this town

9. The whole world was watching

Brooke

A lot has happened since that day before Easter break. The suspension wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It actually did me some good not worrying about school and getting away from that class. It was finally summer again. Thank god! This summer was a bit different to last summer. First off me and Niall were older so we could have a bit more freedom. But also my mindset changed. I wasn't as anxious about school and I felt a lot happier with myself. With this changed how I felt about other people as well though. I can't tell if this was good or bad.

xxx

"Ah gowan" I encourage Niall.
"Absolutely, naaaatttt" he rejects.
I always try to get Niall to sing when we're in town. There's just so many people along the streets dancing or doing tricks or something. I know he'd get the crowd going. And he can actually sing, unlike other people along this street.
"For me?" I beg. "We're never in Dublin! Like you just got your new guitar. You might as well test it out."
"Nope"
"I'll give you a tenner?"
"Ok fine but only a little bit"

    Niall and I set up a little place for him to perform. We put down a coffee cup to see if anyone would throw money in it. Niall takes his new guitar out of its bag and tunes it.

            "I have nothing to sing" he moans
"sing mr bright side" I tell him. He starts to play his guitar and people start to notice. As he starts to sing people walk over to watch.

            "Coming out of my cage, and I've been doing just fine, Gotta gotta be down because I want it all." Niall sings.

            "It started out with a kiss how did it end up like this? It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss." Everyone walking by stops. Niall looks a bit nervous. I give him a wink and he smiles.

            "Now I'm falling asleep and she's calling a cab, While he's having a smoke and she's taking a drag." Everyone starts to cheer and clap along.

            "Now they're going to bed and my stomach is sick, and it's all in my head." Im stood here in disbelief.

            "But she's touching his chest now, He takes off her dress now, Let me go.
And I just can't look, it's killing me. And taking control." I can see his confidence come back now as he starts to get into it.

            "Jealousy, turning saints into the sea, Swimming through sick lullabies, Choking on your alibis. But it's just the price I pay, Destiny is calling me. Open up my eager eyes
'Cause I'm Mr. Brightside." He's actually enjoying it now. Everyone loves him.

            "Sally!" I shout. I spotted her coming out of a shop. She runs over
"Omg hi" She says. She turned to see who's singing. "IS THAT NIALL?" She says in disbelief.
"Yep I got him to do it" I smile proudly
"Jesus he's amazing! Why have I never heard him sing before?"
"U haven't? He's always singing"
We stop talking to admire his singing.

            When he strums the guitar for the last time I run over to hug him. I was so proud.

            Everyone claps for him. While hugging him we kinda way from side to side. I can tell he's proud of himself. He kisses me on the cheek. I was in a bit of shock but I didn't let it show because I know how delighted he is.

"Well done Niall" Sally congratulates him.
"Thanks I didn't know you were here. Was this planned?" He asks Sally and I
"No just a random coincidence." I tell him.
"That's mad" he says.
"I didn't know you could sing." Sally says to Niall
"Really?" He asks. "I've been singing all my life"
"Yeah I dunno why I didn't know. You should go on the xfactor or something!" She tells him.
"That's what I always tell him!" I exclaim
"No" Niall says stubbornly. "First off I'm too young. And secondly I'd be way too nervous" "what why?" I ask him
"Cause it's like the whole world was watching" he explains
"Well it was like the whole world was watching today" I tell him.
"Yeah and you even kissed Brooke and did a little hug dance kinda thing" Sally points out.

      I wasn't expecting her to say that so I got a little embarrassed.
"That wasn't the whole world" Niall laughs
"Well it was a start" Sally tells him.
"Fair enough."

"See ya" I shout to Sally
"See ya" she shouts to us
"Byeee" Niall shouts.
She waves as we get on our bus.
We find a seat at the top of the bus at the front. Our favourite seats.
"Thanks Brooke" Niall turns to me.
"For what? you did it" I tell him
"Yeah but I wouldn't of"
"But Ni?" I ask
"What's up"
"How come you weren't scared to jump around and all that with me?" I ask
"I don't know." He thinks "I've never been nervous to do anything with you"
"Why can't you sing but you can dance with me while everyone was watching?"
"Brooke. If the whole world was watching, I'd still dance with you." He tells me with a grin on his face.

            I smile and rest my head on his shoulder so he couldn't see me blush.
Niall quickly takes out his phone and types something in his notes. He wouldn't let me see.

xxx

            I woke up in the middle of the night that night. I check the clock. 'Ugh it's four in the morning' I think to myself. I woke up because I had a strange dream. The dream was almost exactly what happened earlier today. Except it ended a bit differently. Instead of Niall kissing me on the cheek, he kissed me... on the lips! I found myself smiling. 'Stop that' I tell myself. I shake my head to stop myself feeling that way. 'He's just my friend, THATS IT!'

            I take out my phone to text Emma.
"Emma!" She didn't answer for a few minutes but then I got a notification.
"What Brooke? It's 4 in the morning!" She didn't seem too happy.
"I had a dream"
"Well I'm not going to if you keep texting me"
"Emma seriously"
"Ok what's it about" she gives in
I tell her what happened and what Niall said on the bus then I told her about my dream.
"Ooooh" she texts. "And do you have feelings for him?"
"I didn't think so. Now Idk" I reply
"It's probably just a dream crush." She tells me.
"Yeah probably"
"Can I go to sleep now?"
"Yeah gowan. Gn"
"Gn brooke" Emma texts

'Just a dream crush. Just a dream crush'