New Guy

Chapter 12

Nicola's POV:

I wake up to the sound of my phone ringing. I love the ringtone, it's the song 'Small Bump' by Ed Sheeran. My favourite singer. I sleepily pick it up and press the answer button.

"Hello?" I drowsily say into the phone.

"Nicola! Wake up, you lazy bitch!" Thalia's voice screams into the phone.

"Dude.. It's not even 6am yet.. What do you want?" I ask lazily, rubbing my eyes and sitting up.

"Get your butt out of bed and put on something nice. I'm taking you out today." She says energetically.

"What about school?" I ask. Not that I want to go or anything, I'm just a little curious.

"Screw school." She says and doesn't give me any time to protest before hanging up. I roll my eyes and drag myself out of bed.

I make my way to the bathroom in my pyjamas and have a quick shower. When I get out, I wrap myself in a towel before brushing and blow drying my hair. I make it into a quick plait and head back to my room. I decide to wear my blue and white summer dress since it's one of my favourites.

I check my phone before heading downstairs and slipping some shoes on. I grab my keys and bag and walk outside. I'm about to text her to tell her I'm ready but I look up and she's waiting for me already.

"About time, idiot. Now get in." She says, smiling and I roll my eyes before heading over and hopping in.

She tells me to put a blindfold on so I do exactly that and she turns on some music. We sing along to all our favourite songs before the car stops and she tells me to get out. "Where are we? Also can you help me get out?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out. And yes, I will." She answers cheekily and before I know it, she's holding my hand and helping me out of the car. She leads me through a place for a while before taking the blindfold off.

"Wow." Is all I manage to say as I stare at the place around me. It's beautiful. I think we're in the middle of a forest or something because I can't see any man-made object or the car.

She points at a stunning lake flowing in a valley and says, "We're going to sit near there. Then we're going for a swim."

"What? I didn't bring my swimmers and this is my favourite dress!" I argue, not wanting to ruin one of my nice dresses.

"We're the same size, right?" She asks, handing me a bikini top and bottom.

"Uh, I guess so.. What about school?" I ask her again.

"We aren't going to school." She says, a smile forming on her face.

After getting changed, I follow her to the lake. I stare at it for a while before saying, "Looks cold."

"It's okay! You'll warm up! I know just the way," She says and turns around. "GET HER!"

"Wha-" I'm cut off by two boys picking me up and throwing me into the water. I swim to the top as fast as I can. "What the hell?! It's freezing!"

A shirtless Zayn high fives a shirtless Liam and all three of them start to laugh. I frown at them and they jump in, splashing me in the face. Zayn disappears underwater and when he comes back to the top, I'm on his shoulders.

I nearly lose my balance and start to wobble but he grabs my ankles and steadies me.

"I'm cold. I wanna get out." I pout, starting to shiver. "Put me down."

"Oh.. Okay.." He says sympathetically, "I'll put you down so you can get out.."

"Thank y-" Once again, I'm cut off by Zayn throwing me off his shoulders and into the arms of Liam. He wraps his arms around me and Thalia jumps in and splashes me.

"I hate you guys so much! Wait, where's Nina?" I realise that everyone is here except for her.

"I'm not sure, I guess I'll go check my phone for a text or something." Zayn says and hops out of the water. He grabs a towel and dries himself off before disappearing behind a tree.

After a while he comes back into sight and says he hasn't gotten anything but a text from his sister so he has to go.

We say goodbye and Thalia says she thinks she might have a text from her and gets out too.

"Two down, one to go." I say, smirking. I jump onto Liam's back and start splashing his face. Before I can blink, we're both falling backwards into the water and when he reaches the top, he starts laughing.

I laugh with him and when we finally stop, it seems quiet. He stares at me for a while and before I have time to realise what's going on, he presses his lips against mine. I'm too shocked to move so I just stay perfectly still.

He wraps his arm around my waist and as if I'm not in control of my actions, I wrap my arms around his neck. Snapping back into reality, I pull back. "I can't.."

He just stares at me for a moment before I continue, "I-I'm sorry.. Niall in the hospital and... I'm not thinking straight..."

Liam's POV:

What she's saying is all true. I'm kind of glad that she pulled away because I know I wouldn't have. I don't know what came over me, I'm not thinking straight either.

