Niall Horan: My Bad Romance

Chapter 17: He's a keeper

'Explain,' Harry demanded, eleven sets of confused, bewildered and agitated eyes settling on me and Niall as we stepped up to the table. They were all sitting on a long, stretching table. Two seats opposite each other were free, directly in the middle. I inwardly groaned and went to sit in between Charlie and Jake. Niall sauntered round and perched himself between Lily and Harry his eyes glued to mine the whole time. 

I shuffled awkwardly and shrugged, my gaze meeting Harry's.

'Not good enough,' Charlie snapped and I scowled at the table. Niall leant forward and clasped his hands in front of him on the table.

'Daisy, we've been so worried,' Lily urged quietly. Her eyes filling with a mixture of pain and disbelief.

'I-I really thought something bad had happened,' Ruby inputted and Liam wrapped his arm securely around her shoulders, the ghost of a smile on his lips. 

'Even I went crazy and I don't know you like this lot,' Zayn's voice piped in and then he chuckled. 'Never pinned you as the type to send us all on a wild goose chase.'

I winked at him and he laughed merrily. Clearly he was the only one not finding this whole situation irrepressibly uncomfortable. Jake nudged me in the ribs with his elbow and wrapped his arms around me, reaching down to rest his head against my shoulder.

'Daisy doo daa, I have missed you,' he sang and I burst out laughing.

'I missed you too Jakie Pie,' I cooed, pinching his cheek.

'Hey, no fair, let me join in,' Khye complained, wrestling Jake away and plonking himself onto my lap.

'Ouch, you're obese Khye,' I muttered and Charlie swatted him in annoyance. Khye pouted and folded his arms across his chest.

'Am not, Dais,' he retorted jokingly and shot Charlie a foul look. Khye wiggling his bum against my lap and I screeched.

'Get off of her,' Charlie bellowed, grabbing Khye by his hoodie and shoving him in the direction of his chair. 'Sit down and stop fucking about.'

The table descended into silence. Even the other tables around us seemed to have dropped their conversation, enthralled with the scenes before them.

'Charlie, chill,' Louis soothed, his face twisted with apprehension. I rested my hand lightly on his bicep and taking a steadying breath he sat down again.

'It was just a joke, jeez,' Khye muttered running a hand through his hair and shaking his head.

'We know,' Katie reassured, 'it's just a bit tetchy at the minute.'

Jake placed a hand on my thigh and gently rubbed. I stared transfixed at patterns in the wood of the table, not daring myself to look at anyone. Niall was still sat in the same position, unmoved. I sighed heavily and cast my eyes in Harry's direction.

'Things have just happened, okay?' I huffed and he ruffled his curly mop in contemplation. 

'Did you lose the ability to text?' He tested and I scowled at him.

'Apparently so, I've only been able to call,' I hissed and his green eyes flashed.

'Yes once, the other night. Since then, nothing,' he banged the table with his hand.

'Harry mate, relax,' Jake said and pursed his lips.

'I'm calm,' he shrugged and slouched in his chair.

'I had six people searching for you at the club,' Charlie said distantly, his eyes glued to Niall. Niall's gaze looked back, unfaltering. 'Liam, Louis, Zayn, Khye, Harry and that's not even including myself.'