Stay with Me || Ziall Horlik

Chapter Three [But we shared a moment, that will last till the end]

Niall doesn't realize that he's stayed a month until he see's snow stick to the ground for the first time, and it's already October, he hasn't been inside of his apartment since he left. Paying for the every month anyway because he doesn't have the heart to let it go just yet. So it sits in silence.

He is often needed at work, to help take care of the flowers, even though no one has yet to come inside of the place. Louis and Liam continue to watch over him, doing things for him whether it be taking him to work or therapy. He's always got someone with him.

The only time he is truly alone is when he is working, Niall is so busy that for the first time in two years he forgets to see Harry. He doesn't sleep that night, but, it's not because he didn't see Harry. He hardly ever sleeps anymore. It's just has no part of his schedule.

He his far, far, too busy to be catching up on any such sleep. Eventually things start getting better, Niall starts up taking up other hobbies like going to the gym or playing football with the lads. 

Now he only see's Harry once a week;

Everyone is so proud of him, his therapist says that he has made a complete turn around and that he's slowly becoming his former self that everyone use to want to hang out. The life of the party. That was Niall. It's all perfectly fine until Liam sets him up on a date.

"Niall, I am begging you. If you just get yourself back out there everything will be fine." Liam is practically on his knees begging him to go on a date with this girl. Maybe Liam thinks it's a good idea to send him out with a girl rather than a boy. Niall knows Liam quite well so this he knows, he just doesn't understand why he needs to go out with a girl just to go out with her.

"She's fucking hot mate." Louis says, while taking a swig of his beer and sitting down on the sofa. "I would go if I were you, actually quite displeased Liam didn't set me up." Louis narrows his eyes at Liam before turning back to the game on TV.

"I've owed her big time, and I need-" Niall shakes his head, pulling Liam onto the couch. "I'll do it, just get off the ground you twat." Niall lets out an exasperated sigh before, walking to the fridge to get himself a beer. Already regretting his decision.

The date goes as planned, and Louis is right, she is proper fit with long brown hair and grey eyes that could light up any sky but Niall just isn't feeling it, the entire night his mind is preoccupied. He never does catch her name but part of Niall thinks that she knows about his past and that it was his first date in years.

She doesn't mind when he doesn't talk as much as she does, or when he gives short answers. They often sit in a silence as they eat their food. When the date is over, Niall feels overwhelmed and he doesn't know how much more of this he can take, but he kisses her while they're walking. Just because the touch of someone's lips is certainly something to crave.

Its awkward and sloppy and quite frankly one of the worst kisses he's ever experienced.

She just smells too damn flowery, and her lip gloss tastes like glue and some kind of fruit. It's god awful really. He misses the smell of musk and the roughness of a five o' clock shadow on his face, when he leans in to place his lips against theirs. But most of all, there just is isn't that spark.

When Niall pulls away, he can tell that she isn't feeling it either. Her face is furrowed in confusion as if she thought that it would work and that they would be snogging by now, but it didn't and they aren't snogging in the middle of the street. 

She's looks up at Niall, and places a kiss on his cheek before turning away. Not uttering so much as a word to him. Which can only mean that she isn't intending on having a second date. Niall doesn't turn back, he lets her go. He doesn't blame her, Niall is about as interesting as a paper clip. Always sulking, pretending that he's okay when he really isn't.

He waits until he's in the car to begin crying, letting the tears slip down his face and onto his cargo shorts, small dots of wetness touch his skin. Niall isn't really sure why he's crying, he misses Harry but only because he had someone, Niall was never good with dating in the first place and god only knows how many awful dates he has left until he meets someone decent.

Niall waits until he is done crying to go inside the flat, knowing that Liam and Louis stayed up waiting for his arrival. He decides that when they ask how it went, he'll simply shrug his shoulders and say that it was "okay." that way he can keep the talking to a minimum.

He fails miserably and starts crying as soon as he see's them on the couch, Louis passed out, his head on Liam's shoulder as Liam watches some shit cable Tv. When Liam see's Niall he pushes up off the sofa, waking Louis up in the process who does the same, rubbing his eyes and wobbling on his feet. "What happened?" Liam asks, worry in his eyes.

Louis is barely awake but he already has a tight wrap around Niall as he lets him soak Louis' shirt. They don't ask questions anymore, they just let him have a good cry before sending him to bed.

"No we don't give out free flowers, m'sorry." Niall mumbles, not looking up from the bouquet he is making. It's not for anyone in particular, but at this point he just wants to do some work. And after the night he's had he doesn't want to think about anything else.

A deep chuckle fills the shop, it's low and smooth and it's so refreshing to hear that Niall looks up to find the sound. His eyes meet that of a deep chestnut color, they could be also called hazel if necessary, as if his eyes change from the light color he see's right now to something else.

Niall can also see his dark eyelashes that he knows people envy from right where he is standing a few feet away. He doesn't realize he's staring until the man clears his throat. "What was that?" Niall asks trying to determine if he had said anything while he was distracted.

"I said that I wanted to thank you.." he mumbles, his accent just the same to the people who live here. Niall furrows his eyes brows together, "wait, I don't understand..?" 

Another laugh escapes the mans lips and Niall just wants to lock the sweet sound into a bottle or something so that he would be able to hear it everyday for the rest of his life. 

"You, uh, placed flowers on my sisters grave one day, and it's taken me forever to find you." he smiles shyly, looking up at Niall through his lashes. "yeah, well- everyone deserves to have them I suppose." Niall smiles back at him, a blush creeping on his face.

He nods and grabs a single rose out of one of the buckets by the counter. Handing it to Niall and the cash. "Thank you." then he turns on his feet and walks out the door, the chime following him.

Niall is left speechless with a rose in his hand, and his mind swarmed with that of beautiful hazel eyes.