"BREATHE" (One Direction fanfic)

Chapter Fifteen

We never talked about that night, the night I walked in on Renae and Harry almost having sex and Niall never asked me why I was crying. I guess that’s what I liked about him; he didn’t pry and waited for me to talk. After that incident, I kept busy by practicing new cover songs. I had noticed Renae and Harry getting closer, she also gushed to us about their new budding relationship, back in our hotel rooms. But I kept it in the corner of my mind; don’t think about it, I’d tell myself. But I missed him, not just as someone to talk to, but I missed those quiet moments we had.

I pulled the blue scarf so that it covered the bottom half of my face as I paid for the snacks and left the grocery store. F4 was gaining fame now and I’ve come to realize the down side of being a rising star, you can’t walk out without being recognized. I felt my cell vibrate and stopped walking to see who texted me.

I’m cold :( Come by and keep me warm?

I smiled to myself and quickly texted Niall back.

            I’m out in the cold too! Be there in 5 :)

            I’ll be waiting :) x.

I’ve been hanging around Niall often, but we still weren’t dating. I seriously don’t know what to label our relationship. Whatever it was, I felt comfortable around Niall, that’s all that matters. I quickly dropped the snacks off my hotel room and hurried down the hall, turning the corner before bumping into someone.

            “Oh, I’m sorry!”

            “No, it’s my fault.”

It was Harry. We both looked at each other and laughed. Truth be told, I haven’t laughed like this with him in a while.

            “What’s the hurry?” He asks, a small smile on his face. I haven’t talked to Harry in a while, sure I’ve seen him at rehearsals and interviews, but they’ve been so hectic that we’ve never really gotten the chance to talk. Besides, I didn’t know how to talk to him after I walked in on him and Renae. It’s been an entire month since we’ve had a real conversation.

            “Oh, I was heading to your hotel room…” I trailed off, realizing where the conversation was heading. Harry’s smile fell a little as he quickly understood what I was going to say.

            “You’re going to see Niall.”

            “Yeah.” I said quietly, fiddling with my scarf. Harry was still technically my fake on-screen boyfriend, according to magazines we were lovey-dovey, head over heels.

            “So, where are you headed?” I asked. Harry seemed dressed up; he wore a black coat with khaki pants, white converse, and a white scarf. Then again, Harry always seemed well dressed.

            “I’m going to dinner with Renae.”

            “Oh.” When did our conversations become this awkward? I already knew the answer to that. “That’s cool, are you guys dating?”

I couldn’t help it, I wanted to know. Harry stared at me with piercing marble green eyes, as if he wanted to know too.

            “No, we’re not.” He answers. “Are you and Niall dating?”

            “I…” I paused and swallowed the lump in my throat. Why did I feel so guilty? “I don’t really know…”

            “Oh.”

            “I should get going, Niall’s waiting.”

            “Yeah, I suppose Renae’s also waiting for me.”

            “See you at rehearsal, Harry.” I said with a small smile. He smiles back and nods before passing me to go to my hotel room, to see Renae. I take a small breath and walk down the hall to Niall’s hotel room and knock on the door; it opens to reveal Niall in an adorable white and blue sweater and jeans. His cheeks flushed as usual.

            “Hello there, Handsome.” I say with a smile as he pulls me close and gently kisses me.

            “Hello there, Beautiful.” He whispers, leaning in for another kiss. I stop him and lean my forehead against his.

            “You have roommates you know.” I tease.

            “Nope, they’re all out.” Niall says, kissing me again. When he says this, I couldn’t help but think of Harry. He was out on a date with Renae. “Is something the matter?”

I snap out of my daze to see Niall looking me in the eye, his blue eyes filled with concern. Why was I thinking of Harry when I had perfection in front of me? I smile and kiss him on the lips.

            “Just a bit warm now, that’s all.”

            “That’s because you have a scarf and a coat on.” Niall says, closing the door and playing with my scarf, the blue one he had given me.

            “I didn’t want people recognizing me when I was buying snacks.”

            “Well, there’s nobody here but me right now.” He says, taking the scarf off and kissing me again. “And it’s too warm for a coat in here…” He comments, unbuttoning my coat.

            “Now you’re just looking for an excuse to undress me.” I whisper. Niall just smiles innocently at me as he pulls my coat off and lets it drop to the floor. He pulls me closer with one hand on the small of my back and the other hand delicately on my cheek.

            “Yuka?”

            “Mhmm?”

            “Will you be my girlfriend?” He asks. I don’t say anything but smile and kiss him on the lips.

            “Does that mean yes?” He whispers softly as I kiss him again. I still don’t answer and wrap my arms around his neck to kiss him again.

            “If you kiss me again, I’ll take that as a yes.” He says as I flash a smile and kiss him one more time, I feel his lips curl up in a smile as well. I guess that makes me Niall Horan’s girlfriend.

———————————————————————————

(HARRY’S POV)           

            After bumping into Yuka, I felt my heart prick again. I had tried hard to focus on other things such as rehearsals, interviews, and our concerts. But just meeting her face to face, just us two, it hurt still knowing that she went to Niall instead of me. I shook the thought out of my head as I knocked on Renae’s hotel room door; she opened the door and flashed a smile before letting me in. She looked beautiful with her wavy hair straightened and a form clinging strapless blue dress.

            “Hey, come in, I have to find my jacket and shoes.” She said as I walked in and noticed the floor and table littered with wrapping paper and tissue presents.

            “Do elves live here too?” I teased and I heard Renae’s laugh from the other room.

            “Those are Yuka’s Christmas presents, she was wrapping presents earlier.”

I took a closer look, curious as to what she got everyone. I found the entire collection of Toy Story DVDs in one bag which I automatically knew was for Liam, a gift card to a spa and hair salon which I knew was for Zayn, a book of bad jokes for Louis, a Chipotle gift card wrapped in tinfoil which I assumed was for Audrey, video games which I assumed was for Marie, a collection of nail polish which was for Renae, and then two more boxes. One had a green scarf in it while the other contained two bracelets made from white string. I was curious to see which present would go to whom.

            “I’m ready.” Renae says as she emerges with a white coat and black heels, I was so busy snooping, I almost forgot the reason I was here.

            “Let’s go, then.”