She's Not Afraid

Chapter 20: Premiere

Four Months Later:

Maggie:       I was standing on a stool, or more pedastul, as designer Bottega Veneta helping me slide on a long black dress with a jeweled corset on top. I looked in the mirror. It wasn't bad. "Darling, oh," Bottega said, gasping at her work, "You'll sweep them off their feet." I shrugged. 

"Okay," I said, putting on a plastic smile. Then my makeup artist pushed me into a chair for makeup. I closed my eyes and let myself float into another dimension. The one where I didn't have to act. About ten miutes later I opened my eyes. My eyes were flirty and romantic. Like a school girls. It was almost the exact makeup of my first date with Niall. I felt my breathing grow heavy.

"You like?" my makeup artist asked.

"Um," I said, "Yeah. I do." Let me take now to point out I was bluntly lying. I wanted her to wipe the make up off my face, putting on some form of sultry black eye makeup. But it was getting close to time to walk. She pulled hair into loose curls that fell to my side, romance being added by the moment. I almost wanted to laugh, wanting to say how it was so funny that a girl who didn't believe in romance was appearing in such a romantic state. But I kept my mouth shut. 

Niall and I hadn't talked since that night. Don't get me worng, I knew how he felt. I say interveiws. But we hadn't been around each other. I missed him, still after four months. I wanted to kick and scream and cry, knowing I was the only one who caused this stupid pain. It hurt all over. I couldn't make it stop. In my head the words the one that got away kept playing, like some religious chant. I There had been muliple occasions of getting sick off nothing. I didn't know why it hurt me so much. Because you did this a little voice in my brain said. 

We pulled up at the venue, an old style movie theature with exentric decoration. There was a bright red carpet laid out as my limo pulled up. Paparazzi's camera's flashed like glitter in the sun. I got out, my strappy high heels hitting the carpet. I watched as a few of my co-stars put their arm around dates in bright red dresses. Everyone screamed and yelled as I got out of the car. my co-stars shrugged as all attention they had held fell from them. I smiled and posed. "Maggie!" one of them screamed, "Who are you wearing tonight?"

"Maggie," another screamed, "How do you think this movie will do?"

"Maggie," a lady screamed, "What happened between you and Niall Horan?"

The mention of Niall's name stopped me in my tracks. It was liked they stabbed me, but not enough to kill me. "Um," I said, "Niall and I had a, um..." I groped the air for the right word. Finally it came to me, "Misunderstanding."

"About what?" the reported asked.

"The fact that I love him," I said. I smiled, "Because I love him." Then I let myself laugh. It was true. I, Maggie Nelly, loved Niall. I let myself laugh, people staring at me in weird ways. Love was real, and I loved Niall. "Excuse me," I said. Then I ran, the brick side walk hitting my feet. I dug in my clutch purse, pulling out my cell phone. I dialed Nialls number. I got his voicemail first ring. Then I looked in my clutch. The number Greg had given me was in there. I dialed the number, stopping to peel off my heels. 

"Hello?" Greg answered. 

"Hey, Greg, its Maggie," I said. 

"Seriously? Um, hi. Have you finally decided you wanted the better Horan?" he asked, joking. 

"Um, no. I need to know if Niall is home?" I said. 

"I think I'm supposed to say no, but yeah he is," Greg said. 

"Okay. Well I'm coming to get him," I said. 

"Great," Greg said, his voice fakey sad, "I like this house."

"What?" I asked. 

"The movie, its about a girl who burns down her ex-boyfriend's houses," Greg said. 

"Did I say that?" I asked. 

"I read IMDB," he said. I nodded. 

"Okay, well tell Niall to get in something nice, and don't tell him I'm coming," I said. 

"Copy," Greg said, then he hung up. 

I reached the set and grabbed my car. I threw my shoes into the passenger seat and pulled out as fast as I could. I drove way too fast toward Niall's house. I pulled into his driveway, pulled on my shoes and got out. I walked up onto his porch and rang the door bell. "I'll get it," Niall called. His voice made me want to cry. The voice I hadn't heard in forever. Niall opened the door. "Oh," he said, then he tried to close the door. I stopped him. 

"Niall," I said. 

"Maggie," he said. 

"Um, I came here because we, um, made a date," I said.

"Oh. I thought that was over shadowed by your little speech of love's nonexistance," Niall said, attempting to close the door again. I once again stopped it. 

"Niall," I said, "Please."

"What do you want from me?" he asked, "To play with your little Niall toy more?"

"No!" I said, "Niall, I didn't play you."

"Really?" he asked, "Because that's not how it felt."

"Niall," I said, stepping forward. I pressed my lips to his, although he just pushed me away. 

"Maggie!" he was nearly shouting, "Listen for you this might be okay, but not me. I don't want to love someone who will never love me back."

"What if they did," I asked. 

"Then they would be great," he said, "But since that's not you, it doesn't matter."

"But I do," I said, "I love you Niall."

"Why do I not believe you?" Niall asked. 

"Because you're smart," I said, "Because you shouldn't. Because that's what's logical. But its true. You don't have to believe me, but its true. I love you."

Niall's face faltered. "How do I know?" 

"I don't know," I said, "Because if you check my phone history, I've called and hung up so many times. Because I've watched all sorts of One Direction video's just to hear your voice. Because I just played Cinderella on my premeire to see you. Because I do." 

Niall looked down, "I don't know what to say."

"Say yes. Say you'll come with me. Say that," I said. Niall smiled. 

"Maybe I'll say that because I've missed you. Maybe I'll say that because no matter what, I love you," Niall said. I smiled, tears running down my face. 

"I love you Niall Horan," I said. 

"I love you Maggie Nelly," Niall said, "Forever."

"Forever," I whispered.

A.N.:   If you have enjoyed this story, please check out my other stories, Gotta Be You, Summer Love, and Little Things. Also be on the look out for Rock Me and Still the One. Thank you for reading. And please check out @wiggles9999. She has some pretty good stuff.