Play for Keeps.

Chapter XII.

~ N i a l l ~

I can't sleep. It's 1:03 AM. I see the red letters on my alarm clock that I don't even use. I get out of bed and leave a note on the kitchen on my way out.
I couldn't sleep. Went for a walk. Love you Mum. XO. Niall.
I walk out the door being as quiet as possible.

The middle of October is pretty cold. I've only made it down the block before I start shivering. This time I make it past the house where I ran into Louis the night he went to the hospital. This time I make it down that street and several more. Friday night and no parties? I'm surprised.

It's freezing out here. Suddenly, a car drives by me. It slows down while it's still behind me. This begins to scare me with it being so sketchy. I just keep looking forward. Maybe they'll go away. Before I can try to get away, the window rolls down, but I don't panic. The car in my peripheral is all too familiar to me.
"What's a blonde like you doing walking the streets at one in the morning on the coldest night of October?"
I take a deep breath.
"Are you sure you should be doing this?"
My eyes water.
"No, uh, actually, I'm not exactly supposed to be seen with you."
"Then leave."
I never thought I would ever have the strength to say that to anyone.
"Ni, stop."
He called me Ni.
"I'm not supposed to be seen with you, but you are two degrees away from freezing and three miles from your house."
"What do you care? Oh, that's right. You don't."
"Niall."
"Aren't you the one who listened to my friend instead of me?"
"Get in the car."
"And you think that you can just tell me to-"
"Niall. Get in the car."
He shuts me up. I let my thoughts go and get in the car. It's not much warmer in here.
"The heater's broken so you'll have to grab the blanket in the backseat."
I reach in the backseat. Nothing. I feel around, but I don't find a blanket.
"There's no blanket."
"Sure there is."
"No, Louis. There's no blanket."
He sighs heavily. When he pulls up to a red light, he takes off his leather jacket and hands it to me.
"So needy." He rolls his eyes.
"You're the one who made me get in the car."
"Calm down."
I keep my mouth closed for the rest of the car ride, but he doesn't take me to my house.
"This isn't my house."
"I know. It's mine."
I scoff and almost start to laugh.
"Not happening."
"The way I see it, sweetheart, is that you don't really have a choice."
"Don't call me that."
He gets out of the car and walks inside. I follow him stupidly.

I sit on the couch while he walks around putting his keys up and doing whatever it is he does.
"Would you rather come sit in my room?"

These are dangerous waters to tread, but I want him to care so bad. I just want you to care.
"Uhm. Sure."

I get up and walk closely behind him through several rooms, but before we make it to his room, we pass through a room with only a beautiful, black grand piano. I stop in my tracks.
"It's beautiful."
He stops and looks back at me and the piano.
"Yeah. It's my mom's."
"Do you play?"
"Uhh, no. I don't."
I can tell that he does. He looks longingly at the piano.
"Are you sure?" I plead, biting my lips.
"Well, I did, but uh, I stopped. I don't play for perform for people."
"You sing."
"Yeah. It's easy to do something on stage when you're not alone. Or when you'r behind something."
"You're behind the keys."
"Nice try." He says, not giving in to my attempt.

We walk back to his room.
"It's kind of a mess, but you'll be asleep so it doesn't really matter."
"What about you?"
"Yeah."
"You can sleep on the bed."
"Where are you gonna sleep?"
"I'll sleep on the floor."
"Louis, I don't wanna take your spot in your own bed."
"Well, I brought you home so I can deal with it."
You could sleep in the bed.
"Okay. Well thank you."
"Yeah."
"Goodnight."
"Night."
I lie down on his bed. It smells like him. I fall asleep quickly.

~ L o u i s ~

After he falls asleep, I get up and go to the kitchen. I pour a glass of water and take a sip. It's so late but so early. There's a cute boy in your bed, and you're drinking water. C'mon.
I finish the water and put the glass in the sink, and I head to the piano room. I can't believe I'm about to do this.
I sit down and put my hands on the keys. I begin to play, letting passion and emotion surge through me to the ends of my fingers. I speed up and play harder notes, and I slow down. I follow my memory through the piece at my fingertips.

I begin the quiet, soft part of the piece when Niall walks in- still sleepy. Normally, I would stop, but this time I keep playing. I remain vulnerable. I remain exposed.
I play until the end and finish the song.
"That was beautiful."
I stay silent.
"Like really, it was... it was breathtaking."
"Uhm, thanks."
"You should play more."
I get up quickly.
"Oh. N-no. I don't-"
"Louis.."
"I don't play for people."
"You played for me."
I turn around, and Niall Horan stands less than a foot away from me. I swallow hard.
"I didn't mean to."
I see the sting set into him. He cringes a bit.
"Niall I-"
"No. No.. I get it."
The time changes to 4:46 AM. I step closer to him slowly.
"I shouldn't be doing this."
"Doing wha-"
I put my hands on his cheeks, my thumbs resting just below his eyes. He seems shocked before saying,
"Oh."
He looks into my eyes, and I look into his. Blue.
I look from his eyes to his lips and slowly lean into him. We lock lips, and it's gentle and sweet. The gentlest I've ever been, really. The kiss lasts only a few seconds before I pull away. I'm not used to this. Affection. Attention. Attachment. Care. Consideration. Cuteness. The list keeps going.
"I guess you're not sleeping on the floor then?" He smiles as our foreheads rest against each other.
"Well I'm the one who brought you home so I guess I'll deal with it."
I smile back at him. I smile. That doesn't really... happen... much these days. But it's one of my favorite feelings that I've felt in the last few months.