Our Little Secret {n.h}

chapter 21

"Wait, so you and Niall had drinks last night?" Louise asked as I got in my car, holding the phone against my shoulder as I buckled my seat belt.

"Yeah, we just went to a bar down the street from the gallery." I replied and pulled out of the parking lot of the apartments. "What did you do last night?"

"Never mind what I did." Louise laughed and I rolled my eyes. "Are you two back together?"

"No. It was just drinks. Nothing more. Nothing less." I said, frowning a bit at my words. "We're going to lunch today just as friends."

"Mhmm. Okay." Louise said and I laughed. "You guys are totally gonna get back together."

"We'll see." I hummed and I could tell Louise was rolling her eyes.

"That's what you said a year and a half ago before you went to a certain music festival with a certain blonde Irish boy." She sang and I laughed, pulling into the gallery parking lot.

"Alright. I've gotta go. Have fun doing your pregnant things." I joked and Louise told me goodbye before hanging up.

I parked my car and grabbed my bag, turning the car off. I walked inside and said hello to Lana before going to my room in the back. I had my own dark room and studio to paint and stuff. It was literally the perfect job. I sat my stuff down and took the sheet off of a painting that I have been working on the last week and a half. I needed to finish it since a couple had ordered it. They had me photograph them and then they wanted me to paint the picture. I pulled out my painting trays and started working, tossing my hair up into some sort of bun. I put my glasses on since I was so tired and kept painting, making sure everything was perfect.

I looked at my phone and noticed that it was already noon. I was meeting Niall at about twelve thirty so I decided to start cleaning my brushes and paint trays. I finished and let my hair down, making sure I didn't have any paint on my clothes. I left the studio and went to my car, fixing my makeup in the rear view mirror, and pulled out of the parking lot. I made my way to the restaurant that Niall had suggested last night and easily found a parking spot. I got out and adjusted my outfit, making sure I looked presentable.

I straightened out my button up jean skirt and made sure my bra wasn't showing on my striped tank top. I tugged at the sleeves of my army green sweater and took a deep breath, going inside the restaurant. I noticed Niall at a table and I walked over, taking the seat in front of him. Niall looked up as I sat down and smiled, taking a sip of his water.

"Hey." He smiled and I did too, crossing one leg over the other under the table.

"What's up?" I asked after ordering a glass of water.

"Work sucks." Niall stated, bluntly and I laughed a little. "Literally people just irk me."

"I get to sit in a room and paint all day. So I'm set." I smiled and Niall laughed, muttering a 'lucky.'

We ordered and I just stuck with a salad since I wasn't very hungry and Niall and I joked around as we waited for our food to come. Once it was on the table, we ate in a comfortable silence. I was scared it would be awkward but everything felt normal. It was like we never broke up. I tried to keep those thoughts at bay, not wanting to get my hopes up or anything. I didn't know how Niall felt or if he was still upset about what happened last year.

"Did you go to Glastonbury this year?" I wondered and Niall nodded.

"I made Harry go with me." I laughed a little and Niall smiled a bit.

"How was it?" I wondered and he shrugged.

"Not as good as last year." Niall winked and I jokingly rolled my eyes.