Temptations [Niall Horan]

Chapter 13

"Niall," I sighed, pulling away from his embrace, "If we're going to try this...try 'us'... we can't let Becca find out. No one can know about this."

His eyebrows furrowed, his thumbs gently moving against his hold on my hips.

"Why not?

I sighed, turning away from him, walking over and sitting on the edge of the fountain by the corner of the bushes. He followed, taking my hand in his as he sat down next to me.

"Because, if everyone else knows that we're together... Becca will find out too. And Becca can't find out, Niall, because-"

"No need to explain. I understand."

I raised my eyebrows, looking up at him. "You do?"

"Yeah. I mean... Becca hates me enough as it is. 'M sure she wouldn't like it if she knew you were involved with me," he mumbled, looking off into the distance. I nodded in response, my hand still wrapped in his. We sat there in silence a while, until I piped up, deciding to speak what was on my mind.

"Niall, just to make this clear? I'm taking this 'us' thing... slow with you. I'm not going to stand for anymore shit." I looked up to find him shaking his head, a half smile on his face.

"Alright, fair enough," he murmured. I was a bit surprised at his response, at how easy it was to get him to understand. He obviously wanted this to work out.

We sat there in silence again, awkwardly looking away from eachother, until this time he decided to speak up.

"Ron... did you mean what you said earlier?" he asked. I furrowed my brows in confusion.

"Did I mean what?"

He sighed, releasing my hand from his as he stood up. "Did you mean it when you said you... you hate me?" he asked, turning back towards me.

Oh...that.

I sighed, wondering to myself if I had meant it. Hate was a really strong word, and I definitely wasn't feeling hatred towards him now.

"No," I finally decided, standing up with him, "No Niall, I don't, but I was just... I was really angry with you. I didn't like the feeling I got whenever you were here, whenever you pulled stuff." He still had his back turned towards me as I talked to him.

I walked around him, so I could look at his face. His eyes were closed, a frown etched into his face.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered, looking up at me. I sighed, a small smile on my face as I nodded in response.

He smiled in return, reaching behind me to rest his hand on my back as he stepped close. We kind of just stood there, studying eachothers features. I watched as he reached up, tucking a stray curl behind my ear before taking my chin in his hand.

"God, you really are just astonishing tonight. I watched you come in...not a guy in that auditorium could keep their eyes off ya," he murmured, caressing my cheek with his thumb. I could feel the heat rise on my cheeks in response to his words.

The feelings I felt right now were indescribable.

But confusing.

Wasn't this the same guy I'd been fighting with moments before? Maybe I just needed to learn how to forgive and forget.

"Ron?" Niall piped up, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Yes?"

"Would it be alright if I, maybe... kissed you, again?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. My breath hitched as he began to lean in again, his lips hovering above mine.