The Air Between Us • NH

s e v e n t y t h r e e

Song: One Direction - 18

To be loved and to be in love.

She ran halfway, across the field her feet finally hitting pavement as she slowed down and came to a stop. Her body moved forward and up the steps into the building, walking quickly. She was excited to see him, it had been a few months since she's seen him, been held by him, even kissed. That text that he was coming to her graduation was the icing on the cake, she couldn't wait.

New message...

Ducky: guess what I got you for your graduation gift

...

Mouse: moneys!?

Ducky: no moneys, you gold digger haha

Mouse: fudge cakes :/

Mouse: a trip to Hawaii!?

Ducky: the fxck, maybe I should've thought about this more.

Mouse: well no, what you get me!?

Ducky: me...

Mouse: you...? ur coming?

Ducky: yeah.

Mouse: OH MY GOD!

Ducky: is that a happy omg?

Mouse: MMMMHMMMM I've missed you so much, YAY!

Ducky: oh thank god haha

Mouse: ur the best gift ever, baby :3

Ducky: hehe 

Her breathing becoming shaky, seeing him always gave her butterflies. Deep, deep inside they would move around and she seemed to not be able to think straight. She loved him that was for sure, telling him was easy, showing him was even easier. She never lost herself when she was with him, as most people would say, she found herself, every bit she had ever hidden was revealed every time they were together. The bad, the good, she found this person that she finally felt comfortable showing to the world and it was thanks to him and his patients, his love.

As she walked through the hallways, she walked over crumbled papers, things written on as they had been tossed and left behind by students that were already heading towards their futures. Besides those crumbled pieces of paper, everything else in the hallway was clean. Looking as though, no one had ever set foot in these halls. As she took one of the staircases up and towards the second level of the school, she saw it, one single rose petal, white. 

Purity, innocence, rebirth, sometimes forgiveness... that color that meant so many things and only one other person understood.

        "Niall..." a whisper to herself, where was he? She knew something was up because what was the coincidence that whenever she was in these hallways, rose petals seemed to appear along her path. Turning the corner into the hallway with her locker just a few down on the left side. She walked quicker, looking behind her, all around herself, saw nothing. Where was he? "Niall?" she spoke aloud, done with this game she wanted him, now. She got a text instead.

New message...

Ducky: open your locker.

...

Mouse: what?

Ducky: open. your. locker.

Mouse: okay.

Shaky hands, fingers pushing the metal clip up and letting the sound of it unlocking fill the empty hallway. As if a deja vu moment filled her being, her feet becoming immersed once again by rose petals, white ones this time. Her hands go to cover her mouth, tears are brimming her eyes, she feels her heart, its going to beat out of her chest at any minute. Looking up, a yellow rose settled on the metal door with a note, which reads, why? why not? bcuz life. isnt life always to blame? yes.

Their first ever conversation on the school's chat, right at her fingertips.

As she holds the note with both hands, a tear falling out of her control, a noise is heard behind her as she turns. Standing before her, he begins, "I think this one time, I'm going to thank life for helping me find you." Taking a knee, her hands in his, "I'm not gonna make this corny, I should, but I feel like, this should be simple." She was already crying, softly and quietly. Her hands squeezed and released his, waiting for him. "You pushed me in a way no one ever has, not aggressively, but lovingly. You care about me..." his eyes glazed over as he cleared his throat, "You care about my dreams, the things that I see myself doing in the future, you see them too. I will never be able to find that anywhere else." Looking down, his lips connecting with her knuckles.

        "Niall, baby..." her small voice helping him along.

        "I am in love with my best friend, with Grier Annie Hawl. I wanna spend the rest of my life with you." A hand pulling something out of his jacket pocket, a white box with a yellow bow on it. His hands let go of hers, she tried to wipe her tears away but it was no use as they kept coming. His fingers fumbled to get the bow off, she giggled as he cursed lowly. "Stop it, Mouse." She continued to giggle and cry softly. He finally got it off and began again, "that smile right there... it's so beautiful, you're so beautiful, Grier, will you marry me?" Nodding without hesitation, a broken yes coming out of her pink lips. 

She jumped him once it was the moment, ring on her finger, it fit perfectly. They fit perfectly as she hugged him. Slowly getting to his feet, her body still in his arms, their embrace never faltering. I love you's filled the silent moments. Twirling her, holding her tight. Placing her on her feet, pushing her up against the lockers, kissing her like the world was going to end. If it did, he'd die happy. 

Stopping, their breaths mingled together, exhausted smiles. Her hand running up along his chest, cupping his cheek, admiring the ring against his eyes. Another tear fell as he caught it, kissing her softly this time and whispering her favorite sentence she loved hearing from him, "I'm so happy."

He smiled into the kiss, lingering, his tears mixed with hers and now she was wiping his away.