Popular - A Niall Horan Fan Fiction

Chapter 4

Niall's POV 

"So about that repaying thing...I was kind of hoping we could talk..." I saw her fidget, shifting in her seated position on the couch. She brushed a stray strand of her auburn hair away from her face. "Y-yeah, what did you want in return?" 

I smiled, reassuringly. "It's nothing bad or hazardous, I promise. It's just...complicated. Promise me you won't judge me until I finish speaking?" She smiled once again, this time closing her lips over her teeth. She held out her pinky finger. "Pinky swear!" We both laughed at her childish gesture. It was almost like we were reminiscing the childhood days. My pinky was joined with hers as it wrapped around her petite finger. 

At first I didn't know how to explain it to her. I guess I just started to speak. "Well, it's our senior year...and this may sound weird, but I kind of want to be remembered. I guess you could call it, popularity." Her eyes widened at this response. She opened her mouth to say something, but remembered our promise. I continued with my story, clearing my throat before beginning again. 

 "I know this will sound crazy, but I was kind of hoping that we could pretend to date, and somehow it would boost my social ranking...and just maybe I'd be popular. I mean, I've never been liked by my classmates, and I think I'll get to experience it with this plan." I paused after speaking, waiting for her response. She bit at her lip, whilst looking up at the ceiling once again, pondering for an answer.

After a couple of silent minutes, she finally spoke. "Um, I guess that would work...I mean it's only fair since you are helping me get the better grade..." The wad of cash in my pocket was still there, but I was now realizing that I wouldn't need it because of the exchange we were making. She looked at me, those light brown eyes looking straight at me. You could easily get lost in those eyes. She seemed nervous. Perhaps it may have been because she had never been with a guy like me. 

"What do you expect from me during this kind of 'fake dating?'" I considered this question. What would I do with her if I was to make the school believe that we were actually dating? "I don't know, what do the popular kids usually do?" 

"We usually just sit around and smoke, or drink, or go to parties...I don't know if you'd be interested in that kind of stuff." She was right. It didn't necessarily sound like my cup of tea. I could feel a knot in my stomach begin to grow, but I brushed it aside. "I mean, I'll do anything to make our relationship believable...I'll attend a few parties, but promise me you'll try too." She nodded, smiling back at me. 

"Are we starting this week then?" I nodded in response. "Just let me know when the next few parties are, and mention it to your friends." It was now her time to nod, although she posed an interesting question. "Should we show public affection?" 

My mind began to flood with images of her and I kissing, holding hands, and spending time together in front of all of the people that tormented me. Wouldn't that just be delightful? "Oh um, yeah," I cleared my throat, trying to not sound as giddy as I was inside. "I think the usual holding hands thing is good, to show it off."

Without warning, she reached for my hand across the table, interlocking her fingers with mine. Her small hand was enveloped with mine, us awkwardly holding hands across the table. She looked up, her eyes once again staring right at mine. "Like this?" She bit her lip nervously. 

I would'vve never thought I'd be holding hands with Audrey Greene, of all people. I was stunned that she made the first move. My hands began to shake and I prayed to God that my hands wouldn't get sweaty. She pulled away, brushing another strand of hair away from her face. We sat there awkwardly, again, until my mother came into the room, holding a plate of cookies wrapped in some cellophane.