Count On Me | Niam

Chapter Nine

Liam

Looking around the gym, to see that it was empty except for himself and the guy on duty, Liam made his way to usual his usual station and turned his music on, letting it blast in his ears, relaxing slightly as his feet began to pound to pound against the treadmill, the familiar opening beat of The Kings Of Leon setting the pace for the first five minutes of his run.

Letting his thoughts drift as he increased his pace, he ignored the music coming from his iPod and turned to the subject never far from the centre of his thoughts, one person in particular that he couldn't stop thinking about. Thinking back to his bandmates' advice, all three of them having agreed his and Niall's meeting would probably remain a coincidence, Liam began to run faster, his frustration building as he remembered how he had gone to them in hope of help, and their unanimous response, telling him that it probably wasn't anything meaningful.

They'd practically told him that it was a random meeting between two people who used to know each but didn't anymore. Something that happened every now and then even in a city as big as London. A run in with an ex he hadn't talked about since their Up All Night album, since he'd first started his thing with Danielle and then the thing with Sophia.

Louis had gone as far as to tell him that he was better off forgetting about it, putting it out of his mind and focusing on the new album or whatever new publicity stunt that their management had in mind for him and his supposed fiancé. Louis had handed Liam a beer and had then proceeded to tell him that it was a good thing Niall's brother had ignored his attempt at getting in touch.

But whatever...

Liam was fine with the fact that he'd casually run into an ex, his only ex really, and would probably never see him again, no matter how much he intrigued him. He was completely fine with the fact that just one twenty-second long run-in had left him more interested than four or more years with Sophia ever had.

And if he'd spent an evening boring Sophia by talking about the Niall he knew in great detail, after she'd spent an afternoon with him in public, shopping together and advertising their relationship to the world, and had found the tip that was his office, then that was fine too.

Everything was so fine, it didn't matter that it was driving him fucking crazy.

Pushing himself harder, increasing his pace until his lungs burned and every step hurt, Liam only felt that it was safe to admit that it was so not fine once he couldn't continue, collapsing against the wall, drink in hand, music still blasting in his ears as he fought to catch his breath and regain some semblance of control. To him, it wasn't fine that he'd casually run into one of the few people he'd ever cared about and then hadn't seen him again, despite any attempts he'd made to talk to old friends or connections.

To him, it wasn't fine that he'd spent four long weeks hoping to somehow see Niall again only to have to spend the time doing album promotion or going on 'dates' with the one person he'd probably be happy to never have to see again.

Every trip he'd made to the gym he'd spent wondering what the odds were of him running into Niall again and he was starting to feel like Louis might've been right.

Ignoring the stopwatch on his iPod reminding him he still had another half hour until the end of the session, Liam gathered up his things, draping his towel around his neck and throwing his bottle into nearby bin before making his way through to the changing rooms, grateful that the only other people in the building complex would be from the swim class that hadn't yet finished as he made way for the showers, ignoring the less than stellar conditions and focusing on the hot water running down his back.

Swinging his back over his shoulder, he pocketed his iPod and earbuds before making his way upstairs towards the exit, pulling his hood up over his head as he entered the cafe attached to the waiting areas, the only people there seeming to be more focused on the lesson happening down stairs than the cafe itself. Gratefully accepting the drink ended to him by the guy on duty, Liam handed over the right change before turning to leave, not looking where he was going as he knocked into someone, any irritation he might've felt at the coffee splattering his sneakers vanishing as he realised who he'd knocked into.

He'd just run into Niall.

Again.

Without even meaning to or intending to. He'd spent weeks trying to think of a way to contact him and then he ran into him for a second time. It was almost ridiculous. 

But it was more than fine to Liam that he was stood opposite him, both of them looking equally surprised to see the other again, Niall blinking a couple of times as he stared Liam, looking more and more flustered as time passed. 

Briefly closing his eyes, Niall's look of surprise changed into something resembling panic as he reopened them to find himself still stood opposite Liam, the one person he'd convinced himself that he wouldn't see again, Niall opening his mouth as if to speak only to close it, shrugging at Liam. Finally able to string a sentence together, Niall glanced down at Liam's ruined trainers and said, "I am so sorry. Really, I am. I-" 

"Niall..." Seeming to be as stunned as Niall was, Liam struggled to think of anything to say to a person he hadn't really seen for so long, things he'd thought of saying disappearing as he ended up mirroring Niall's actions, shrugging before he said, "It's fine. Wow. It's... it's good to see you."

"I have to go... I'm sorry about your drink..." Pulling on the collar of his shirt, Niall glanced down at his phone, remembering exactly why he'd been in a hurry to leave and had ended up running into someone as he noticed the time, trying to ignore the fact that it was Liam standing next to him, the grown up version of his Liam, the one he'd dated for over two years, as he turned to leave.

Watching Niall as walked away, Liam bit his lip before he went after him, not even sure why he was asking as he said, "Wait... It is really good to see you. Can, can I have your number? And maybe, maybe call you?"

Looking away from Liam towards the doors that led down to the changing rooms, Niall glanced back down at his phone as he saw one of the boys from Chloe's swim class leaving, shifting uncomfortably before he nodded, unsure of what made him do so or why he even agreed as he rattled off his phone number before turning and leaving, making his way to the changing rooms to find Chloe stood shivering by her locker, waiting for him, an apology already spilling from his lips as he wrapped her in her towel and tried to forget what had just happened. 

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And we have chapter nine...

This is kind of a rare early update for this but hopefully I might be able to update again by the weekend. 

Niall and Liam actually met, again, kind of. But they talked. And there will be more of that next chapter. And it will hopefully be less awkward. 

This is slightly odd but I actually have no idea if this book is making sense. Does this all flow and fit together because, at least to me, it kind of seems like this doesn't but I've spent a while struggling with this chapter and it could just be me....???

I'd love to see what you guys think of the chapter...