Like Before (Niall Horan)

Chapter Sixteen: Forgive Me?

We took my car to the bowling alley since we didn't feel like walking that far. Getting our shoes and a lane seemed to be pretty easy but there were a lot of people. I was wondering if any of them were fans, and if they were, were they the mean ones who wanted the boys all to themselves. It worried me that maybe one of these fans would yell at us for being in public with them. It also scared me that they might take Niall away from me. 

Niall looked down at me as I scanned the bowling alley looking for people staring. I felt his hand take a hold of mine and our fingers entwined. He leaned down and kissed my temple and even though we were in public, where anyone could see him, see us, it relaxed me just to know he couldn't care less who saw. I smiled up at him and he grinned back at me and kissed my cheek.

We got to our lane and I sat down to put the shoes they gave us all. We all had exactly the same just different sizes. One shoe was red and white and the other was blue and white. We got to each pick a ball. Harry picked a blue and green one that sort of reminded me of the earth kind of. Steph picked a dark and light blue cloud looking ball and I had the same but with purple and a pinkish color and Niall had the same but white and grey. 

We entered our names into the screen thing. I used to go with my Mom, Dad, and Sarah before Tia was born but then we stopped. Steph, Jaesin and I had gone a couple times but she always won and I hardly ever hit any pins.

"Alright, so prepare to lose." Harry grinned at the rest of us as he stood up to grab his ball. 

"I don't know about that Styles. Steph is the champ." I told him and laughed.

"Oh poor little Alix. The only reason she's the champ is because she hasn't played me yet." Harry told me and Steph glared at him.

"Oh really?" She asked crossing her arms over her chest. Harry grinned at her, knowing he was in trouble and kissed her cheek before walking up to the lane to take his shot. He sent the ball and we all watched as it rolled and hit the center pin and in turn knocking the rest of them over. He turned back as Steph stood up to grab her ball. He put his arms out for a hug and she walked by him so he turned to look at her. "Watch and learn Styles." She called over her shoulder. I turned to Niall and he was laughing at his friend. 

"How good are you at this?" I asked him.

"I'm decent." Niall answered with a shrug. I pursed my lips and nodded at him. "What?" He asked and came and sat beside me.

"I'm awful. I'll be lucky to even hit a single pin." I told him. He kissed my cheek and smiled.

"Thats alright. I don't like you only for your bowling skills." Niall told me and I laughed at him. I turned just as the ball collided with the pins sending them all falling to the back.

"Thats how you get a strike." Steph told Harry and laughed at him. He smiled at her and put his arms out for her to walk into. She did gladly and hugged his waist.

"Well, I guess its your turn." Niall told me and I sighed.

"This is the equivalent of torture to me." I stood up and went to grab the ball. I walked up to the lane and rolled the ball down the lane. About half way down, the ball moved into the gutter. "See I'm awful." I turned and saw Harry and Steph laughing at me. Niall was holding his hand over his mouth trying to cover his laugh and I crossed my arms over my chest and turned to wait for my ball to come back. 

"Aw Alix, here, let me help you." Niall walked up beside me and tried to pull me into his arms. I nudged my body away from his. "Don't be like that. If it was me that did that, you would have laughed too." I still didn't answer him. "I'll help you." He told me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I leaned my back up against him and tilted my head so I could see his face.