That Magical Summer

Chapter 38

“And I’m gonna guess that’s you?” Rider asked leaning towards you from across the open bar. He was right. You had watched just seconds earlier as the blonde interviewer asked Niall about you. 

“What was it this time? My face or was it just way too obvious?” you asked sarcastically as it gained a laugh out of him.

“So Niall. You and Y/N? What’s happening between the two of you?” she asked curiously just moments ago. It was the question that caused a great reaction out of you, and Niall. He sat squished between Zayn and Liam as he struggled to answer the question. His rough hands were molding themselves together, twiddling his thumbs and rubbing his jeans nervously. It had a weird impact on you, seeing him like this. Just seeing him again. It’s only been a week, but it’s felt like three years. He looked different. His face was stretched in a sorrowful expression that seems like it’s been there for days. His hair was a bit ruffled, from what looked like a lack of sleep. His dreary eyes with dark, sagging bags under them sealed the deal. Was it wrecking his brain like it was wrecking yours?” 

“I-um-we-“ he was at a loss for words as all you wanted to do was just go and hug him. But it was pretty impossible since you weren’t in the same room. You weren’t even in the same country. Their world tour had begun back in the UK and their second part of the tour was the US part, where they would come here for a few months. You craned your neck, looking up at the high screen. You looked at Rider who was staring back at you intently. You bet he wouldn’t have guessed it would be a boy from a band. “It’s complicated,” Niall settled on two words. 

“What does that mean?” the lady shot back. 

“It means it’s complicated,” Louis butt in. Those were the boys you knew; always sticking up for each other and looking out for each other. You watched as Ellie’s attention was steered away from the mysterious motorcycle rider at the sound of Louis’ voice. She was about to speak but was cut off by the interview continuing. 

“Alright then moving on,” she said sensing the tense topic, “So the tour huh?” 

“Yeah. We all love being tour,” Zayn said shifting in his side beside Niall trying to make him feel more comfortable. 

“What’s your favorite part of being on tour?” she asked crossing her legs and leaning closer to the boys. It started on the left with Harry. 

“I think just the fact that we get to be on stage doing what we love is what makes it fun.” 

“Yeah. I would say the same. I never thought that we would be selling out some of the biggest arenas in the world,” Louis said.

“I also love meeting the fans,” Niall finally spoke up, “Because there are so many incredible girls in this world. Each and every one of them are special and beautiful in their own way. I love that so many of them invest so much time just to come watch one of our concerts. It’s amazing.” You swallowed. Watching Niall answer the question in that way...was weird.

“I bet,” she agreed moving along steadily, “So this tour is all about the new album, Take Me Home, right?” The five boys nodded their heads. “Any of the songs really important to you?” 

“Well the single Little Things was written by one of our best friends Ed Sheeran,” Liam began, “He’s brilliant.” 

“Yeah that song really means a lot to us. It’s something that every girl should know and it’s lyrics are just amazing,” Louis said. 

“Also our boy Niall over here even wrote one of the songs,” Zayn said beaming with a shoulder nudge to Niall. 

“Oh really?” she said her voice growing higher, “Which one is that?” 

“It’s um called Summer Love,” Niall murmured quietly almost to himself. 

“Yeah. Niall wrote that one and it’s also one of our favorites,” Harry said. Summer Love. Summer Love? That was the song. That was the song he had sung to you on your very last day together. You were mine for the summer. Now we know it’s nearly over. Feels like snow in September, but I will always will remember. You were my summer love… 

“Are you okay?” Rider asked his words taking away the falling tear from your eye. You sniffled it up, holding your chest a bit higher. 

“Yeah,” you whispered as you turned back to the tv. 

“Now time for some questions from the fans,” she said pulling out a set of notecards, “Lana from Columbia wants to know what your favorite holiday is.” 

“Christmas,” they all agreed. 

“Umm here’s one. Rose from New York asked if you could be in any movie, which would it be?” 

“Toy Story,” Liam said first. 

“Power Rangers,” Zayn chuckled lightly. 

“That’s a hard one. Probably one where I could be Harry’s lover,” Louis joked causing the audience to burst out in crazy cheering. You couldn’t help but smile yourself. 

“Niall?” she asked the little Irish boy with his head hung low.

“A happy one,” he muttered. And that was it. Just a happy movie, unlike this one. Where the boy and girl have to be separated for an inevitable reason. Where they spent a few months together and now they’re nothing… 

“Anna from Minnesota wants to know Niall if there’s anything to say to Y/N?” you froze in your seat. You felt the room warm up around you as you didn’t know what to do. 

“I thought we were past this subject already—“ Harry said noticing Niall’s agitation. 

“No,” he spoke. 

“What was that?” the interviewer asked raising a slim eyebrow in confusion 

“No. There’s nothing I’d like to say,” Niall whispered a little louder. You turned back quickly to face the bar. Your eyes fixated on the very back wall searching for anything but hot tears. You robotically stuck out your shot glass.

“Hit me again Rider.”