Totally Not Me ( 1D/ N.H. / Niall Horan)

Chapter 17

I want to turn back and look but I don't want to make it obvious. I'm sorry but Barbie has got nothing on Cailin tonight.

Louis takes his date out to dance leaving an empty seat across the table next to Deo. I seize this moment and put myself in perfect view of Cailin without making it too obvious. Deo starts talking derby. I try to stay focused on the conversation but it is so hard.

I feel a hand on my shoulder and a voice in my ear, "Why don't you ask her to dance?"

Amy lives to be a matchmaker...or just really wants to see me get my arse kicked. I haven't exactly figured out which one yet.

She sits down next to me and teasingly nods on that direction.

"You just want to stir up some trouble tonight, don't ya?"

"I just think you need to stop being in denial...whether she's way out of your league or not." Amy states shrugging her shoulders.

"What are you talking about? Seriously, Amy, it isn't like that."

"You feel nothing for her?"

"Nothing more than a friend." I state with conviction. I take a quick glance to see Brent and Ryan talking amongst their friends at the table while Brent's date twirls her hair. Cailin is smiling but staying quiet.

"Nothing more, huh?" Amy questions in disbelief.

"Nothing. Think about it, I'm only here for a few months." I look her right in the eyes.

"Sometimes it sneaks up on you and punches you in the face."

"Your description of romance really sounds violent. You make it sound like something I'd rather avoid." I tease her.

"You know what I mean, you asshole." She laughs.

I look back over at Cailin to see Ryan lean in to whisper something in her ear making her smile and blush a little. I still can't get over how stunning she is tonight.

After a few songs and a lengthy derby talk with Deo, a slow song comes on. Deo's date heads outside to get some air.

"Why don't you ask Amy to dance?" I ask him quietly.

"I'll ask her if you ask the Barbie doll." He smirks and nods towards Cailin's table.

I follow his nod to notice that the boys have left their dates unattended.

"Are you guys all looking for me to get my arse kicked tonight?" I laugh.

"Amy for Barbie."

"Fine!" I sigh. Amy is going to owe me so bad for this one.

I get up and start to make my way to Cailin's table. I hear Deo ask Amy to dance behind me and her accepting. There is no turning back now.

"Cailin?" I attempt to sound confident.

She looks up from the table and a look of fear comes over her.

"Niall! What are you doing?"

"I just wanted to see if you wanted to dance."

She looks beyond me, looking for her brother I assume.

I inhale as much courage as I can, bend over, and whisper in her ear, "For once, wouldn't you want to do something that you want to do?"

I stand back to read her expression. She stands up and holds out her hand for me to take. Holy shit! That worked?

I take her hand and lead her to the dance floor. People are beginning to stare at us but I don't care.

Once we reach the dance floor, we begin to sway to the music. I hope to hell she can't hear my heart racing like I can.

"You do realize I'm dancing with a deadman, right?" She says after a few seconds of silence.

"Will you speak at my funeral? Let me parents know I love them." I sarcastically shoot back and hear her laugh.

"Deo wouldn't dance with Amy unless I asked you." I am way too forthcoming on that information.

"So, your cause of death will be Deo? Did you want me to add that in to my speech?"

I can't help but laugh out loud. There's the Cailin I know.

"You clean up rather nicely." She compliments me.

"Thanks. And you look absolutely stunning." The words fall from my mouth way too quickly for me to shove them back in.

"Thank you." She says quietly as she blushes and moves her eyes to the floor.

"Why don't you take a compliment very well?" I ask.

"I don't feel 'stunning'. I just think you're being nice."

How does she not feel stunning? She looks amazing!

"Cailin." We stop dancing. "I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it. How do you feel?"

She pauses for a second. A look of confusion washes over her face.

"I don't know. I really haven't thought about it. Plus, no one seems to ask that question...ever."

"I'm asking it now. How do you feel?"

How could no one ask that question? What kind of a world does this girl live in?

"I feel...uncomfortable. I miss my jeans, my converses, my glasses, and me. Miss being able to be me." Her eyes are starting to fill with tears.

"Shit! Cailin, don't cry. I've got nothing to dry your eyes with." I panic. Why did I have to keep trying to pry if out of her?

She sniffles and discretely wipes her eyes without messing up any of her make up.

"I'm sorry." She quietly says as she lays her head on my shoulder and we finish dancing to the song.

I look up to find her brother glaring at me. Yep. I'm a deadman.

Cailin's POV

As the song ends, I feel terrible for losing it on Niall again. This kid needs to stop asking questions that uncover layers no one wants to hear about. Why does he keep doing that?

Once a fast song kicks in, Niall takes my hand and walks me back to my table. Ryan looks confused and Brent looks furious.

As I sit back down in my chair, Brent says in a loud sarcastic tone, "Thanks, Niall."

Niall smiles at him and nods. Then, before turning on his heels, he smiles at me. I watch him walk back to his table.

"What do you think you are doing?" Brent asks me like a father to their child. That condescending asshole!

"You guys were gone and I was bored. He asked me to dance and I said yes. The end." I explain. I know I did nothing wrong.

"Sorry for leaving you. I should have paid better attention." Ryan pipes up.

"This isn't over." Brent mouths to me.

I look up to see Niall looking concerned in towards me. I try to smile a reassuring smile at him as Ryan slips his hand into mine under the table.

A/N- Whew! Just a quick update because I had a few minutes. Thank you so much for your patience! Please vote, comment, and/or share! Thank you so much for sticking with the story!!! :)