FOREVER [Niall Horan] ✔

Chapter 37.

"You see, until I met you, I had only ever experienced desire. Love, never." -Vicomte De Valmont

Ana's POV

I subconsciously feel Niall shift from beside me and I snuggle into his pillow, wrapping my arms around it. I pull the sheets up to my chin and squish my face against it, already missing his scent.

I wake up as my alarm goes off. I shut it and roll over to Niall's side only to realize that he already left. I faintly remember Niall kissing me before leaving for his work. It's been like this for the past couple of weeks. He goes to his work before I even wake up, comes to my place late or does not because of his work. I feel like we haven't really talked in the past two weeks, like really sit and talk about what's happening in our lives. He's always busy at his office and I'm with mine. I sometimes go to his house when he cannot come to mine but it's just the same, we don't do anything. I don't know why but he feels a little bit distant.

I groan, sit upright on my bed and tie my hair up in a ponytail before throwing the duvet off of me and walking towards my closet. I take out a fresh pair of undergarment and a white, knee length, summer dress and keep it on the edge of my bed. I stroll towards my bathroom, sleep still in my eyes, and undress before stepping into the shower. I take a long, cold shower. I wash my hair, shave my body and clean myself before wrapping a towel around me and walking out of the bathroom. I wear my clothes, brush my teeth and make myself a cup of tea. After drinking my tea and texting Niall a 'Hi', I get ready to go to the studio.

I drive myself to the studio and park my car in the parking lot before going inside. I unlock the door and let myself in. I keep my bag on the wooden table and stand before the easel, already knowing what to paint next. I start to work and stroke my brush against the canvas. Within the next couple of hours, I am done with the faint painting.

I take a short break and check my phone to see if I missed any messages or calls from Niall but no such luck. I huff and try to call him but it directly goes to the voicemail. I shut my phone off and put it in my purse. I walk out of my room, lock the door and drive myself to a small cafe, just a few blocks away. I order myself a cup of cappuccino and a banana muffin and silently eat my brunch. The only thing that is bugging me is Niall being so workaholic and distant lately.

I don't even know if it is because of something I did or said or it's his work but all I know is that I don't like him being so away from me. Even though he's with me during nights, he's not. He's always somewhere else, mentally. He doesn't talk to me like we used to, he's not his playful and naughty self, who always made a perverted remark. He always looks stressed and worn out. I really think that I cannot hold it in anymore and I have to talk to him about everything.

I complete my food and get back to the studio. I restart my work and engross myself in it so that I don't overthink this. My muse is broken when I hear my phone go off. Quickly scrambling to my feet, I pull out my phone from my purse. A smile spreads across my face when I see the caller ID. I swipe the green button.

"Hey, Niall."

"Hi, baby," He speaks and I can hear the urgency in his voice. "Is everything okay?"

"Um- yeah. Why do you ask?" I inquire.

"You called me, I thought something might be wrong."

"Can't I just call you," I rhetorically say.

"You can but I'm busy right now, Ana. I have to go," He says and I cut him off.

"Wait, can we hang out tonight? I mean go to a nice restaurant or something?" I timidly ask.

"I don't think today's the best-"