Simply Perfect: Niall Horan Fan Fiction

Niall

Niall

I was glad to finally be out of that ridiculous restaurant. The cool night breeze felt nice, and did wonders to calm the nerves that were beginning to creep up on me again. Emily looked even better than I thought she would, and it had taken me off guard. She'd looked like a model that had jumped right off the page of a catalogue. When I'd seen her, I forgot all the advice that Lou had given me. How could I accept her for her imperfections when she didn't seem to have any? 

We walked along the narrow sidewalk past several storefronts. The breeze was starting to pick up, blowing in off the coast. At the end of the street there was an entrance into a large park. Oak and birch trees dotted the ground here and there, surrounded by tulips of many different colors. A small set of swings and other playground equipment had been set up near the base of a large maple tree. They squealed as they swung slowly in the breeze. On the opposite side of the sidewalk that ran through the center of the park there was a large pergola that had fairy lights draped around it, providing a warm glow to the whole area. Vines snaked their way up through the lattice work, and trailed their way back down on the other side. Large hydrangea bushes flowered along the walking path toward the pergola. I stopped in front of the gate to the park grabbing Emily's hand.

"Let's go in the park," I said. I could feel a smile beginning to form on my face as I led  her through the gate. We walked along the path in the faint bit of moonlight that was showing through the leaves of the trees. "Would you care to dance?" I asked as we finally reached the pergola.

"I would love to." Her face lit up with a brilliant smile as she grasped my hand tighter, and climbed up the small stone steps. We came to rest under the sturdy oak wood stucture and began to gently sway back and forth in the cool night air. I stepped sideways and back narrowly missing Emily's foot once or twice, although she didn't notice, or pretended she didn't. 

"There's no music," Emily commented after a minute as we rocked together. I looked down into her bright turquoise eyes illuminated only by the twinkles of the fairy lights for a moment. My face was only inches from hers, and I desperately wanted that little space to disappear. I began to hum Stay by Rihanna quietly, delicately. Emily hooked both of her hands behind my neck, and buried her head in the crook of my neck. I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her closer to me as I sang, louder now. There was nothing that could compare to how perfect we were in that moment. 

"Not really sure how to feel about it. Something in the way you move makes me feel like I can't live without you. It takes me all the way. I want you to stay," I sang softly into her chestnut colored hair. "Round and around, and around, and around we go. Oh now, tell me now, tell me now, tell me now you know." I felt something wet and cold run down my neck. I looked up toward the sky through the lattice. Another droplet of rain splashed into my eyes. "Emily?"

"Mhm." Her soft voice came out muffled by my jacket as she kept her head against my shoulder, her long hair falling neatly down her back.

"I think it's starting to rain," I informed her, a frown coming to my face at the thought of having to end the date early just because of the weather. 

"I know," she said, pulling away from me slightly. "I don't care. I don't want this to end." Her cheeks flushed red for a moment, and I felt a smile spread on my face. I got the feeling that she was falling for me just as hard as I already had for her, and I didn't want anything to come between that, much less a slight bit of rain. 

This time I couldn't resist the temptation. I eliminated all the space between her and I, pulling her impossibly closer to my body. I cupped her face in my hands and crashed my lips on hers. It wasn't quite as graceful or as gentle as I'd originally planned, but it would have to do. I felt shivers down my spine as she wrapped a hand around the back of my neck. I decided it was time to take a risk. I ran my tongue along her bottom lip, testing the waters before sucking gently. The rain suddenly started pouring down, interupting us. Our clothes were soaked through within seconds.

"I can cross this off my bucket list," Emily said, a huge smile lighting up her face as the rain made her hair cling to her forehead and neck. 

"Wha-," I started to say before she cut me off.

"Just shut up and kiss me, Niall." There was no time to think. I couldn't say no. I didn't want to say no, and I never would. I pulled her in closer to me again and pressed against her more firmly this time, our lips instantly moving in sync, and picking up right where we'd left off . My hand ran up into her dripping hair, gripping the back of her head as water ran between our faces. I finally pulled away breathlessly, feeling like I was going to black out from the lack of oxygen to my brain. I could feel Emily begin to shiver from the cold.

"I'd better get you home before you catch a cold," I said. She nodded, eyes still locked on my lips. 

"Last one to the car is a rotten egg!" Emily grinned widely and slipped off her heels, preparing to race away. 

"You're on!" She sped off, leaving me panting trying to keep up. As she ran out of the park entrance, I was only a few feet behind, starting to outpace her. My feet pounded down the pavement as I pushed my legs harder. Emily looked over her shoulder, her mouth hanging open in a huge smile. She giggled and surged forward again, her bare feet slapping the concrete. Damn she's fast, I thought to myself. We rounded the corner and I saw the whitewashed walls of the restaurant up ahead. Scanning the parking lot, I spotted the car trying to find a shortcut. Anything to win. I smiled to myself. I'm not letting her win.

 As hard as I'd tried to find a loophole, I couldn't find one. Emily was clearly the faster of the two of us. At least if I ever had a heart attack from too much food, she'd be able to run and get help. I laughed at my own sad joke. When I finally arrived at the Range Rover I looked around for any sign of Emily, but there was none. It was like she was just a dream, or a ghost. Gone like smoke in the wind.