Crazy Little Thing Called Love

The Truth Or How I Ship Nilly

Hi guys, I hope you enjoy the chapter and a bit of Lily and Niall action. :) This chapter is dedicated to my best friend who was my first reader and supporter and who is my inspiration for Lily. All the love, Summer xxx

The next morning I woke up in my bed with a half-naked Louis next to me. He had decided to spend the night and because he hadn't been prepared he had only slept in his boxers and then had insisted that I would only wear a t-shirt and my panties as well. I watched him for a few minutes until he startled me by speaking up. "Stop staring at me, love. It's kind of creepy." he opened his eyes and I blushed. "You just look so beautiful and peaceful when you sleep." I told him and patted his cheek. He grinned. "Well, what can I say? I'm just too handsome to look away from me for too long." I rolled my eyes.

I sat up and tried to get out of bed, but Louis' arm wrapped themselves around my waist and held me in place. "Where do you think you're going, love?" he asked into my ear and I giggled. "Into the kitchen to get some breakfast?" I answered. "But it's so comfy here in bed with you." Louis whined. "Well maybe I can stay in here for a bit longer." I gave in and he pulled me back into a lying position and propped himself up on his elbows to look down at me.

He gently pushed a few loose strands of hair out of my face and lightly run his fingers over my face, studying me intensely. "You are so beautiful." he told me and I blushed deeply. Suddenly, Louis seemed to be way too close and I felt like the room was closing in on me. I pushed past Louis and quickly got up and pulled on my dressing gown. I was out of the room before Louis could even say something.

I fled into the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water, trying to control the upcoming panic attack. A few seconds later, a concerned Louis appeared behind me and soothingly rubbed up and down my back. "Shhh, Claire. You're okay. It's just me, you are alright." Slowly, my breathing went back to normal and I turned around to face Louis.

"I am so sorry, I... I thought I had worked through this." Louis cupped my cheek with his one hand and gently took my hand in his other one. "Don't apologise, love. I don't know why you panicked, but you definitely don't need to apologise for it. I pulled him back with me into my bedroom and closed the door behind me. Hesitantly, I walked over to my bed and sat down, patting the spot next to me.

"Okay, I think I owe you an explanation. I'll try to keep it short." Louis nodded and squeezed my hand. "So, I got bullied in school, really badly over several years, and then in my last year in high school this amazing guy came along and he was the first guy who had ever really shown interest in me and I was a broken mess, so I gave him a chance. He told me he'd help me and I trusted him. Long story short, he cheated on me from day one of our relationship and then when I found out, he told me that he had only asked me out because of a bet and then proceeded to make fun of me in front of the whole school and made it look like I was the pathetic, ugly little girl who was running after him because he was such an amazing guy. It was awful and I had major trust issues for a while. So when someone tells me that I'm beautiful, I have a hard time believing it, you know?"

Louis pulled me into a hug and I sat on his lab for a few minutes while he just held me. "Claire, I want you to listen to me very carefully, okay? You are not ugly and pathetic. You are beautiful and kind and funny and any guy would be happy to have you. The people who bullied you in school were probably just jealous of you because you are such an amazing girl. And if I ever run into that guy, I will kill him." he said with a grim look on his face and I smiled. "Thanks Louis. Thank you for listening and thank you for still being here after you know my story."

Louis pulled away far enough to be able to face me properly. "Claire, no matter what you tell me will make me run the other way, okay? I'll try everything I can to make this relationship work and I won't let some bullies, or the media or the fans get in the way of that. I know that this relationship won't be easy, but what relationship is?" He smiled down at me and gently kissed my forehead. "Now, what about that breakfast you were talking about earlier?"

While we were eating breakfast, Niall and Lily emerged from her room and Lily blushed when she saw the two of us sitting at the kitchen table. Niall, on the other hand, grinned widely and fist-bumped Louis. "Long night?" Louis asked Niall with a smirk and he grinned. "A gentleman never tells, Louis." he said and gave Lily a peck on the cheek. "And what about you?" Niall asked Louis who looked over to me and smirked. "Claire makes a good cuddle buddy." he replied and winked at me. I rolled my eyes and helped Lily make some tea for the two of them.

"So how was your date?" I asked her quietly and her whole face lit up. "He took me to a cute little café and we talked forever and then we got some food at Nandos and drove to a park and went for a walk while eating our food and then we came here and, well, um, you know..." she blushed and I grinned at her. "That sounds amazing, I'm so happy for you. I ship 'Nilly'." She grinned back. "Thanks, me, too. I don't even deserve such an amazing guy, seriously." She looked over to Niall who caught her looking at her and winked, which made her blush a bit.

"Soooo, what happened with you and Louis?" she asked me and wiggled her eyebrows. "Not what you are thinking." I told her. "He surprised me yesterday after Harry had dropped me off and then he spent the night, but we only cuddled. And made out for a bit." I added with a smirk and Lily giggled. "He knows about Sam." I told her in a hushed voice and her eyes widened. "Did you tell him?" I nodded. "I had a panic attack earlier and I had to tell him. He deserves to know." Lily pulled me into a quick hug.

"You know that Louis would never do that to you, right?" she asked me and I nodded against her shoulder. We finished the tea and then sat back down next to our two boys. "Soooo, do you have any exciting plans for today?" Lily asked me and I looked over to the clock and pulled a face. "I have to be at the uni by 1pm." Louis pouted. "What about you, love?" Niall asked her and Lily grinned. "I have the day off because I worked at the hospital for my internship on Saturday." Niall grinned back and exchanged a look with her. "That's what I love hearing." I patted Louis' leg. "We'll find some time this week, alright?" He nodded and tickled me a bit which made me squeak. "I'll make sure of that." he promised me and grinned.