I Should Be Studying

06: I Shouldn't Be Slumbering

Word Count: 1,957

Evelyn's POV

It's a bit hard for me to keep a smile on my face at the moment, so having him shouting at me doesn't really help the situation. I feel my eyes well up with tears so I look down at my lap to keep him from seeing.

"I'm not saying I want to go back for Darragh," I say softly to avoid my voice from cracking. "I'm saying I left my bag there so I have no money for food."

He remains quiet for a few seconds, probably realising he's being deluded.

"I'm sorry," he breathes. "I'm a total arse. I'll pay for takeaway. It's not a problem."

He slides into his shirt then switches gears and begins to drive down the secluded neighbourhood he decided to park at.

I lean my head against the window, taking the quiet drive as a chance for my mind to drown in its own thoughts; however, mostly the current dilemma. Although I had lost my virginity to someone I've just met today, I don't regret it very much. I felt an instant connection to this Niall character, which I hope he felt as well. Otherwise, he'll see it as just hooking up and probably won't want anything to do with me after tonight.

The only thing I can say I regret is not telling him. Do I plan on telling him? Absolutely not!

I'm startled by a sudden touch, which clears my mind from all its worries. I turn to Niall and see him suppressing a smile as he tries to interlock our hands. When he does so, he lifts my hand to his mouth, placing a delicate kiss to the back of it, then rests them between the both of us. And in this moment, I know he's not going anywhere.

After ordering, Niall realises I still have no pants on and begins to laugh. He reaches to the backseat then hands me a pair of grey sweatpants, telling me to put them on. When I extend them, his black beanie falls onto my lap. I slip the sweatpants on as he drives up to the window to pay. I smile down at the beanie, remembering how cute he looked with it. As he scrolls through his phone, he bites on his nails, so I sense something is wrong.

"Is everything alright?" I inquire.

"Yeah," he mumbles. "everything's fine." He quickly turns his phone off and sets it down on his lap, giving me an almost nervous smile. I lift an eyebrow at him and he begins to jitter. "Just a text I got from my best friend Sean. He says Darragh asked him if you left with me."

"Why are you so afraid of him?"

"I'm not. I'm afraid for YOU." he blurts. "He won't be satisfied until he gets what he wants."

"Sex?" I mumble. He nods, frustratedly ruffling his hair. "Why can't he just find someone else?"

"Because he knows I like you. So he's gonna try his best to win you over before I get a chance to even talk to you."

"I'm pretty sure you've already won," I titter. The clear window slides open, catching both our attention.

"8.79," the teenage boy, wearing a black cap with the restaurant logo and a headset, says in a smile. Niall sticks his hand into his back pocket, pulling out his wallet, along with something that flies onto his feet. As he opens it, I reach over to grab whatever he obviously missed. As I'm about to pick it up, Niall zips up my sweater and holds it tightly to my chest until I sit up straight. I see him giving the boy a stare as he hands him the money, making the boy nervous enough to not be able to meet either of our eyes as he takes the cash. As he closes the window after handing him his change, Niall chuckles at me then leans his head back onto the headrest.

"Can't go to the frat house," he breathes, closing his eyes. "Sean's flat is not far from here. He gave me a key and allows me to stay whenever I need. We can go there?"