Blinded (z.h)

t w e n t y t w o

"How did you manage to do it?" Niall asked.

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. "Do what?"

He looked me right in the eyes before continuing. "Forget me?"

"Niall, didn't I tell you that none of that happened? It's in the past now, forget about it."

He adjusted himself so that he was facing me. "No, really, I'm being serious. I need advice on how to get over someone."

"Niall," I huffed.

"Please, Zayn?" He gave me wide eyes, and although he wasn't trying to look cute, he did anyway, making me give in.

"Fine. I remember you leaving me sometime in April, so I just focused on my classes until our summer break started in May. Then I went to visit my family to get my mind off of things and eventually, I got over you."

"Lucky you," he said as he sadly smiled to himself. "You have friends and a family to go back to. I have no one. No friends, not even family—they all left me because of my sexuality."

I put a comforting hand on Niall's back. "You're not alone—you have me. And Liam. He's a really caring guy, you know."

"Yeah, he seems like it. Does he know?"

"Does he know what?"

"About, you know . . ." Niall trailed off. "Us. Ten years ago."

"No," I lied. "We're pretending like that never happened, remember? So why would I tell him?"

"I don't know, he's your boyfriend. You shouldn't hide anything from him."

"I'm not hiding anything from him, Niall. If what happened mattered to me, then I would tell him. But it doesn't, so there's no need to tell him."

"Whatever you say, Zayn."

The room got really silent, and finally, I got up. "I should probably get some sleep; I have to go to work tomorrow. You get some rest, too, okay?"

He gave me that same tired smile he gave me earlier today, as if he didn't want me to leave. "Okay, Zayn. Good night."

"Good night, Niall."

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I woke up in the morning to the smell of eggs and toast. Slipping on my robe, I walked downstairs to find Niall cooking me breakfast.

"Niall, what are you doing?" I asked.

"Well, there's no way I can repay you for all that you're doing for me, but I can at least try. So, I'm starting off with breakfast," Niall explained.

"Niall, you know that there's no need to repay me. But really, thank you for this. I really do appreciate it."

Niall beamed at my acceptance. "Sit down, please."

I sat down at the kitchen table as Niall put two slices of bread and two sunny-side-up eggs on a plate, then placed it in front of me.

"Thank you," I said, to which he smiled. He filled up his own plate and took a seat next to me. We sat and ate in silence until I realized the time and began to get ready for work.

"I'll pick you up for lunch!" I called to Niall before I left the house.