That Smile (A Niall Horan Fan Fiction)

Chapter 15: Truly, Madly, Deeply

"Which one do you like better? That one or that one?" Niall asked as he and Zayn peered over the counter at the jewelry store they were in.

"That one." Zayn pointed to the ring on the far left. "That one looks like her."

"That's what I thought. Um, miss." Niall looked up and called the employee's attention. "I'll take that one."

"Alright," she came over and pulled out the ring. "Are we going to set up a payment plan or what?"

"Put it all on the card." Niall slid his credit card across the counter and she nodded. "Also, is there anyway I could get the ring today? I kind of need it today."

"Sure thing, the ring I pulled out of the case is one size fits all. You can go ahead and take that one." The employee rang up his credit card and handed him the receipt and a pen. Niall signed his name as she boxed the ring. "Here you are." She handed Niall the ring that was now in a box. "So are you proposing or promising?"

"Promising." Niall said with a smile. It was a little too early to propose.

"Well, good luck."

"Thanks," Niall grinned and he and Zayn left the store. "So Elyse is going to have Lauren come to the park?"

"Yeah, and her guitar is in the back of the car." Zayn turned the car on after they got inside and pulled out of the parking lot. "I have to say mate, you really kicked it into gear and made it happen."

"Well, what you said was sort of the wake up call I needed. I'm just glad that Lauren accepted me as easily as she did. And I feel bad about what happened with Nate, but I'm glad that it all worked out like it did."

"Well, fate always has a way of doing that, doesn't it?" Zayn glanced over at Niall.

"Yeah, it seems like it."

***

"So why are we going to the park again?" Elyse and Lauren set off down the sidewalk towards the park in her neighborhood.

"I told you, I wanted to play some basketball. Zayn and I are going to play one on one tonight and I want to surprise him with how good I am." Lauren laughed.

"Alright, whatever you want to do. Besides, my house is boring anyway. My brother and his girlfriend left so now the house is completely empty during the day. So it's nice just to get out."

"How'd your mom take the whole Nate thing?" Elyse looked over at Lauren. It had only been two days since Nate showed up at Elyse's house and found out the truth. Lauren was happy. But she still felt terrible. Nate showing up at Lauren's house also prompted Lauren to tell her mom everything. So now her mom was up to speed on what was going on in her life. She was disappointed that her daughter would hurt Nate like that, but she also understood that sometimes things work out differently than the way they are planned. But overall, the only thing she cared about was Lauren's happiness.

"Oh, well, she just wanted to know if I was happy or not. And I am. Now I'm just afraid that Niall will wait to officially ask me to be his girlfriend. Yah know? He doesn't have the greatest track record." Elyse shrugged.

"Who knows, he might surprise you."

"We'll see." Lauren sighed. "You excited to go back to LA tomorrow?"

"More than excited. Oh and guess what?"

"What?"

"Zayn and Niall are going back with us! They have promotional stuff in the LA for a few weeks so they changed their flights and their flying back with us."