I Hope You Remember || n.h

6. Beliefs

Niall's lips cover mine, and he tightens his arms around my waist, pulling my body right up against his. I don't feel the cold when we're kissing; his lips fill my entire body with warmth and electricity. I run my fingers through the back of his hair, wanting to touch him as much as I possibly can in the middle of this ice rink. I part my lips and Niall's tongue slides in. Kissing him feels different than anyone I've ever kissed before. This is more than a kiss; or maybe everything else has been less than a kiss.

An angry cough sounds from behind us suddenly, and we break apart. A large, scowling man and his daughter stand behind us. "There are families trying to skate here."

Niall looks at the man for a few seconds, and then bursts into laughter.

"Niall," I hiss, my cheeks going red with embarrassment, even though I myself am holding back laughter. "I'm really really sorry," I say to the man.

He responds with only a grunt, and skates right by us.

I turn to Niall, who's still doubled over laughing, and punch him on the shoulder. He manages to compose himself, and then stands up to face me. "What?" he asks, a huge grin displayed on his face.

"You laughed!" I exclaim. "That guy was really upset."

"Yeah," Niall chuckles, "that's why I laughed."

I shake my head at him, but can't help but smile. Even in an inappropriate situation Niall's laugh is still the most beautiful thing I've ever heard.

"There it is," Niall says, poking my dimple. "I love your smile."

"And I love yours," I say with a stupid giggle.

He flashes me his pearly white teeth and laces his arm around my waist. "Ready?" he asks.

I nod and wrap my arms around his hips. "Ready."

And for the first time in a long time, I'm ready for whatever might be thrown my way.

•

"That was really fun, Niall."

We've just finished skating, and we're walking down the street holding hands. It's absolutely mad to me that today started as just a normal day, and it's ending with me having met someone I could very well end up in a serious relationship with. I'm already falling so hard for Niall and I haven't even known him for a day.

"So, do you have anything else planned?" I ask him.

Niall sighs. "I can't think of anywhere else to take you, but I really don't want to leave you yet." Niall swung our hands back and forth between us and stared at me, both his mouth and his eyes smiling."I don't want to leave you either," I reply softly with a smile.

I figure this is the part where he tries to get me to go back to his house, or come to mine. The part where he tries to sleep with me. The part where it becomes clear that this whole night really was too good to be true. I'm just waiting for it, preparing myself.

"Sooo..." he says, dragging out the o. Here it comes, I tell myself. "...do you want to go back to the Cold Coffee Cafe?"

My jaw hangs open on its hinges. I hear the words, but something about them doesn't make sense. "Huh?"

"I mean, they're open 24 hours," Niall explains quickly. "I figured we could sit in 'dere and talk until you get tired and want t' go home." His Irish accent became stronger when he talked quickly, and it was just another thing to find endearing about him. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

I laugh at Niall's sudden self-consciousness. "It's nothing," I assure him. "You're just so adorable." Niall grins goofily at my compliment, causing me to laugh again. "And yes, I'd love to go back to the Cold Coffee Cafe with you."

Niall nods excitedly. "Sweet. Should we get a taxi?"

I shake my head. "We don't have to. I don't mind walking, as long as I'm with you."

•

"What's your favorite animal?" I ask Niall.

"Giraffe," he replied swiftly.

I shake my head. "Nope. Favorite color?"

"Green."

Another shake of my head. We're sitting in the same booth as earlier in the Cold Coffee Cafe, trying to figure out what other things we might have in common. But we haven't come up with anything weird like earlier.

"What's my address?" I ask him.

Niall laughs loudly. "Jude, I'm not stalking you. But you live in the Central City Apartement complex." He pauses for a few beats and then exclaims, "And I only know that because we stopped there earlier!" holding his hands up in defense.

I shake my head, giggling, as I take a sip of my hot chocolate. "I know you're not stalking me, Niall."

A relieved smile spreads across his face. "Good."

"So is it often that you walk into coffee shops and decide to take the cashier on a dream date?" I ask Niall, leaning towards him on my elbows.

He chuckles and shakes his head. "No, never. But when I walked in and saw you, I could just tell you were different."

I grin and shake my head in awe. "How so?"

Niall sighs and stares up at the ceiling, seemingly searching for the right words. "I mean," he sighs, "you're so beautiful. Like really really beautiful. And the way you were just sitting there reading when you were supposed to be working. Your hair was kind of falling in your face and you were just... natural. Like the way someone is when no ones around and they're relaxed; not putting on a front or trying to look good." Suddenly he shakes his head and laughs at himself. "God, I'm so cheesy."

I'm at a loss for words and my mouth just sort of hangs there. My whole face feels warm and flushed, completely flattered and blown away by Niall's explanation. I manange to compose myself after several seconds, and grin sheepishly. "I don't even know what to say. That was just... perfect."

He smiles innocently. "You deserve it."

I shake my head in disbelief. "Where have you been all my life?" I ask him quietly. "I didn't think guys like you existed in real life. I've gotten all the scumbags who don't know how to treat a girl, and I was beginning to think that's all there really was. And then you come along out of nowhere and make me rethink everything."

His whole face turns happy at this news, but for a split second I swear there's a flash of sadness in his eyes. "You deserve someone who treats you like a princess," Niall tells me, reaching across the table to take my hand in his.

"This is what I mean," I say. "You're so amazing, and you make me feel amazing too."

"And I'm gonna do that as much as I can, Jude." Niall massages the back of my hand with his thumb.

I laugh and shake my head from side to side, trying to make sense of everything that's happened.

"What?" Niall asks quickly, sounding worried.

"Nothing, nothing," I assure him in an amused tone. "It's just crazy that we only met today. I'm already starting to really like you. I feel like I've known you for so long, but I haven't. It's crazy."

Niall shrugs. "Maybe in another life, ya'know?"

I snort. "You believe in stuff like that."

Niall nods, clearly not ashamed of it. "Yeah, I do. Loads of crap like that. Fate, soulmates, reincarnation."

"Why?" I ask, hoping I'm not coming off to harsh.

His broad shoulders shrug up and down again. "I dunno. Everyone believes in something."

I let his words sink in; they're so simple there's no way anyone could argue with them. "That was nicely put, Mr. Horan."

He smirks at me. "Thank you, Miss Maxwell. And what do you believe in?"

I stare into his eyes eyes, unblinking.

"I believe that people die for a reason, and people survive for a reason."