got lightning in a bottle || n.h au

thirty three

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

x Zahraa x

Three thirty-something pm found Niall and I sat on the grass close to the swings. Okay, well Niall was the one sitting, his back balancing against a tree, close to the slanted metal poles that were keeping the swings upright.

And I, Princess Zahraa, was perched sideways on his lap with both of my legs crossed on the left side of his. Kind of like the way you'd put your legs on a sofa, ya know?

What? He's rather comfy, okay. As always.

My arms were around his shoulders and my face was nuzzled in the crook of his neck. And his arms were wrapped gently yet firmly around my middle. As if loosening his hold would somehow result in me disappearing.

I can relate.

I couldn't help but think of how much I had missed this. Just being with him, in his arms and not having to say anything yet saying so much at the same time.

Don't let go.

I missed you.

I love you.

We had moved away from the swings as to avoid getting knocked on the head by a mobile swing and suffering an unwanted concussion. Hospital bills are expensive okay.

But at some point my arm was resting on his shoulder with my other hand pressed against his solid chest and I couldn't help but notice that Niall's heart was beating faster than usual and that he was staring at me. It made me self-conscious, but I was unable to look away once shifted my head and our eyes met. As much as I wanted to seek refuge in the sweet smelling part in between his neck and his shoulder.

Niall's eyes were looking into mine as if my face were a puzzle he was so desperately trying to solve. His mouth opened and closed a few times, searching for the right words.

And then he spoke.

"I love you. I love you damn much and I promise I'm gonna spend the rest of my life proving it to you."

This got my attention, and I'm not talking about his declaration of love that I could hear for every second of the day and still get giddy and happy from it.

I was talking about his second statement. The one that had me lifting my head up and aligning it so that I could look into his gorgeous, bright blue eyes properly.

"You want that?" I couldn't keep the awe out of my voice.

"Want what, love?" His eyebrows furrowed cutely.

"A future. With me?"

"Of course I do. I want forever with you," he blushed ever so adorably, but I could also see the underlying sincerity of his words.

My initial reaction, obviously, was to poke his crimson cheek while smiling like a lovestruck schoolgirl.

Oh wait. I am.

Oops?

"I know that we're both rather young and such, but I know for a fact that you're it for me. I can't imagine myself waking up next to anyone else but you in the next ten, twenty, thirty, forty years and counting. I've made up my mind, and all I want is you. I can't see myself with anyone but you. I don't want to be with anyone but you."

And with that he leaned forward and kissed my already parted lips, locking our mouths in the most heartfelt kiss we've ever had.

Our first one since everything had happened. And to say it was amazing would be an understatement.

I wrapped my other leg around his until I was straddling him and pushed his chest slightly and all the while not breaking the kiss. I did so with a level of grace that I didn't even know I possessed.

Heh, Zahraa's got game!

Niall, almost obediently, if a bit breathlessly, lay back allowing me to adjust my position slightly.

My mind was whirling with a million emotions that I felt for- and because of- this boy.

And quite frankly I loved it.

An eternity afterwards, we pulled away, although not by much considering the fact that I could still feel the air blowing out of Niall's mouth against mine. We kept our foreheads pressed together, and my hand was pressing against Niall's chest for leverage.

Woah.

x Niall x

Looking into her eyes, I was overwhelmed by the amount of love I felt for her. But I was also consumed with guilt.

I believed that dumbass Nick over her.

I was so blinded by my insecurity that I hurt the love of my admittedly short life.

And all for what?

And for her to let it go so easily?

It's not right. But Lord knows I'll spend the rest of my life fixing it if I must.

Pressing a kiss to forehead, I vowed never to hurt her ever again. Never to doubt her ever again and never to be the cause of her pain and distress.

*

x Zahraa x

You know when you're not sure whether something really happened or whether you just imagined it all? As if it was some drug, or in my case oxygen- induced hallucination or not? 

Well that's exactly how it felt when I woke up to an adorable good morning text. From Niall.

And it all came rushing back to me at once.

Our talks, our promises, everything.

I mean things weren't perfect nor were they back to the way they were before, but then again was anything in life ever really perfect?

What mattered was that we'd made so much progress yesterday in the afternoon, and that's all I could've asked for.

And after he accompanied me back to my house, he kissed me at my doorstep before waving goodbye with a pretty flush on his cheeks (mine too really) and promised me that he'd text me as soon as we were home. I didn't skip and run back into the house and to my bedroom. No, it was more like a graceful gallop of course.

And I certainly didn't trip.

Nope.

* * *

A/N: Fluff and awkwardness are my joint middle names. Uh huh.

So. I had to repost this bc when I updated the first time it didn't come out the way it should have. Pfft