A Hopeless Addiction // Niall Horan

Chapter Eight

        I woke up the next morning tangled in Niall. Moving slowly to not wake him, I tried to get out of his arms, but he groaned and pulled me closer.

        "Happy birthday, darling," I whispered, pressing my lips to his bare shoulder.

        "Can my present be us not getting' outta bed all day?" he mumbled.

        I laughed softly and moaned into his chest. "Your present is having me and all your best friends in town. I think that's better than sleep."

        "Nothin's better than sleep."

        With a smile, I looked up at him, pulling the blankets up more. "Five more minutes couldn't hurt," I complied. I moved my arms down around his waist and kissed him once before snuggling closer to his warm, naked body. Just before we were both asleep, the door burst open, and six men were yelling for us to wake up. I opened one eye just in time to see Josh jumping onto the bed, sprawling on top of us.

        "No," I groaned, burying my face into Niall's chest. "Go away."

        "It's four in the bloody afternoon. The other lads and I have just gotten in. We're all going out," Josh insisted.

        "Later," Niall replied.

        "Oh, didn't we mention?" Zayn started. "These two were up fucking till four in the morning."

        I looked up. "We were not."

        "Oh, it's true. We heard it," Liam argued.

        "No wonder you two are still in bed. Rebecca probably can't walk," Josh said.

        I flipped them all off and sat up, the covers around my chest. "Will you cunts at least leave so we can get dressed?"

        "If it takes more than ten minutes, we'll be back," Louis threatened.

        "And we won't be as kind," Zayn added.

        They all herded out, closing the door behind them. I turned to Niall...who was somehow fast asleep. With a laugh, I climbed out of bed and headed to the shower.

        You're here, and everything is perfect. Your friends are total dumbasses, but your life is coming together for once. Why aren't you celebrating? Why are you sick to your stomach? What is up with this nausea and fatigue? This is not normal.

        I had thrown up a couple times since I had gotten to Ireland. It wasn't any kind of flu...but whatever. A little sickness wasn't enough to keep me from helping to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. Besides, by the time we were ready to head out, the feeling in my stomach was gone and was replaced by a longing for shots and pints.

        Sophia, Andy, and Maz had come along with Josh. I absolutely adored Sophia—as I knew I would. She was incredibly sweet. When we all headed out, she and Liam rode with Niall and me, the boys taking the front seats.

        "You are so pretty," she told me as we headed to the club. "When Liam first showed your picture to me, I loved you right away. And with everything you've fought through to be where you are. I'm so proud of you, even though we've only just met."

        "Wow," I replied. "That means so much to me!"

        We chatted for the entire ride; the boys exchanged glances every now and then. When we got to the club (which was far more high-end than any I had ever been to), we were shown to a VIP area that was decked out in absolute class: gold accents and retro-modern style. Everyone else took to it naturally, but I was in awe. Niall slipped his arms around my waist as I looked around.

        "Pretty sick, yeah?"

        I nodded, wrapping my own arms around his neck. "I would expect no less from you, of course," I replied with a smile, then kissed him. "Happy birthday, babe."

        We were kissing for a while, until I heard a pop and something sprayed at us. I pulled away with a scream to see Maz holding a champagne bottle. With alcohol staining my dress, I laughed out, smacking him. "You faggot."

        Louis looked up suddenly with a slightly angry expression. "Watch it, love. It's just a bit of a laugh. No name-calling needed."

        I waved him off, looking to Maz again. "I will get you back for this."

        "Is that a challenge?" he asked.

        "Absolutely."

        Maz smirked. "Alright, then. Shots at the bar. First one to vomit loses."

        I thought for a minute, and right before we shook on it, I was being pulled away by Sophia. "Thank you, but no thank you, Maz," she said to him. "Don't want my girl to get her dress covered with more shit." She looked at me. "Don't listen to a word he says. He's a little punk. Now, you and I are getting a proper drink."

        Sophia linked her arm through mine. I glanced between Maz and Niall before shrugging and followed her to the bar. She ordered a mixed drink for each of us. I braced myself for typical girl talk. Sophia struck me as the big sister type.

        "You have to be so careful what you say around Louis these days," she said, throwing me for a loop.

        I gave her a confused look until I realised she meant the "faggot" comment. She continued on, "I mean, I don't get it, but he's been, like, extra sensitive lately. Probably because he and Eleanor called it quits... But that still doesn't make sense."

        "Wait. Lou and El broke up?" I repeated. "No one told me. When?"

        "Oh, the beginning of this month, maybe. I adore them both, but it was about time. They just weren't quite right together. He'll be good as new soon, though. I just wish I knew what went on in his head sometimes."

        "Yeah...I mean, I shouldn't have said what I did. I never say things like that... But I guess boys are the mystery of life," I stated, though I had a clue what was going on. All I needed to do was play dumb.

        "Isn't that right?" she agreed with a laugh. "It's a good thing you and I managed to get one figured out long enough to snag him. Tell me, how are you and Niall?"

        I smiled, just the way I did any time Niall's name was brought up. "Good. Things are really good. Distance is the worst, but we've pretty much got it figured out. He's...perfect."

        Sophia smiled and put a hand on top of mine. "I'm so glad you got your fairy-tale, darling. You deserve it after everything."

        Liam came over and wrapped his arms around Sophia's waist. A glow washed over her almost instantly.

        "Hope you don't mind if I steal my girl away," he said to me.

        I shook my head and gestured for him to go ahead. Before they walked to the dance floor, Sophia turned to me one last time. "We'll talk later, darling."

        She blew me a skis, then let herself be pulled away. I laughed to myself and sat alone for a bit before Josh made his way to my side. He ordered a drink and leaned on the counter. If he spoke, the words didn't register; my mind was still back on Louis. Something wasn't quite right, and I was too nosy to just ignore that. Finally, I looked over to Josh, who was face-first in a rum and Coke.

        "Is Louis gay?" I asked.

        The boy looked up at me and shrugged. I sighed, looking down at my cocktail. Questioning people was easier when they were sober anyway.

        I was just going to have to figure this one out on my own.