I looked up at their faces; Liam and Zayn were crouched down beside me. I sat there letting what happened sink in. After I put the pieces together, it replayed in my head.
I was trying to ignore the burning sensation in my legs. Pushing myself harder, further, faster. I was about to turn down Green Ave like I always do when I saw someone. There wasn't enough time for me to slow down or avoid him. I could barely say "Look out!" before I collided into his right side. My chest hitting him square on the shoulder, leaving me breathless. He landed harshly on his left side, barely catching himself with his hands before hitting the ground. Me on the other hand, I stopped dead in my tracks and fell flat onto my back. If I had thought I couldn't breathe before, I certainly couldn't now. With every breath I took, searing pain coursed its way through my chest cavity.
I snapped back to reality to find Zayn waving a hand in front of my face.
"Hello love, are you okay?" he asked.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine. Just taking into account what just happened." I raised my hand to my forehead, hoping I could massage away the throbbing inside my head.
"Do you mind telling us your name?" Zayn asked.
"Yeah, sorry. My name's Natalie."
"Zayn," he waved his hand. "That's Harry, Louis, Niall and Liam."
" Yeah, I-I know who you all are... Hello," I said softly.
"Hi!" the boys chorused with large smiles upon their faces. I looked up at Niall, his hair was slightly disheveled and he had dirt on his pants leg and arm. My eyes widened, I had spaced out on apoligizing to him!
"Niall, I'm so so sorry!" I began to apologize, the words tumbling out of my mouth. "I didn't mean to run into you, I wasn't looking at where I was going!"
"It's okay. No harm, no foul. I was just glad you weren't some crazed fan or something," he said, his cheeks turning to a light shade of pink.
"You aren't some crazed fan are you?" Louis asked both kind of curious and cautiously.
"No, don't worry. You're safe with me," I told him.
"Oh, okay cool," Louis nodded his head.
"Are you sure that you're okay?" I asked looking back at Niall, a smile toyed with the corners of my mouth. He looked really cute with his hair all disheveled.
"I should be the one asking you that. You took the hard hit, not me," he pointed out as he crouched down to my level. We were now eye to eye, and I couldn't help but notice the small flecks of gold that danced in the blue of his eyes beneath his pupils.
"I saw it! It was awesome!" Louis piped in, causing me to look away quickly. "You hit him and then just stopped in midair!" He had this big grin on his face.
"Yeah and then she landed flat on her back, Lou. She fell from literally four feet in the air," Harry said, playfully hitting Louis on the arm.
"OW!" he yelled, pretending to be hurt.
"Aw, I'm sorry Lou. Come here," Harry said pulling him into a hug.
"You better be, Hazza," Louis pouted.
"I think I am ready to get up now. I can breathe without it hurting too badly," I spoke softly, looking away from the two boys towards Liam.
"Would you like some help?" he asked extending his hand for me to grab on to.
"Yes, thank you." Taking his hand I made it up onto my feet. My legs felt shaky but I knew it was from my run and not my run-in.
"Doing okay, love?" he asked.
"I'm fine," I said trying to reassure them.
"You sure? You're whole chest is red, it looks kind of painful," Niall spoke up.
"Yes, I'm sure. Well, it was really great meeting you all. Again, I am so sorry for running into you Niall. Thank you for all the help, I appreciate it but I have to run!" I picked up my things and headed down Green Avenue.
"Try not to run into any more people!" Louis called.
"I'll do my best!" I called over my shoulder, giving the boys a small wave good bye.
I walked the remaining six blocks to my apartment. Pushing my door open, I let out a long sigh that I seemed to have been holding back. My mind was still mulling over what had just happened. And that was a good question. What exactly did just happen?
I didn't know at the time, but I would soon find out.
Niall
I stood there brushing off my pants as Natalie walked away. Running a hand through my hair, I turned to the lads. They were chattering about her, and how easily she took me down. Harry was making a joke about her being a line backer or something? I wasn't really paying attention. My eyes wandered down the street looking for the girl in the purple shorts and blue running top. To my dismay she had already disappeared.
"Are you coming Nialler?" Liam asked.
I turned back to the lads. All four sets of eyes were carefully watching me. I just nodded my head in agreement and we began to walk back to the arena that we'd be playing at next week. The boys were walking in front of me. Harry and Louis were goofing off jumping onto each other's backs. Zayn popped in one of his ear buds partially tuning us out as he began to hum along. Liam looked over his shoulder and back at me to see that I was a little bit behind. He slowed down so I could catch up with him.
"Are you sure you're okay there mate?" he asked.
"I'm not really sure, Li. I'm not really sure," I admitted, shoving my hands into my pockets and looking at the ground as we walked.
"She must have gotten you good," he chuckled slapping my shoulder lightly.
I thought about Liam's words for a few seconds. Maybe Liam was right. Maybe she had gotten me good.
YOU ARE READING
Running Into Destiny (Niall Horan)
Fanfiction[BOOK ONE] She puts on a tough girl act and tries to prove to the world that she can take it on single-handed. In reality, she's just scared. Scared of being left, of being hurt. But what happens when she runs into someone who makes her feel safe...
