Courting You

6

Niall

We are all sitting in front of each other.  The couches in Pearl's  hall is set in a circle kind of way.  So,  basically all of us can see each other. 

As for me,  she is right in front of me.  I just can't get the image of her stretching out of my mind.  The way her T-shirt lifted up a bit, getting caught in that round ass of hers.  I stop right there.  She's still wearing that T-shirt.  She's concentrating hard on her phone.

I don't know why,  but I just can't take my eyes off her. Given the way I saw her,  she just woke up from her nap. And even then she's looking flawless.

"Horan, it's damn creepy if you keep staring at a person"

Fu¢k...  Got busted.  That too, by Laila herself.

"I wasn't staring at you" I grit my teeth  cause I know I'm already pink in the face.  She looks at me for a long time,  making me look at her again.  Then her lips lift up in a crooked smile. 

"Sure" is all she says. 

Pearl suddenly comes out of the kitchen carrying snacks. 

That cheers me up a bit.

Suddenly, Laila gets up and walks towards the kitchen. Trying not to embarrass myself further, a stop looking at her.  A few minutes later she is back again. 

"A double chicken wrap for you.  Pearl told me you liked Nando's.  I was there today.  So I thought I'll pick this up for you and Pearl'll give it to you whenever you guys meet.  Since you are here,  I thought I might as well give it to you myself. " she hand me the wrap.

I wouldn't have taken it,  but c'mon, it's Nando's. 

"Trust me,  it isn't chicken wrap he wants you to give him" Louis winks at me, as if that was gonna help.

Laila just shakes her head and is about to move away from the couch when I say,

"You don't have to believe him. I have nothing to offer you, you know,  to make you sleep with me. Sleeping with me won't get you anything"

She stops dead in her tracks. For 2 seconds she stays still.  Then she turns and smiles at me. "Of course Horan, I don't believe him. And yeah, you are right. You literally have nothing to offer, not even balls"

She turns away and goes into Pearl's room. Okay.  Now I'm mad. Louis and Liam are laughing. Some mates they are!!

Even Harry is snickering and then he is looking at Pearl who is looking at me.

SHIT

"What did you exactly mean that you can't offer her anything.?"

"Nothing" I start on my chicken wrap.

"Niall"

"Fine, met her today at Starbucks. I asked her how did she accomplish so much at such a young age.  You know how did she get into this law thing and stuff.  How did she get her break.

She told me she slept with a guy to get her career started."

Thinking about it still doesn't feel right. I am mean,  did she really had to sleep with a guy for that?

"She also told me that whenever she wants something from a guy,  she sleeps with him."

"You actually believed that?" Pearl asks.

"I don't actually know her so I have to believe whatever she tells me about herself" I say.

"So you mean that she lied? " I ask her.

"No,  she didn't lie. But it didn't happen the way she said it. Yeah she did sleep with a guy who was from the 'law stuff' , as you call it.

" They met at a bar. It was just a night stand. After sex they started talking, when the guy heard that she wants to pursue law,  he offered to help.

"Laila actually denied it. The guy insisted that she should at least just try it, for his sake.

"Eventually she agreed, and the guy was damn impressed. He got her a few cases, which HE needed done and that's how her career got started.

She didn't use the guy Niall."

"Fu*k" is all I could manage.

But Pearl isn't done,  "And just FYI,  she never slept with that guy again. Even though he did try to get into her pants again. 

"She denied it by saying that she won't mix pleasure and profession.

"So, there you go."

"Damn" This one comes from Louis.

I have to agree with him,  damn!!!

I don't even know what to say.  At that moment, Laila emerges out of Pearl's room,  wearing a charcoal dress.  It brings out her grey eyes. She's talking on her phone, or rather listening.

"okay" is all she says and then moves towards the door. 

"Where to?" Pearl asks. 

"Uh...  First just here and there,  you know,  away from these judging people. Then I have to meet someone."

I have to apologize for my comments. I just have to.

I get up from the couch, "Hey,  Laila."  She stops and turns to look at me.  She just waits and suddenly I don't know what to say.  Her eyes are beautiful.

"Your eyes are beautiful."

Shit. I flush. I hear laughter and I know everyone is laughing at me. Even Laila is smiling.

I had to make a joke out of myself.

I just had to.

Damn.

She stands right in front of me. "Even your eyes are beautiful Horan.

"It's a different kind of blue. More beautiful than an ocean. Prettier than a sky. You should be proud of that color Horan." she smiles yet again.

Someone wolf whistles.  My guess is Louis. I ignore him.

"I know. I am kinda proud of it."

She turns towards the door again.

"Hey listen, I wanted to ask you whether you had some time. Like I wanted to talk to you about something.

"So,  wanna grab a bite to eat or something?"

"Now careful there Mr. Horan, you don't want to be seen with me. Don't wanna harm that beautiful reputation of yours now,  do you? "

"I don't mind. So?"

She looks hard at me. I stare right back at her. We don't break our eye contact. Then she gives me her infamous charming smile. And at that moment I know I just bagged dinner with Miss Laila Khan.

"Okay,  let's do this."

I grab my coat and we are out the door.  Me,  smiling like a mad person.

After all, I have a date with Laila Khan.