Act Like You're in Love {Niall Horan}

Chapter 8: Just Friends

I'm excited!! P.O.V. switch at last!!

~Niall's P.O.V.~

"Don't try to tell me that you're fine," I tell Mariah, smiling slightly back at her. Some of my hair falls in front of my eyes, but I flip it away. Her hair is in her face too, so I brush it away and tuck it behind her ear. Absentmindedly, I slide her hair tie off her wrist and bundle up all of her hair behind her head. I'm not exactly a pro at tying girls' hair, but at least it's staying up.

I feel her heat radiating off of her. She's definitely sick. It's weird, too, it happened really quickly. Maybe she gets sick with nerves?

I breathe in and out nervously before telling her, "I know you feel sick, but I also know there's something else bothering you."

Mariah looked up at me slowly. She looked pitiful. Defenseless. Innocent.

"I...," she started like she was having a hard time. "I don't know."

"You know," I told her. "But I know you aren't feeling well, so I'll pester you afterwards, okay?"

I turn around towards the door to let her have some peace for a few minutes, but as I take my first step, I feel her fingers brushing lightly around my wrist.

Looking back at her, I see her eyes big with hopelessness.

"Niall...it's okay. We can talk. Now. If you'd like," Mariah adds to her offer.

I just look at her, and that's all it takes. I sit down, wanting so badly to know about her. Everything about her. It makes me ache when I think back to her words that day we first met and were in the closet.

"Should we pretend there are no feelings? ...Because...there aren't."

I know I'm being overdramatic, but there's just something about this situation that bothers me.

"Niall?"

Mariah is looking at me expectantly.

"Sorry, I kind of zoned out for a second there," I explained.

Her light laugh came out tinkly and delicate, making me smile ever so slightly before I continued on.

"I know we aren't the best of friends, Mariah. I mean, we haven't known each other for that long. But we do spend every day together, so I've gotten to know you a little faster than I thought I would. And you know what? I know for a fact that something is bothering you. It's going to keep bothering you, too, if you don't talk about it."

A sigh escapes Mariah. "I'm not sure where we stand. Us. Is there even an us?"

I don't speak right away because I'm a little surprised at how she didn't beat around the bush at all.

"Um, I think th-that...," I falter, trailing off.

I have no idea how to tell her how I feel. I definitely have some sort of feelings for her, but I've never been able to tell when girls like me, and I don't want to make our friendship to be complicated and precarious like a game of Jenga.

The words come out of my mouth before I even realize what I'm saying.

"I think we should stick to being friends."

After I comprehend my own words, my head starts spinning. What did I just do?

When I look up, I see a flash of sadness on Mariah's face. It's gone so quickly, though, that I feel like I just imagined it.

"Best friends," she smiles sweetly at me. "But thank you, Niall."

She leans in towards me, and for a split second, I think she's going to kiss me. But no, that's my wishful thinking. As her arms enclose me, tingles spread in the area where her touch is. At least I can enjoy this hug, right?