Hiding and Sacrifice (Niall Horan)

Chapter TWO

"Darla! You need to fix our software bug tomorrow or else our users will be dissapointed and wouldn't use our software anymore and then they will spread it all around the world until nobody will use our software! And then--" Darla's boss continued to lecture her about the software bug that is changing fonts and the colors every minute. She just rolled her eyes.

First, the long lecture that possibly lasted about an hour because of her being late for work. Is it her fault it had electrical problems? She already tried to explain to his boss but he just says that she is a liar and excuses won't work for him and such. What a jerk.

After the lecture, which Darla is thankful for that it lasted only for thirty minutes, she walked up to the door and to her shock, Niall is standing there, smiling. He raised her eyebrows. 

"I'm glad you're here. I've been waiting for you." he said in a seductive way.

Darla raised an eyebrow. Why would Niall wait for her? Is the elevator down again? She just pushed Niall lightly in his chest. She chuckled.

"Why would you wait for me? There is no reason, really." she stated like she was stating the obvious. 

Niall scratched the back of his neck, chuckling lightly and looking nervous. He shifted his eyes and heaved a breathe. "Umm.. w-well.. let's go to the.. mall?" he asked, shrugging.

She creased her eyebrows. Huh? She scratched her ears. "Can you please repeat what you said? I don't think I heard you correctly."

"You heard it right. I said let's go to the mall. And besides, it's still early." he looked at his wristwatch with the time 7:26 PM.

"So 7:26 is still early for you?" she asked.

"Err, yes?"

"Sorry, but I decline your offer. We just met, Niall. And the reason that we met is because of the elevator. You wouldn't know I exist if it wasn't for the elevator."

His face looked like he just lost the jackpot round for 50,00 pounds. He smiled, but she knows that the smile was fake.

"O-okay... it's okay. Y-yes, it's okay. B-b-bye." he said, still faking his smile.

Darla let out a sad face. She is feeling sorry for Niall. Maybe she should give her a chance? She sighed and before Niall can enter in to the elevator.. "Wait!"

Niall immediately stopped and looked back. "Yeah?" she swore she saw a glint of hope in his eyes.

"I now accept your offer." and she smiled. 

He grinned widely and ran forward to Darla and hugged her but then he realized what he's doing. He pulled out and glanced at her nervously. "Umm.. sorry. Didn't mean to.. you know. Hug you." 

She just smiled even though she really felt awkward when that happened. "It's okay. Now, let's go!" and in the exact time, the elevator door opened and they went in.

They get in to Niall's car, with Darla sitting on the front. He opened the radio and the song Royals by Lorde came in. Darla frowned, looking annoyed. She hated the song. Well at first, she liked the song but she got bored out of it and she became annoyed at the song, especially it's being played on the radio like everyday.

Niall noticed her frowning. He chuckled. "You don't like the song?"

"Yeah, isn't it obvious?" she rolled her eyes.

"Well, for me it is the jam." he grinned.

"Yes, because basically the meaning of 'jam' for you is 'songs that suck ass'" 

"Oh, oh, oh. Don't be so hard." he said in a mocking tone. And then the chorus played on. "And we'll never be royals.. royals." 

Darla just chuckled. He sang the backup voice all by himself. She just shook his head but she gotta admit, Niall's voice is beautiful and it makes her think of fluffy clouds for no reason.

"And we're here." Niall announced.

She looked around. They are at a parking basement. They got out of the car and Niall smiled widely.

"Let's go! Follow me."

Darla followed him throughout the way and after for a minute of walking, they stopped and realized thay are infront of Timezone, an arcade. Her face lightened up. 

"OMG! It's been months since I went here!" and she went inside leaving Niall outside, chuckling and shaking his head.

She went straight to the game where you throw balls at the target at the screen. He joined in and they played together like a kid. Shouting out loud, accusing each other of stealing his or her ball, and laughing out loud like they are just the people in the arcade. After the game, they got 50 tickets and plus a bonus crowd looking at them like they just went crazy.

Next, they went to the Just Dance game. Darla laughed, she will surely win since she loves dancing. The game started and for Darla, it just a piece of cake while for Niall, it's hard as a rock. He's just doing random moves that makes him look dumb. She looked at him and laughed. 

"It isn't my problem I suck at this game!" he yelled, laughing.

After the game, they should play the duck game where you shoot them with water but then they went hungry. Niall grinned and he pulled out Darla with him, which made her surprised but she just let him, until they stopped infront of Nando's. He looked at Nando's like it is his long, lost home. They went inside and they sat on a table for two.

Niall ordered Peri-peri chicken while Darla, new to the restaurant, ordered a peri-peri chicken, too. As they waited for they order, she decided to ask him while he invided her to go to the mall with him.

"Because I like to know you more." he answered. "And I would like some fun."

She immediately widen her eyes and backed away from him. "No, Niall. No. You can't do this. I'm still not ready!" 

He raised an eyebrow. What is this girl talking about and he realized she was thinking of a dirty thing. He scoffed. "I would never do that. I didn't think that you will give it a dirty meaning, huh." he chuckled.

And then their order got served. They ate quietly and after that and for their final doing for the mall, they decided to watch a movie. Darla still bought a popcorn even though they just ate. They watched a romantic movie and in a scene where the girl died because of a cancer, she heard Niall sniff. She looked at him and because of the light of the screen, he saw his face. He was crying! Darla laughed silently but loud enough for Niall to hear.

"Oh my god. I can't believe you are crying." she whispered.

"Boys have emotions too, you know." and he grabbed a piece of popcorn from Darla which made her exclaim 'hey!' and receive a few shushing from the audience.

After the movie, they went on to Niall's car and Darla pointed out the directions to her home and when they got there, Niall smiled. "Thanks for sparing your time with me, Darla. I really enjoyed it. Hope we can hang out together next time." and drove off.

Darla felt sad when he drove off and she doesn't know why. She just pushed it off but she admits to herself that she's really happy and she feels a strange feeling of love when she's around Niall. Strange, because they just met and it's because of an elevator.