Meet Again x NH

fifteen.

Scarlet

"I'm in love with you, Scarlet."

His words echoed through my brain. My mind couldn't seem to grasp the words that he had said to me. He was in love with me. Niall. Niall, my best friend. Niall, the person who I wanted to be with more than anything, loved me. Everything seemed quiet now. Louis' mumbles had simmered down. The sound of the waves crashing on the beach had settled to a murmur. Although, I'm sure it was just my brain shutting off all forms of sound. I looked between Niall's eyes trying to find any form of uncertainty and falsehood. I found nothing. He stared at me, his teeth chewing at his lower lip.

"Goodnight." I stumbled out before I got up and bolted to the villa. I tried to be as quiet as I could, but it was difficult considering my elephant like steps going up the stairs in the rush.

I headed straight to my room and closed the door shut. What was happening? Let's think this through. So, Niall actually has feelings for me. He loves me. But how do I feel? I mean, after we stopped being friends, I sort of just buried my feelings away. I haven't been with anyone sense; not anyone who I've had actual feelings for. This is all too much. I couldn't just talk to him out there. I'm a private person when it comes to things and I felt awkward and self conscious of what just happened. I couldn't just be like 'okay, I love you too. Let's go on a date?' That's just absurd.

I decided to go out onto the balcony. The room suddenly reeled very small and I was feeling very closed in. I knew that if I was on the balcony, I'd be alone but still have some fresh air.

I looked down at the beach area where I was not even ten minutes before. Our little group had all gone back to their respective homes, I assume. The fire had died down. A movement to the right of the fire had caught my attention. I squinted my eyes to decipher what the movement was. I couldn't quite see what it was, but it was on the ground and whatever or whoever it was had on black clothes since they just blended into the shadows that the fire created.

I wasn't sure what it was but as it moved further and sat up, I realised it was in fact a human being. Niall.

He sat on the sand, looking around like a lost puppy. Did he really plan on sleeping on the beach?! This kid.

He caught my eye from where he was.

"Plan on camping out on the beach?" I called out.

"It didn't seem like a bad idea at first." He shrugged.

"God, Niall, you're an idiot. Come 'ere." I told him.

He just stared at me from where he sat. It must've been weird if someone saw us. I was on a balcony, shouting at a lad on the beach. We're normal, I promise.
I didn't know why I called him, but I knew that I had to talk to him at some point. I saw him getting up and stretching, before he grabbed his blankets and walking towards the villa door. I couldn't see him after that, so I turned away from the balcony railing and sought refuge on the floor. I placed a few of the seat cushions onto the floor and sat down on them, my back leaning against the sliding doors.

A few minutes later, Niall popped his head around the door.
"I'm here." He spoke softly. He looked shy and vulnerable. I would usually tease him for looking so cute but now wasn't the time.
I patted the spot next to me. He nodded and took a seat next to me. His shoulder brushed against my own. He opened up the blanket in his arms and placed it over our legs.