Still the One (Narry)

Ch. 7

I looked into those breathtaking green eyes and could feel my heart beating erratically in my chest. I smiled widely at him, not fully aware that I was. His eyes widened. He looked...nervous. But what did he have to be nervous about?

I felt Louis elbow me in the side and I looked over at him, seeing him staring expectantly at me. I glared at him and he Louis rolled his eyes and made kissy faces at me. I could feel all three of the other guys staring at us. We looked at them before making eye contact again, bursting out in laughter. When I had gotten my breath back, I put my hand on Louis' shoulder and turned towards Harry. I noticed Harry staring at my hand and saw something flicker in his eyes, some emotion I couldn't read.

"Harry, this is Louis, my best mate. Louis, this is Ha-"

"Harry Styles, 19, born in Cheshire, youngest member of One Direction,band your ex-boyfriend. Yeah, I know. I think everyone in the world does, except for the ex-boyfriend part, and I just found that out today." Louis smiled at Harry sweetly, as if he hadn't just sounded like a crazy stalker fan.

Harry chuckled. "Bit of a fan there, eh?"

I groaned. "You guys are all he talks about! It's disgusting how in love Lou is with you, but of course he likes Liam the best, seeing as he's in love with him."

Louis' face went bright red, as did Liam's. Harry an Zayn cracked up, and soon after I joined in. The looks on their faces were priceless. Liam smiled shyly at Louis, who grinned back. I rolled my eyes and turned back to Harry, only to see he was already looking at me, a small smile gracing his lips. I shrugged at him and smiled before looking at my feet, suddenly too shy to meet his eyes.

Zayn snorted and walked over, shouting over his shoulder, "See you on sage, lovebirds!"

I blushed and flipped him off. Zayn just laughed as he walked to go somewhere, I don't know who. I felt warmth beside me and turned, jumping at how close Harry and i suddenly were. But I didn't move away.

"It's really good to see you, Ni." Harry said quietly.

I smiled happily up at him. "You too. I can't believe it's been so long, look at you! Living the dream."

Harry shrugged. "Yeah, it'a great, I just hate how public everything is. I mean, i love the fans and performing and everything, but sometimes I miss how it used to be."

"You miss performing to a crowd of one in a ratty old garage? Living in a small little nothing town in the middle of nowhere?" I raise an eyebrow. "Tell me, how does that beat all of this?"

Harry laughed. "Yea, I get it. But back then, I didn't have to question why people hung around me. I knew exactly what everyone thought about me. Here, someone could hate me, but act like my best mate for my fame or money or whatever and I would never know. I miss going out and not caring how I looked. I miss going out an not worrying about who might see me and if I was going to be mobbed by a bunch if teenage girls. I miss jut being a teen. I wish, jut for one day, I could just go do whatever I wanted and not worry."

I stared at him. "Don't you like your new life? You're rich and famous and doing what you've always wanted! You're performing to millions of people around the world, sold out albums worldwide, meeting a ton of new people, and winning so many awards I've lost track of them all!"

Harry looked at my seriously. "Yea, of course, I love my life. It's just a bit lonely, but I guess that's my fault."

I looked away. "You did what you had to do. I can't make you love me. I don't blame you, and I'm not mad."

"You think I broke up with you because I don't love you?" Harry looked shocked, like I had just slapped him.

I shrugged. "Why else would you do it?"

Harry looked at me, not sure what to say for once. He was about to say something when Paul interrupted us.

"Come on Harry, you need to get on stage."

Harry looked at me apologetically. "We'll talk after the show, ok?"

I nodded, smiling excitedly. Maybe a bit too excitedly, but it didn't matter. Harry smiled brightly at me, though his eyes still looked a bit troubled. I decided to do what Louis said and hint that I wanted more than friendship, even though I was pretty sure he didn't like me anymore. I kissed his cheek, letting my lips linger for a couple seconds. "I'll see you later."

Harry stood shocked for a minute before Paul dragged him away, onwards the stage. Harry looked over his shoulder at me, smiling widely.

I saw Zayn and Liam join him, Liam's lips just a bit too red. I squinted in confusion until a breathless Louis came up besides me. I looked at his swollen lips and the red marks beginning to bruise on his neck and laughed.

"Nice neck, mate. So you and Liam, eh?"

Louis blushed, covering the mark with his hand. "Yea, is that ok with you? I mean, you were best friends, after all."

I shrugged. "As long a it isn't Harry, I don't care who you date. And Liam'a a great guy, you two are perfect for each other."

Louis sighed dreamily. "He's even better than I imagined."

"Just no sex in my flat."

Louis looked at me sharply. "What? No! That's not fair! I have a flat mate and you live alone!"

"Nope, absolutely not!" I laughed.

"Niall!" Louis whined, dragging out the -all.

"I'm not caving! Under no circumstances are and Liam ever allowed to have sex in my flat. You my not go farther than snogging in my place."

Louis brightened slightly. "But we are allowed to use it, right?"

I laughed and brought my attention back to my friends singing and "dancing" around the stage, although they can't dance for shut so they were really just jumping. They really are talented, they deserved this. And Harry is still just as perfect as before.

How can I ever pretend I'm not desperately in love with him?