I Should Be Studying

13: I Shouldn't Be Drinking

Word Count: 2,386

Niall's POV

From the corner of my eye, I could see Evelyn fidgeting with her fingers. Once she's had enough of her fingers, she looks out the window as if she were being kidnapped and hoped someone would see her.

As her hand rests on her thigh, I can't help but get the urge to take hold of it to maybe calm her nerves and also hopefully make her more comfortable around me. But the more I try, I can't get myself to do it.

This is pathetic, Niall. C'mon do it, just take her hand. The worst she can do is pull away. What if she /does/ pull away. It's worth a try.

I release a hand from the wheel and latch my finger to hers. She looks up at me and smiles and she holds my hand.

"Alright?" I mutter.

She gently runs the pad of her left index finger over my knuckles, looking up at me with eyes that seem to be frowning.

"Just nervous is all," she says in a soft tone. "I don't feel as though they'll like me."

"Why?"

"I don't know," she sighs, slightly shrugging her shoulders. "It's just a feeling."

"I like you so I'm sure they'll like you."

She gives a barely-noticeable crooked smile as she continues tracing over my knuckles, to the tip of my fingers and over again.

Coming to a stop at a light, I look over to her and watch as she seems so entertained in the simplest of things. I bend a finger, bringing her attention towards me. She gives me a toothless smile, tilting her head up a bit. The innocence radiates her, which makes me smile as well.

"Evelyn?" I murmur.

She tilts her head to a side as a response then looks back down to my hand as she continues.

"Can I kiss you?"

She stops what she's doing as her head springs back up, and she seems confused. She opens her mouth to speak but no words come out.

"Now?" she gulps, looking at me in a blush.

Instead of continuing on with the small talk, I release my hand from her hold and cup her cheek as I lean into her lips. She kisses me back, relieving me from the thought of being too pushy. I feel as her breath begins to harden when I brush my thumb over her warm cheek. I peek my eyes open to see her, eyes shut as her hand is slowly making its way to my shirt. The vehicle behind us begins to honk repeatedly, making Evelyn jump back and begin laughing nervously as she points at the green traffic light. I laugh as well as I basically floor it, taking my right turn. She leans her head against the window as she covers her face and continues laughing.

"That is the last time I allow your irish self to lure me in, Niall Horan," she says between her laughing fit.

"Well it was fun while it lasted," I joke.

I close my door and rush over to Evelyn's side to help her down. She hops off, herself, and looks up at me in shock; not expecting to see me, I'm guessing.

"I was trying to be a gentleman," I chuckle.

"I'm sorry," she says as she covers her mouth. "I'm such a klutz. Should I go in again?"

"That would be weird," I jibe, gesturing her to follow beside me.

She takes a fistful of my shirt and minces to the door nervously. When I open the door, she looks at me with a puzzled face until I gesture my hand out for her to walk in first. She releases my shirt and trudges ahead, gulping as she sees faced with the atmosphere of the pub. I walk in beside her and take her hand, which looked like it was begging to be held.