It seemed like we sat on that rock for hours.
Eventually, Niall went back up to the house to grab some blanket and pillows. He fashioned a makeshift bed on the giant boulder and made himself comfortable. I was a little more hesitant. I was still scared to get close to him. I was scared to get close to anyone, but him much more than others. Now I knew why.
“I’m not going to bite, Harry.” He motioned for me to sit next to him.
I slowly scooted over to the blonde boy, hoping he wouldn’t see the tight expression on my face.
“That’s better,” he smiled at me.
We looked out at the lake again.
After what seemed like ages, Niall broke the silence.
“Harry?”
“Hmm.”
“Can I ask you something?”
I turned to him.
“Course.”
He seemed nervous, which confused me. I was supposed to be the nervous one.
“Um…why don’t you like me?”
“What?”
“Why don’t you like me, Harry?” He looked a little hurt.
I breathed out heavily. “I like you Niall….I’m…I’m just a mess of a person,” I admitted to him with my head hung.
He furrowed his eyebrows. “Why do you say that?”
“It’s hard to explain.”
He looked at me with sadness in his eyes. “You don’t let people in often, do you?”
He was right, I didn’t. “No….its hard for me…” I trailed off.
“What happened? Did someone hurt you?”
The knot that was in my stomach twisted even tighter. This was not something I liked to think about and I wasn’t ready to explain my troubled past to the boy I loved. It was just then that I realized that I had ignored Niall’s question. God. He probably thought I was some nutcase.
“It’s okay to be an introvert, Harry. I won’t pry if you’re not ready to tell me.”
He scooted closer to me; we were now only a few inches apart. My heart started to beat twice as fast.
“Harry?”
“You must like saying my name, Horan,” I chuckled.
“Don’t be so cheeky, Styles,” he grinned.
I couldn’t help but smile back at him. He was so good at making me melt.
“See! You can smile! You’re human after all!” he cried.
“Oh shut it, Horan.” I shoved him a bit as he was consumed with laughter.
As he calmed down, he looked at me with what I thought was hope in his eyes.
“We should be friends, Harry.”
I smiled; I had for sure thought that he would think I was a total freak who had no friends and not want to be around me. This took me totally by surprise.
“I think I can manage that.”
He gave me the biggest grin I have ever seen on a human being. I thought only the Cheshire cat was capable of a smile that big. But Niall proved me wrong, yet again.
“Niall?”
“Harry.”
“I just have to tell you……I haven’t really had friends in a long time. I’ve only got Lou. I don’t want to disappoint you when I’m not the friend you need me to be.”
He looked puzzled. “You could never disappoint me Harry. You need to give yourself more credit than you have been. I never thought you would say more than two words to me, to be honest. Yet, here you are, sort of talking,” He chuckled. “I’m here to be your friend, not make you be someone that your not. I accept this Harry, or whatever Harry you want to be.”
We smiled at each other.
“I think we should probably go back up the house. People might start to worry…”
“I don’t think I want to go anywhere right now.” He laid back on the rock.
I followed him and laid back. We both lost ourselves, looking up at the stars.
As I gazed at the heavens, Niall’s words really began to sink in. Niall wanted me. Maybe not in the way I wanted him, but right now this was enough.
I started to drift in and out of sleep; before long I let it overtake me.
Where I was with Niall, at that moment, was enough.
YOU ARE READING
Promise Me (N.S.)
Fanfic“Promise me.” I couldn't look at him. My eyes were blinded by tears. He said it again; his voice was laced with desperation. “Promise me!” “I can’t!” “Why? Why cant you?! Give me one good reason!” “Because then that would mean that this is happening...
