Keeping secrets

Five

Josh pov

Niall and I were walking down the street. We had our hoods up and our hands in our pockets, trying to ward off the bitterness of October. I kept my hands curled in fists to stop them from shaking. We had walked almost two blocks in silence before I figured out how to say what was on my mind.

"Hey Niall," I started in a voice just above a whisper. "Can I ask you something?" He nodded without hesitation.

After a beat of silence I began, "I talked to Louis earlier." Niall looked at me expectantly after I trailed off.

"We were talking about Harry," I continued after I found the right words,"afterwards he mentioned that you like me." I said the last part in a whispers for fear I was wrong.

Niall gulped, "yeah I do but I understand if you don't feel the same." He tried to sound like the normal Niall but his tone was tinged with sadness.

I felt a blush spread across my cheeks, but I remained silent. Niall must have gotten the wrong idea of my silence.

"I'm sorry," he muttered as he walked away.

"Niall wait," I called but he wouldn't glance back. I felt my heart break a little at the sight of him so upset.

"I like you too," I called to his turned back.

He turned to face me but didn't move. I ran to close the distance between us. Niall was smiling but looked unsure.

"Really," he whispered. After I nodded his expression turned cocky. "Prove it," he said with a smirk.

"What," I sputtered in dumbfounded disbelief.

"You heard me," he said and pressed his lips against mine.