A Night In the Dark | H. S.

Chapter 28

Harry pulled up in front of the restaurant.

"Here we are!"

Felicia grinned with excitement. "Finally!" She almost squealed.

Harry waved for a valet to come take the car. Another man approached Felicia's side.

"Good afternoon, ma'am. Would you like some assistance?"

Felicia extended her hand for the man to help her out of the car. But instead, she heard Harry clear his throat.

"No. No, she's fine. She's with me. Thanks, but I've got this."

Felicia heard a twinge of jealousy in his inflection. It made her giggle.

She grabbed his arm as she slid out to her feet. Immediately, she began to take in the sounds and smells.

They were definitely by the ocean. The sound of crashing waves filled her ears, along with the cries of seagulls. Sand swallowed her bare toes as she walked forward. There wasn't a lot of chatter, but for sure, there were other people around. She could feel the full sun on her face as the smell of ocean life flew up her nostrils.

"We're by the ocean?" She inquired of Harry. He beamed as he led her to follow him.

"Correct. The Beachside is the name of the place. I thought it would be a nice change of scenery." He pulled her to his side as he walked towards the entrance.

"The party Styles." He spoke to someone in a hushed tone.

She felt someone walk briskly in front them as they followed closely behind. The sounds of people began to fade as they entered a private area.

Harry thanked the man as he helped Felicia sit down.

"And what will you have to drink?" The waiter asked.

"What'll you have, love?" Harry addressed Felicia.

"Water is fine."

Harry snorted. "Water? Nothing stronger? A tequila, or beer, perhaps?"

Felicia tilted her head. "Harry, I'm only 19."

He laughed. "Well, in England, 18 is your 21."

"Well," she said a little sternly, "We aren't in the UK, and I don't drink."

"One water and a beer, please."

The waiter walked away quickly.

"Aren't you supposed to avoid alcohol for awhile?" Felicia fiddled with the tablecloth on her lap.

"Yeah, well... today's a splerge day. I'll only have one. I promise."

Felicia furrowed her brow. She didn't like his response. He had been doing so well at staying clean. Every once in awhile, Felicia would hear a small slur in his speech, indicating he probably had used something the night before. But, compared to what he used to be like, he was progressing amazingly.

"So, are the guys getting close?" Felicia was starting to look a little more nervous.

Harry reached under the table and stroked her knee. "When they text me last, they said they were 5 minutes out. Any second now, love." He could sense the anxiety building as she twitched in her chair.

"Listen," he tried to comfort her, "They are going to love you, I just know it. They're really easy to get to like." A small smile crept across her face.

"If you say so, Angel Wings."

♡

"Niall, would you get back in the bloody car!" Louis yelled out the window.

"I'm not going, I'm telling you." Niall was quite angry. "I don't want to see her. And, I don't want to be apart of Harry's lie. I won't go."

Louis shook his head as he stared at Liam. "What we going do, old chap? He's hell bent on not going."

Liam sat back in his seat, deeply. They had pulled off in front of a small convenience store when Niall demanded to be let out upon hearing about Harry's surprise. He wasn't sure what to do with him.

Liam opened his door and walked over to where Niall was standing.

"You can't make me, Liam." He rubbed his hand through his hair. "I really don't want to see her. And I definitely don't want to see Harry. "

"Look," Liam started as gently as he could, "Don't you think your overreacting just a bit? I mean, you only met the girl once and all-"

Niall turned sharply at Liam. "You don't know what I felt, Liam. She had such a radiance about her. I can't explain it. You guys don't know this, but I went back to that park several times just to watch her from a distance. There's something about her that is intoxicating. I don't know what it is, but she's got that... Once is all I needed, Liam. She's a one-of-a-kind girl. And it upsets me knowing that Harry always gets the ladies. I never get any. I'm always in his shadow, or two steps behind him."

Liam's eyes narrowed as he saw the true pain behind Niall's expression. He really was taking this hard. He had always been the "sweet" one out of the bunch. The cute, little Irishman, without a spot on his record. He didn't have a long list of girlfriends, like the rest of them. He was a little more sentimental. He wanted to wait and find that one girl he would spend his life with happily; he didn't play the field.

Liam glanced back at Louis for support. Louis' face was blank. He didn't have an idea either.

Liam shrugged his shoulders as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Niall," he started with a deep breath, "I can't say I know how you feel, because I don't. But, I can say I know the type of guy you are." He placed his hand on Niall's tense back. "You are a good man, Niall. You're a strong individual, who knows how to make everyone smile. We all love you to death; Harry loves you, Niall. And he would never do anything to deliberately hurt you, you know that. The only way this can be resolved is for you to talk with him, mate. Avoiding him is just hurting you, and it's hurting the rest of us too."

"Come on, chap." Louis coaxed from the car. "You are an Irishman, I know you are strong enough to sit your pride aside for someone you care about. Have a talk with Harry, aye? It'll make you feel better. You two were such good mates."

Niall turned to meet his two friends eyes. The look of compassion and love filled their faces. He knew they were right. He just was tired of bottling up his emotions all the time. He had to conform and abide by everyone else's mold for him.

"I know Harry loves me." Niall ducked his head towards his shoes as he kicked a single stone. "And, he- and all of you- mean the world to me. You're like my brothers. I guess I can make an effort to... Okay, I'll go."

Louis let out a cheer as he slapped the side of the vehicle. "Oye, oye! That's a good lad!"

Liam gave Niall a side hug as they walked back to the car. "Don't worry, mate, we'll be there for you."

Niall smiled shyly.

"Now, what is our plan going to be?" Louis asked as the car pulled back onto the road.

Liam smiled broadly. "I've decided I'm going to be a law student." Louis and Niall snorted.

"Yeah, you would chose that." Louis rolled his nose. "I think I'm going to be a music major. Thay way, I don't have to seem like a scholar."

"What about you, Niall my boy?" Louis slapped Niall's shoulder. "What are you going to be a student of?"

Niall slightly smiled as he looked out the window. "I'm going to be a biomedical engineer."

The car filled with mocking sounds.

"Ooo, look at what we have here. Showing off our vocabulary, ate we love?" Louis snickered as he dodged Niall's hand.

"Well," Louis continued, "you're going to be screwed if she ask you what that even means. Cheers, because I'm not helping you out."

♡