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

Chapter 12

I groan out loud when Niall pokes my side with his shoe. I'm tired, can't he just leave me be?

"Get up from the grass and stop being like that c'mon we have to practice." he says and continuously digs his shoe clad foot in my side right by my ribs. When Niall had offered to kind of teach me football and help me get better, I didn't think he had meant 8 am Saturday morning. We have been practicing for 48 minutes now and I'm so tired. It feels like I'll never be able to properly breath again. 

"I don't want to." I protest and he shakes his head with a tut. He prods at me again with his foot and I growl. 

"Stop it. I don't like you." At this statement Niall scoffs. 

"You love me." Damn right I do. 

"Please." he laughs softly at me. Instead of prodding me again, he sits down next to me and sighs. His blue eyes are cast down on the green grass and he looks, conflicted. 

"Is something wrong?" I ask him as I furrow my eyebrows. Niall looks like he's pulled away from his deep thoughts by my question. He looks deep in my eyes, gives me a small half smile and shakes his head. 

"Just thinking." he states and looks back at the grass. 

"So, you and Siri had a good time the rest of weekend?" I casually ask him and he nods before I even finished the sentence. 

"We had the best time. I cried a little when we dropped her off at the airport." he admits and blushes. He is so god damn precious. It's so sweet how much he cares about his family and his friends too. 

"That's great. Has it been weird seeing Julia in school every day this week?" I'm way too curious for my own good, but It's my nature. Plus I really want to know what he feels. What if he's heartbroken and really liked her. Luckily for me though, he shakes his head. 

"I had been thinking about calling it off for quite a while. The fact that she called Siri ugly, gave me the final push. I think she's been having it a lot worse than me. Hell, I'm not even sad." he shrugs and I smile fondly. I want to kiss him all over, cuddle him and call him mine, but as it is now, I'm still struggling to be his best friend again. I'm not sure I'll ever even date Niall. However it's an honor just to be his friend. 

"Oh. I had no idea about that." I add and turn my gaze from him, to the blue sky. 

"No one did. My doubts were my own problem. I don't feel a need to tell everyone everything. If I'm honest with you, I don't know why I even dated her." A breeze came and went and it lifted Niall's faux blonde hair from his forehead. 

"Anyways." he says and stands up and brushes himself off.

"Let's get back to practicing." his words have me groaning and I cross my arms. 

"Can't we just be done now?" I huff out. I was really enjoying talking to Niall like that. 

"Just one more moment and then we're done. Okay?" he negotiates with me and I sigh loudly. 

"Fine." without so much as a warning his hands are in mine and he pulls me up. 

"Great!" he grins when I glare at him and I huff. 

"Still hate you though." Niall tuts and shakes his head. 

"It's not nice to lie. And we've already covered that topic earlier." He says before walking me over to the ball and giving me instructions about what to do for this exercise. 

~~~~~~~~

To: Ashton
Could you come to my game today? I'm really nervous. 

I bite my lip as I stare at the text I sent Ashton a few minutes ago. What if he didn't want to come? I really need him there. He's been like a big brother to me, he's been my best friend and I really want him there.