The Fangirl // Horan [temporarily on hold]

Chapter 7

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to @TaylorSwifty because she comments and votes for every chapter! I love you!

Chapter 7

"Charlie?"

I look over at Niall. We are sitting in Graham. I'm driving and he's beside me. I'm counting on him giving me directions because I have no idea where we are going.

"Yes?" I say, trying to concentrate on driving.

"Remember when I said that I had plans for today?" He seems worried.

"Yeah? Wait, why, have you changed your mind? What did I do? Is it the car? If it’s the car, then I reject your change of heart completely. Just because he's yellow doesn't mean-"

I am interrupted by Niall putting his hand on my arm. "Charlie, this is not about your car. Trust me, I like your car."

"Then what is it?"

"I don't have any plans," he admits. "I just wanted to see you."

"You just wanted to see me," I say slowly. "Well, that's a first."

"Um, so I understand if you want to go back or anything."

"Why would I want to go back?"

"Because, I dunno, you think I'm weird."

"Okay, firstly, I do not give a chicken’s ass whether you have plans or not. You think that’s why I'm here? To have some perfect date with a five course meal and a romantic walk on the beach? No, that’s not why I'm here. I'm here because you like me and I like you and it's all friendly and shit."

He has a sort of dazed smile on his face. "Goddamn," he says quietly.

My hands grip the wheel tighter, but instead I say, "I know, bro. I know. Goddamn is fucking right."

He takes one of my hands off the wheel and holds it tight. I feel a strange feeling in my throat. But when he feels me tense, he says, "Don't worry, Charlie. It’s friendly."

"Right," I say, exhaling sharply. "It's friendly."

Then I pull my hand away from his and keep driving.

***

We end up at a tacky diner down a small street about twenty minutes away from campus. We are seated at a small table by the window, reading the menu. Well, I am. But out of the corner of my eye I think I see Niall watching me.

The waitress, a plump teenage girl with short black hair and a nose piercing whose name tag says Hello, My Name is Bailey, comes shuffling over to us.

"What can I get you?" she drawls in a monotone.

Niall sends her a bright smile. She stays looking completely and utterly bored.

"What do you want, Charlie?" he asks me.

"Um," I mumble, scanning the menu. "Cheeseburger?"

"I'll have that too, then," he beams at the waitress, who seems to thaw a bit.

"Anything to drink?" she asks, her face a bit softer.

"I'll, uh, just water. Water," I say again. "Please."

"I guess that would be water for me too." Niall smiles.

"Okay," the waitress says and walks away, leaving just the beautiful blonde Prince Charming in this tale and me, the especially unusual princess (If I could even be called that - a princess, I mean).

"Can I ask you something, Charlie?" Niall says.

Why is that always the thing that he says to me?