I sigh before answering, "No. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that.. Niall being in the hospital has gotten to my head and I'm not thinking straight either.."

Just as I finish my sentence, Thalia appears wrapped in a towel and looking at her phone. "Guys, we're going to the hospital.. Nina's fine but apparently something happened with Niall?"

"Is he okay?" Nicola nearly shouts as she gets out of the lake. I follow her out and we dry off before hopping into Thalia's car.

***

When we arrive at the hospital, we all get out of the car and head inside. We tell the lady at the front desk who we want to see but she doesn't let us in.

"Excuse me, but he's my best friend! Why can't I see him?!" Nicola practically yells at her. I put arm around her waist and pull her to my side and she calms down a little.

"Sorry miss, but he can't have visitors at the moment. He needs sleep before anyone can see him." She answers in an understanding voice. Nicola rolls her eyes and turns around.

She doesn't care what the woman said, she walks straight past her and into Niall's room. "Miss, wait! You can't go in!"

"I don't care, he's my best friend and I have the right to see him!" She yells at her and opens the door.

Thalia is killing herself laughing and I'm just standing here, surprised. Wow.

"Uh, sir.. Is that your girlfriend..?" The woman asks and Thalia laughs even harder.

"Oh, uh-no. She's, um, one of my best friends..." I stutter and I feel my cheeks starting to burn.

Nicola's POV:

I run into the room to find Niall wide awake and looking bored. "Niall!"

"Um, hey." He says a little nervously. "I still don't really remember you.. Sorry."

"It's alright, Niall." I say with a smile and as I turn around, I find Nina sitting on the chair. "Hey Nina, you said something happened. What is it?"

"Niall, why don't you tell her." She says happily and gives Niall an expectant look.

"I remember Nina!" He says excitedly and I know I should be happy, but instead I feel my head droop.

I walk over to Niall and try to think of things that might spark some memories. I can't think of anything at all. I sigh and he looks at me, confused.

"Sorry, Niall.. I'm just really bummed that you don't remember me.." I say. Nina checks her phone before standing up and stretching.

"Sorry.." He says.

"I have to get going!" Nina says with a wave and leaves. "Bye!"

I sit down next to Niall for a few minutes before realising he's staring at me, "Hm?"

"Oh, uh.. Nothing. I just realised how beautiful you are," He says with a smile and my I feel my cheeks heat up a little.

Just as he finishes his sentence, I figure out what to do to make him remember me. It's crazy. It won't work. But anything is worth a shot for my best friend.

I grab his hand and ask him a question, "Are you sure you don't remember anything about me, Niall?"

"Nothing.. Except that you have gorgeous eyes," He says happily and I don't hesitate to lean in and kiss him.

He seems shocked at first but then relaxes. After a few seconds I pull back but he wraps his arm around my neck and pulls me back in. I hear the door open but I can't make myself end this.

I hear a gasp from the doorway and automatically know it's Thalia. "What are you doing?!"

I pull back and look at them. They're both shocked and there's hurt in Liam's eyes.

"I..I don't know.. I-I thought maybe.." I begin but I trail off. I don't want to try to explain it, they'll never believe me anyway. I look down and quickly run out of the room.

Niall's POV:

I don't know what just happened, but I do know I want it to happen again. And I never want it to end.

I don't know why it just happened, but I do know I want to find out. I want to find out more about this girl, why she did that, why she thought it would help me remember.

I still have butterflies in my tummy and my lips are all tingly. I look up at the two people in front of me, one of them staring at me wide-eyed and the other looking down with hurt in his eyes.

"What the hell was that, Niall?!" The girl practically screams at me.

"Um.. I-I don't know.. But I kinda liked it!" I say happily and the boy turns and leaves. I think his name is Liam. "What's up with him?"

"What's up with you?! Kissing your best frie-" She slaps her hands over her mouth and curses under her breath.

"My best friend?!" I ask, shocked and slightly upset. I can't date my best friend, it would be strange and wrong.

"Crap, I wasn't supposed to tell you that! I feel so dumb right now, ugh! This is going to ruin you remembering her now! I'm so sorry.. But still, I can't believe you kissed her!" She says and walks out of the room, mumbling.

I just kissed my best friend..?