Two {n.h.}

Even a Cactus has Flowers

"Bro, you dyed your hair? It looks fucking amazing. You're making me wanna let my roots grow out." Niall said as James climbed into the passenger seat, while the others arranged themselves in the back seats.

"Well, don't. The point of doing this was so people don't give you credit for my badassery." Niall sighed but let it drop. He knew what his brother's reputation meant to him. It kept assholes away from them both really, and Niall didn't mind it. They were headed to Louis' party with Zayn, Harry, and Liam. Thankfully they all got along, with the exception of the brothers mainly, Niall suspected, bonded by their mutual desire to see them get along as brothers should.

The drive to the party was short and filled with laughter from the backseats and exciting chatter upon arrival. Niall, Liam, and Harry were anticipating a nice night of drinking while James and Zayn were on the lookout for anyone that seemed ready to... go. It used to confuse Niall when he saw his brother with a guy one night and a girl the next until he asked James about it. Of course he received a very defensive answer, something along the lines of "Dude, it's none of your business," and after a bit of gentle persuasion, "They get it. One night and it's done." It didn't bother Niall, he always appreciated his sex, having one or two drunken dares gone too far and not minding.

They arrived at the party and the gang went immediately to the kitchen and began mixing their drinks. They went their separate ways, agreeing to meet up later in the living room after making their rounds around the house. Niall was hanging out with Josh and Sandy when he saw Madeline. He knew her attitude was feisty but her sense of dress wasn't as fiery as it was now. It wasn't much, but when Niall mentally compared it to the casual and conservative clothes she usually wore, the low-cut top hugging her torso was almost enough to make him salivate. She made him question what he knew about women's jeans because hers were positively uplifting. Niall had been throwing careful stares her way, trying to time them between conversations with Josh, Zayn, and while she seemed to be deep in thought. When Louis approached her, Niall was shocked to see how familiar they seemed to be with each other. He didn't peg her as the type to be friends with Louis, despite Louis being friends with everybody.

He decided to play it cool since he didn't really know her and she didn't seem like the type of girl to enjoy sudden attention. He kept talking to his friends until James showed up.

"D'ya get another ride home?" Niall asked James, wanting to know whether or not to search for him at the end of the party

"Eh, I might've. Not really sure yet, he's giving off mixed signals." James kept talking about his potential one night stand when Madeline stood up. Niall wasn't sure if his twin noticed his sudden shift in attention, but he couldn't help but tone him out as she got up and out of view.

"Horan, are you even listening to me?" James' attitude snapped Niall out of his waiting for Madeline to come out of the kitchen.

"Yea, Horan, I am. The guy's giving you missed signals and you're not sure if he's a natural blonde." James looked unconvinced but he kept on anyway. Oh shit, here she comes. Madeline came out of the kitchen and walked towards the door, right behind Niall. She looked up at him and he smiled at her in greeting, just as if he wasn't staring at her the entire night. He didn't dare look back to see her walk out, he couldn't be obvious in front of James.

"... his lips look good though, I wouldn't mind a quick blowie or something. Who'd'ya smile at?" Niall sighed in defeat and nodded towards the door. He thought James would only see her backside, but it seems she had forgotten something and was making her way back into the main room angrily.

"Oh, that's the Addy Maddy girl."

"Yeah, that's the one that stormed up to me this morning because you offended her, remember?" James said a quick "huh" in reply and went over to Zayn and yanked him off some girl, "what's the Addy Maddy girl's name in our psychology class?"

Zayn mumbled something Niall couldn't hear over the music and James came back over to Niall "Her name's Adelaide, now go get her." Niall was shocked at the kindness his brother had shown him but didn't waste his opportunity.