Anything to keep you [n.h + h.s]

Chapter 1

3 years later

I walk into the cafeteria and see Niall sitting by his usual table. Along with his friends and a bunch of girls. His hair is quiffed and he's wearing a smile on his face as he flirts with one of the girls. Her name is Julia and she is so beautiful. It's so obvious that she and Niall have got something going. It kind of breaks my heart because I love Niall so dearly and I just really want him in my life, but he's slipping away. He's slipping out of my grasp. We used to be inseparable, now we send tops three messages every time we text, and it's only when Niall asks something about a homework. I sigh and turn my gaze to my feet. I don't know how to make Niall want to keep being my friend. Because I'd really do anything to keep him. I choose a salad for lunch with a water bottle. I glance over at Niall again seeing him flirt with Julia. A feeling of disgust appears in my stomach and I look away from them. Eventually I get to pay for my food and I look around the cafeteria. There is not a single empty table. I gulp and start to walk through the cafeteria, very slowly might I add. 

Maybe Niall will let me sit with him. If I ask kindly and tell him there are no other tables available he might let me sit with him. Yeah, I'll give it a shot. 

I start to carefully walk in the direction of Niall's table. I gulp right before I reach it. 

"Uhm, Niall?" I timidly speak, trying to steal his attention for just a second. He turns his gaze to me and gives me a fake smile. It kinda hurts that he's just fake smiling at me. 

"Yeah Harry?" he asks me with a slightly cold tone. I instantly get the feeling that he wants me to be gone, out of his sight. I bet he wishes that I never walked over. 

"Th-there aren't any other tables so I w-was just kind of wondering, c-can I sit here?" I ask, keeping my gaze on my tray. There is no reply coming from Niall and when I glance at him, I can see that he's scanning the cafeteria to see if what I'm saying is actually the truth. He then turns to me, and once again gives me a fake smile. 

"Sure. Here, I'll make room for you." he offers and I'm just so glad for a second , but it passes the moment I can see Niall scooting closer to Julia. He puts his arm around her shoulders and leans in to whisper something in her ear. She giggles out and it's the most annoying sound I've ever heard. 

"I'd love to come to your game." she mumbles and I think my heart will actually give up. I used to be the one Niall invited to his games. He'd used to be so excited about them and the minute I agreed to go he'd be even more excited. I will surely never forget how it played out the first time he asked me to come to one of his games. 

"Haz... " Niall mumbles from his spot on my bed. He's on his back and his gaze is glued to ceiling as he fiddles with one of my pillows. 

"Yeah?"  I answer slyly from my place on the floor. His tone was so gentle and his actions make it out as if he's nervous. Niall wouldn't be nervous around me. He never is.

"I've got a game on Saturday. And I just thought, that it'd be nice if  you wanted to come see me play. Of course you don't have to if you don't want to. I mean, you don't even like footie so I understand if you don't want to come see me, I just thought that, you know, I could invite you and you can swing by if you feel like it." Niall always rambles when he's nervous. I don't know why he's so nervous to ask me to go to his footie game. He should know that I'd happily be there.

"Of course I'll go. You'll do great, I'm sure." My gaze is resting on him and I can see a smile forming on his lips. I never intended to get on crush on my best friend. It wasn't my intention. But how could anyone blame me? I mean, what's not to love about him?

"Really? Oh my God Hazza you have no idea how much that means to me! Just knowing you'll be there calms me down plenty. Thank you so much!" Niall exclaims, jumps down from his place on my bed and embraces me from behind. He places his lips on my cheek and they heat up right away.