The Summer '09 (boy x boy)

(Chapter 12) - Promise of New Memories

Harry

"That fucking idiot." "Told him not to say my name and what the fuck did he do? He says it anyways--unbelievable." Niall grumbles, sniffling slightly from the tears that ran down his cheeks from earlier. I snorted understandingly, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.

"Ni, I don't think he hates you for punching him." We both paused from our spot and looked at me in red-rimmed disbelieving eyes. "I never said anything of that sort. I'm actually glad I punched him. Like, eternally glad." he adds almost too eagerly. I rolled my eyes and shrugged. "Whatever you say." I mocked with a sing-song voice.

"But Harry--" We switched positions and I unclasped his hands from my wrist and dragged his pale, bony ones instead. "Niall," I told him. "I've known you for three years and you sort of have the tendency to use small cryptic messages within your words when you're upset. You should know that by now."

He wrinkles his nose distastefully; knowing full well how right I was. "Why did I choose to be best friends with you again?" I chuckled. "Cause you love me." He rubs the bottom of his nose with the side of his index finger in defeat. "That I do." He says quietly, avoiding my gaze, but unfortunately, I pretended not to hear it.

Just hearing those words sent my heart flying towards a bullet train. That I didn't think hearing such words, that he deserved someone much better than me, so, my mind quickly instantly reverted to panic mode and I find myself asking something that I've been wondering for quite a while now.

"Niall, do you really dislike Zayn?" I found myself asking. He paused from his spot and looked at me with a look of complete and utter surprise emitting from his sky blue eyes. "What? Yeah.. I-I do." Then. "There's so much reason as to why I would hate him." He says. I smirked challengingly. "Okay, name some then." Niall quickly spoke without a hint of hesitancy like he was already thinking of it the whole time. "His stupid cocky attitude when he's fired up, his never-endless obsession with tattoos--"

"Hey I'm tattoo-clad--"

"I know, I know but you're a special case so, just let me continue, alright?"

I pouted but urged him to continue.

"His pouty pink lips, that way he chews on his lower lip when he's nervous, 'member those times when we would set him up with blind dates? And you know what a aggrivates me the most?! Those stupidly golden caramel eyes that shines too brightly for my liking, like they instantly lasso you to him the moment you lay your eyes on them--it's berserk. I reckon he's like a Warlock or somethin' if he could do such things to people."

'But in the end, he's the one that fell for yours.' I wanted to say, but instead hummed slightly. "From what you're telling me.. You might still love him afterall--"

"Please..Stop.." He whimpers, eyes unnoticeably pooling with tears.

"Please, just.. You just reminded me of what happened... It-It hurts Harry, it still fucking hurts." I sighed, urging his head slump on my shoulder, surprisingly, he agrees with no protest and lightly rested his head, golden blonde hair quietly tickling my shoulders. "M'sorry." I cooed, massaging his shoulder with a deep sigh, ignoring the discerning looks some adults threw at us.

His eyes closes, tears escaping his eyes. "I just.. I don't know why.. It should've been healed by now; my heart should've healed. I should be able to move on... But I.. I can't." He says in a tiny, vulnerable voice.

"I loved him Harry, like it's me and him against the world. I just.." He sniffles onto my shoulder. "I don't know if I'm ready to start interacting with him just yet.. I know I'll get there just.." He chewed on his lower lip. "..just not now." I continued with an understanding nod. "Just not now." He agrees, wiping at his eyes, a tiny smile on his lips as he removes his head up from my shoulders.