Be My Mascot

Chapter 61

Chapter 61

Bailey's POV

When I step out of Ashburne Hall with a light jacket shrugged over my shoulders two hours later, I'm in pursuit of Niall's dormitory. It's a bit darker out now, the sun barely setting on the horizon behind the large trees blocking off the rays in the distance. Only a few students are left milling around by now. Some coming from late classes while others are just out enjoying the peaceful night.

I amble up the same road that whisks around the sharp corner of two buildings, recognizing from a short distance the fairly small board sticking out of the ground with the words Dalton-Ellis Hall scribed on the front.

I follow the checkered pavement until I'm footsteps away from the main door. I trudge up the four brick stairs, sliding open the heavy door.

It's then, as I walk in with various choices as to whether going up one flight, two flights, three flights, or even four flights of stairs that I realize that Niall never told me what floor he's on. I wasn't even informed on what room he's in.

There are only a few scattered students here and there, walking past me without eye contact or acknowledgement of my existence. Well I need someone to help me find Niall. One person has got to know where he is. Granted, it is the first day back from summer, but he's not an anti-socialist. Niall has friends, odds are one of them is walking around here.

When the halls clear out into an eery silence, I contemplate over whether I should just call him and tell him to come down to the first floor to retrieve me. But just as I pull out my phone, a man strides inside from the door I just walked into. His tall height intimidates me, just like all of the other men who nudged by me minutes ago. But when a smile forms on his plush lips, my opinion completely changes.

"You lost, love?" he asks, stopping in front of me. The un-named male pulls on his backpack straps, turning his head to the side as he awaits an answer from me. I can tell the brown haired boy is not from here. The Australian accent gives it away.

"Yeah, I am," I hurriedly say after the long quiet pause between his question and my answer almost becomes awkward. His accent threw me off, distracting and delaying my reaction.

"Who're you looking for?" His hazel eyes mesmerize me for a moment.

"Niall Horan."

The man chuckles. "Niall Horan, eh?"

I nod, confused as to why he's laughing.

"Well you're in luck, love. 'Cause Niall's my roommate."

I let out a sigh. He knows him.

"Could you take me to him?" I ask and he walks in front of me towards a stairwell.

"Sure thing." A friendly grin is sent my way. My cheeks blush a bit and I look down, quietly following after him. When we get in the stairwell, he leads me up two flights.

"So are you Horan's girl?" he inquires, twisting his head around to peer down at me. We continue up the narrow stairs, his voice echoing.

"Yes," I softly reply, my own smile tugging at my lips.

When he abruptly stops on the flat ground in front of a closed door, I bump into his solid chest. I quickly mutter a sorry and he laughs.

"Well, I guess I should introduce myself then. My name's Ashton." A hand is stuck out in between us. I shake it, smiling.

"Bailey."

Ashton swings the door open and we step out into the main hallway of the second floor. A bulletin board is the first thing you see. It's stacked with multiples of one kind of flyer, advertising all sorts of clubs and organizations.