Taciturn (Niall Horan)

CHAPTER 22 - Getaway

Niall's POV

"Can you tell me now where we're heading?"

"No."

Nona snorted and I laughed which I got a glare from her. We had that conversation for the nth time ever since we left my flat to get my clothes and loads of food. Hey, we can't starve ourselves.

"At least give me a clue." she clamoured.

"Nope." I won't give in.

"Damn it." she crossed her arms and scrunched. "You could be stubborn if you wanted."

I chuckled, "Patience is a virtue. Besides, it's a surprise. So hold still, babe."

I glanced at her and I saw her blushing with the name I gave her. I grinned to myself as I got back my focus on the road.

"Now I hate surprises." she grumbled and I could imagine her pouting.

"C'mon, babe. Life wouldn't be a thrill without them." I told her. I love calling her babe.

"It's like you've kidnapped me." I heard her said.

"You've come with me voluntarily. Is that what you called 'kidnapping'?" I told her.

"Excuse me but you demanded me to a date," she fired back. "Then all of a sudden, I got my clothes packed and driving with you to the outskirts of town."

She got a point there.

"Hey, Laura and Luke who were your guardian have a knowledge about this so stop complaining." Now I'm growing annoyed.

"I'm not complaining, okay." she snapped.

"It's like you are." I gripped on the steering wheel.

"I'm just asking where we're going." she kept dragging on the subject.

"How many times I have to tell you that I can't tell? Just wait there and shut up just like the way you have always been." I blurted out which I regretted as soon as the words left my damn fucking mouth.

"I- You-"

Good job, Niall. You've touched a nerve.

"Nona, I-"

"It's fine, Niall. Maybe you wished I never speak at all; that it's better that I'm a mute after all." she said without expressing an emotion.

Fuck. "It's not what I mean." I hold her hand but she yanked it.

"Thought so." now she's getting exasperate.

"Are we fighting?" I queried as calmly as I could. She didn't utter a word.

"I'm sorry." and I mean it. "I don't know why I said that. I wasn't thinking."

She remained silent and I let her be. Now we really got into a first real fight. Not that I'm happy about it -I mean, I don't like the idea of fighting with her-. I think it's normal that we have it. It's not we always have to be up. We also have our down times just like this. It's pretty normal in a relationship, right? I just hope this won't last long.

"I'm really sorry, Nona. Just-"

"I'm sorry, Niall. Sorry for annoying you." she cuts me off.

"You didn't annoy me. It's okay." I told her.

"Stop pretending that I didn't because I did. I'm sorry." she said in a calm tone. "I know you didn't mean to say it. I'm just overreacting."

"Okay," I sighed. "Now, give me your hand. Please."