Plain Pain: A Niall Horan Fan Fiction

Chapter 35

-Rachel's Point of View-

"I can't believe we're leaving already," Penelope said as we all carried our luggage out of the beach house.

"I know right," Harry commented and dragged his suitcase behind him, exiting the house and standing on the porch.

"Miami is my favorite stop so far," Niall said to no one in particular.

"Yeah, it's really nice here, and the weather is amazing," Zayn replied.

Niall shook his head and answered Zayn while staring at me, "No, that's now why," he smiled at me slyly and I looked down and hid my face with my hair, taking my suitcase and walking out of the house. The rest of us followed, and soon we were back inside the tour bus, driving to our next destination.

~*~

I stood beside the microwave, heating up my frozen meal and waiting for it to cook. I fanned my face using my hand, huffing from the heat inside the small tour bus. I could feel the sweat building up on my neck which my heavy hair covered.

I heard footsteps sounding closer and closer, and I jumped a little when I felt my hair being lifted up and away from my neck. I turned around abruptly, my plastic spoon in hand, to see Niall laughing at my reaction as he held a hairband in his hand.

"Gosh, you scared me," I turned back around, my heart regaining its normal pace once again.

"Stand still," he said and took my hair in his hands again, lifting it up and tying it into a ponytail. "Better?" he asked.

I nodded, "Much better. Where did you get the hairband?" I glanced back at him for a second before focusing my gaze on the microwave again.

"I found it in the dressing table," Niall said before wrapping his arms around my waist from behind, startling me for the second time in a row. He sighed in satisfaction, "What are you making?"

"Quick lasagna," I chuckled.

"Can I have some of that?" he asked innocently, hugging me tighter.

His elevated level of touchiness with me hasn't gone unnoticed, but I didn't want to ask in fear that he would stop. I didn't want to admit it to myself, but it still felt nice to be close to him.

"Yeah? What do I get in return?" I asked playfully.

"I can pay you in hugs?" he said, an apparent grin sounding through his words.

"No, thanks," I giggled.

"You're mean," he rested his head on my shoulder, his hot breath tickling my neck every other moment. I ignored him and he spoke again, "When's the food going to be ready?" he whined.

"Hey, I never said you could have any of it!" I reminded him.

His stomach suddenly made a noise and I laughed.

"I don't know how I could be more obvious," Niall cleared his throat and said awkwardly, loosening his grip around my waist.

"Fine, you can have some once it's done," I said and turned around, smiling up at him.

Harry suddenly emerged from the bedroom before standing beside Niall and I awkwardly. Niall let go of me, resting his body against the counter behind him.

"Hey, Harry," I broke the tension in the room and perked up.

"Hi," he scratched the back of his neck, "Um, listen, Rachel, I wanna apologize for the way I treated you before."