Letting Go (Niall Horan AU)

Chapter 31

October

..............

I wake up to the smell of pancakes. And fortunately I find myself feeling much better than I did last night. After I stretch I wrap a blanket around my shoulders and shuffle to the source of the amazing smell.

I come into the kitchen to find a shirtless Harry Styles with bed head.

I watch his back and find a new tatoo I haven't seen before at the very left bottom of his back. It's a little black clover.

I watch as he flips the last pancake, then he turns around.

"You're up earlier than I thought you'd be." Harry says showing off his famous smirk.

I sit down and put a few pancakes on my plate.

"Well the smell of your great cooking woke me up." I reply, now pouring loads of syrup on my pancakes.

Harry laughs.

"Want some pancakes with that syrup?" He asks jokingly.

I just roll my eyes.

"Later today I'll need to find a way to get my car back to the dorm." I say as I stuff my mouth.

"I already got Zayn to help me put gas in it and get it back here." Harry answers taking a sip of his juice.

"Thank you so much." I say smiling.

"It was nothing." He blushes.

I stand up and tackle him in a hug while placing kisses on his cheeks and forehead.

"Thank you Harold! You're the bestest friend ever!" I yell like a 5 year old.

Harry laughs and lifts me off of him.

But the laugh doesn't seem genuine.

Harry

............

Does she always have to fucking remind me that I'm in the friend zone? Never mind it's not like it's her fault anyways. I shouldn't be thinking of Toby like this. She's with Niall. And I can't ruin another one of his relationships. He deserves to be happy after all these years.

I pick at my pancakes as I watch Toby stuff herself.

After we finish at about 11:00 we decide to watch a movie.

Nearly after 30 minutes of bickering over which movie to watch we decide on Marley and Me.

Most of the movie I just watch Toby's face light up and laugh at funny parts. Sometimes she looks over at me and I try to pretend like I haven't been staring at her for almost 40 minutes.

At one point she even throws popcorn at my face and says laughing:

"Stop staring you twat. I can feel your eyes burning into the side of my head."

After this incident I find myself turning red and watch the actual film instead. It's the last 20 minutes or so of the movie and Marley is taken to the vet. Toby is already shedding tears. But I being the man I am, hold them back.

At the point where they find Marley outside under a tree I lose the grip I had on myself as I watch Toby sob into Chance's fur. The puppy just licks her.

By the end if the movie I'm sure Toby has cried enough years to fill a bathtub. When she switches in the lights she looks at me and laughs.

"What?" I ask confused.

"You little softie!" She says chuckling.

"What are you taking about?" I ask smiling because she's smiling.

Toby pokes my dimple.

"You cried."

"Did not."

"Did too"

Toby says stepping closer.

"Fine. I did." I sigh in defeat. My cheeks are most definitely bright red at this point. I'm such an idiot.

"Don't be embarrassed I think it's sweet." She says smiling up at me.

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

That's when I forget everything. And I lean down and press my lips against her soft ones. I'm lost in the moment and it's absolutely perfect.

But that perfect is shattered when I hear the front door click open.

I pull away from the kiss to find a very pissed off Niall Horan.

"You fucking bastard." Niall seethes at me. It's quite frightening.

"You just have to ruin everything don't you? Is it you mission to rip every ounce of happiness out of my life?" He asks stepping closer and closer to me.

"After all the fucking years you can't just let me be happy? You took everything Harry! You broke me beyond repair!" Niall is now yelling as tears roll down both of our cheeks.

"I'm s-sorry." I choke out.

"You know what Harry? Sorry doesn't do shit." Niall says looking at me with his tear filled eyes.

"But I'll accept your apology anyways, because I've been waiting for those words to come out of your god damned mouth for two fucking years."

"Niall I-" Toby says stepping up and touching Nialls shoulder.

"October can you just give me some time to think?" Nialls asks quietly as he steps away from both of us.

"O-okay." Toby says sniffling.

"Just do me a favor and go home okay?" Niall requests.

Toby nods and grabs her belongings.

As Niall watches you can clearly tell he just realized she is wearing my clothing. I now realize how horrible this really must look.

"Niall we didn't-"

"Harry just stop please." Niall cuts me off, his voice cracking.

I nod in defeat, as I watch the sad boy walk away from me without letting me explain, yet again.