Forbidden Desires {Ziall AU}

Chapter 24: I'll never give you away

chapter title from Lover of Mine by 5 Seconds of Summer

Hello lovely people!

This is not the best chapter I've written (i wrote and edited it in the last 2 hours) but we got there anyway haha.
Also happy 3rd of December to anyone who celebrates :)
Enjoy!

The bustle of St Martins Lane flitters around us, creating a comfortable background buzz. The waiters rush from table to kitchen, table to kitchen getting the food out during the lunch rush. The bartenders are serving glass after glass of every liquor you could think of.

Liam and I are sat in the middle of the chaos awaiting our orders. He smiles at me, "I feel like we haven't seen enough of each other lately."

I grin, taking a sip from my drink, "I know how you feel."

The conversation shifts into something of old friends catching up on each other's lives. If anyone else were to guess, we couldn't have seen each other in years. Though, it's only been a few weeks. I smile so wide my jaw aches, laugh so hard I cry, talk so much my chest aches. Other guests must be detesting us, but you know what? I don't give a fuck. It's been something that I've realised over the past year. The things that I thought were important. The gang, my father's praise, and my reputation never mattered. This is what matters.

Then, by a completely surprising turn of events, the conversation turns to Niall.

"So, how's the little leprechaun doing?" he asks.

I can't help how my entire face lights up at his mention. He loves that nickname. The first time Liam called him that, he laughed about it. But now, he glows, he thinks it's fucking delightful. And I'll take any chance I can to see him glimmer. I smile, "he's good, really good."

Liam takes a sip of his drink, "and what about you, how are you?"

"I don't know," I ponder, ducking my head. "For once I might be happy, but I don't know what to do with it."

He hums, "I understand."

For a fleeting moment, it feels like I've been seen.

"You have to let yourself feel it, that's the most important thing," he continues. "You'll never really be happy if you don't let yourself be."

I scrunch my nose, trying to starve the tears from my eyes. It can't be that simple, right? There has to be a catch, there's always a catch.

When we leave the restaurant later, there's this insatiable need brewing inside me. Niall. I need to see him. Now.

***

When Niall swings his door open I throw myself into his arms. He's wearing a fluffy hoodie, it's my favourite. He's so cuddly.

He lets out a small laugh, wrapping himself around me the best he can. A part of me wished I could have his laugh forever, another part reminds me that I can.

This is what matters.

"Hello," he murmurs, pressing a kiss to the crown of my head. "what's gotten into you?"

I giggle, pressing my lips to the crook of his neck. Maybe now. It might mean everything or nothing, but I like now. "I have a secret," I whisper.

"Yeah?" he smiles, trailing his hand up and down my side, "and what's that?"

I lean up to his ear, placing a kiss on the way, "I love you."

He freezes against me, his entire body going on alert, "what?"

"I love you," I say, giggling into his neck.

He pries me off of him, and I go (reluctantly). He takes in my dopey smile with concerned eyes, "are you drunk?"

I nod.

He sighs, gripping his arm firmer on my waist, "what did you have?"

I smirk, "you."

He furrows his brows, clearly confused, "what nonsense are you babbling on about?"

"I'm always drunk on you," I preen, pressing my lips to his for a moment.

He laughs, swaying us, "you mean it?"

"Course."

"Well, good," he declares, picking me up, causing me to wrap my legs around him, "because I love you a whole lot as well."

A small part of my heart pieces itself back together at the words. I didn't realise how much three simple words would mean to me. I didn't think I was capable of love, let alone to have someone that loves me back unconditionally. We topple back together, letting ourselves get lost, lost, lost. We forget the world together in a way only we know how, reaching that place hung high in the sky that everyone tells us is impossible. But to us, it'll always be our best-kept secret. No one has to know, because no one else matters. This love is ours, and ours alone.