Chasing Pavements - A Niall Horan Fanfic

Chapter 18: One and Only

Niall sat with his hands over his eyes. It was his birthday, and he was patiently waiting for Becca to bring his present into the living room. It had arrived earlier, but Becca wasn’t going to give it to him just yet. She wanted to give it to him before they left for his party. He didn’t know why. All he knew was he was sitting in his living room, ready for the party but waiting for his girlfriend. He could hear the click-clack of her heels coming from the back of his flat. He started to spread his finger to peek, but she yelled at him to keep his eyes closed. Before Niall knew it, something was being placed into his lap and he heard her say he could open his eyes. The boy stared down in his lap. A guitar case lay there. He blinked a couple of times before he realized that’s exactly what it was. 

“Wha-what is this?” he asked. 

Becca giggled. “Wow…you don’t know what a guitar is? Don’t you play?”

He looked up at her a little speechless. “You didn’t have to get me this.” 

“You said you needed a good electric guitar. I got you one. Now open the case, silly,” she giggled again, sitting next to him. 

He opened the case carefully. Before him was a 1965 Fender Mustang. Niall really couldn’t believe his eyes. Not only was the gift extravagant, it was actually too much. Where exactly did she even find something like that? He reached down, carefully lifting the instrument from its case. He didn’t notice when Becca moved it out of the way. He simply placed it in his lap and began strumming the opening chords to a song. It sounded beautiful. Looking up, he gave Becca a look of disbelief. “You didn’t have to get this for me, Becca. It’s too much.” 

She smiled to herself, shrugging slightly. “Like I said, you said you needed one, and I remember you going a little gaga after seeing my dad’s. I got him to find one for a reasonable price and bought it. We got it refurbished by the same guy who restored his and everything.” 

Niall set the guitar in the case, took Becca’s face in his hands, and pressed his lips to hers in a quick kiss. “You, Rebecca Darling, are the most amazing girlfriend ever.” 

“You’re welcome,” she grinned. 

“It’s beautiful. I don’t think I can take it on tour. It’s too awesome,” he laughed as he turned back to the guitar and ran his fingers over the screen. He still couldn’t believe she’d gotten him such a nice guitar or that she even remembered that conversation. They’d had it late at night when they were both too tired to remember their own names, but Niall guessed that was yet another thing to love about Becca. She remembered just about everything. He stared at in utter disbelief. 

Becca watched the boy in front of her. He was mesmerized by the instrument in front of him. Just the reaction she wanted actually. She wrapped her arms around him, gently pressing her face to his back. “Do you like it, babe?”

He nodded. “I love it.” 

“Good. That’s the whole point, but marveling time is over. We have a birthday party to get to,” she smiled, standing up and pulling him with her. 

That seemed to snap him out of his trance. “Jacket or no jacket?”

Becca tilted her head to the side. They were overdressed for a party at Harry’s, but Bree insisted that it be fancy dress. Becca was dressed in a maroon dress with some of the most comfortable heels she’d ever purchased. Niall had on a pair of black slacks and a white dress shirt with a thin black tie. She tilted her head to the other side before nodding. “No jacket.” 

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“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” Everyone yelled as the couple walked into the door. Louis walked up to them, handing them both a glass of champagne. He threw his arms over their shoulders and led them further into the living room.