November // n.h

xiii.

               T H I R T E E N 

You know those moments, when your mind just goes back and forth from one moment to the other, sticking pieces of the jigsaw together just to make a perfect and clear picture? Well, I have one of those moments, pushing through the crowd just to get to Niall.

“Excuse me!” I yell for what seems like a millionth time. The worst thing about it all? Nina has been walking right behind me yet we still had to push through the crowd. It all seemed to be endless and I hated that small idea. There was no time, my head was going to explode.

“Eve! This won’t work! You won’t get to him.” Nina shouts from behind me and I groan feeling this determined for the first time in a while It had to work. I wasn’t going to leave Niall with these hormonal people who could do God knows what!

“It has to, Nina!” I shout back, turning my head a little. Giving up is not an answer in this situation. It’s Niall Horan that has been mobbed! He is a singer, someone that should walk around with a bodyguard to secure and protect him.

Therefore, I am not going to leave him here like I have never talked to him. Niall is my friend – yes, I can call him that now – and leaving him here alone won’t help me out. Even more, there surely is a reason behind him coming over here and risking it all.

I push through the crowd, trying as much as possible, hoping that once and for all, I can get to the bloke and pull him out of all this – only if he wants that.

After countless shouting, poking on the backs expecting people to move out of the way. I manage to notice Niall at the end of this whole circus. He seems to take notice of my presence as his features light up and a sparkle appears in his eyes, underlining it all with a smile.

Reaching out my hand for him to take it, all that manages to run through my head is a small hope that he’ll take it and run out of this crowd; run away from all those people who maybe do deserve to meet him. Hoping, that he’ll run off with me.

As soon as his hand takes mine, shivers are sent down my spine just so they can bring me back to reality. Shaking my head, I try to vanish those ideas away and focus on right here and now; on rescuing Niall from this mayhem.

Somehow, with all the strength that I have, I pull his hand and start to walk off, knowing that he’s there, right behind me. When he holds back, I know it’s for the fans. I know that he wants to sign a piece of paper or take a picture or give a hug just to show how much he cares but putting them ahead of himself is not the right thing at this moment.

In an instance, his eyes meet mine and I don’t have to say a word. A smile appears on his face and without thinking, I smile back and start to walk again. As we get to the end of the small crowd, I squash his hand a little more just to make sure he understands.

With all that happening in the background, we start to run. His hand tightly in mine, heart hammering in my chest, all that seems to matter at the moment is to get him to a safe place, a calm place. Due to everything happening, running has never been so easy for me. Maybe it’s the adrenaline boiling in my blood or maybe it’s the skin, burning under the impact of our hands touching. Either way, I receive a boost from which ever.

Trying not to fall to the ground, I look around trying to figure out where we could go and when my eyes land on a particular store, the doors open. A person stands in them with a wide smile. Curiosity makes me wonder why she is smiling. Regardless to the confusion I feel Niall holding on a little tighter to my hand just as we run into the music store.

Nina shuts the door behind us and locks them in seconds. “Hi.” She beams at the two of us as we’re desperately trying to catch at least a little bit of air and even out our breaths. Only then I let go of Niall’s hand, feeling my cheeks burning.