Trace

Chapter 27

EL'S POV

The summer's bliss was ending all too quickly, and I willed for it to last forever.  

Now, in late August, Harry has informed me that he must move to Liverpool for academics.

"That's nearly four hours away!" I had protested to him.

Harry had looked at me with glossy eyes and slowly nodded. "I'm still trying to work things out, El. I really want to be with you... as I matter of fact, I believe that I was made for you. And I'm still deciding what's best for us."

I now sit in my bedroom, careless of the day. Lately, I have been so busy from catching up with my girls to applying to a good University.

Harry informed me that I should get in the best school possible but lately it has been the least of my worries. My thoughts more than often drift to life without Harry- or rather, life where he is so far away. From going to uni and getting all my work down, I don't see how the two of us can fit in to see each other. Tears suddenly begin to fill my eyes as I think of the possibility of us ending.  

Never have I dealt with a long-distance relationship, and I am not sure how to cope with them. I make a mental note to discuss these things with Niall later, as he always seems to know what the right thing to say is. 

I sit up from my comfy position in my bed and walk over to my vanity. With a blank expression, I study my seeming-to-be plain face and features. I don't know what Harry sees in me. I can't say that I feel like I am ugly, but today, I don't feel particularly beautiful either. Perhaps it is the dreary mood and attitude that has been weighing me down the past couple of days.

*********************** 

"So what's up? What's on your mind, babe?" Niall asks me, leaning against his blue and white pillow.

We are sitting on Niall's bed and I fidget with my fingers nervously, trying to fit all my emotions and thoughts together to make sense to him. Finally when I give up trying to speak in a sensible and complicated matter, I blurt the main issue.

"Harry's moving to Liverpool in a few weeks and I just don't know what to do because I am afraid that we will grow apart and things will slowly come to an end between us."

I suck in a breath, waiting for Niall's response.  

His eyes are warm and understanding. I can tell he's thinking of what to say to me by the way his eyebrows are slightly furrowed.

"I don't think you need to worry," he says simply.

I cock my head to the side. "And why's that?"

"Well," he pauses for a minute in a way that shows he's still trying to gather his words together, "I do believe that you and Harry were meant to find each other. Made to love each other. Now, I'm not saying that I am sure that you two will be married one day, but what I do believe is that you two are much more than just a summer romance."

I smile slightly as I feel my insides churn a little. I think back to when Harry and I first met at the party and sitting with him in the meadow. Never had I ever pictured what is today's reality.

"I...believe that Harry and I were meant to meet, also," I say slowly, "and...I think...that's what hurts the most. That all this..." my voice is barely audible and my throat is tight, "gone."

I stare down at my hands and feel my heart pounding harder in my chest, my eyes threatening tears.

"El," Niall whispers, "please don't be upset."  

I let my face fall into his chest as I cry softly. He places his arm gently on my back and rubs it soothingly.

"It's all going to be alright, love."

I desperately want to believe his sincere words, but doubts flood my mind.

"I know you're scared right now. And I know you are in a scary state. But I promise you, it's just the jitters that you will lose contact. That since you won't be able to see him everyday, that it's over, yeah?"

I look up at him and sniffle. "I guess."

"Well it's not over. Not just yet. Just think of it that he has gone on a little holiday. And he'll get breaks, you know. He can come visit you for Christmas and New Years," Niall hopefully reassures me.

"But I still have Uni, too. I fear that I won't be able to have any time on my hands."

Niall chuckles softly. "El, it's just university. It's not like they're locking you up and feeding you papers. Tons of people do this kind of thing."

I smile a little at his words. "How is it that you are always the one who makes me feel better?"

Niall pokes me teasingly in the side. "I've got the magic like that."

I wipe my eyes and shake myself off.  

"Alright. I think I'm good. Soo..how are things going with you and Anne?"

"Way to change the subject."

"Well, I thought you'd like to talk about her."

Niall shrugs. "I dunno."

"What do you mean?" I ask, concerned.

He sighs. "I can't really tell what she feels about me anymore. For some reason, she was hanging out with Toby two days ago."

"What??" My eyes bug out.

Niall shrugs again. "Yeah," he mumbles.

"Where was Ayla?" I demand.

"Beats me. All I know is that Toby and my girlfriend spent the day together. When I asked her about it, she kind of blew me off- like she didn't even wanna talk about it with me."

I suddenly find myself wondering what Toby and Anne could possibly be doing together. The last I've heard was that the thought of Toby sickened Anne because he had cheated on her with her BEST FRIEND!

"I'll talk to her, okay?"

Niall gave a short nod, his face grim.

"What? Is there something else going on?" I inquire hesitantly.

He lets out a long breath without looking at me. His fists are closed tightly and a small tear trickles down his cheek.

"Niall.." I place my hand on top of his.

He uses the back of his hand to swipe the tears away. He looks at me with big, sad blue eyes. There's a hurt and pain in them that I have never seen before. Niall sighs again before getting the words out.

"I saw them making out on the pier."