Let's Play Pretend [Niall Horan AU]

• 34

The next two chapters are going to be one hell of a ride so strap in, Kids!

A

My head rested on Niall's shoulder as his large hand rubs slow circles into my back. I'm the person who takes comfort from physical contact. A few minutes, or what I assume was, passed and I finally got off of his lap, and sat beside him.

"Feeling better?" He asked and I nodded.

"So what's going to happen?" I asked.

"I talked to my lawyer and he said that they can't do anything with the pictures and they'd have to delete them, so you don't have to worry about them posting it," he said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Why what?"

"Why are you helping me? I thought you hate me," I said.

"See I might not like someone but I'd never simply sit in the side and watch someone go through something that they definitely did not want to. I'm not so heartless," he said.

"I never said you are," I shook my head.

"You implied it," he said.

"Mmm no. We've never been each other's biggest fans and it's well established that we don't like each other. The fact that you'd go to an extent of going against your manager's words to make sure I'm okay just doesn't fit that," I said.

"I guess you grew on me. I mean four months is a long time," he said.

"Yeah, I can concur to that," I chuckled.

"Well uh I'll get going now I guess..." I said.

"Sure. Is your head hurting?" He asked.

"Not much. It's throbbing a little," I said, holding my head in my hands. He left and returned with a glass of water and an Advil.

"Oh but your car is at the studio," he said. I popped in the pill and drank some of the water.

"Oh fuck. I think my things are back in the studio as well," I sighed, rubbing my head.

"We can go together and I'll go get your things. I don't want you around those fuckers," he said.

"Thanks," I smiled gratuitously.

We drove back to the studio and Niall went in and returned with my things. I put all of them in my car.

"You've done so much for me Niall," I said and he shrugged.

"It's alright," he said. I stepped forward and hugged him. He let out a breath but slowly snaked his hand around my waist.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"You're welcome," He said. I took Pepper from his car and set her down in mine. We split away from each other and I went back home. I called Jasmin once I took a nice shower.

"Hi hi hi baby," She said.

"Hi Jassa," I said.

"Oh no. What happened? I'm coming over. Cookie dough or brownie? Horror or Romance? Or wait, comedy? Comedy it is. Hold on," she said and ended the call. I chuckled at how over protective this girl is. Not even 30 minutes go by and someone was incessantly ringing my bell. I opened the door and Jasmin walked in with a bunch of bags.

"Okay miss, first you're going to tell me everything that happened and then I'll decided which movie we're going to watch. And I'm staying over today. My school bag has my clothes in it," she said.