The Runaway - N.H.

[29] Two years

Niall and I have been at the restaurant for at least two hours and I don't even know what we've been talking about this whole time. All I know is my stomach hurts from laughing too much and I've had one too many glasses of champagne.

Niall's in the middle of telling me a story from a concert when I get a text, making the table vibrate. I check it and my heart leaps.

Brae, hope you're having fun but could you please tell Niall to answer his phone. Love you x

It's from Louis, the first thing I think of is that he's thinking of me!

"What is it?" Niall asks when I've been staring at my phone for too long.

I hand the phone to him and he frowns before turning his phone on.

Niall laughs a bit. "I didn't even tell anyone I was going out with you." I smile, I like how he tried to keep it a secret, hopefully for my sake.

"Yeah... but our two hours of freedom are over." I say sadly and stand. He follows me after leaving money on the table. "I could have paid." I know he won't accept it but still.

He looks at me seriously before shaking his head. "I would be the worst boyfriend in the world if I made you pay for dinner Braeden." He says before giggling.

"You are not my boyfriend Horan." I say smiling.

"I like your smile." He avoids the subject.

"I mean it, don't think we are like going steady or whatever... but thank you." I blush a little, I hate my smile, too teethy.

"Going steady?" He laughs. "Is that what your other boyfriends say to you?" He laughs harder now.

"I've had two boyfriends in my life, one said 'wanna date' and the other never actually asked me, so no. That's just what I've heard." I say smiling.

"Was Calum the one that said 'wanna date'?" This is his first mention of any of those four boys all night and I was really hoping he wouldn't bring them up.

I laugh uncomfortably. "Ah no... but we were dating." I say and start walking faster to the car.

"How long for?" I know he's just interested but it's annoying me.

"Two years." I answer quickly and jump into his car. There are no paparazzi this time - thank god.

"How did you two meet?" He starts up the car and I really hope we get to my apartment quickly.

"Um... we well..." I look out the window to avoid eye contact with him and the memory floods my mind.

Flashback

"Braeden!" I hear Luke yell and I think it's from outside. I walk out past too many drunk people and scan the yard for him. I spot him speaking to someone who I think goes to school with us... "Bee, there you are! Come here!" He yells over the music and gestures for me to join the two boys.

"Hey." I say and Luke hugs me before I can ask him where he's been.

"This is Ashton, he's my friend." He says and gestures to the shy looking boy in front of me.

"I'm Braeden, it's nice to meet you." I say smiling.

"You too." He returns the smile and I can't help but notice how adorable he is.

"Where have you been?" I ask and turn to face Luke. He's got a red cup in his hand and I'm sure that's not his first and by the look of him, not his second either.

"I um... I was talking to... Calum." He says and he looks away before I can tell if he's lying or not. I choose to believe him because I don't want to fight with him, not now.

"Oh, which ones Calum?" I ask, Luke always talks about his friend 'Calum' but has never let me meet him before.

"Oh right, I was supposed to set you two up!" He explains a little too loudly. "Calum!" He screams at someone behind me. "Have you drank?" Luke asks me quietly but I know Ashton heard. I shake my head, no.

"Luke mate, quiet down." A voice says behind me.

"Shh." Luke whispers and I'm positive he's drunk. "This is my friend Braeden. Braeden, Calum. Calum, Braeden." He says and points back and forth between us at least nine times.

"Hi, I'm Cal." He says and smiles. Shit, he may just be the most attractive guy at this party.

"Hey, I'm Braeden." I smile back and I can't help but stare at him.

"But I call her BeeBee... But you cannot call her that." Luke slurs and points to Calum. Calum just laughs and tells Luke to go find someone named Mikey. Luke walks off without saying another word and Ashton has already disappeared, leaving Calum and I alone.

"So, having fun?" I ask and he laughs.

"I guess, are you?" He asks still smiling at me.

"You guess? And no, not at all." We both laugh.

"Aw why not?" He asks me.

"I don't drink and the only people here who are having fun are the ones drinking." I look around at the backyard full of people holding plastic red cups and dancing to shitty music.

"Not true. I've been drinking all night and I'm still not having fun." I laugh and he laughs back. "Luke kept talking about you and going on about how amazing and beautiful you were - and I thought he was just saying that so I'd meet you tonight - but he was wrong. You are way prettier than what he described." He takes a sip out of his cup and I blush.

"Well," I smile, "he talked you down a lot too."

"Is that so, BeeBee?"

----

"That's how it all started... that night." I say after I tell Niall the short version of the story.

"So how long were you friends with Luke before you met them?"

"Six weeks." I say blandly.

"I didn't mean to upset you I was just-" I cut him off before he says something stupid.

"Curious. I get it." We are getting closer and closer to my apartment and I'm both happy and sad.

"So breakfast tomorrow?"