Running Into Destiny (Niall Horan)

Chapter 5: Break From Life

Niall

I checked my phone for the hundredth time since I left rehearsals to get a coffee. Looking up, I entered the Starbucks in front of me. A barely audible sigh escaped from my lips. She had been ignoring all of us for the past four days. We've all been dying to see her again. The girl at the counter asked me for my order, pulling me from my thoughts. A hint of sadness draped over her voice.

"Uh yeah, can I get an iced vanilla latte with an extra shot of espresso please?" I asked, looking up at her from behind my Ray Ban’s.

"Hey Niall," the girl said with an audibly more cheerful tone.

I thought for a second, wondering where I had heard that voice before. I knew it from somewhere... Taking a better look at the barista's face I recognized Natalie staring up at me. My face lit up with joy. I simply couldn't believe my luck, because honestly what were the chances of walking into the coffee shop that she worked at? Without even knowing she worked at a coffee shop, might I add.

"Hey Natalie, fancy seeing you here," I said, my voice was overflowing with happiness.

"I'll go get you your coffee," she said with a smile as she turned to the nearby coffee machine.

As she handed me the cup of coffee I had ordered I couldn't help but notice how close our fingers came to touching. Looking around, I found an empty table to sit down at. Originally I had planned on heading straight back to the lads, but I was currently holding the only opportunity I could foresee to get her to talk to me. I looked up at her and was shocked to see her already looking my way. My eyes shifted to the chair across from me and then back to her. I prayed that she would understand the offer that I laid out on the table. I could hear her quietly speak to another girl. My thoughts began to jumble together when she walked my way and sat across from me.

"How are you?" her soft voice asked as she took a sip of water.

"I'm pretty good. I haven't been run over by anyone since our incident," I joke. A cheeky smile formed on my lips. She looked away, a slight blush added color to her lovely cheekbones.

"So how are you then?" I asked trying to start a conversation with her. Immediately wishing I hadn't when I watched the color drain from her face.

Emotions had become nonexistent on her beautiful features. She seemed to be thinking about something. Something painful, maybe? I could see her eyes begin to water, tears threatening to spill. Natalie fought hard against them. She took a deep breath before answering the question that had brought all of this up.

"Life goes on," she said vaguely into her lap. Her voice was barely above a whisper.

She wouldn't look me in the eyes. Her focus was on the nail she was picking at nervously. My heart dropped seeing her like this. I wanted so badly to know what was hurting her so I could help make all her pain go away.

"Everything okay?" I asked, reaching out. My hand touched hers, trying to comfort the breaking girl in front of me. Finally looking up at me with her captivating moss green eyes, she sighed.

"They will be," were the only words she spoke.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I was concerned and it showed in my tone of voice.

I could see that a small part of her was dying to tell me, to tell someone, whatever it was that she was hiding. But I could also see that she wasn't ready too. She would talk to someone when she was ready. I just hoped it would be me and that it was soon. I couldn't bear seeing something eat her up like this. It tore me apart inside. My head was becoming conflicted at my thoughts, not understanding why I had this urge to be there for someone who I had hardly met. But at the time being my heart was overpowering my head, and for once I didn't mind.