Niall.
It was crowded backstage, and I mean rush hour back to London on a train crowded. Okay, maybe not that bad, but it’s what he felt like. Me and the boys, Ellis and her two mates Matt and Cody, Aiden, Cher and Katie all gathered in a fairly small room. After a round of introductions, we pretty much split off into three small groups. Zayn, Katie and Matt were lounging on the sofa, deep in conversation. Aiden, Cody, Louis and Liam were laughing around the mini tv in the corner, leaving me, Cher, Ellis and Harry sat up on the dressing tables.
“You look a bit flushed.” Harry pressed the back of his hand to my forehead, biting his lip in concentration. held my gaze on Ellis, who wasn’t paying attention; too busy discussing make up with Cher. “Seriously, you alright man?”
“Yeah, yeah.” I wriggled my head a little, shaking off Harry’s hand. They dropped onto his lap, his legs swinging of the ledge of the dressing table. We were in the corner, so me and Harry were on one outstretch of the table, and the others opposite us, only a few feet away.
“Talk to her.” Harry was solemn, his voice monotone with seriousness. Crap. He’d caught me looking, no, staring at Ellis. I couldn’t help it. She looked beautiful, even with the fluorescent glow of the dressing lightbulbs bouncing off her cheeks. I knew Harry knew something was going on, but he was waiting for us to come clean. He was sweet like that. Liam came swaying up to us, closely followed by Cody. He had a grin on his face, and me and Harry exchanged glances, here we go.
“Alright guys?” Happiness was in his voice, causing Harry and I to smirk like wild fools. “Ellis, I’m borrowing Cody for a second, that cool?”
“Yeah, yeah. You don’t need permission!” Ellis smirked at Liam, she’d cleary had this planned out in her head. Her eyes flicked from Liam to me, and my stomach twisted at the contact. My breath got caught in my throat, a light-headed feeling washing over me. How could she do this to me? It was insane. It was.. magical. Oh shit. I was in love with my bandmate’s best friend.
“Niall? Oi Blondie!” Harry slapped me playfully round the face, pulling me from my trance. I blinked a few times, turning my attention to him.
“Sorry, hmm?”
“We’re heading down to the kitchen, need refreshments. You coming?” I glanced around the room, it was almost empty except for Harry, Ellis, Matt, Cher and Aiden. I wasn’t bothered as to where the others were, as long as Ellis was still here. But now she was leaving, I didn’t know what to do. Maybe if I stayed, she’d stay with me? I could be with her alone.
“Uhm, nah. I’m gonna hang back.”
“Whatever you say.” Harry give me a sly glance before following the others out of the room. I sighed, a little disappointed that Ellis didn’t stay. I hopped of the edge of dressing table and turned to face the mirror. I looked awful. My hair was sticking up on ends, small bags under my eyes, my cheeks crimson. I wasn’t normally so red faced, I guess it was the just the heat. And the thought of Ellis burning inside me.
“Staring at yourself again?” I jumped at the sound of the sweet voice, knocking over a bottle of foundation.
“Shit!” I tried to mop it up with my hand, big mistake. There was more liquid than I anticipated, it practically dripping from hands. It was also a few shades darker, than my skin tone, the orange-on-white clashing drastically. Only to add to my dumbness, I wiped my hands on the front of my jeans, the sticky liquid sticking to them as well. “Oh, Jesus.”
“You idiot.” Ellis grabbed a towel from the pile on the dresser, and began wiping my hands and the desk. I watched as she moved, a small smile playing on her lips as she shook her head at my idiocy.
“That’s me.” She dropped the towel onto the side, focusing her attention back on me. I rested one dry, but camouflaged hand on her cheek, grazing it gently with my thumb. Ellis let out a small sigh, her sweet breath tickling my own lips. I moved in a little closer, but was completely stunned when Ellis moved away from me. She tilted her to the side, a hint of sadness tingling in her eyes.
“Ellis, what’s up?” She turned back to face me, the water building up in her eyes rapidly now. Starting to panic, I pulled the other hand up, cradling her face. I stared longingly into her eyes, desperately searching for a sign of what was bothering her. “Ellis..”
“We aren’t going to work.”
What?
