The Help - (Zach Aplin and Niall Horan)

Chapter 3

Niall's P.O.V

I looked up from my clipboard waiting for the next client to come inside, I sighed loudly and ran my hand through my bleached blond hair, my roots still my natural dark brown hair colour. My job was fairly easy I thought to myself, I'd listen to peoples problems and take notes. Thats how it usually worked for me. I'd have and hour session with who ever came in to the door, talk about their life, tell them everything was going to get better and that'd be it. I usually worked with teenage kids who's parents think they're depressed and have low self-esteem. But they where usually right, the teens who had counselling with me were depressed and did have low self-esteem. They'd have cuts on their wrist, wearing bracelets trying to keep it covered from me but I already knew their trick, they'd fumble with their bracelets, making sure they where perfectly adjusted so everything was covered, glancing at their arm every minute or so checking if anything had been exposed. I learned this peeve very early into the job, and also learned that they never really wanted counselling and just did it for their parents who kept bothering them to go, telling them it'll be one session and they won't ask for more.

I stared at the door as I heard the door knob slowly turn, I composed myself and fixed my tie a bit as I leaned back on my chair, looking back down on my clipboard as if nothing happened. I looked up and faced the boy in front of the door, he had the brightest greenest eyes I've laid eyes on, but they seemed to be clouded with sadness. I mentally shock my head and kept my eyes on him "You must be.." I should have known his name before he came in, nice one Niall, I mentally said to myself. "Zachary, Zachary Aplin." I finally said, smiling to myself how amazing his name sounded. He nodded slowly at me and kept silent. Was he scared of me? Am I that scary? I thought to myself, I've never really cared about my looks but looking at him I knew I had to look perfect. "Nice to meet you Zach! If that's okay if I call you that" I said with a wide smile, keeping myself look professional and not just gawk at him. "Y-Yeah... Perfectly fine" he said smiling, I tried to keep my jaw from dropping as he smiled, the things he can do to me and it's only been 2 minutes!

As cliché as it sounds, I believe in love in first sight.

Zach's P.O.V

I kept my eyes locked on him, examining every inch of him, how his hair perfectly moved into a small quiff, how you can see his clear braces when he smiles, how perfectly fitted he looked in this suit, everything looked perfect about him. I narrowed my eyes down to his torso and his pants until I heard him cough "My eyes are up here Mr. Aplin" he said chuckling, I felt my cheeks burn bright red as I let out an uneasy laugh. I mentally slapped myself hard across the face, I never meant to look down there, but I wouldn't mind knowing how long he wa- whoa! Zach, get a hold of yourself, you just fucking met this dude and you're already thinking how long his length is?! I pushed away my dirty thoughts and refocused my mind on him he motioned me to take a seat, I did as he said and took the seat right in front of his desk. I tapped my foot rapidly and looked around the room, it was typical, nothing very special, a few pictures on the walls and a couple plants in the corners of the room and a trashcan right next to his desk. There was a small desk lamp on his desk and a laptop which was shut and a few pens and pencils but that was about it. I coughed awkwardly to break the tension, "So, Zach, Im Mr. Horan but you can call me Niall" he said putting out his hand for me to shake, I hesitated for a moment and finally shock his hand. I widened my eyes as our hands shook. I swore to myself I felt a shock when our hands touched. The handshake lasted longer than expected so I pulled my hand away from his and scratched the back of my head, "Uh.. Im sorry" I mumbled under my breath. "It's okay, It wasn't your fault. So lets get started, shall we?" as he adjusted back to his seat and grabbed his clipboard with his right hand and grabbing a pen with this left. I nodded and sighed softly, "where shall we begin?" he said looking up from his clipboard, I shrugged my shoulders and smiled sheepishly. "Well, lets start in the beginning. How did this all start?" "Um.. I guess it started when I was 5.. My mum died in a car accident. I was in the car with her but I survived.. Thats when Richard started drinking, smoking and-" I chocked up on my words and blinked away the tears "i-im sorry, I can't-" thats when I lost it. I broke down weeping, burying my face in the palm of my hands. I felt a hand squeeze my shoulder, I looked up with red, puffy, watery eyes, I couldn't see the face clearly but I saw the familiar bleached blond hair hover over me. "Come on" he said, pulling me into a hug, I cried harder on his shoulder, hiccuping as I mumbled words not relating to anything. He rubbed my back and said soothing, sweet words in my ear "shh.. It's okay, love. Im here for you" he said quietly, hugging me tighter.

Niall's P.O.V

I tried my best not to fall apart right in front of him. I could almost physically feel someone rip my heart out as he burst into tears. He wasn't just any other client, I would have just him crying and give him some tissues and let him calm down. But no, he wasn't just any other client, he was someone who needed fixing, someone who had their childhood ripped into pieces, he was someone I fell for. It's only been 10minutes of meeting but I knew I wanted to be the one who held him in my arms at night, kiss him quick but with passion just because I can, I wanted to be the one he can call mine and I can call yours. I held in close in my arms as he was crying on my suit, I rubbed his back, whispering sweet and mellow words in his ear. I wanted to be in this position as long as I possibly could until I heard a knock on the door and the knob slowly turning, Wendy peaking her head through the door. "oh! Im sorry to intrude! But Mr. Horan, you have a client waiting for you" she said with her signature smile. I nodded and gestured her out of the room, I pulled away from the hug as much as I wanted to stay in his arms forever. "I've got a client waiting for me, Zach" I said quietly looking at his red puffy, green eyes that still sparkled. He nodded and wiped his eyes mumbling 'thank you' through his hiccups. "Here!" I said running behind my desk and quickly writing my number on a piece of paper and handing it to him, "Call me whenever, Okay?" I said smiling at him "I will, thanks" he said smiling softly. He slowly made his way out the door closing it in the process, I groaned heavily and ran my hand through my hair tugging on it gently.

This boy will he the death of me. But its worth it.