Hanging

Chapter 3

"Well now that you're all dressed up, let's give you a place to go. Will you go out to dinner with me?" He asked innocently, his blue eyes soft and caring. I heard Perrie release a squeal and Bretta make a dreamy sigh from behind me before I smiled wide, nodding. "I would love to."

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Apparently, a dinner wasn't just what was in Niall's mind, because when he took me outside, he lead me to a boat on a large lake. Inside the boat was a basket full of food and a guitar resting on one of the seats. The problem with this was? I never learned how to swim, so the water scared me, but I trusted Niall so I told myself that everything would be okay. When we reached the boat, he held his hand out for me and I took it, asking," How come all of this is already set up? Were you...planning on asking me out tonight?"

I watched as Niall's face heated up with color before he responded, "While you were hanging out with the girls, I was with the lads and they convinced me to set it up for you. You know...as friends and all, but then you came and knocked on my bedroom door looking all beautiful, and I couldn't resist but ask you right then and there."

I let a giggle escape my lips as he helped me into the boat, it wobbled on the water slightly from my weight and I kept telling myself over and over to remain calm. I didn't want Niall to think I was scared, even though I was. He climbed in the boat after me and began paddling to get us to the middle of the lake. "How about we play a game?" He asked me excitedly. 

"What kind of game?" I questioned.

"Quickfire! It's a game Louis created when were on the X-Factor."

"Ah, So that's where you disappeared to! Explains why you're in a band now." I laughed.

He nodded bashfully before getting energetic again. Typical Niall. "So are you up for it?"

"Of course! How do you play?"

"I ask a question, and we both answer really fast and then you ask a question, and so on and so forth."

"You start then?" I asked, raising an eyebrow and Niall nodded, looking deep in thought.

"Let's start simple. Favorite color? 1, 2 ,3 go!"

"Purple" I shouted at the same time that Niall said "Your eyes."

I blushed and ducked my head, muttering a "thank you" when I realized it was my turn to ask the question. "Umm...Middle name? 1, 2, 3 go!"

"James!" Niall answered and I told him mine, softly and shyly. "Mine's Claire."

Niall smiled an understanding smile before reaching out to squeeze my hand. Claire was my grandmothers name, she died when I was very little and Niall was at the funeral with me. She used to bake us the most amazing cookies when she came to visit in Ireland...I shook myself out of the memory when I realized Niall was talking.

"Favorite animal, 1 ,2 ,3 go!"

"Dolphin!" We said at the same exact time before laughing together. I loved his laugh, it was so unique and very, very contagious. 

"Hardest thing you've ever had to do?" I asked, keeping out the 1, 2 ,3 part since this answer would take a while. 

"Hmmm....probably not knowing where you were for so many years. You were, and still are, one of my best friends. I hated being apart from you." Niall whimpered, his eyes filled with so much unspoken emotion that I had to look away. 

I took a deep breath before answering my own question, my hands in tiny fists at my sides. "The hardest thing I've ever had to do is watch my dad yell at Joshua everyday. I wanted to just shield him away and have him know that life could be so much better than it was..." Before I knew what was happening, Niall was sitting next to me, his fingers gently running through my hair as he hushed me. "That's all over now, and I'm with you again, so let's talk about happier things, yeah?" He whispered in my ear and I nodded.