Maybe

08: Cheesy Popcorn and Ex-Girlfriends

Niall POV

"This is a nice third date," Tori sighs as I stroke her hair in my lap. "Movie, popcorn and a hot guy in his flat. And I don't even have to change out of my track pants or tank top, because we're not going anywhere."

"If I knew you liked this kind of date better, I'd have made this our first date," I joke. She laughs. 

"Any kind of date is perfect," she says, "as long as it has you in it."

"That's cute," I say as she makes a face.

"Not really. It's so cheesy. I can't believe I just said that."

"No, it's cute," I argue, watching her cheeks go red.

"Oh my gosh. If I'm not the cheesiest girl in the world - first, cheesy pick up lines -"

"Which I met you through," I interrupt, but she disregards this and moves on.

"And now, cheesy sayings. And to believe I made it up! I disgust myself." She pops a bit of popcorn in her mouth and moans. "CHEESE POPCORN. OF COURSE. WHY NOT?"

I start laughing. "You're a better comedy than the movie," I say in between bursts of laughter. "We could just watch you."

"Grown Ups is about a hundred times funnier than I could be, my dear," she says, laying her head back down in my lap. "Now let's watch it."

While she watches it, eating the cheese popcorn, I watch her eyes as she blinks. Her eyelashes, completely devoid of mascara, seem quite long. Then her eyes snap up to me and I start. 

"What are you staring at me for?" she teases, hoisting herself up and pressing her forehead to mine. 

"I was watching the movie," I lie. "I looked down and then you looked up."

She weighs this for a moment, then a smile appears on her face. "Liar."

I smile at her. "Am not."

"You're not very convincing," she says, grinning.

"Not when I'm around you," I blurt out. Then I feel my cheeks go red. "I-I mean -"

"Same," she says bashfully. I think it's the first time she's ever appeared to be shy around me. "I know what you mean."

I stare at her for a moment and then sigh. "Damn it."

"What?" she asks.

"I can't believe I agreed that we'd take it slow," I mutter. A large grin spreads across her face. 

"Well, relationships that start fast end fast," she says. Then her smile becomes bigger. "What, Niall? Can't wait to tap this ass?"

"No, it's just that I've never met someone who's as amazing as you and want to make you mine before J- um, someone gets to you first."

Her smile falters a little and I know she noticed my hesitation. "You have no competition, Niall." 

--

"So when do I get to meet your new girlfriend?" Liam asks, setting down on my couch next to me. I roll my eyes.

"She's not my girlfriend. We're taking it slow."

"They haven't even kissed yet," Harry hollers, poking his head out of the bathroom. Liam nods approvingly.

"Good. I don't want you getting into something so close to our tour," he says. I groan, making him look concerned. "What?"

"I haven't told Tori about that yet," I say.

"We're leaving in three weeks, Niall. You have to tell her." I chew on my lip. "And don't ask her to be your girlfriend any time soon. It's not fair on her."