Second Chances || n.h au

2. No Escape

~ Chapter 2 ~

There was nothing I hated more than the wind. It blew loudly and forcefully as I had to tightly clench both of my hands down so my dress wouldn't fly up.

I quickened my pace in the parking lot. The sun was starting to set and I was a little bit scared to be out in an almost empty lot all alone.

When I entered the high school, not a soul was in sight. Was I too early?

"There she is." I heard a familiar voice say.

I saw Niall standing outside the principal's office. He was dressed rather nicely in tan dress pants and a baby blue button down. I couldn't help but stare at him as he made his way towards me. If there was one thing anyone knew about Niall, it was that he hated dressing up. We're talking about the boy that wore sweatpants to church.

"Like what you see?" He chuckled.

His snarky comment pulled me back into reality. "No.. I mean yes.. I mean.. It's just that you normally don't dress up." I was extremely nervous around him and I didn't have a clue why. As I thought about it, I realized my comment made it sound like I keep tabs on him.

"Not that I watch what you wear..." I added awkwardly. "You know you never used too and-"

"Grace." Niall cut me off with a loud laugh. "It's okay I know what you mean.

I smiled softly at him. Wait a minute, why am I being nice to him? I hate him.

"So why am I here so early?" I said, my tone sharp with attitude. "What's so important that you needed to talk me about?"

"Well it's not me that really has to talk to you, it's Principal Johnson actually."

"Principal Johnson? Did I do something wrong?" I began to feel slightly scared and strangely let down. Don't feel let down Grace, you should have known he didn't want to see you, my subconscious reminds me.

Niall noticed my confusion and grabbed my hand and started to lead me towards the the principal's office. I immediately flinched at his touch and shook my hand free. Besides, I wasn't a dog, I could walk myself.

"Sorry I um didn't mean to that." Niall said scratching his head quickly. He always scratches his head when he's nervous.. Why is he nervous? Did I make him nervous? The thought excited me and scared me at the same time.

When I entered Principal Johnson's office he flashed his one of kind toothy grin at me.

"Grace Matthews, thank you so much for coming! You look lovely dear."

I thanked him for his compliment even though it thoroughly creeped me out. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Niall checking me out. I was almost about to jab at him and say "Like what you see?" as he had done to me, but I remembered where I was. I think Niall knew that I knew he was staring at me because he quickly adverted his eyes as I did the same.

"Please Grace have a seat, and for the love of all that is good, wipe that look off your face, you're not in trouble."

Did I look nervous or scared? If I did I'm not sure if it's from his creepy compliment or Niall's presence and nice attitude towards me. I sat down in the brown leather chair and Niall sat down in the one next to mine.

"So you're probably wondering why you're here." Principal Johnson asked.

No shit, Sherlock, I wanted to say, but that of course that wouldn't end well for me. Instead I just simply nodded.

"Well Grace I first wanted to say that I'm sorry you didn't win class president I know how much you wanted it."

For a while, I had completely forgotten about the whole president thing. I really didn't need his pity, and if that's what this "meeting" was about, I'm fully prepared to walk straight out the building.