Two Against One

Chapter 16

"It's so nice outside!" Rachel exclaims as we step outside of the hotel and start walking down the sidewalk.

"Yeah, warmer than usual," Lizzy agrees as we walk into a small caffe and up to the cash. Once we all have our drinks we sit down at a table for four and start talking.

"So," Lizzy says with a raised eyebrow, "you and Niall huh?" I suck in a breathe and nod.

"I guess so, yeah," I reply before taking a sip of my coffee.

"I think you two are cute," Rachel winks at me from across the table. I smile and laugh lightly.

"We haven't gone out anywhere yet, though," I admit to them after another large gulp of my drink.

"He did just ask you out yesterday," Jenna reminds me.

"That's true," I say with a shrug. I was hoping that for Niall and I's first date we could go to the movies or something, nothing too serious. Don't get me wrong, I was happy about the fact that Niall and I were dating but at the same time there was still always a voice nagging at the back of my head telling me that it wasn't right.

"How'd Harry take it?" Lizzy asks after a few moments of silence.

"Harry?" I ask as if I'm confused. I know exactly what she's talking about, though.

"Come on, Tabitha, we all know you and Harry have a little rough edges now," Rachel says. I roll my eyes as just the thought of Harry and that night make me feel sick.

"I don't know, I didn't talk to him about it," I lie. I know I should tell them about how he pinned me against the wall last night and told me it was game on but then I'd feel like all three of them would be hovering over my shoulder, making sure I didn't do anything stupid. And as an eighteen year old, I don't need babysitters. I can figure this out myself.

"Figured," Jenna says. "You're better off without him anyways, who cares about what he thinks."

"I know," I reply. But the thing is, I don't know. I want things to be the same with me and Harry as it was before the trip when we would occasionally flirt and still be able to chat like best friends. But what he did wasn't okay. Maybe I'm over reacting but I don't care. It hurt, a lot. Nothing can change that. But, all while I'm thinking this, I still get butterflies when I remember what his soft pink lips tasted like when we kissed. I wanted to slap myself for thinking this way while Niall and I had the 'boyfriend, girlfriend' status but I can't help but think this way. Thank God mind reading isn't real.

**

ZZZZZ

My phone buzzes from the table beside me as I sit with Jenna, Rachel and Lizzy in our room watching tv. It's a text from Niall.

Niall: Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to go see a movie?

Me: Sounds good, what time?

Niall: 30 mins?

Me: Sure, see you then.

I lock my phone and get up from the bed. "Niall and I are going to go see a movie in half an hour," I inform the girls as I head to the bathroom to get fixed up.

"Steamy!," Lizzy teases.

"It's just a movie!" I yell from the bathroom before shutting the door. I get on a pair of dark skinny jeans and a long-sleeve turquoise top. Applying mascara and a bit of lip gloss I'm out of the bathroom within fifteen minutes. Looking in my suitcase I find a cute dark grey scarf and wrap it loosely around my neck.

"You clean up nice there, girly," Jenna says, giving me a nod of approval.

"Thanks," I reply. Grabbing my phone and putting it in my purse, I sling it over my shoulder and head to the door. "See you guys in about two hours," I quickly yell to them before I slip on a pair of black flats and walk to the boys room. After a third knock the door opens and Harry opens the door, looking me up and down then stepping aside. I give him my best 'fuck you' smile and walk into the room.

"Well doesn't someone look nice," Liam says from one of the couches.

"Thanks Liam," I laugh as I peer around the room. "Where's Niall?"

"In the bathroom getting all prettied up for you," Louis winks. This causes me to blush which causes them to laugh.

"Well isn't that cute," Zayn teases. I blush an even deeper shade of red and sit down on a couch.

"I'm not blushing," I lie, "it's just hot in here and you guys don't have any windows open."

"It's hot in here? Sorry guys, I'll leave," Louis jokes. I laugh and roll my eyes. A few second later Niall walks out of the bathroom along with a burst of cologne that he must have sprayed which smells amazing.

"Hi," Niall says to me as I stand up and walk over to him. "Ready to go?"

I nod and we walk out of his room, but not before Louis whistles after us. Niall and I laugh and walk down the hall. He grabs my hand and I can't help but feel a twinge of guilt. It feels wrong because it is, my subconscious decides to chime in.

**

After the movie, Niall and I took a cab back to our hotel and are standing in front of my door. "That was fun," Niall says with a small smile.

"Yeah," I agree, "good movie too." We stand there for a moment and, not wanting it to get awkward, I put a hand on the door knob and was about to turn it when Niall stops my hand.

"Wait."

I face him, slightly raising an eyebrow. "We have to go on another date soon," he says. I thought that was an obvious part of dating but okay...

"Yes," I say smiling at him. Then I see Niall's eyelids flutter close. I inch forward as well but something stops me, something doesn't feel right, yet again, and more guilt washes over me. If you kiss him, all you'll do is hurt him. Shaking the stupid thought off I inch forward faster now so our lips connect briefly and I pull away a second later. Biting my lip I say, "bye," and smile at him before opening my door and closing it. Leaning on the inside of the door I heard Niall mutter something to himself then walk to his own room. Why did that feel so weird? Niall's my boyfriend now, we can kiss if we want and I shouldn't feel be feeling guilty. I like Niall more than a friend now, which must mean what I'm feeling is okay... right? Wrong.