Affection | N.H

Chapter 23

("Some people care too much. I think it is called love." -Winnie the Pooh.)

"Niall asked me to go somewhere with him tonight." I tell Louis as he grabs a piece of carrot cake off the cafetarian.

He lets out a sigh before speaking with his mouth full, a habit which I figured he will never be able to get rid of. "Keep your phone with you tonight. Call 000 if any danger occurs or call me if you smell something fishy."

"Louis I will be fine. I am sure he will not hurt me." I say assuringly.

Niall cannot hurt me , can he?

"Still, I care about you. If anything happens, Niall will not be alive and I will probably be in jail." he shrugs.

I don't think I will be able to concentrate on my lessons today. I cannot wait until the day ends.

..

"Tarisha, you do know that it is a date right?" Eleanor asks me as soon as she enters my dorm. "Thank goodness Louis sent me here. Are you going to go out with your date like this?" she gushes.

Date? I never thought of this. Niall asked me out on a date?

I look down at my jeans, white top and cream cardigan. "I look bad, don't I?" I ask her with a small voice.

"No, no, no sweetheart!" El gasps.

"I, in no way, meant that. You are beautiful and you look beautiful in everything! But there are certain clothes you wear to dates. Lets go shopping!" Eleanor tries cheering up the environment in the room.

"El, you realize it is already 6:30pm? He will be here any minute." I remind her.

"What! I knew Louis would miss out on something! Let me look through your stuff." Louis's girlfriend gently pushes me aside and opens the door of the closet. "I am assuming the neater side is yours." Eleanor laughs as she glances at Sophie's side of the closet.

"Here! this is a perfect date dress." Eleanor pulls out a short navy blue sleeveless dress. Amber gave this dress to me on my birthday last year but I never wore it. The hem of the dress rests just above my knee, too short for me to wear.

"El,-" I begin to explain but she cuts me off my putting her hand up in the air.

"No ifs and buts sweetheart. Look at this dress! It is beautiful and perfect for this weather!" El smiles.

I give in but with one condition. I will have a cardigan on top. El agrees and dresses me up. She tried using make up on me but failed because of my winces. I let her curl my hair and choose black flats for me to wear.

"You're ready to go." El admires me from a feet away.

A tapping on the door is all it takes to make my heart race like a jet. "He's here." I whisper.

El opens the door and exposes Niall standing at the doorway. He is wearing a black t-shirt with tight black jeans. His hair is up in its usual quiff and of course, he looks handsome as always.

"You must be Niall." El smiles at him being the polite person she is.

"Tarisha here?" He asks rudely.

El's smile vanishes from her face and she just nods.

I take in a deep breath and walk up to the door. "El, thank you." I give her a quick hug and step outside the dorm. Eleanor locks the door behind me. I wonder what she will do staying here?

Niall stares at me from top to bottom. His stare is so hot, that it makes my stomach burn.

"You look different." He finally says as we walk down the stairs.