Affection | N.H

Chapter 12

("First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." -Mahatma Ghandhi)

"What? Are you fucking serious?" Niall scoffs.

"Why not? I mean look at this place. How do you even live in here? Even zoo animals live in a cleaner environment. And this is for my own satisfaction. I cannot stand this." I say looking around.

I look at Niall and catch him smiling at me."What?"

"Nothing."

"Why are you staring at me?" I ask adjusting my shirt.

"Because you're fucking annoying." He laughs and throws a pillow at my face.

"You started it mate." I say before grabbing some pillows from the couch.

I throw one at him but being the asshole he is, he ditches it. He grabs a handful of dirty clothes from the ground and scrunches it up together before throwing it at me. I put my hand in front of me to avoid it to hit my face.

"No!" I scream before quickly hiding behind the single sofa.

"Don't think you can save yourself Ms Kraft." He laughs. I peek from behind the couch and he is on his feet making his way towards me.

I get hold of the heart shaped pillow and throw it at his face.

"Oww!" He winces in pain and falls on the ground.

"Oh my god, I didn't mean it. I am sorry. Are you okay?" I come out from my hiding place and sit down in front of him, my hand on his shoulder.

Niall gives me a smirk and pushes me on the ground, gently enough so that I don't hit and break my head. He balances himself on his knees and starts his trick.

His hands begin it's movements along my sides as he tickles me. His fingers feel like walking spiders on my sides. I kick and shove at his chest but he is way too strong. But, I laugh really loudly. I can't remember the last time I laughed so openly. I can't remember the last time I felt so alive.

"Okay okay. You win." I laugh as he lets go of me.

"Don't try to win from Horan." Niall winks.

"Horan? Who is that?" I say sitting up and recovering from my laugh. Now that I think about it, I wonder how awful I sounded when I laughed? How damned my face looked?

"It's me. My last name is Horan." He says before spreading his legs out and putting them on top of each other and balancing his body on his hands at the back.

"Do you have a middle name?" I ask curiously.

"Yes, It's James." He shrugs.

"So you are Niall James Horan." I say pulling my knees to my chest.

"Yes, what is your full name?" He asks. 
I am reminded of my father. My father decided on my middle name. He used to call me by that name all the time until he died. Why did he have to die? He still had to see me become someone worthwhile. But he never loved me.

"You okay?" Niall says observing my silence.

"Hmm? Me? Yeah, I am okay. My full name is Tarisha Indie Kraft." I say tracing my finger over the wooden floor.

"Indie. That's a nice name." He smiles.

I cannot believe I am having this conversation with Niall Horan where he is talking to me without insulting me. Where he is smiling and saying my name is nice. Jesus. Never wake me up from this dream.

I nod. "Let's clean up now? I am suffocating." I groan and roll my eyes at Niall who is carefully studying my face.

"So you mean to say you are going to come over more often?"