Since We're Alone |NH|

Chapter 16

Niall's POV

My head rested on my arm as Mully and I watched the football match on the tv.  My eyes were looking at the screen, but my head was somewhere else.  It had been four days since I got her number.  I got home that night on a high I hadn't been on in quite some time.  Before Maggie.  But, as soon as I placed my head on the pillow that night, the doubts crept in.  Since then, I'd been trying to get up the nerve to call her; telling myself that she isn't like Maggie, but my doubts always kept me from hitting the call button.

My phone dinged.  Reaching for it from my position on the couch, I opened it to see it was from Ophelia.  My eyes widened as I sat up and opened it.  I was included in some group text where she was asking a bunch of us if we were coming to trivia. 

"Trivia?" I questioned.

"Trivia?" I heard Mully say from his position on the other couch, perking up.

"Uh, yeah, I just got invited to trivia at that bar that Ophelia runs."

"Oh, so you did finally text her?" Mully asked, sitting up and looking over at me all excited.

"No, I didn't."

"Oh, so she's inviting you?"

"And a group of other people.  She probably didn't even mean to include me."

"Ah, but she did put you in her phone.  Why haven't you called her, yet, by the way?"

"Because what would I say?"

"I don't know, perhaps something like, 'hey, I enjoy talking with you and would like to get to know you better, care to meet up for a drink?  Or a coffee?  Or a lunch date?'  Or literally anything, Niall!'"

"I'm too nervous around women," I said, getting anxious and shifting my weight around.

"No shit."

"I've tried.  I've sat here multiple times with her number pulled up on my phone.  I just can't seem to hit dial."

"Try texting her?"

"I just feel that's too impersonal."

"Well, she texted you."

"And twelve other people!"

"Maybe that's just her way of trying to talk to you?"

I shrugged.  "Yeah, maybe."

"So, what time is trivia?"

"She said 8:30."

"Sweet."

"What do you mean sweet?"

"Oh, we're going, Niall."

"We?"

"Yes, we.  You clearly need some pushing and that's fine.  I'm more than happy to help push you in the right direction."

"How do we know it's the right direction?"

"Because literally anything to do with a girl would be the right direction."

"She could be another Maggie?"

"Oh, for Christ's sake, Niall!  Not everyone is Maggie.  At least give the girl a chance.  You've said yourself you really enjoy talking to her.  And it certainly looked like she did, too.  I mean, she gave you her number.  You didn't ask.  And she hasn't appeared to know who you are, so I think she's already ahead of the curve."

"I don't know, Mullz—"

"Don't do this, Niall.  Remember what Tara said the other night?  You can't be afraid to ask the girl out.  She has texted you and included you, probably because she's too scared or nervous to ask you separately.  Which is cute, honestly.  So, come on, take a chance."

I looked at him.  He was right.  "You're right.  I do like talking to her.  She seems sweet.  She's pretty.  Smart.  Seems to have a good head on her shoulders. Has her own dreams and ambitions. Has job!" I said, almost laughing.

"Exactly. All of those attributes already make her a billion times better than Maggie! It's a good start.  And, tonight, you won't be on your own.  I'm coming along and I'll help you out.  Okay?"

I nodded.  "Okay."

"Cool, so we got a couple of hours before we need to get there which means as soon as this game is over, we are getting you to look you're most handsome and suave and debonair."

"Am I suddenly Sinatra?" I asked, arching an eyebrow at him.

"You will be by the end of the night."

I rolled my eyes, as I laid back down on the couch, a smile slowly appearing on my face.