Since We're Alone |NH|

Chapter 11

Niall's POV

"Earth to Niall!"

I snapped out of my thoughts.  "Yeah?"

"Dude, where'd you go?" Tara asked me as she sat down on one of my patio chairs.

"I bet I know where his head was," Mully said, with a grin on his face.

"Where?" Tara asked.

"That bar we were at last night had a cute girl there who made some superior drinks.  He was chatting with her before I got there.  Seemed into her, to me."

"Oh, shut up," I said, groaning.

"What?  That's a good thing, Niall," Tara said.  "You need to get back out there.  What is she like?"

"She's really pretty," Mully offered.

"Beyond looks, doofus."

"She seems nice.  She didn't really stay too long after I got there for me to talk to her.  But, Niall, here wouldn't shut up about her; sent me several texts before I even got there; filled me in on what he learned.  She likes good music – would've loved to have seen The Doors and Frank Sinatra.  Wants to live in the 1920s, apparently.  Wants to open her own bar one day - a Speakeasy.  Apparently, she's quite the liquor connoisseur.  The two drinks she made us were good.  Even somehow made Tequila taste like fucking Guinness.  I was impressed."

"It wasn't quite like Guinness.  The tequila was a coffee flavored one, apparently.  But, still, it was good.  A faux reminder of home," I said, my eyes closed as the sun shone in my face.

"Well, she sounds interesting," Tara said.  "Did you get her number?  Did she seem interested in you?  Does she know who you are?"

"No.  Yes.  And, from what I could tell, no," Mully answered for me.

"Well, shit Niall, you should've gotten her number.  Did you at least get her name?"

"Ophelia.  And she got mine and Niall's names.  Our real ones.  I wasn't about to lie to her."

"That's a pretty name."

"Her friend also seemed like she thinks Ophelia may be interested.  Both of us were literally watching these two as she said goodbye, hoping he'd ask for her number or that she'd offer it up.  Her friend rolled her eyes when nothing but goodbyes were exchanged.  I punched him in the arm."

"Well, sounds like we need to play matchmaker for our Niall, here," Tara offered up, grinning, "But I need to see this girl and make sure she's good enough for him.  Oh! Let's go back tonight!"

"Yes! And you and I can watch from a booth and make him go to the bar and talk to her!" Mully said getting a little too excited.

"Oooo, sounds like a plan!"

I watched all of this, dumbfounded.  "Am I allowed to speak?" I questioned from my perch on the backyard sofa.

"Only if it's to agree with us," Tara said.  "If not, then shut up and let us help you."

"I don't need help."

Both of them turned to look at me with eyebrows raised.  "Oh, really?  Is that so?" Tara asked, sarcasm laced in her voice.  "Tell me then, Niall, do you like this girl?"

"I talked to her for...what...an hour?"

"So?  Did she seem like someone you'd like to get to know?"

I sighed, "Yes, she does."

"Then shut up and do what we say."

"I think I can talk to her my own damn self, thank you very much!" I said, exasperated with the two of them.

"Then why didn't you get her number?" Mully asked.

"Maybe I didn't want her number." They both looked at me. "Fine, maybe I do. But I don't think I'm ready for this. And, even if I am, you both know I'm shit at this."

"Yeah, you are. Enter us. We're going. End of discussion," Tara said, effectively the end of the conversation.