The Fangirl // Horan [temporarily on hold]

Chapter 17

"Um," Niall says. "Char?"

He has just gotten off the phone. I don't know who with, but he looks anxious.

"What's up?" I ask, going over to him. It's, like, ten am on the 26th of December. I have just woken up and I look absolutely fabulous (note the sarcasm) in a tight tank top and patterned leggings. My glasses are falling off my nose again and my hair is just ugh. Anyway, I wrap my arms around Niall but he doesn't hug or kiss me, he just looks at me, chewing his lower lip.

"Don't do that," I scold, tapping his lip, but he takes no notice.

"Niall?" I ask, concerned.

"That was Management," he manages to tell me.

"And?"

"They've seen you in the magazines."

"Oh," I start chewing my thumbnail.

"And they want...they want me to confirm that we're dating."

"Well, it can't be that hard," I reason. "Just tell Simon or whoever and-"

"No." He sighs, finally looking at me. "Theyalready know. They want me to confirm it...publicly."

***

"They want me to do an interview," he explains later. "With the other boys. And the interviewer has been given questions by Management. One of them is about you, and I have to confirm it."

"Well," I say nervously. "Are you okay with that?"

He catches on to my nervousness. "It's not that I don't want anyone to know about us, Char," he says. "It's just...I'm worried for you."

"What on earth are you talking about?" I ask. "Worried for me? You're the one who has to confirm that I'm your girlfriend, on TV, might I add."

"Well...you don't have Twitter, do you?"

"I have a fan account, but no personal one."

"Management will probably have you make one. Then what if you get abuse from people? I don't want that to happen."

"I won't," I insist. "Well, I might. But even if I do, I won't listen to it."

"Are you sure?" His blue eyes anxiously search mine.

"Absolutely," I assure him, though that's not the entire truth. "So, when's the interview?" I say, changing the subject.

"Erm," he says. "Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" I repeat.

"It's sort of a Christmas interview," he explains. "They want it done as soon as possible. And...um...do you mind coming with me? I'd...I'd like you to be with me."

"Like...in the interview?" I repeat faintly.

"No!" he says quickly. "No, no. Just backstage. But only if you want. I mean, you don't have to, it's just I'd like you there. But if you don't want to-"

"Niall. I want to." I don't really, but I love when he rambles so I'm just agreeing with him to calm him down.

"Thank you," he says, relieved, bending down to kiss me, but I pull away.

"Did you say the other boys will be there?" I ask.

He breaks out into a smile and laughs. "Yep," he says. "And they can't wait to meet you."

"You told them about me?"

"I called Liam after...well, you know. Our fight. And he told the others. They knew about the letter, too."