Act Like You're in Love {Niall Horan}

Chapter 11: Love or Hate

Quick RECAP: Mariah and Niall did errands and then Mariah got upset because of "him". :O

~Mariah's P.O.V.~

There was a creak as the door swung open, revealing Niall clad in a collared shirt with faint, blue stripes traveling up and down. The top two buttons, including the one hidden beneath the collar, were unclasped, leaving a full view of his collarbone. My cheeks flush when I realize that I was staring for a moment too long.

He smiles sheepishly, which is really cute. "You look nice."

"As do you, kind sir," I joke, bowing down slightly.

Niall lets out a quick laugh, opening the rest of the door wider so that I can step in. My stomach flutters, I guess I'm hungry already.

"Are you guys ready or what? I'm hungry," I complain, leaning past Niall to look at the others.

"You sound like Niall," Harry chuckles and strides over to me.

I hit him playfully in the arm when he reaches me.

"I'll just leave you two at it," Niall grumbles and walks away.

Harry rolls his eyes. "Excuse us, will you?" he says apologetically to me and then follows Niall down the hall.

I'm kind of confused right now, but I brush it away and turn my attention to Louis, who is looking at me. He raises his eyebrows and smirks at me.

"What?" I demand defensively. My eyes shoot between Louis and Liam, who also glanced my way and sent me a smirk.

They just chuckle to themselves and nudge Zayn, who holds his head still while they whisper to him. I can't hear a thing they're saying, so I give up. Instead, I hear hushed, stressed voices through the wall.

Is it Harry and Niall? Are they arguing? I tiptoe over to the wall and press the side of my face against it, trying to focus in on their voices.

Harry's is the first voice I hear. "You know I'm just that way. I didn't mean it like that, and I'm sure she didn't either!"

Who is she? I thought it was me at first, but it doesn't seem to fit.

"Well, just stop being a flirt, at least around her," Niall says, his voice cracking.

"I'm sorry, okay? I don't even have an interest in her, she's all yours," Harry says in an annoyed tone.

"How could you not be interested in her? She's so nice and innocent, but funny, too," Niall's voice softens at the mention of this girl.

My chest tightens up a little bit, and suddenly I feel down. Wait, am I jealous? It sure feels that way. But why would I be? I don't like him, I cleared that up with myself before.

He's still an awesome person, though. Whoever this girl is pretty lucky.

That girl. I have to say, at first I thought they were talking about me, but then it didn't make sense. Disappointment ran through me at this thought.

Jeez, I must be jealous. Maybe I'm just being protective. That could be it, right?

I'm rubbing my temples because of my confusion when I hear laughter coming from the kitchen area.

Louis and Liam are laughing it up, looking at me like I did something hilarious.

"What?" I demand defensively for the second time that day.

"Nothing," Louis sighs as his laughter subsides.

I'm busy giving Louis glares when Harry and Niall emerge. Niall runs a hand through his tussled hair and glances up at me. He gives me a feeble smile and then diverts his eyes away from me and toward the ground.