Picture Imperfect (Niall Horan)

Epilogue - Cassie

Epilogue – Cassie

 Finally, I belong.

My whole life, I have always wanted to keep others happy. Doing things for others makes me happy, and even if it wouldn’t benefit me or make me happy, I did it anyway. I don’t know why, really. People like me generally, so I don’t think I do it for their acceptance. I think I did it because I wanted to. No matter what, I always put others before myself, and for the first time in forever—or as long as I can remember—I did something for myself and didn’t think of anyone else.

And it felt amazing.

Niall encouraged me to take a leap of faith, and I did, and he makes me happier than I ever thought possible. I wasn’t unhappy before him, but I will admit that my life has been a whole lot brighter ever since he came into it. I never knew that doing something completely for you could feel this . . . freeing. Niall—indirectly—taught me that it’s okay to think of you unselfishly. And I love him for it. I have never been happier in my life.

It’s been only a week since we sat together on that hilltop and stared at the city and the stars. That night will go down as one of my favorite nights of my life. It seems that all of my best nights are spent with Niall.

I sit alone in my apartment. Niall and the boys are extremely busy today, so I’m alone. My job at Victoria’s Secret has been going well. I get along amazing with my co-workers—surprisingly. I haven’t spoken to my dad since that day I went to see him not long after he was taken away. Angie and I don’t see each other as much as I would like, and I know she’s going through a hard time as well, but every time I see her she tries to tell me to go visit my father. And I shut her down every time, too. It seems that everyone is trying to get me to go, and I hate it.

My thoughts drift to Zayn, and how wonderful he’s been. I thought now that Niall and I are together, he would be hurt, or angry with me. But he’s not. He’s supportive and we’re closer than we have ever been. Sometimes I forget just how forgiving and caring he actually is. I think back to day when Niall and I went to hotel to see everyone. It was after I gave my photography speech and we had a really nice talk.

“Hey, Cassie,” Zayn smiles as I sit down on the bed across from him and look around the room to see everyone talking and laughing.

“Hi Zayn.”

“So you and Niall, hu?” he asks, a small smile on his lips and a faint trace of sadness in his voice. We broke up a little while ago, and I don’t know how he’s handling it.

“Yeah,” I flush just at the mention of his name. “How are you . . . with that whole thing?”

“Does it matter?” he shrugs.

I playfully shove him, trying to lighten the conversation. “Of course it does.”

He shrugs again. “It’s okay. I’m really happy for both of you.”

I put a hand on his knee. “You can talk to me, Zayn. You’re my best friend.”

He winces at the word friend, and I feel a pang of guilt in my chest. “I know you’re my best friend, Cassie,” he says, “but I don’t think I could ever talk to you about how we broke up.”

“I just don’t want it to get in the way of our friendship,” I plead.

Zayn smiles his handsome smile. “It won’t.”

“Are you sure?” I ask, still not exactly believing him. I would hate for him to be hurting while I sit back, happier than I’ve ever been before.