Labels 2

8 - The Ones Who Should Be There Never Aren't

2 weeks later

I was starting to run out of food in my flat. And I didn't exactly want to jog along to my estranged husband's house and grab some. But that's just me. Right now I had a 6 pack of yoplait yogurt, a tin of grapes, and a water bottle left in my fridge. Which probably would not last me the next few days.

So then I decided, upon unpopular demand to go over to Niall & Kathleen's flat and somehow invite myself over to dinner.

The door is swung open by the same red haired girl, Jenna, from the flat warming party. She gives me a small wave and gestures for me to enter. I didn't know if I actually should enter, because Jenna did not actually live there.

But I enter anyway.

Niall is sitting, his back turned towards me, on a laptop.

But as soon as I enter the room he swivels around. He gives me the same boyish smile as usual and I walk over to him. Niall and I have completely avoided talking about the kiss at the party, and have just remained friends. Although it didn't seem like Niall was coming over as much as he used to in the past.

"So are you guys free for dinner tonight?" I ask just coming out with it.

"We're actually going to Nando's for dinner tonight if ya don't mind, need a different scenery rather than this annoying flowery wallpaper," Niall chuckles.

Jenna comes and sits next to Niall, well maybe a little too close for comfort. But Niall didn't seem to mind. And all of a sudden her hand lands on his left thigh and she moves her face closer to the computer screen. She knew exactly what she was doing. And I didn't like it.

"So where's Kathleen?" I ask trying to break the silence, which I'm sure Jenna is very much used to.

"She's at work," Niall says vaguely.

"Oh, where does she work?" I ask.

"A pub across the street."

I nod.

"You have your jacket?" he asks me.

"Um no, let me grab it," I say.

--------

I'm quickly scarfing down my food, because I knew I wouldn't be able to eat for a while after this. Because come on, how long can you live off of yogurt and water.

I look up only to notice Niall is intently watching me. He seemed to be doing a lot of this lately, and sometimes it's romantic, but when i'm shoving food down my throat, it's not the most appealing thing.

In fact it looked like Niall hadn't touched his food at all. Which was strange because he always seemed to finish a massive plate of food in a matter of seconds.

"You okay?" I ask with a mouth full of roast beef.

"Um yeah, just a bit tired, you still hungry? I can order-"

"No no it's fine, i'm-"

I'm then distracted by a strangely familiar voice. High pitched, feminine, but also masculine. Only one person I knew could have a voice like that. I try desperately to get up out of my chair, because wow if this person saw me, it could ruin everything.

But to my incredibly bad luck, Niall shifts the table just as I am trying to get out, and essentially slams me in the lowest part of my abdomen.

"Whoa, whoa are you okay?" Niall asks rushing to my side.

I was fine, but how was my baby?

Every time I was with Niall I essentially forgot about the part where I was meant to be pregnant. And I could only ignore it for so long before sweatshirts and sweatpants could no longer be an option in covering me up.

"I'm fine, please just take me home," I say trying to draw as little attention as I possibly could towards myself.

Niall nods his face still a bright red.

He helps me up, and accidentally touches my stomach. He pauses for a moment. I couldn't read his face, but I knew that he knew.

He knew I was pregnant.

"L-let's go," he stutters, removing his hands completely from me and turning around. Jenna in all of this mess looks at me with disgust and follows Niall. In a desperate attempt I try not to cry. Because everything was going.. so damn well.

"Hey!" someone yells.

I turn to see Louis and he hugs me before I can even acknowledge him.

"I saw what just happened! You good?" he asks.

I nod and force myself to smile.

"So what are you doing here? Where's Harry?" he asks looking around.

"And who was that guy?"

Louis' questions were making me feel even more dizzier, and I swallow.

"Um i'm here for um.. business, Harry and I are not speaking so I have no idea, and that thhat was my friend, but I really should be going now, it was so nice to see you again," I pull away quickly before he can say anything.

I walk outside and neither Jenna or Niall is stood outside waiting for me. In fact the entire sidewalk was vacant, but a twosome seated smoking.

Once I arrive to my flat it's pushing at 11 PM. To my surprise Niall is standing at my door.

He sighs in relief once he sees me.

"Can we talk?" he asks me.

I nod and open my flat door so he can come inside.

I soon notice how incredibly messy the entire place was, but Niall didn't seem to mind. He just sat himself at the kitchen table and I sat across from him.

"So... I want to be straight up with you, and I want you to be straight up with me, I really really like you, and I've liked you since the minute I saw you. And at the party when you kissed me back.. I thought you liked me too. But ever since then you've just been cold and distant towards me. And then.. tonight.. let me just say it.. are you?" he gestures to my stomach.

And I try to hold it, i really really do but the tears wouldn't stop.

Niall doesn't move, to comfort me or anything. It looks like he wants to, it really does, but he wanted to know my answer first.

"Yes.." I finally say.

Niall nods.

"So .. you have a boyfriend?" he asks, not even bothering to look at me this time.

I knew that look, it was the look Harry gave me when he essentially kicked me out and onto the streets. It was the look my mother gave me when she saw me in her house after i got her fired. It was the look Zayn gave me when I left that bus in Las Vegas to run after Harry. And now Niall was added onto that list.

"No.. I'm.. it's complicated," I say.

"It doesn't have to be.." he says.

A surge of hope erupts inside of me.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" he asks again.

"No," I say. I wasn't exactly lying, because well no, I didn't have a boyfriend, I had a husband. Who wants absolutely nothing to do with me, and probably never will.

"Okay good.. I've i've always wanted a kid," Niall stops himself short, and I knew he regretted those words as soon as they came out.

I smile at him and wipe the tears from my eyes.

"Well I.. I think I should go," he says getting up.

"No!" I yell.

He stops short.

"Stay.."

"I don't think that's-"

"Please?"

Niall sighs and sits back down.

Everything would be okay.