piper [n.h.] -Discontinued.

Chapter Eleven

"Should I still make breakfast?" I ask, letting her go. She nods.

"I'll help you cook. I think I can manage eggs."

"Okay sounds good. Just let me retrieve the skillet from the wall." I laugh lightly. She tries to smile, but I know she's still upset.

"I'm really sorry." I set the skillet on the stove and she cracks a few eggs in.

"You said that already." She mumbles.

"But do you forgive me?"

She nods. I need to hear her say it. I cup my hand on her chin and lift it up. I search her eyes for a sign of forgiveness.

"Do you forgive me?" I repeat.

"Yes."

We stay in that position for a moment, until Derrick comes in.

"I'm gonna go meet Sara and do some shopping." He announces.

"Hey, are we good man?" I say before he walks out.

"Aren't we always?" The door closes and I like to think that we are.

"I didn't mean it." Piper says, turning my attention to her.

I cock my head. "Didn't mean what?"

"That I'd rather be with him than be here. With you."

"I know you didn't. We both said things we didn't mean. But it's okay. Hey, how are the eggs looking?"

"They're almost done. Wheres's my pancakes?" She glances over at me doing nothing but stand there.

"Gonna cook them now, miss bossy."

She grins at my sarcasm. I've made her yell, cry, and smile all in the same day. But the only one I like to do is make her smile. Holy shit, Niall. Stop talking like that.

"What?" She asks.

"Huh?"

"You keep staring at me weirdo. What is it?"

"Oh I didn't realize I was."

"Well you were. What are you thinking about?"

"Your smile." I want to swallow those words. Her cheeks flush, and she looks down at the eggs.

"They're done." She almost whispers. I get a plate from the cabinet above and hand it to her.

"Get started on my pancakes or I'll slap you." She giggles.

"Okay, okay. I'm going."

While I cook the cakes, I can't help but look over at her. She looks even more beautiful with the sun shining through the window, onto her blonde hair. I quickly turn around and shake that thought from my head. I don't know what's happening to me, and I don't like it.

I flip two cakes onto her plate.

"Finally. Took you long enough." She jokes.

"Yeah yeah. Eat or I'll throw them away."

She looks at me in disbelief. "You wouldn't."

"Wanna bet?" I raise my brow. Okay, so I wouldn't do that to her. But if it was anyone else, I'd gladly throw their food in the trash.

She stuffs a whole cake into her mouth before I can tell her I was joking.

"That's attractive." I laugh. She laughs too, but it's muffled from the dough she has put into her mouth. I can't help but think of other things she can fit into her mouth.

"I wasn't going to let you take away my food." She gulps down the reminding mush.

"I wasn't going to anyway." I smile. She slaps me in my arm.

"Thanks for making me choke for nothing."

"Oops." I shrug.

"This was delicious. Thanks."

"No problem. What were you planning on doing today?"

"I don't know. I was going to go along with what you had planned."

"I was going to go back to the bar tonight with my friends, but that's it. I'm sure they'd love you."

"You really want me to go?"

"Hell yes. You're my friend now, so you should meet the rest of the gang."

"What if he's at the bar tonight? Will, I mean." She looks down at her hands. I haven't thought about that. I do the only thing I can and place my hand on hers.

"I'll protect you."

"You don't know what you're getting yourself into."

"I don't. But I think it's worth it."