That's When I Saw You {Neth Fanfic}

35. Together Again

Beth's POV

We had decided that for the rest of the day, we would go out as a group again, since we hadn't really talked since me, Niall, Josie and Zayn had moved out. Niall told me they had decided to go back to the same secluded field we had in the first few weeks of knowing them, but claimed that it would be more fun this time, whatever that meant. I had made sure that Jack was sleeping peacefully in the other room, ready with a comfy blanket for him. Even though it was difficult, Niall convinced me he'd be fine, and that we should leave before the others wonder where we are and start blaming it on 'things'.

We pulled up to the same gap in the hedge that we had what seemed like years ago, but this time, there were two other cars there before us, indicating that the others had already arrived. I turned the engine off, stopping the smooth purr of the engine, leaving only the soft bird song to drift through the air.

I stepped out onto the quiet country, following Niall who had already started making his way through the thin path through the shrubs and trees.

"How did you find this place?" I asked, pushed branches out of the way as I walked.

"Well we actually found the lake first, then Louis wanted to find a shortcut back to road, and kinda made this giant hole." Niall laughed.

"I was expecting some really deep story, about how one of you used to come here with your parents, but no."

"Well, it's us." He chuckled, and I laughed along with him.

He parted the bushes where Liam had before, revealing the hillside and the others, who had gotten here earlier. Josie was looking down at something, probably her phone, whilst Zayn was sitting in front of her, drawing something, looking up at her occassionally. Tamsin and Harry were playing catch, and Tamsin nearly got hit in the face, when she heard us coming through the bushes, but just about avoided it.

"Ayoo!" She shouted, "How ya doin'?"

"Good thanks, you?"

"Yeah good, but I- can I help you!?" She began to answer, before turning to look at Harry who had come up behind her and rested his head on her shoulder.

"No, you're good." He laughed, looking to me, "Hiii."

"Hey Harry." I smiled, "Well, I'll let you carry on."

I walked away from them, towards Josie and Zayn, but sat down a bit furthur from them, so we didn't interupt whatever they were doing. I sat down, looking over to the wood that Niall had taken me into before and sang to me, and he clearly noticed, smiling slightly.

"You're thinking about that time I sang to you aren't you?" He grinned,

"Yeah, you should do that more." I laughed, "That was really cute."

"I am known for my cuteness." He joked,

"Shut up." I chuckled, pushing his shoulder playfully whilst he laughed.

I heard a very distinct laugh coming from the bushes, turning around to see Louis running out of the bushes, being closely pursued by a dog. I looked to Niall, who looked equally confused.

"Louis?" I called to him, making him look up from stroking the dogs face.

"Yeah?"

"Whose dog?"

"Mine?"

"Yours?"

"Yeah. That ok with you?" He joked,

"What's his name?"

"PJ." He smiled, laughing as the dog jumped up to lick his face.

He looked back at the dog, mumbling something before pointing over to me. I squealed as the dog bounded over, jumping on top of me and licking me all over my face.

"Ah, Louis!" I laughed, "Get him off me!"

"Hmm, you didn't say the magic word..." He said, tapping the end of his chin with his thumb.

"Please!" I tried to beg, but I was laughing too much,

"Fine. Down, PJ."

He immediately stopped, sitting down at Louis' heels obediently. I wiped my face of the dog's spit, much to Niall and Louis' amusement.

"How come if I did that I'dget slapped, but the dog gets away with it?" Niall huffed playfully.

"Because anyone would think someone licking their face would be weird?" I said, but it came out more like a question.

Niall grinned, before looking up to Louis, who nodded. I looked between them, confused as I tried to work out what their silent communication was about. I looked back to Niall again, but before I could move out the way, Niall had jumped on top of me and begun licking my neck and jaw.

"Ewww!" I screamed, trying to push him off, but he was too heavy, "You're so weird!"

He began laughing, giving me enough chance to push him off and sit up, readjusting my shirt.

"I blame it entirely on you." I huffed, pointing to Louis and cleaning Niall's spit off my neck with my free hand and wiping it on my shirt.

"When you're done licking each other," Liam's voice sounded from behind me, "We could try out the new swing that I hung up by the river."

"Where're Zayn and Jose?" I asked, leaning over to looked behind him, only to see Zayn showing Josie something on the pad he'd been drawing on.

"Just back there," He turned to them, "Oi, you two!"

They both looked up, before leaving their stuff on the grass and coming over.

"We're just going down to the water if you want to come?"

"Oh no.." Josie said, "Last time I went down there I got thrown in."

"I promise I won't this time." Zayn laughed, hugging her into his shoulder, walking down the hill with her towards the water, followed by the rest of us.

---

Liam had set up the swing so that it would swing over the river at a semi circle shape, alongside the previous rope that Louis had used before. Liam was adjusting the rope to make sure it wouldn't break, when I turned around to see the other boys taking their shoes and socks off. Niall threw his shirt off, into a pile along with the other boy's shirts and jeans.

"Cannonball!" Harry shouted, jumping into the water with his knees hugging to his chest.

Zayn walked over to Liam, grabbing onto the rope and running off the edge, swinging across the river and landing in the water on his side. Louis and Liam followed, and Niall soon turned to me.

"Your turn." He grinned.

"Haven't got my stuff." I shrugged. "Oops."

He nodded towards Tamsin and Josie, who held a plastic bag.

"We planned ahead and grabbed some stuff you left behind at the apartment." Josie grinned throwing it at me.

"How about you two?"

"We have ours on under our clothes." Tamsin said, "Now off you go."

---

By the time I had gotten back in my bikini, Tamsin and Josie had gotten in, and PJ was playing 'fetch' with Louis. Josie and Tamsin were wrestling each other whilst on Harry and Zayns backs. Once Josie knocked Tamsin off, Tamsin and Liam swapped, with Liam climbing on Harry and trying again. This time, Josie and Niall swapped, and so on. Niall was waving me over, to which I smiled and ran over, jumping in with a 'splash'. He got off Zayns shoulders smiling at me.

"Hello again, princess" He grinned, "You look nice in that."

"Thank you." I smiled, looking down to the water droplets slowly creeping down the ridges on Nialls defined chest.

"Enjoying yourself there?" Niall chuckled, gently lifting my gaze up to his with his finger on my chin.

"Shut up." I splashed him, making him laugh.

We spent the rest of the day alternating between the river and the bank, drying off and warming up, then cooling off again. It felt like the most perfect day I'd had in a while.

Minus that time in the lift. ;)

~*~