Someone Else's Fairytale (Zayn Malik)

Chapter 4: Someone Else's Small Town

I'm on time!! Thought I would need more time with finals and whatnot, but I found time! I finished the school year today!  Kinda bittersweet because I absolutely love my teachers this year, but I'll see them next year.  For now, I shall enjoy SUMMER(: Hooplah! HOOPLAH! So, read on my friends!

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Chapter 4: Someone Else's Small Town

Once I was back in the attic, I turned on the old boom box that sat heavily on the ground. The Lumineers started playing loudly, and I smiled as I went to my shelf full of completed shoes to find the ones that Tracy had ordered. I carefully put them in a cardboard box and sealed them before writing her address in big, bold letters. Then, I set the box near the stairs and went back to the pair I had started the other day. Swaying slightly to the music, I got out my paints and brushes, sat down on my stool, and continued my work. I wanted to be able to finish these by the end of the day.

Just as I went to get fresh paint on the tip of my brush, I heard someone call out, "Hypothetical knock!"

I jumped but smiled, recognizing the thick Irish accent.

"Hypothetical opening of the hypothetical door," I told him just loud enough to be heard over the music.

I heard his footsteps and then his head shortly followed by the rest of his body popped up from the opening.

"Woah, this is a pretty cool hideout you've got up here," Niall nodded, his eyes roaming around.

"What's that?" he chirped, coming to stand very close to me and point at the pair of Toms I was working on.

"Oh it's a pair of shoes," I shrugged shyly.

"Wait, did you paint this?" he asked in disbelief, gesturing to the intricate feather design.

I nodded, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. His mouth hung open in shock as he stared wide eyed at the shoes.

"I have more if you want to see them," I offered quietly.

He nodded, finally closing his mouth, so I led him to the shelf with my finished pairs. His mouth quickly fell open again, and he picked up each one, holding it up to the light and looking at them.

"These are really good," he told me confidently.

"Oh thanks," I mumbled with a faint blush coming to my cheeks.

"Don't be shy! These are great!" he said happily.

My cheeks flamed even more, and all I could say was, "Thanks."

He laughed and clapped me on the back in a friendly way but still strong enough so that I faltered forward. I realized I wouldn't be able to get anymore work done with Niall around, so I went back to the cardboard box.

I picked it up and said, "I better get this to the post office."

"I'll come with you," he invited himself with a smile.

Niall seemed like a nice guy, but he clearly didn't get the hint that I was trying to be alone. It wasn't that he was a bother, I just enjoyed hanging out with myself on a regular basis, which I probably already did too often. Oh well, the problems of an introvert with limited social skills. I just smiled back at him, turned off my music, and went down the stairs. After Niall followed, I closed up the attic and went to my room to change. He started to follow me into my room, but I blocked his entry.

"I was going to change," I told him quietly, gesturing with my free hand towards my socially unacceptable choice of clothing.

"Oh right!" he said with a pink tint coming to his cheeks.