Habit

Chapter 3: What A Feeling

The next day, Y/n found herself wandering through the venue's backstage area, hoping to clear her head before the show. It wasn't long before she spotted Katie and Niall tucked away in one of the dim corners, completely lost in each other. Niall held a bouquet of wildflowers, bursting with color, clearly fresh from some charming local market. His face lit up as he handed them to Katie, his smile wide and easy, his eyes bright as he watched her reaction.

Y/n couldn't help but smile too, feeling a warmth spread in her chest as she watched the way Niall looked at Katie—as though she was his whole world, as if no one else existed around them. She watched as he plucked a flower from the bouquet, tucking Katie's chocolate hair behind her ear as he placed the flower there. She smiled brightly as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into a gentle hug. They stayed like that, laughing softly, oblivious to the bustling crew around them.

Seeing the two of them together like this made something ache inside Y/n. When she watched the way Niall looked at Katie, with that ease and devotion, she couldn't ignore the contrast to what she shared with Harry. For Katie and Niall, there was no hiding, no sneaking off to empty stairwells or dark corners. Their love was something real, something that didn't have to be kept secret or hidden away.

When Niall finally pulled back, he gave Katie a quick peck on the lips before flashing her one last grin and running off to join the others for soundcheck. Katie lingered for a moment, watching him go with a soft, dazed smile, completely lovestruck.

As she turned around and noticed Y/n watching, Katie's eyes sparkled with playful mischief. She joined Y/n, holding up the flowers and inhaling their scent with a dramatic sigh. "He's so cute," she gushed, a giddy grin spreading across her face. "I keep telling him he doesn't have to bring me flowers every time, but he does it anyway. I don't even know where he finds the time, but..." She trailed off with a laugh, cradling the bouquet as if it were something precious.

Y/n forced a smile, though a strange feeling was stirring inside her. "It's... it's sweet," she murmured, trying to keep her voice steady. "You're lucky."

Katie glanced over at her, her smile softening as she picked up on the shift in Y/n's mood. She had known Y/n for years—Y/n, who was always the one cracking a joke, pretending to gag at anything remotely romantic just to embarrass her. This sad, quiet version of her was a new side she hadn't seen.

"Hey," Katie said gently, nudging her with her elbow. "You okay? You look weird."

Y/n hesitated, wanting to keep her feelings guarded, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Harry and the moments they'd shared. She'd wanted something like what Katie had—a relationship that didn't hide in the dark. But instead, all she had were those stolen moments, the thrill of secrecy, and a connection that always left her longing for more.

She nodded, attempting to brush it off. "Yeah. I'm fine. Just... thinking."

Katie studied her for a moment, clearly unconvinced. "You know," she began, her voice low and encouraging, "if you want something like this, too... you deserve it. I mean you're practically a model, and you're funny, and smart, and talented... way too good for anyone not to be kissing the ground you walk on at all times. " She laughed.

Y/n looked away, feeling the weight of Katie's words press against her. How could she explain the mess of feelings she had about Harry? The way he made her feel special one moment and completely forgotten the next. She knew Katie would never understand, not when her own relationship with Niall seemed so effortless.

"It's... complicated," Y/n finally said, forcing a small smile.

Katie shrugged, giving her friend a reassuring smile as she held the flowers close to her chest. "Just... don't sell yourself short, okay? There's not a single man walking this earth that wouldn't be lucky to have you." She flashed Y/n one last grin before turning to walk away, the faint scent of flowers lingering in her wake.