Her Deliverance (vol. 2) ON HOLD

Twelve

I feel like I'm choking on air after his name leaves my mouth, my eyes wide in shock as I stare at him. He looked almost the same as he had when I last saw him, yet there were obvious changes to him physically. Like the fact he was taller. Before his head was only two inches or so above mine, but now he looked to have increased maybe six or seven. My head was just below his chin now, which also had a little facial hair growing. His jaw looked stronger, more defined and his shoulders were broader. It was plainly obvious he did grow up, and the reminder that he was the reason that I hadn't been there to see it, caused me to finally snap out of my shocked state and move from the vicinity of his arms.

His hands slipped from me and he seemed to realize the emotional and physical space between us because he leaned back, stuffing his hands into his front pockets. "You're here." He said breathlessly, staring at me like he couldn't actually believe it.

"You are too." I mumble, then bring my eyebrows together in confusion. "How? And I mean, why? Are you going to school here?"

He nodded slowly. "Did you forget this was my dream school too?"

No, I hadn't forgotten. I just didn't think about it due to the fact we stopped being friends over a year ago. "It must of slipped my mind."

He purses his lips, his blue eyes taking me in and repeatedly searching my face to the point it made me uncomfortable. I shifted from one foot to the other and he blinked, clearing his throat. "I see you got in too then? I remember you dreamt of coming here as well. Congrats."

"Thanks, you too."

An awkward silence filled the space between us and he opened his mouth like he wanted to tell me something then closed it when Harry laid his hand on top of my shoulder from behind. I almost forgot he stood there, nearly jumping at the touch but I hadn't when I saw Niall's gaze move from me, to Harry's hand on my shoulder, then to Harry behind me. He looked surprised, then annoyed when Harry took a subtle step closer to me until his chest was pressing against my back. Niall seemed to be surveying him, his eyes narrowing just the slightest and his jaw tightening. "Who's this?"

I stepped to the side, Harry's hand on my shoulder slipping to my back at the movement. "This is my friend Harry, Harry this is my..." I paused, coughing uncomfortably before speaking again. "Um, this is Niall."

Harry tentatively held his free hand out, his face giving nothing he was thinking away. "Nice to meet you."

Niall eyed Harry's hand, staring down at it for longer than necessary before slowly reaching out to shake his hand. His face was twisted oddly, as if he tasted something bad and he nodded once. "Yeah. You too." He paused, the handshake coming to a halt when Niall stared at Harry in recognition. "You're the guy who was kidnapped with her, aren't you?"

Harry dropped his hand, his shoulders straightening while his jaw clenched. "Yeah. That's me." Niall said nothing else, but Harry gave him one long glance before he looked at the group we were supposed to be going to. He turned to gaze down at me, a small smile on his lips. "I'm going to go wait with the group. I'll meet you there?" He seemed like he was asking me a silent question, and after glancing at Niall who now stood with his arms crossed, I slowly nodded.

"Yeah, okay. I'll only be a minute."

He nodded, then dropped his hand from my back. He took one last look at Niall, his face serious and his jaw tightening before he stepped around him and walked to the group. I stared after him, his back rigid, and his shoulders looking tenser than before. Niall cleared his throat then, pulling my attention away from Harry.

His face had softened in those few seconds Harry had left and he looked torn about something as he pressed his lips together and sighed. "You avoided my calls all summer."