Niall's POV
I put my car in park on the side of the street as I see Noelle's parked in my aunt's driveway, relief floods my system. I let out a sigh before getting out my car, Noelle notices me from her side of the car and looks down at her feet.
My palms are sweaty as I make my way to her, I didn't know what to say. I'm just worried about her and miss her.
"Noelle, hey..." I choke out, my hands in my pockets as I stand in front of her, I look in the car to see if Eli is inside, he isn't, so I assume she hasn't even walked up to the door to get him. Good. Her hat covers most of her face and her long sweater bunches at her wrists.
"Hey, what are you doing here..?" She asks softly, her voice almost nervous. She was nervous? Why? I'm the one shitting bricks.
"Well, this is my aunt's house." I try to joke and she nods, her eyes landing on everything but me. Why is this so painful?
"Picking up Eli?" I ask, trying to break the awkward tension between us. She nods. I notice a cut just under her baseball cap, on her forehead, I don't want to imagine how it got there.
The silence between us becomes deafening and I don't know how long I can bare it.
"I uh, I miss you, I miss hanging out," I confess, my face becoming hot. Noelle looks up at me for a quick second before continuing to avoid eye contact, it's enough time for me to notice the bruises she's hiding. The dark rings that cover her eye and the bridge of her nose.
"Sorry, I've been busy." She lies and I nod. This isn't going to go anywhere unless I make it go somewhere.
'It's okay, are you free anytime this week? We can go for coffee or something." She lets out a breath and fidgets with her fingers.
"Niall," She starts out but I don't let her finish.
"Just as friends, okay? Nothing more." I tell her hoping to change her mind and she sighs, shaking her head.
"Niall I can't," She shoots me down but I ignore it.
"Noelle, please, I'm begging for an hour of your time, you said you'll hang out with me over the phone, remember?" I tell her with a smile, trying to ease the tension while taking a step forward and allowing myself to get within an inch of her, she sucks in a breath as she leans against her car.
She's silent and I allow myself to be daring and caress the side of her face, she flinches slightly under my touch. Her hand comes up to pull mine away but instead, I just intertwine our fingers, she tries to pull them away but quickly gives up realizing I wasn't going to let go.
"Why do you try so hard, Niall?" She says under her breath, her eyes big and wild.
"Because I care," I whisper to her and she gulps, her eyes traveling down my face as mine do the same. I start to lean in when she turns away, my lips grazing the corner of her mouth.
"I can't." She mumbles and I sigh. How was I ever going to help her? How could I possibly tell her that I knew what she went through at home? She'd shut me out more than she already has.
"I won't ever stop Noelle, and that's a promise," I vow to her and she turns to look at me, her eyes reading deeper.
Before she can say anything we both hear the door open and feet running near us. I don't move from my spot, but Noelle shifts in hers.
"Niall?" Eli says as he notices me and I finally take a step back from Noelle. He walks toward me and hugs my waist and I'm left confused, but hug him back anyway.
"I missed you." He says and I chuckle, nodding. "Same goes for you buddy, how's school?" I ask him and he looks up at me, his eyes screaming words he wants to confess.
"Good." He says and I nod, my teeth biting down on my lip as I hear Noelle clear her throat beside us.
"Ready, Eli?" She says and he sighs, removing his arms from around me. I notice her limp as she opens the back door for him. Is she actually limping? I might actually beat the shit out of her father.
"Bye Niall." Eli sighs and I pat his back, watching him jump in the car. "Be good, alright?" I tell him and he nods. Noelle shuts the door and tries to hide her pain as she stands up straighter.
"Are you okay?" I ask her and she nods, wiping her hands against her thighs.
"Yeah, I just tripped over one of Eli's toys at the house a few days ago..." She lies right to my face and I nod slowly.
"I see," I mumble back. She nods and opens her door, "When am I going to see you again? Or am I going to have to hunt you down?" I try to joke but she doesn't laugh.
"I'll text you." She says and I sigh. "I promise." She adds and I stare back at her, trying to see if she's telling the truth.
She leans over her car door, placing her warm hand against my cheek and pecks my lips, too lightly for my liking and pulls away. "I promise." She says one last time before getting in her car.
I watch as she drives away, and I look at Eli one last time as he sits in the backseat, his eyes wide and anxious.
I guess I'd just have to wait for her text..
