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Chapter 2 - Niall

28,29,30…I mentally counted my bench presses. My spotter and roommate Liam helped as I placed the back onto the rest.

“Nice job mate” Liam complimented. “Alright my turn. Spot me?”

“Yea sure” I took my place behind the set up and he lowered the bar to his chest.

After a successful workout I like to walk back to our flat, it gives me time to think. Liam would rather drive. I stuck an ear pod in my ear and hit play on my smartphone. Music blared through my headphones and I played air drums as I walked down the residential street. I wasn’t until she was on the ground I had realized I bumped into a smallish body.

“Are you alright?” I offered.

“Yea I’m fine” she replied. Our eyes met and I recognized her.  Beautiful eyes like hers were hard to forget.

"Hey, you're in my bio class. Your new right?" She smiled.

“Yep, that’s me” I smiled back. “I’m Niall” I stuck my hand out. She giggled but reciprocated.

“Hannah”

All I could think was how beautiful she was. Golden blonde hair that glistened in the sun, Chocolate brown eyes and thin pink lips that complimented her face perfectly. Thank God she can't read minds.

“Well it was nice meeting you” She slipped past me, walking backwards two steps. She went for a third but tripped on a lip in the pavement. My arms instinctly caught her before she could hit the ground again. My biceps tingled where her tiny hands grasped me. I set her on her feet.

“Thanks” She said shyly

“See you in class” I turned and walked away, mentally kicking myself at the pathetic line. See you in class? Really Niall you couldn’t come up with anything better?

I trotted up the steps to my flat. Once inside I heard Liam in the kitchen.

“Hey” I greeted

“So who’s the girl?” He had a sneaky smile plastered across his face

“Wha— How did you—“

“Relax I only drove past. I saw you and some chick talking. Well she was talking, you were making goo goo eyes” Liam closed the fridge, assuming he couldn’t find anything to eat.

“I do not make goo goo eyes!” I protested

“Yea ya do." he laughed to himself "So who is she?”

“She’s in my Bio class. This was the first time we actually talked…But shes cute” I said, he just rolled his eyes.

"We’ve nothing in. what’d you for dinner?” He asked changing the subject

“Doesn’t matter” I said. Liam flipped open his laptop and googled places to eat.

“Are you gunna talk to her again?” He asked as he browsed the restaurant results.

“I planned on it” I smiled

“Just be careful mate” His eyes didn’t leave the screen but I knew he meant it. He was always suspicious when anyone he was close to was in a relationship. 8 months back his dad left his mum. She was inconsolable and Liam couldn’t bear to watch her go through that. 3 months after that we packed up and moved to the states. 

“This Mexican place looks good” He pointed to the search result

“Sounds good, let’s go” I slipped my Converse back on and followed Liam out the door.

*****

“I can help whoevers next!” the cashier called over the commotion in the restaurant. We stepped up and placed our order. The bell on the door jingled, catching my attention.

“Liam that’s her” my eyes flicked towards the door.

“So go talk to her” He paid for our food and I made a mental note to pay him back.

“I can’t just go over there, she’s with her friends”

“Have you even stopped to think she may have a boyfriend?” Liam made a good point. I knew nothing about this girl. I saw her eyeing the bathroom.

“I’ll be right back. I rounded the corner and strategically placed myself so she would have to run into me again. Kicking myself (again) because I know how cheesy and pathetic this was (again). I was just as startled as she was when my plan worked. I chuckled at her semi disoriented but just as beautiful gaze.

"That's twice in one day. Are you making a habit of this?" I asked

"Nope, purely coincidence."She replied with a small smiled. Liam’s questioned still hung in my thoughts and I glanced around the restaurant to be sure no one else had come in to join the girls.

“Who are you here with?” I asked

“My friend and my sister” she threw a thumb over her shoulder in their direction.

“So no boyfriend then?” The words poured out of my mouth before I could stop them.

"Well you don't waste any time" She laughed "But if you must know, no. No boyfriend."

"Good” I winked playing it off my obvious excitement. I brushed pashed her without a word for the full affect.

“So how’d it go?” Liam asked with a mouth full of taco.

“Great, were engaged to be married. We leave tonight for Vegas and Elvis is going to walk her down the aisle.” I lowered my eyes at him. “These things take time” I met Hannah’s eyes as she sat down at her table.

“Good things always do…”