Like Before (Niall Horan)

Chapter Eleven: Fire And Gasoline

Fire and gasoline. Fire and gasoline. Fire and gasoline. 

Thats all that was running through my head as his mouth was moving closer and closer to mine. His eyes were shut and he was so close that I could feel his breath on my face. His hand was still clamped to my elbow. I had to get away.

I lifted my leg and kicked him in the shin. I heard a faint "ow" as I ran to my house. I actually ran. I ran to the stairs and up them, shutting my door behind me and locking it. 

What had just happened out there? What was he thinking? How could an apology lead to that? I thought he knew I wouldn't do that. I thought he knew.

Fire and gasoline.

Thats all we were. Thats all we would ever be. We would never work out. We were too different. We just, we couldn't even try.

Fire and gasoline.

That explains everything. We would explode and it wouldn't be a good thing for us. For either of us. For anyone. 

I pulled a stand in front of my door and I went into my bathroom to shower. No way was he getting in now. I had to just clear my head. They would be gone by morning and all we would ever have to do is Skype. But I could just let Tia Skype and I could just be in the room with her. I didn't actually have to talk to them. Just be there. Right?

I could avoid this and never have to bring it up again. We were just too different. Way too different and he would see that soon. 

I couldn't even talk to someone about this because my best friend was being a jerk. 

I stood under the water letting it run down my body as I thought about everything that had just happened in the last hour. Not to mention all day. This was a very, very stressful day.

That was definitely him trying to kiss me, right? Like I'm not just mistaking that for him being nice or something? He was trying to kiss me?

I got out of the shower and moved the stand back where it was and away from the door. There was a slight tapping on the door. "Alix, please answer your door." A very tired Irish accent came through the door. I didn't really want to talk to him, but he heard me out so the least I can do is hear him out. I opened the door and he perked up and went to walk in.

"Don't." I told him and he stopped. He sat down in front of the door and I sat down on the other side of it. 

"I'm sorry. I thought, I don't know." He told me. He was looking down at his hands. "I won't do it again." 

"Niall, what were you going to do?" I asked. I needed to know the real answer. I wanted to know I didn't kick him for nothing.

"I'm sure you already know." 

"Tell me." I told him. I really needed to know. 

"I was going to kiss you. I thought it was the right time, but I guess it wasn't."

"Niall, I just, I don't want that. You're leaving remember?" I asked him. I really didn't want to fight with him the night before he leaves so I didn't have it in me to tell him it would never work.

"But I'll be back. And its not like we aren't going to talk. We could make this work." Was he saying he liked me? 

"Why don't we just try to be friends first?" I asked.

"Friends." He said like he was testing the word in his mouth. I really couldn't give him anything else. I didn't have time. I had to keep working and saving money so I could take care of Tia. There was nothing I wouldn't do for her. Niall still hadn't said anything.