This Town (Niam Horayne AU) (BoyxBoy)

6: Tonight Is A First Of A Lot Of Things

"Hey Nialler."

I try to smile as you hug me from the side, but I feel those butterflies come alive again and I remember Shawn sneering 'You are gay aren't you?' and I cannot lift my lips at all.

"Are you okay?" You ask suddenly. Students rush past to go home, and their shoulders nudge our bags because you stop us both.

"Yeah." I feel shaky though and I know you don't believe me.

"Did someone make fun of you? I told you that I'd-"

"No." I say, "Don't worry, Adrian was there, he sorted them out."

You're quiet. "But I want to be there."

We start walking again, and I don't even know how that is supposed to make me feel, "Are you jealous, of Adrian?" I ask but I shouldn't ask that and you shouldn't be jealous.

"N-no, I just, I'm your best friend."

We start to leave the rush of students by the bus and walk along the pavement, "Yes." I say, "So you have nothing to worry about." I glance at you and smile and I catch a flicker of light in your eyes and you look beautiful.

You hand lightly hits mine and I look down as you take my hand and lift it up,

"Do you think you'll take this off tonight?" You ask, referring to the blue nail polish, which is now chipped and scratched off, and I nod.

"I don't want Jacob and Shawn to start again." I say and you frown.

"They shouldn't bully you into doing things you don't want to." You say.

"I know" I smile as you hold my hand properly, dropping them down at our sides, and they swing between us like an anchor. "But, girls can't wear nail varnish to school either."

You nod and we turn down the road leading to your house.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" I ask and you nod, slowly drop your hand from mine,

"Bye." You're kind of close though, and you are a little taller, your lips puffing out a small breath on my skin above my mouth.

"B-bye." I squeak out and step away.

You smile and turn and walk down the road.

/

Adrian and I are in my house after school the next day, sitting on my bed, talking.

"You're kind of quiet." Adrian says. Okay so maybe he is mostly talking and I'm just listening.

I look up at him and shrug.

"Is everything okay?" He asks, "Those jerks aren't annoying you again are they?"

I shake my head although I'm kind of still thinking about everything they'd said to me. When I look back at him I notice we're kind of close and 'you are gay, aren't you?' rings inside my head. I kind of want to kiss him. A little. I want to know how it feels to kiss someone, a boy.

"Niall what are you doing?" Adrian moves back ever so slightly and I realise I've been leaning in.

I feel my cheeks redden and I shake my head.

"Niall I'm your friend." Adrian says, "You don't like me like that."

I kind of know he's right but I just wanted to try. "I'm sorry."