The Last Two (A One Direction Fan Fiction)

Chapter Three

6:28 PM

October 25, 2012

Juliette Moore

            “You know,” my sister started, watching me as I watched the clock, “I don’t see why a boy your sister approves of isn’t worthy of a single date, when some random guy who walks into a store is … it’s practically the same as a blind date.” I sighed and leaned against the counter. The very thought ran through my mind for the past few hours, but yet I still wanted to go through with it. All I knew about Niall was that his last name was Horan, he was a friend of my customer from earlier, and he his accent had given away he was Irish.

            “Maybe this is my kind way of saying I don’t want to date Theo,” I suggested weakly and Marissa gave me a small shake of her head.

            “No … you would go on a date with him to be nice,” she protested, and I slumped back against the counter. She didn’t say anything for a second, and one look at her could give away that she was thinking. “My theory is that you’ve been dating this boy for a long time, and you staged seeing him earlier so he’d ask you out, and then … and well … I don’t know, it’s a theory,” she blurted, and I fought the urge to laugh.

            “Well, I can take down your theory,” I started, my eyes drifting off towards the clock; one minute until he came into the bakery to pick me up, “simply from the fact that I would have no reason to keep a relationship from you.” She bit her lip, and stood for a moment, before finally she sighed, a small shrug making its way to her shoulders.

            “I guess I’ll just have to believe that you’re someone impersonating my little sister?” she said in the form of a question. I started to open my mouth to reply, but the door opened, and Niall appeared in the doorway, a smile on his face. “I’m going to go in the back,” Marissa muttered, slipping through the door into the kitchen.

            “Hey,” I muttered, giving a small wave and pushing myself off the counter, a smile on my face to match Niall’s as I neared him.

            “Hey to you to,” he replied and I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to laugh or not, so I just let the corners of my lips pull a bit into a larger smile. “You look great,” he added and I looked down at the dress I had picked out. I wasn’t sure if the restaurant was casual or not, so I’d reluctantly went with my roommates opinion and chose to dress on the higher spectrum of casual. A pale pink dress hitting right above my knee, and I was told I should wear heels to enhance my short height, but I was afraid that’d make things to formal. So here I was, in sandals, feeling like a hobbit, only with normal, pedicured feet.

            “Thanks,” I muttered, looking out the window and then bringing my gaze back to Niall. “I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to wear,” I muttered, “and I would’ve called … but I couldn’t find your number and-“

            “It’s perfect,” he replied and I nodded with a gulp, out of nerves tucking a stray wave behind my ear. I bit my lip he watched me. I hadn’t been on a date for maybe six … no seven months, and here I was, next to a near stranger on a date. “So … ready to go out?” he asked and I nodded, taking his elbow when he’d done that thing that they do in books, the gentleman propping his hand on his hip so you can rest your hand on his arm. I laughed, a real one whether the time called for it or not, and I hooked my arm through it, passing through the door that he had opened.

            ‘Thank you,” I muttered, realizing how nice it was out tonight for an October night, “and, if it’s not a surprise, where are we going tonight?” He smiled, and leaned past me down at the street.