In this Moment

Chapter Twenty-One

***Niall's POV***

It had been two weeks since my family had visited, two weeks since that wonderful night, two weeks since I gave her the necklace, and things just continued to get better. I only had one week left until I went on tour, and before I went on tour I had to make a big step in our relationship, propose. It was Monday and today Liam, Zayn, and I were going to go look for a ring while Denayah, Harry and Louis distracted her.

I had told the others about my decision a couple days after I told my brother and dad, and they were all completely on board and thrilled for me. All the guys agreed this was the happiest they've ever seen me, and they all loved Rachel too. They fully supported me just as my family had, and I was so happy that everyone was on board.

I had been planning the proposal and how I was going to do it, planning it down to the last detail, it was going to be the perfect night and nothing was going to ruin it. Nothing. I was going to propose to her on Friday before the tour began, and if she yes she could come on the tour with us.

I had taken a shower and I was pulling my shirt on over my head and jogging down stairs to find Rachel in her pajamas sitting on the couch watching the tele, eating cereal. And even in that state she managed to take my breath away. She noticed me starring at her and she set her bowl down on the table and came over to where I was standing. She wrapped her arms around my neck as I snaked mine around her waist, she look a little tired but I brushed off. She could have just woken up.

I leaned down and let our lips melt together, moving as one. I pulled away and I stared down at her beauty, I noticed that she was wearing the necklace I had gotten her and started smiling at her.

"What?" she asked confused, as if she had done something funny.

"You're still wearing it." I said referring to the necklace, pecking her on the lips softly.

"I never took it off." she smiled back and returning the peck.

We both released our grip and she went back to the couch and and continued to eat. "So where are you going?" she asked from her spot on the couch. Well I'm going to pick out your ring. NO, I can't say that, umm a good reason, ummmm...

"I'm going to grab a few drinks with Zayn and Liam, I'll be back in a couple hours. Harry, Louis and Dena said they would be here in an hour to hang out." I said hoping she wouldn't see through my white lie.

"Ok sounds like fun. See you in a few." She responded as I kissed her on the forehead and walked towards the door.

*~*~*~*~*

We were in our fifth jewelry store and I could tell there was a few fans following us around, but I ignored them. I was fully focused on finding the perfect ring for Rachel. I wasn't going to screw this up, not with her. She was special and in return deserved a special ring, one that matched her uniqueness, her beauty.

"How 'bout this one," Zayn asked pointing to one below the glass case. I looked at it and then shook my head. I didn't know exactly what I was looking for my I was sure that when I found the right one I would know it. Liam and Zayn continued to suggest different rings, different styles and different  carrots, none of them screamed perfect, the one that was good enough, none of them screamed her.

I continued to browse around the store, glancing at a few that caught my eye, but none of them were perfect. I was about to walk out of the store when I saw a small shining ring in the corner case of the store. I walked over to the case and asked the manager if I could see it. He pulled it out of the case and handed it to me, it was beautiful. The band was covered in small diamonds all leading up to a bigger diamond, it was so perfect.

Liam and Zayn stood next to me looking at the ring as the manager spoke, "Its a twenty carrot, designed by at least six different jewelers, and the only one of its kind in the world."

"Just like her." I said quietly to myself. "I'll take it."

*~*~~*~*~

***Rachel's POV***

I was kind of glad that Niall left to hang out with the guys for a little while, I needed to catch up on my thoughts and regain sleep. The truth was that I had been getting very little sleep, less and less sleep was accompanying me. And it was affecting my love for Niall.

I've been feeling that only half of my heart is in the relationship, that only half of my heart was really paying attention to him. I felt that I wasn't giving him all of my love, and I felt like I can't keeping loving him like this. Having barely enough energy to love him, he didn't deserve that, he deserved so much better than that.

I had been going back and forth in my mind about something but I wasn't sure which decision was right, if my half hearted love wasn't good enough for him, I didn't want to hurt him. It was killing me how I could only love him with half of my heart, and the lack of sleep was making everything worse.

I knew that Jake wasn't going to go anywhere anytime soon and I also knew that I couldn't tell Niall about it, I was so confused. I couldn't keep living my life with the bare minimum of sleep, but I also couldn't be truly happy without Niall.

He was my world, the soul core of my happiness, he lite up my world when ever there was a gloomy day. He had been there for me for so long, he loved me and I loved him. I couldn't bare to think what would happen if I parted from him.

But I had to make a decision soon.