Hold My Hand | h.s. + n.h.

Chapter One

Word Count; 5 609

[edited]

"Maybe we should invite Niall?" I look up to the sound of Louis' voice, startling me from looking at my computer screen.

"Yeah sure. Hopefully he isn't too moody," Nick replies, furrowing his face in concentration before volunteering me. "Yeah, yeah. Give him a call Harry."

I look over to Nick and frown. Last time I spoke to Niall he nearly bit my head off. All I had done was bump into him since the other guys were pushing each other playfully and I ended up getting knocked in to him. I nod my head anyways and move the laptop to the floor by my feet. I lift my hips and dig into the tight pocket of my jeans for my phone. Why do I wear them this tight again? Sure it's comfy but a hell of a time getting things out of the pockets every now and then. After unlocking my phone I dial Niall's number and hold my breath. It goes straight to voice mail after one ring. He ignored my call. Nice.

Before I can dwell on the sting from the rejection of my friend, Louis holds up his phone in the air as he speaks.

"Niall's on his way already; just left. Guess he decided to come over on his own without an invitation"

"Oh ok. Must've been why he ignored my call. Must be driving." The duo around me nod and I bite my lip, looking down at my lap. I pick my laptop back up again, trying to finish this damned essay. I should just leave it for Sunday, but it's also due any time on Sunday before midnight. College work is randomly placed everywhere, it's frustrating. As I type the last word and hit save, Niall walks in through the door of my apartment.

"Sup man." Louis says, raising his eyebrows and hand for Niall to give it a hit. After closing my laptop I look up and Niall nods at me, a glare threatening to be thrown at me. Lovely, he's already pissed at me for some reason. He sits between nick and I on the long couch and looks around.

"Not a bad place Harry. What happened to the dump you were renting before with that drug addict?"

I threaten him with a glare before I sigh and shrug, picking at a thread on my black jeans. He is right, my old roomie did have some problems that always ended in me paying off the gross dealers. I don't know why I thought renting an apartment with him was a good idea, I knew how he was before hand. "He had to go back home and my job pays well enough so I got an apartment I could afford on my own. "

I see Niall nod through my side vision and I bite my lip again. Why is it, lately I always feel nervous around Niall? Nothing's changed. Actually, it has. He has. It doesn't matter whether he's famous or not, I got over that as soon as we had joked with each other the first time we met. He's just Niall to me.

"How's things with your job, Ni?" Nick asks.

"Pretty good. Simon's been on my ass and acting like a fucking princess." Nick chuckles and pats Niall on the shoulder before he continues their conversation. Louis is off somewhere, probably raiding my fridge, Nick is extremely oblivious so it only leaves me to notice the way Niall flinched and stiffened at Nick's normal friendly gesture. I frown and look down at the carpeted floor by my feet. I've noticed lately how Niall has been flinching more and more and often goes out of his way not to be touched at all. Yes ok, maybe he's flinching because Nick is gay, but that's never bothered him before and Niall isn't one to be homophobic.

"How is he being a princess?"

"Complaining about shit that I do. Shit people are saying about my attitude lately, the apparent urgency for me to start recording a new album even though I just fucking released one." Nick interrupts Niall's angry rant with a fit of laughter.