Like Before (Niall Horan)

Chapter Fifteen: Hiding From The Camera

While sitting on the couch with my phone in hand, someone came in and sat beside me. I recognized the familiar smell of my boyfriend and clicked out of the game I was in. "Where is everyone?" I asked. They were all supposed to be practicing. It was the only rule they had to follow while they were here. Studio days are studio days and management wanted their full focus.

"Harry is taking Steph out and the other lads went to Jaesin's to play video games." 

"Thats all they ever do." I laughed and looked over at Niall. 

"Where's Sarah and Tia?"

"Tia had a play date with one of Sarah's friends kids and Sarah is staying there for a while with her. I thought you guys had to be at the studio." Niall put his arms out to me and I sat up and climbed into his lap and he laid down on the couch bringing me to lay down on his chest with my head in the crook of his neck.

"None of us really wanted to be there and management knew it so they let us leave." Niall told me and kissed my forehead.

"I'm glad you came here." I told him.

"Well I figured since you were out of work I would come see you. I've missed you all day since you had school and had to work."

"I missed you too." I told him. "What have you done all day?" 

"I had to get up early." 

"Not as early as me." I told him and smiled. He reached up to my sides and tickled me a little making me squirm and him laugh at me.

"Don't interrupt." He chuckled and kissed my temple. I made the motion of zipping my lips and throwing the key over my shoulder and he smiled. "As I was saying, I had to get up early to go to the studio for writing and practicing. I played the guitar for a bit as we were writing to try to get us in the mood but we were all quite distracted." I raised my hand and laughed as he raised an eyebrow at me. He took my hand in his and laced our fingers together bringing my hand down to his lips. "Yes?" He asked and I smiled.

"I didn't know you played the guitar." 

"Oh thats right, I didn't play at that concert. Well, let me show you then." He said sitting up and bringing me with him. He cradled me in his arms and started walking towards and up the stairs with me in his arms.

"You really didn't have to carry me up the stairs." I told him as he set me down on my bed. All their stuff had made its way into my room. He grabbed the guitar case that was leaning against my bureau and took the guitar out of it before coming to sit in front of me with the guitar in his hand. 

"Any requests?" He asked. I shrugged and smiled at him. 

"Pick your favorite." I told him. He smiled at me and started picking at the guitar strings before out right playing. I recognized the song easily. He was looking down at his fingers as he strummed away, getting lost in the music.

"I won't let these little things slip out of my mouth, but if it's true, it's you, it's you," Niall sang and lifted his head up to look at me and smile. "They add up to, I'm in love with you and all these little things." He was looking right into my eyes and my little dragons were fluttering around. "You'll never love yourself half as much as I love you." He looked back down at his guitar but I couldn't move my eyes. I wanted him to keep looking up. He was so into the music as he sang and it made me melt with every word. "And you'll never treat yourself right darling but I want you to." He looked back up to me and I couldn't keep the smile off my face. "If I let you know, I'm here for you, maybe you'll love yourself like I love you oh." He strummed the guitar a little bit more and then his hands came to a halt. "Did you like it?" He lowered his eyes from mine and I got up onto my knees in front of him and put my hands on his shoulders. He looked up at me and I smiled at him.