Trace

Chapter 23

       It's windy today, but I don't mind. The sun is warm and the breeze is cool. Niall and I are walking in London; we had a shopping day together. I never thought I'd have much fun shopping with a boy, but it was interesting to see how the male gender tries on things. I helped Niall pick out some shirts and trousers, and he commented on which summer dress was best for me.

 It's quite busy here, which is no surprise. This part of the city is the main tourist attraction. Niall and I walk arm and arm, and I laugh at some cheesy joke he cracks to me.

  We pass a family who poses in front of one of the double decker buses, and to my surprise, Niall approaches them.

   "Do you want me to take the picture for ya?" he offers politely.

Gratitude floods the father's face, and he hands the camera to Niall. He goes to stand next to who I assume his wife and two young daughters.

  "Smile! Real big! That's great!" Niall comments as he snaps a photo.

"I'll do one more for ya," says Niall, as he takes a step back.

  The family smiles happily, and the two girls spread out their arms wide.

 "Beautiful smiles you have, girls," Niall adds, as he hands the camera back to the man.

   "Thank you!" he says in a deep German accent. "Thank you!" the girls and mother chime in afterward.

  "No problem, you all have a good day!" Niall replies, and gives a small wave as he takes my arm in his again.

  "That was nice of you," I say to him as we cross the street.

Niall shrugs. "Just common courtesy."

  We walk to a pub and take a seat. After a few minutes, we say our orders to the waitress.

 "So... you and Anne, huh?" I remark, after the waitress walks away.

Niall looks down and his face flushes a soft pink. "She's...nice."

  I giggle and Niall looks across the small table to me and smiles.

"She definitely likes you, if you were wondering."

   His face brightens. "You think?"

"I know she does, she never stops talking about you!"

  Niall chuckles quietly. "I think I want to ask her out sometime soon."

"She'd love that," I answer gladly.

  "How are- erm- you and...Harry?" he hesitantly asks.

"How do you mean?" I respond.

  "Uh...well, everything's completely better, yeah?"

I nod, "Mhhm, he's great."

 "Good."

Our food arrives and we immediately dig in.

  "I didn't realise how hungry I was!" I laugh, once complete.

Niall takes one last bite of his sandwich. "Me neither."

  We pay and exit the pub, and I wrap my arms around Niall's arm.

"Today was fun," I deliver and look up at him.

He smiles, "We should do this more often."

  We walk around the city some more and then head back. The sun is beginning to set once we get closer to where we parked. We finally reach Niall's car and get in.