A Breath of Something Great -Niall Horan

Beautiful

I waited all the rest of the night in for the sun to rise again, my patience wearing thin as I thought of seeing Niall again. It was as though the heavens had opened and sent down my own angel so that I wouldn't feel the pressure of homelessness or the hollowness that loneliness gifted me.

Little had I eaten all day, little had I thought of anything but him and little had I moved from my spot where his blonde hair and blonde eyes were awaited. Moira fussed about me all morning, pestering me to eat, trying to distract me, thinking that I was upset or slipping in to depression. What she was unaware of was that he was the only thing keeping me from dissolving in to depression. The memories of my terrible past had been pushed to the back of my mind in a matter of hours. What magic did this beautiful stranger have?

I knew that even though we had only met once, I wanted to be his friend, want him in my life. My conscious was telling me that I should be having thoughts of a boy in this way but I couldn't help it. As much as I tried to get myself to stop, I couldn't.

The clock struck 4 after and eternity of waiting and my heart started to hammer in response to my nervousness. Wait. Why on Earth am I nervous? I don't have feelings for Niall and he's just an ordinary person right? Nothing to be scared of at all. Get a grip on yourself and your rascal of a heart that makes you do things you get to regret Aaliyah! Maybe this is because I've never really had any male friends that I like this much or like at all in my life.

Just as I was trying to control myself, compose my nervous self, I flash of blonde caught my eye, making my breath get caught in my throat. I turned my full body towards the door and there he stood wearing a casual t-shirt with some skinny jeans that outline his perfect le- STOPPP AaIiyah!

Spotting me he smiles and removes his sun glasses, making his way towards me.

"Hey Liyah! Whats up? How are you? "

"G-Good. I'm really good. And you?"

"Well I could lie and say I was great but ya know ~I don't want to lie. To tell you the truth, I had trouble sleeping last night. In all honesty, I didn't sleep a wink."

I was shocked. Niall had the same exact issue that I had last night but I didn't want him to know don't ask me why.

"Oh, do you have any idea why this happened? You know there could be a reason behind it that could be very deep rooted and it could be causing you all sorts of problems that you could be unaware of." He chuckled at this, shaking his head.

"Actually I do know the reason."

"What is it?"

"Well, yesterday, I happened to run in to a very very beautiful girl and I was up all night thinking about her." My heart skipped a beat but not in a good way. Of course. He had freedom to do as he pleased, no restrictions what so ever and he met pretty girls all the time. Pretty girls who could flaunt their whole bodies and attract men in an unholy manner. Not that I wanted to be one of them in any way. The way they act can sometimes completely betray the true meaning of love. It would make the men fall in love with their bodies and not their personalities. Even people who were not muslim would agree that walking around in just underwear or clothing that is not far from, is considered "slutty". Who was I to get my hopes up that somebody would actually find me attractive or likeable, be it a man or woman, I didn't mind.

"Oh. Whats she like? If she kept you up all night, she must have been very special." I ask without making eye contact.

"Oh yes she was something special.We talked all night until 4AM after I'd spilt a hot drink all over her and I forgot to say that her eyes were the most beautiful shade of hazelish brown," he said as if he was telling a story.

My heart skipped a beat and this time it was definitely in a good way, as butterflies erupted in my stomach. I smiled a stupidly large smile, turning my head towards the flooras I felt my cheeks heat up. But I knew I wasn't blushing. I'm brown for goodness sake! Great thanks Niall now I can't stop smiling. 

"Um-I uh er- "

"It's okay Liyah ya don't have to say anything," he chuckled and leaned back in his chair, his eyes roaming my body. Ok NOW I feel majorly uncomfortable. I don't like men looking at me this way. Some people might feel flattered that a guy was checking them out but I just did not like it, not that there was much that he could see because I was wearing a long maxi dress with a shrug on top that covered my arms, not showing my figure at all.

"Well there is one thing that I have to ask you about. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to.  Why is it that everytime I want to come close to you or compliment you, you get so serious and step away and don't look at me? Am I that repulsive?" His face showed curiosity and a bit of hurt due to his false judgement.

"No! Not at all Niall you're not repulsive at all! It's just that I'm a muslim and we aren't supposed to have relations of any sort with men unless we are married to each other. No dating, kissing, touchy feely things or you know um sex, before marriage," I explained, again looking away because of the immense amount of embarrassment I was facing as I never talked to anyone about this kind of thing ever in my life.

He nods, looking ...disappointed? But why would he be disappointed? Get a grip Aaliyah! Again!

"Well, I'm glad I'm not repulsive haha," he says trying to lighten up, rather awkwardly.

"Can I ask you a question Niall?" I ask as a spark of curiosity passes over me rememering what I had seen earlier but had passed of without a second thought.

"Sure"

"Why were there people taking pictures with you before you stepped in to the shop? Are you a celebrity or something?" He sighed.

"I knew this would come up sooner or later. I'm part of a band Liyah. Its called One Direction and my band mates are called Harry, Liam, Louis and Zayn. Yeah you could say we're famous and theres millions of screaming girls everywhere we go. Its fun but it has its down sides. I was actually surprised when you didn't recognise me and it felt good that someone was actually gonna get to know me without knowing about my fame or my money" he told me, smiling at the thought. I returned his smile and nodded my head, not knowing what to say. He was still the same Niall but I just didn't know how to respond you know? None my friends or family had ever come up and told me that they were celebrities.

"Wow," I mentally slapped myself for such a stupid response.

"Yeah. Oh my God is that the time??!! Sorry Liyah I have to go. I'm meant to be meeting the boys at the club at eight an-" he stopped mid sentence, his eyes lighting up as if he just had the perfect idea.

"What?" I asked curiously as he stood at the same time as I did.

"You should come with me to the club! Oh my GOd and you can meet the boys too and it'll be great, they'll love you!" I frowned at this. Going clubbing isn't exactly considered appropriate in Islam, especially if you go without your husband.

"No Niall I don't think its a good idea. My religion doesn't allow me to do stuff like this and I could get assaulted or somebody could -"

"I'll protect you" he said without blinking, looking in to my eyes, takinging a step towards me.

"You don't have to drink or dance and I'll protect you from anyone who harms you. You can sit in the booth and eat the snack and talk to the boys and their girlfriends. Just come with me."

"I don't know-"

"Please" he stepped towards me again. I bit my lip trying to think clearly but for once in my life I let my heart go with what it wanted.

Niall.

"OK, I'll go.Beauti"