Tales from the Pantry One

Oh for god's sake, Niall! -8

Niall leaned against the wall and sighed. "What's got ya down, mate?" Louis asked.

"I don't know," Niall shrugged.

"Niall, you're always so cheery, and I'd like to think I know when you're sad. Tell me what's got ya down?" Louis said sweetly.

Niall hid his face against the wall. "You know how I single handedly led the plan to save Liam from the freezer?" Niall's voice was slightly muffled. "Well, he never really thanked me, or any of us for that matter, for saving him. I mean, I know I'm a goofy person, and my plan did involve a grappling hook, but at the end of the day, I'm a human,too. I deserve as much respect as anyone else."

"Is that all?" Louis asked.

"Yeah?" Niall was confused.

"Niall, mate, you work at a convenience store. This isn't Keeping Up with the Kardashians, so quit being so dramatic!" Louis slapped Niall on the back and walked away. Niall just sighed. He slouched over to Harry at the register.

"Harry?" Niall pouted.

"I already heard," Harry put his hand on Niall's shoulder supportively.

"Dude, were you eavesdropping?" Niall said in horror. He dramatically clasped his heart.

"N-no!" Harry stammered. "The store just isn't that big!" How many times was he going to have to tell people this?

"Ugh," Niall moaned. He rested his head on the counter. "What do you think about it?"

"I think that Liam loves you? In like, a platonic way?" Harry questioned.

"You're not helping," Niall groaned. He stretched his arms out on the counter. "What should I do?" Niall sounded weak.

"Why do you care so much?" Harry crossed his arms.

"Because..." Niall closed his eyes. "Because even though it doesn't seem like it, I secretly crave validation from those around me." Niall felt pathetic and emotional for opening up like that. He really was a complex person. He just wished more people could see beneath his playful surface.

Harry slapped his hand over his mouth in awe. "That was beautiful, Niall." He cooed.

"Yeah yeah, whatever." Niall scoffed.

"If you want my honest opinion, I think that you should just go talk to Liam. I know that he'll appreciate whatever you have to say. Even if it's just a quick hello." Harry gave Niall a warm smile.

"I guess I'll think about it," Niall said. He wasn't completely opposed to the idea. "That's not a horrible idea." Niall walked off.

Niall began to think. Ok, so I gotta talk to Liam. What should I say? Hello? How are you? Do you need some help? Ugh! This is so hard. Liam and I are good friends, so why is this so challenging for me? I feel so weak and dumb. I'm such a pathetic loser. AND I have asthma. What the hell. Maybe If I get a little work done, Liam will notice! Niall picked up a broom and started sweeping near the entrance. He swept all the dust out the door like he was trained to do, but no one seemed to notice. He face palmed himself. Of course no one would notice. I'm literally just doing the bare minimum of my job description. Niall continued sweeping. He figured he might as well finish what he started.

After a half an hour of sweeping and thinking, Niall had officially been thrown for a loop. He just didn't know what to do; all of his ideas just wouldn't cut it. "Ugh!" Niall groaned. He stuck a hand in his pocket and hunched over into a slouch. As he was walking to the breakroom to return his broom, he noticed something in his pocket: the Starburst roll Zayn had given him a while back! Aye! Imma chew on this to help me think! Just gotta put this broom back, then I'll be golden.