Chasing Ari (a 1D Fanfic )

Chapter 12

***Niall's POV**

"You alright, mate?" Harry asked me while we were pursuing Cross around the side of the house.

"Oh, yea. I'm great." I replied, flashing him a smile. I really wasn't. I was thinking to much, and overthinking  kills me sometimes.

"You sure? You look a little out of it." Harry placed his hand on my shoulder. I nodded my head, reassuing him that I was perfectly okay. Cross slowed down as we came to the shed. He paused infront of the shed.

"He's right. You've looked distracted since the second you walked in the door. I know I don't really know you, but something serious is on your mind." Cross disclosed.

I was too stunned to say anything, it is amazing how they could pick up on my feelings like that. Cross shrugged and opened the shed.

"Thank you, mate," Harry nodded towards Cross, then tuned towards me. "So, tell me, what have you been worring about so much? Is your family, okay? Are you fighting with someone?" Harry inquired. He was seriously worried about me. It was comforting to know someone really cared for me.

"No, no. Nothing like that." I said shaking my head. Cross was rummaging in the shed and pulled out a bag of charcoal, placing it on the ground and locking the shed door.

Harry picked the bag of charcal and threw it over his shoulder. "Then what is it, mate?"

I groaned and threw my head back. What am i supposed to tell him? That I'm stressing over a girl who doesn't like me. I took a deep breath and started walking foward, ahead of Harry and Cross so they couldn't see my expression.

"Its Ariannaaaaaaaa." I groaned, dragging out her name like it caused me pain.

"What about her, lad? She's not mean or rude. She's one of the nicest, affable people I've met." Harry replyed.

"Thats the thing. She's just friendly." I whispered more to myself than to anyone else.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Do you like her?" this time it was Cross with the question.

I didn't say anything. I just kept my chin up and my jaw tight.

"Take that as a 'yes', " Harry estimated.

I sighed, which only validated thier guess.

"I wish I could help you. I don't know her that well. I only met her yesterday." Harry said. I turned around and he was shaking his head. Cross opened his mouth and closed it again. He was debating weather or not to say something. I must have let my poker face slip because Cross started spewing words at me rapidly. 

"I can tell you from experience, you can't just sit there and wait for Arianna to come around.  She's all over the place. She likes a lot of things, but some things she is really passionate about. And thats how you can intrest her. You need to grab her attention, and keep grabbing her attention. It isn't that she gets bored easily, she prefers things with depth. Something with a story, something she can relate to herself." Cross explained. We were almost back to the back patio, his expresssion was serious. 

"She isn't going to wait for you either. She will keep moving foward. You're gonna have to run after her. You're going to have to chase her." Cross confided, just as we reached the back patio. 

Everyone was seated at the patio table, picking at fruit on plates, laughing at something one of the other guys said.

Harry placed the charcoal by the grill and made his way over to Sydney. He leaned down to kiss her, and as his lips lingered on hers for a few seconds, he swiped a couple of grapes from her plate. He stood back up and smiled at her as popped some grapes in his mouth.

"Hey, those are my favorite, you bully!" Sydney whined as she playfully slapped his leg.