Two {n.h.}

Similarly Different

Niall didn't know how to feel about the girl who just bitched him out, confusing him for James. It wasn't the first time it had happened, but usually it was a slap and something about never getting a call back or lying about loving them. This girl seemed to have a better reason for screaming at him- James. All the girls that James fucked knew what they were getting into and had somehow deluded themselves into thinking that they could change him, she on the other hand was fighting for more than just herself and her illusions.

"Niall, you good, mate? I can't believe girls are still confusing you for your brother, it's been 4 years." Liam said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah, I mean, at least she had a better reason than the other seven."

Harry and Liam laughed at his comment and the three made their way into the next class but Niall couldn't stop thinking about the girl. He had seen her around, but never near his brother, and she seemed to be a quiet and studious girl. Niall couldn't wait to get home and ask James what he had done to deserve such a scolding. Niall felt guilty thinking of his own brother that way, but with his all past incidents, Niall adopted a "what-not-if" mentally after a year or two of his bullshit, never doubting any bad thing he heard about his brother. He knew his brother had a huge mental change about five years ago. He went from a cheerful guy to just a mean, hate-filled person. Niall tried to get him to open up but he only inched further and further away from his every time. It was sad, but James was closer to his best friend Zayn than Niall. Fuck, where did we separate? When did we go from best friends to enemies?

The bell rang, snapping Niall out of his thoughts. Since it was his last class, he said goodbye to his mates and walked to the spot he knew he'd find James, Zayn, and their followers smoking weed. "Zayn. James." He nodded in greeting, with the two repeating his action and the rest of the younger boys too high and lost in their own world to notice. "I'm going home, are you gonna ride with me or skate home with Zayn?"

"I'll ride home with you, I've had a few too many puffs," he giggled, looking back at Zayn and giving him a high five. He walked towards Niall and his demeanor instantly changed, becoming serious and less laid-back despite the drug-induced haze. Together they walked to Niall's white Escalade. The twins both had a car given to them as a graduation present from their parents who were well off, James' being black. James preferred to skate or walk to school, only taking up Niall's offer of a ride when the weather didn't agree with him or he was too faded to walk. Today was a slight combination of both and Niall didn't mind driving him, it was one of the few moments he got with his brother and today, it gave him an opportunity to ask about the angry girl.

Niall waited James was buckled in to ask. "So, have you pissed anyone off lately?"

"Why." came the curt reply.

"Just because I got bitched at today for being a sexist pig and since I know I'm not..." Niall drove carefully and slightly slower than usual to bide his time in the car with his twin. "You haven't angered a short brunette quiet girl? Maybe said some inappropriate things to her?" Again, he was met with silence. He looked over to see if he was even awake and James was wide awake, staring ahead, blatantly ignoring his brother. "Listen, I'm just asking because I want to know her name and make sure she gets an apology—"

"I'm not apologizing for shit. I haven't done anything to a brown haired girl. I only fuck blondes."

"Well, James, this girl was too angry to not have been somehow victimized. You don't know anyone that might be particularly offended by your off-handed comments in any of your classes?"

"Ugh," James sighed and Niall got a bit excited at the leeway he was making. "There's this girl in Psych, Madeline or some shit. The prude huffs and puffs louder and glares harder than any other girl and I think I pushed her delicate sensibilities too far when I complimented this girl." Complimented, right.

Niall got the name of the girl and he'd be able to make sure she wasn't too embarrassed at what happened earlier in the day. He pulled into the driveway, and like usual, James jumped out as soon as the car was parked. By the time Niall walked in, James would already be locked away in his room, doing whatever it is he does all day.