in my heart // n.h a.u

part eight

"Which shoe? The brown or the black?" Briar asks as she walks into Val's room, gesturing down towards her two unmatching shoes.

Val  taps her chin, thinking for a moment. "Definitely the black," she says  with a nod, then stands up and straightens out her dress. "Nearly ready  to go?"

Briar nods. "Yeah, let me just apply my lipstick."

"Please  tell me you've already decided which one." Val narrows her eyes,  reminding her friend about the last time they both got ready for a night  out together. Briar claimed to have been ready to go and only needed to  apply her lipstick, but it was still another twenty minutes before they  left building because she couldn't decide between a MAC lipstick or an  Anastasia Beverly Hills liquid lipstick.

"Yes, yes." Briar waves  her hand. "I made sure I had everything organised early so we can meet  your fancy new boyfriend on time."

Val's cheeks warm. "He's not my boyfriend."

"Not your boyfriend yet," Briar replies with a cheeky smirk.

Though  she tries so hard to hide it, Val can't help the smile that tugs on her  cheeks at the thought of Niall Horan being her boyfriend. After  everything they've been through, after all her stubborn behaviour,  things are finally looking hopeful for them.

Val and Niall  haven't seen one another since that day just before Christmas, much to  their displeasure. Like Val had suggested, they had made plans to have a  proper date and make that next step forward between Christmas and New  Year's, but horrible weather kept Niall back home in Ireland a little  longer than planned. It saddened them both that their sudden need for  urgent plans had to be cancelled, but that didn't stop them from making  new plans and, well, actually getting to know one another.

Val  prefers winter, while Niall is a summer guy. Val wanted to be a fairy  princess when she grew up, while Niall wanted to be just like his dad.  Niall likes to be the big spoon, while Val doesn't mind. Niall has cried  during Marley & Me and Armageddon, while Val can't  think of a single film she hasn't cried in. And while Val prefers coffee  over tea, Niall would just rather have a pint of beer — time of day  doesn't matter at all. It's safe to say that while there has been a lot  of back and forth and a lot of new information shared between the two,  they've not spoken much of their relationship — or, rather, impending relationship  — more than just having a plan for a date once Niall has returned. Val  hopes that maybe they can do exactly that tonight, though who knows what  Niall will do. He is always a little unpredictable, but then again, Val  isn't much better.

It's only just under ten minutes later that  Val and Briar, thankfully, leave the flat and make their way downstairs.  Originally, Niall had suggested they all catch a ride to the New Year's  Eve party together, seeing as Val and him literally lived across the  hall, but he then changed the plan last minute — he said something about  an issue with a friend, though that doesn't stop Val from being  skeptical. Either way, nerves are already beginning to swarm inside her  about the possibility of seeing him again.

On the way there, they  make a quick stop to pick up Harry. Things all turned out fine for Briar  and Harry after they had a much needed talk, which Val insisted on  Briar telling Harry over and over again that while she approves of him  and thinks he's a neat guy, one wrong move and she knows how to cut off  his balls with a spoon. She doesn't really, but given the chance with  enough anger surging around her body, it may just become true. Nobody  hurts her best friend.

"So where's the party?" Harry asks once  he's in the car, still rubbing his head after hitting it on the way in.  Val really begins to see how he's going to fit into their lives as the  comic relief in that moment.