Lessons Learned

Part 15

I woke up alone and naked the next morning. And extremely embarrassed. I had no idea what had come over me last night. I barely even knew Niall, yet I had willingly taken off all my clothes and climbed into bed with him. Sure we hadn't done anything, but there was something about just lying there and staring at each other that was even more intimate than anything we could have done.

I gathered my clothes and quickly dressed before sneaking out of the room and down to my bedroom. I locked the door behind me and ran into my bathroom, shedding the clothes I had just put on. Once in the shower I scrubbed my body until my skin was raw and sensitive, punishing myself for my stupidity. Niall didn't like me. He hadn't even bothered to be there when I woke up.

I sat down, letting the hot water run over my skin and mix with my tears. I always did this to myself. I couldn't let something just happen; I always had to overthink it. My mind tripped through everything that had happened since I'd begun my journey in Niall's limbo. Every look, every word, every smile. I went through it all. What did it mean? Did he like me? Was he using me? Was this part of his job? Did he care? Why did he have to be so pretty?

"Belly?" I heard a knock at the door as I pulled my knees to my chest. "I made breakfast if you're hungry."

He knew very well that I didn't eat. "Did you pick the lock again?"

"Yeah, why did you lock the door?" His voice flooded with hurt, "Are you hiding from me?"

"Why does it matter?" I rested my chin on my knees and hoped my voice wasn't as thick with tears as it seemed to me.

I heard Niall slide down and put his back against the bathroom door. His voice was laced with sadness when he spoke. "I thought you liked me. Were you just pretending?"

"I thought you were pretending," I sniffled a little, my hand reaching up to catch the hot drops of water that rained down on me. "No one really likes me."

"I really like you," he whispered.

I stood up and shut off the water, stepping out into the steam filled bathroom. I wrapped a towel around my body and cautiously opened the door. Niall moved out of the way and looked up at me as I sank down to sit next to him, my wet hair spreading out over my shoulders. He picked up a strand and twirled it around his finger, smiling slightly with a faraway look in his eyes. After a few seconds he leaned over and planted a sweet and lingering kiss on my cheek. I blushed and tried to hide my happy smile.

Niall stood up and held out a hand to help me. He pulled be straight into his arms, hugging me tightly as I slipped my arms around his tiny waist. "I'll let you get dressed. See you downstairs in a few," he whispered into my ear. With one last squeeze he was gone.

I pulled on a pair of jeans and a plain with tee shirt, noticing one of Niall's hoodies at the foot of my bed. I slipped it on and zipped it part way before scraping my hair into a bun and heading down the hallway. I slid down the banister without thinking. Only a week and it had already become second nature to me.

I could hear Niall singing in the kitchen and when I walked in he grinned and waved a wooden spoon at me. "What are you doing?" I wandered over to his side and looked down into the pan that was set on the stove. A few eggs were cooking in it.

He blushed a little, "I ate before I went to get you. But I'm still hungry."

I laughed and stood on my tiptoes so I could give him a peck on the nose. He scrunched up his face adorably before rubbing his nose against mine. "Eskimo kisses."

I sat down on the counter as I waited for him to finish scrambling his second breakfast. He fed me a spoonful of the rich yellow egg and I ate it reluctantly, my stomach churning when I swallowed. It felt weird.