smiled. Liam shrugged.

 “Just wait till management gets a hold of this-“

 “They won’t,” Harry stated.

 “And if they do-“ Louis began.

 “We’ll all stand behind him-“ Zayn said from the couch.

 “Because we all know it’s not true,” Ellie finished, “Right?” Everyone nodded, except for Liam. “Liam?” she asked. He looked around the room, fidgeting his jaw around. He closed his eyes moving his head around.

 “You two really need to be more careful,” he said through a clenched jaw as he exited the room gruffly.

 “What was that all about?” Zayn asked.

 “I think he’s jealous,” Ellie said bringing her legs up to her chest, on the couch where she sat beside Louis. You looked over at Niall who had a troubled expression caked on his face. You weren’t used to him showing anything but a bright smile.

 “Babe?” you whispered walking over to him, ”Let’s go for a walk.” He nodded as you took his hand leading him out the door. You took him down to the pier, where you had come the very first day. It was the perfect place to just sit and think. You sat on the edge of the pudgy planks, dangling your feet off the edge. Your hands gripped onto the fringe of the wooden must, looking off at the calm ocean. “What’s wrong?” you looked over at Niall who was doing the same. He sat with an unreadable expression, watching the rolling waves.

 “Hm?”

 “I’m sorry we got caught,” you spoke quietly.

 “It’s not your fault Y/N.”

 “I just don’t get how something so small, that lasted for like 10 seconds is suddenly becoming the world’s biggest phenomena,” you said waving your hands up for effect.

 “That’s just how it is in my world,” he said grimly.

 “It must suck,” you replied not really having anything else to say.

 “It really does,” he said turning to you, “At least I have you to talk to about it with.”

 “You said-back there- that you don’t care what anyone thinks. But you do, don’t you?” you asked scooting a big closer.

 “I mean how can you not. Would you want the whole world to think that you’re this ‘naughty’ person who frolics around supermarkets with random girls?” he spoke quick and bitterly.

 “Random girl?” you asked cocking an eyebrow.

 “Well to them you are. Since we haven’t come out as a couple and everything, they probably just think your one of my ‘overnighters’,” he said making air quotes with his fingers. You stayed silent, moving your hand over to his. You placed your hand warmly atop his fingers, letting him know you were there for him, always.

 “I’m sorry I screwed everything up,” you whispered after awhile.

 “Hey,” he said lifting your chin with his thumb, “Listen to me. You didn’t screw anything up. I wouldn’t change anything about my life right now.” He placed a short, candied kiss on your lips making you shutter. Then smile. That’s what you did a lot with Niall. He always seemed to find a way to make you smile. That’s what you loved—there was that word again. Love. It was such a strong word. A magical word.

 “Really? You mean that? You wouldn’t change a thing?”

 “Well. Maybe I would change you into a brunette or something. I’ve always had a thing for dark haired girls,” he smirked as you gasped. “It was a joke-“ before he could explain you pushed his whole body into the water, catching him off guard. After a few heart-stopping seconds he resurfaced, bubbling for air.

 “Oh no you didn’t,” he said like a teenage girl who had just gotten her phone taken away for over-texting. A second later, he grabbed onto your leg pulling you in with him. You shrieked as you fell three feet into the frigid, blue water.

 “Niall!” you screamed grabbing his head and driving him under. He popped up, gasping for air. You actually thought he was going to pass out until he grabbed your shoulders, forcing you under just as you had. You came up laughing, unlike him who was huffing heavily. “Are you okay?” He must’ve been okay, since he swept you up in his arms, holding you high above the water. He swam you around in circles holding onto you tightly. He let you down gently, pulling him close to you. You struggled to stay afloat, but you did. For him, and for his kiss. His natural, salty, mild kiss. It was the only thing that kept you from going under. That was just it.

 He kept you afloat.