Act Like You're in Love {Niall Horan}

Chapter 40: First Date

~Mariah's P.O.V.~

When I woke up, I was happy.

Niall's body was spooning mine, and his warmth was emanating off of him to me. The sheets and bedspread were full with our warmth, but it wasn't too hot. Sunlight shone through the translucent curtains since the blinds hadn't been pulled down.

Despite the warmth, goosebumps rose on my neck when Niall's breath blew there. He must've been close to waking up because when I only shivered really lightly he mumbled under his breath for a few seconds before waking up.

"Hey," he spoke, his voice raspy and really freaking sexy.

I turned over under the sheets to face him. "Good morning."

"It is a good morning."

"Because I'm here?" I joked.

"Yep."

I smiled. "Same." I stretched to reach his lips before quickly pecking them.

It was pleasant waking up to feel Niall's body with mine. It feels so right.

We both just looked into each other's eyes, but thoughts consumed us. I replayed the first day we met, the day I realized I liked him, the day we first kissed, on and on. A closed smile made its way to my face without my control.

I was so lucky to have Niall. He was so caring, and he was all I wanted. In high school and college I had a few relationships, but none of them were close to serious because they were never a guy that I had such feelings for. But this.

Not to mention the fact that I think I'm falling for him.

That terrifies me, honestly.

We're so young. We're both only 19. Niall will turn 20 in about a month and a half, but still. I don't want to get married early. I need to live a little. I decided that a long time ago, that I need to go out and be free before settling down, and I don't want to marry before 25. So if I fall in love with Niall now, what's left? We're just supposed to sit around being boyfriend and girlfriend for over five more years? I want this to be slow, but apparently my heart thinks a bit differently.

Then again, who am I kidding? We haven't even said "I love you" yet, and I'm fretting about marriage. And who's to say if I do end up falling for him that he'll love me back?

Maybe I'm taking this relationship much more seriously than it actually is.

Eventually I'm trapped in Niall's bright blue eyes and relent into the happy part of love instead of the scary part. Thoughts whirl around in my head until the goodness of them puts me to sleep while still in Niall's warmth and comforting hold.

I woke back up to an aroma of chocolate and waffles. I groggily opened my eyes and was met with a cute blond-haired, blue-eyed boy with a tray of food.

I really could get used to these kinds of mornings.

"Hey babe," Niall greeted me. "I've got chocolate chip waffles and some hot chocolate milk."

"How did you know I liked that and how did you make that?" I asked in surprise.

"I didn't really know, I just -"

"These are Eggo waffles, that's why," I laughed at closer inspection. So he just picked then out of my freezer and took 5 minutes to toast it.

He gave me a sheepish look before putting the tray down beside me on the bed. "Look, you don't have to have it. I just thought..."

"You thought right, I love it," I promised Niall.

At such a small comment, his face completely lit up. He was like a little kid in the way that you had to give him something tiny, and it would make him happy. Maybe that's why he's such a wonderful guy, because he appreciates the smaller things in life.