It's Better In Black & White ✎ n.h.

Chapter 17

Paige's POV

Once I left Harry on the elevator and he disappeared from my view, I walked slowly down the hallway until I found the room I was looking for. I stood in front of the wooden door with golden numbers that read 607. Niall's room. I looked down at my black high-top converse and took a deep breath. I was about to brush my knuckles against the door's surface when the door creaked open. I looked up to find a startled Niall.

"What are you doing here?" he asked slowly, looking at me as if I had grown a second head since we last saw each other.

"Uh" I was at a loss for words. 

The charming Irish was shirtless in front of me, for the second time this week. I felt blood rush to my face and I lowered my face to the ground. 

I heard footsteps when he disappeared into his room and then I heard them when he stood in front of me once again. I let my gaze travel up slowly and to my relief he was wearing a wrinkled white t-shirt now. 

"I was actually going to... get some food. But uhm... do you need something?" he asked.

"Don't lie. You were going to get food? Shirtless?" I asked with a new found confidence. He arched an eyebrow at my tone. 

"We need to talk" I said simply, before pushing past him and walking inside his hotel room. 

"Well, why don't you come in?" he muttered sarcastically while pushing the door close.

"Niall, I just wanted to explain what happened" I said softly.

"Explain what?" he asked, crossing his arms against his chest while looking at me. I saw hurt flash for a second in his light blue orbs, but it was gone so quick I might have imagined it. 

"Niall, I'm sorry" I said reaching towards him, but he took a step back before I could touch his arm. It was my time to feel hurt.

"For what?! For forgetting I was standing right next to you? For kissing your boyfriend and rubbing it right in my face? For lying to me? For making me look like an idiot? What are you sorry for, Paige, tell me!" he said, anger and hurt seeping into his voice. He was so upset and it just made my heart sad. I didn't want to hurt him. I didn't lie to him. What I was beginning to feel for him... it was real. But things were complicated.

"I'm sorry that things suck right now. I'm sorry you had to see that and I'm sorry I didn't push him back right away. I'm sorry that I'm such a coward and can't freaking look my boyfriend in the eye and tell him it's over because I am falling for someone else.That's all I'm sorry for" I mumbled the last part and I turned around, unable to face the doubt in his eyes any longer.

"How do I know that's the truth? How do I know you're not lying to me right now?" he asked. He sounded so vulnerable and it clawed at my heart.

I had my arms crossed around my chest, almost like protecting myself from anything he could say while I still had my back turned to him. Suddenly I felt both of his hands grip both of my arms. I could feels his body behind mine while he held me there in place, but then his thumbs started stroking the skin of my pale arms in a soothing manner.

"You don't. You gotta listen to your heart. He knows the truth" I whispered. 

A moment of silence stretched between us.

I gasped in surprise when Niall's arms snaked around my waist pulling me closer to him, my back against his chest. 

"My heart wants to believe you" he whispered against my ear. Goosebumps ran down my arms at his husky deep voice.

I leaned even more against him and closed my eyes when he held me tighter, the gesture said he didn't want to let me go, and honestly I didn't want him to. I felt at home in his arms.

But when he rested his chin on my shoulder; that's when it felt completely perfect. 

We stood there, our bodies warmth mingling into one. I could have stayed there forever. But I couldn't. I couldn't enjoy this like I should, not until I made things right. 

"I gotta go" I said softly, stepping away from his body and turning around to face him. His hands fell to his sides and he watched me, with yearning swirling in his eyes. I stepped closer to him again, our gazes connected.

"I have to make this right" I whispered.

"I know" he mumbled in a pout. It was utterly adorable. I had to restrain myself from kissing his pouting lips.

"I'll see you later, alright?"

He nodded and his hand reached up to caress my cheek. I closed my eyes at the contact.

"Don't do that. It makes the urge of kissing you even stronger" he said in a breathy voice. I opened my eyes.

"Sorry" I said, biting my lip unconsciously. He watched the action and groaned

"Oh, sorry" I said trying to not do anything else to tempt him.

"I think you do it on purpose" he muttered.

"I do not!" I said faking indignation. He chuckled.

"You should go" he said this time. Rubbing his thumb across my cheek one more time before letting his hand fall to his side. 

I smiled at him before stepping around him to leave. I was opening the door when I felt his hand grab my arm and I turned around with a question in my eyes.

He grinned and leaned down, placing a soft kiss in the corner of my mouth. When he stepped back he smirked. I just stared at him surprised

"I promised myself I wouldn't give you a proper kiss until you were a free woman, I'm keeping that promise. But I just had to... tempt you like you do to me" he said, a smile still hanging from his lips. 

"Well you're doing a good job" I mumbled. I was turning around to leave but an idea hit me. I turned around and before I could change my mind, I stood on the tip of my toes and placed a quick peck on Niall's mouth. His smile had disappeared and he just looked at me, almost burning a hole in my head.

"What? You were the one that promised you wouldn't kiss me" I said with a smile.

"If we don't want something we might regret to happen you need to go now" he said in a strained voice. I smirked.

"I'm leaving, I'm leaving" I said putting my hands up in surrender. With that I turned around and walked out of his room, walking down the hallway and to the elevator. Once I stepped inside the elevator I turned around and found Niall standing outside of his room watching me. He waved and I waved back, before the doors slid close and obscured our view of each other. 

I had to fix everything with Derek and I was going to do it tomorrow. It's time I make everything right, once and for all.