Unsolved Mysteries *stopped*

14.1 Sunday

The first thing i notice, is that my bedroom door is closed and Chester is nowhere to be seen. He always sleeps on top of my blanket or on the pillow next to the bed. My chest hurts and my throat is dry, but i don't feel the need to cough.

Then i wonder how i ended up in my own bed. After dropping Bethany off at her place, i felt the exhaustion hit me. It was quiet and dark, my eyelids kept falling, so i was relieved when i reached the apartment. The rest is still a blur. When i reached the front door, i thought i might've heard Niall, but i was probably already asleep by then. It's impossible.

I swing my legs out of bed, noticing I'm still wearing the black dress. My face must look like it's been painted on by a small child. I hurry to the bathroom, but stop in my tracks, when the smell of scrambled egg and bacon reaches my nose. Am i still dreaming? I slowly tiptoe to the kitchen on my bare feet, trying to be as quiet as possible. Maybe it's a burglar. I peak around the corner, spotting a familiar person standing in my kitchen, making breakfast. The person is in only his boxers and if i wasn't completely confused, i'd probably be drooling right now. The person's muscular back is facing me and i find myself admiring how the muscles flex and reflex with every movement breathlessly.

"Who let you in?"

I ask with a hoarse voice, not believing my eyes. Wow, i sound crap.

Niall turns around when he hears me with a surprised expression. Instead of answering, he stares at me, from bottom to top and when he reaches my face, a smirk appears on his lips. I, still in my dress, feel very uncomfortable under his stare. Crossing my arms in front of my chest, i raise an eyebrow. His torso is just as - if not even more - muscular. I hope my eyes aren't falling out of their sockets.

"I made breakfast. I hope you like bacon and scrambled egg."

His morning voice is really raspy and low. It gives me the shivers. I pull my bottom lip in and start chewing on it lightly. How am i supposed to react? I don't even know why he's here. I don't know what happened after i reached my front door and I'm completely confused. Niall isn't helping. He doesn't answer me and confuses me even more. He acts like nothing happened, just casually standing in my kitchen in only his boxers, filling plates with breakfast. This can't be happening.

"W-What happened last night?"

I hesitantly question, my feet suddenly becoming very interesting. This is important to me, but I'm not sure what to think right now. Speaking hurts my sore throat a little.

"Well, I was w-waiting for you and when you eventually turned up at like 3am, you were asleep by the time you reached the door."

Niall tries to sound casual, but i can tell there's something going on, because his voice cracked slightly when he mentioned he was waiting for me. I look back at him curiously.

"Why did you wait?"

Silence. Now Niall's the one to look at his feet.

"Niall?"

"Can we talk about this after breakfast? Please?"

His voice is filled with uncertainty, yet pain. Am i missing something?

"Niall, i just want to know what was important enough for you to wait for me for hours. You could've just called."

"I did. But you didn't pick up."

What? I don't remember intentionally ignoring Niall. He called when we got ready for the... the speed dating ... and... of course. I'm such a retard. I told him, i was going speed dating and i must´ve forgotten my phone at home. I mentally face-palm myself.

Great. Fabulous. I don't want to know what he thinks of me right now. This is bad.

"I forgot my phone at home. Sorry." Niall stares at me, absentmindedly chewing his lower clip and furrowing his eyebrows. I feel even less comfortable. Why am i still wearing that dress? Swallowing hard, i wish i could be anywhere but here.

"So...did you meet somebody yesterday?"

Niall tries to keep his voice steady, but i can hear the pain nonetheless.I replay the evening from the hopeless idiots up to Daniel. I can´t tell him about Daniel. Everything was perfect yesterday, until i had to mention the speed dating. If tell him about Daniel, he'll be devastated. After that letter, he's probably going to think i'm a heartless psychopath.

"No. No, I didn't meet anybody."

I don't dare looking up at him, not trusting myself to keep a poker-face on. I've lied to more people than i've had warm meals and i've never really had any problems with doing so, but this is a completely different situation. I lied to Niall. Most people will probably think it's weird that i started to trust him so quickly. After only ten days he already broke through my facade, although i swore to never let anybody in again. It's probably, because of his charms, his protectiveness and calmness. He treats me like nobody ever treated me. I remember the day i ran from the orphanage. I lied to my childhood friends. When i first noticed i had my period i got so scared that i ran. The church doesn´t tolerate contraception and i made a decision that turned the rest of my life.

Niall just nods, unable to form an answer. I wouldn't know what to say if i were him either. The silence hanging above us like a thick blanket is incredibly awkward. I attempt to say something and open my mouth, but i quickly close it again. What am i to say? What will improve this situation? Yesterday i already told myself i would come back to being on good terms with Niall, so that is exactly what i'm going to do now. I have to explain to him that i wasn't looking for anybody else i could date, but that i only came because of Bethany. I have to explain that the letter he send me triggered emotions i haven't yet felt in my short life. He needs to know what he is to me. And i need to know what i am to him. If the letter is sincere, we could work everything out.

"Niall, i only went there, because Beth asked me to come along."

His head spins up to meet my eyes and the expression his face holds is enough to warm my heart. His eyes hold an emotion i can only interpret as relief and hope and the slight smile playing on his full lips is more than i've seen all weekend. I feel the corners of my mouth turning up as well and, after some reluctance, i let them. It feels good to smile at each other, knowing at least one misunderstanding has been solved now.

"So, you...you still...you..." Niall stumbles over his words - either afraid of my reaction or unsure of their truth. I think i know exactly, what he was going to say.

"Yes, i- i have feelings for you." Both our smiles grow wider. I once read that people with broad smiles live longer and at that time i told myself i would die within ten years if that were true, but now i think i might survive a few more. Niall takes a few hesitant steps towards me. He's probably still unsure of this situation. I must admit, i don't have a clue what to do now, but out of impulse i step forward and throw my arms around Niall's bare shoulders. He gasps in surprise, just like me. This is probably the first time i´ve shown anyone some real affection in ages. I haven't hugged somebody out of own accord since forever. Bethany always hugs me and i hug back, but this is diferent. Before i can think anymore, i feel Niall's strong arms wrapping around my slender body and pushing me closer to him. I willingly accept the proximity and bury my face into Niall's chest. I can feel his hot breath in my neck and close my eyes, concentrating on absorbing this moment, so i won't forget it anytime soon.

I'm reluctant when Niall pulls back eventually. He doesn't remove his arms from around me, but instead locks eyes with me. A playful smirk is covering his pink lips, but i notice an unsure look in his eyes.