oxymoron.

Chapter Twenty One

The Fighter: Gym Class Heroes

Niall's POV

I was sitting in Zayn's room with Jack, Liam, Zayn obviously and Harry. Zayn lives in a frat house and was able to smuggle beers into his room for us. Zayn was making us laugh about this girl he had wrapped around his finger, she's got purple hair or something. Something told me that he really liked her because if someone else made a joke about her he would get all defensive. I was too tuned out to listen, I was think of Elise.

"So anyway, I don't have a roommate for a week and we all know what that means," Jack said proudly, I don't feel comfortable mentioning what he means.

"What do you mean no roommate?" Liam asked as he took a swig from his bottle. Louis was Jack's roommate, they haven't really been on the best of terms since the party. Harry's face was still cut up and bruised and stuff. My train of thought has been derailed and I suddenly was interested in this conversation.

"Yeah," Jack smirked, "Louis is off in London with his family, he left this afternoon. Niall stop drooling, he didn't bring Elise with him."

Maybe this was my chance. Now that Louis isn't there to swoop in and woo Elise, I can make my move. Maybe now I can win Elise over. This is great. My heart just soared. Sure it would take some convincing and arguing, but I think I had a chance. By the time Louis comes back there won't be anything he could do about Elise and I. She will finally be mine.

Louis' a loser anyway, ditching his friends to hang out with his girlfriend. He won't even bring her places. I would bring her wherever she wanted. Plus everyone would accept us. It would be great. This was it.

I picked myself off the floor and grabbed my jacket, "Alright mates, I'm outta here. I got some stuff to do."

"Give her hell, Niall." Jack said as he raised his beer bottle to me. I nodded and left. As much as I hate Jack, I owe him one for getting Elise and I together, well not yet, but soon.

I didn't even bother to drive, I just ran all the way to her dorm. The run was nice, it was sunny out for a change and I was enjoying it. This was much better than sitting in Zayn's room talking about girls with purple hair and drinking beer. I prayed she was there. I knocked a few times but a thin brunette opened the door. She had an ugly face, diffidently not Elise.

"Is Elise here?" I asked looking behind the stranger to see if she was in the room. No sign of her.

"No, she left about ten minutes ago to go to the library. But I can sure help you find what you need," She smirked, I was not interested. I just ran away. I made it to the library in about twenty minutes. I looked up and down the endless aisles of books just for her.

When I finally saw her, I just stopped and stared. She was sitting on the ground with her knees pulled up to her chest and she had a book laid on her knees. Her red hair was pulled into a ponytail and she had her black glasses perched on her cute little nose.  She had on dark jeans and brown books and a plaid tank top and a navy blazer. She looked stunning and sophisticated.

"Elise," I said as I sat across from her, she looked up at me, "I'm really glad I found you."

"Look, Niall," Elise said, she was sympathetic and I was pathetic, "You really shouldn't be here, every time Louis has his back turned you can't come and try to win me over. I'm sorry it just can't happen."

"No Elise," I said, she was getting up to leave, "Hear me out please. I just need you listen to me and be open about this and for just five freaking minutes you can't think about Louis okay?"

"Niall, it's not going to happen. I have a boyfriend." She said clutching her book to her chest.

"Yeah Elise I know you have a boyfriend and he sucks and I get you love him but you know what I'm a fighter and I'm going to fight for you, okay?" I said, I pinned her against the book shelf, but gently so I wouldn't hurt her. She dropped her book.

I looked into her green eyes and she looked into mine. This was it. I leaned in slowly, but kissed her roughly. It took a moment, but she kissed me back. My one hand was leaning on the bookshelf while the other was holding Elise's face, it was smooth. Her fingers wrapped around my neck and played with the hair on my neck. This was great. This was fantastic. Wow, she was a good kisser.

All of a sudden Elise pulled away, "Niall! Do you have any idea what just happened? This is a disaster!" She said while putting her hands on her forehead.

"I thought it was nice.." I whispered. It was nice, very enjoyable.

"No, Niall, we just..just, kissed. I have a boyfriend and I just cheated on him, with you! We have to keep this between us, okay? If I tell him, it will destroy him."

"Tell me you didn't enjoy that kiss and that you don't have feelings for me and I will leave and you will never hear from me again." I said leaning in close so we were only inches apart. She took in a nervous breath.

"I- I can't say that, Niall." She whispered, exactly what I wanted to hear. I smiled and kissed her cheek swiftly before she could react. I had won, Louis had lost and he didn't even know it.

"I told you I was a fighter," I said still smiling, "Now, has Louis ever kissed you like that? I don't think so."

"Keep him out of this. It was one kiss, that's it. It will never happen again because I won't talk to you again. It was a mistake," She said sternly, "We are a mistake. That kiss was a mistake."

Elise is a fighter too, she just doesn't know what, or who rather, who she is fighting for. She stormed out of the library before I could respond. On the ground was a beaten up copy of Romeo and Juliet. When I tell you beaten up, I mean falling apart.

I flipped to the front page and found a purple Post-it with a little love note from Louis. I took it out of the book and crumpled it. I took the book and left the Post-it on the ground. Too bad, I didn't even bother to read the guy's note. I didn't feel too bad about it.

This was a fight I was not going to lose, no matter how much pain I have to go through. This book was my ticket to see Elise again.