That's When I Saw You {Neth Fanfic}

37. Competition

Beth's POV

Me and Niall had spent the rest of the afternoon chatting with others, until it had started raining, at which point we all legged it through the narrow passage way and diving into the car. I laughed as he shook his head like a dog, a few speckles of water flicking onto the windscreen and me in process.

"Ew! You smell like wet dog!" I laughed, wiping the water from my face.

"Hate to break it you, but you're stuck in this car with me until we get home." He grinned,

"Ugh, how will I cope?" I joked, starting the engine.

He leaned his head on my shoulder, smiling as I swung an arm around his shoulder.

"We should get going, I need to have a shower too." I pulled out in front of the others, whose cars followed me once I passed.

"Wanna have one together?" He asked mischeviously, wiggling his eyebrows at me.

"As much as I'd love to, no." I laughed, 

"Why not?" He whined, shaking my arm playfully.

"Because it's weird." I said, "Plus our shower's tiny."

"Exactly." He said resting his hand on my thigh.

I chuckled, putting on the radio and laughing when Niall started dancing to 'Anaconda'.

---

After we had gotten home, Niall had jumped in the shower, leaving me downstairs to make a cup of tea and a sandwich for the both of us. I started thinking about what I could do for the rest of the day, since it was only about 1.00pm. I started going through my bag, pulling out my purse to see how much money to spend if I went shopping. A card fell out when I opened it, and I recognised it to be me gym membership card, which made me realise I hadn't gone in a long time, and that I was probably due for another visit.

I heard Niall coming down the stairs, walking into the kitchen in only a towel, drying his har with another one. Not complaining.

"Here you are." I smiled, handing him a mug of tea and a cheese sandwich.

"Thanks, princess." He said, taking a bite of his sandwich and putting his mug down.

"Any reason you haven't got any clothes on?" I laughed, nodding towards him.

"I was in the shower." He shrugged simply.

"And you couldn't even put jeans on?" I chuckled.

"Eh, can't be bothered." He smirked, walking into the other room with his lunch, and followed him in.

"Niall I'm thinking I might go to the gym for a bit, haven't gone in a while?" I said, leaning against the door frame as Niall turned the TV on.

"Do you want me to come?" He asked, looking over at me.

"I'm not bothered, but you said you wanted to have a rest earlier."

"Ok then, have a nice time." He smiled, "Nice sandwich by the way."

"Thanks, see you later." I waved to him before closing the door and going upstairs.

I dried my hair and tied it back before changing into a vest top and shorts, picking up my gym card and putting it back in my purse and putting that in my bag. I came downstairs to say bye to Niall again, laughing when I saw he had finished his lunch and fallen asleep, making me chuckle and close the door quietly. I walked outside and threw my bag in the car, stepping in and turning the car on.

---

Once I arrived, I dumped my bag in one of the lockers, and tying the key around my wrist with an elastic band. I moved over to the cross trainer, stepping on and plugging my headphones in.

After working out for a while I looked up to check the time, but stopped once I caught sight of someone I recognise. Ashton was lifting weights in the corner, his face tensing up each time he lifted. I got off, my legs feeling slightly wobbly, and walked over to him to say hello.

He spotted me before I reached him, smiling warmly as he put the weights down.

"Hi, Beth!" He said somewhat excitedly

"Hey, what's up?"

"Nothing much, just working on my guns." He joked, flexing his arms and making me laugh.

"Me too," I chuckled, "I feel like I haven't been here in too long, my fitness is just leaving me."

"Nah, you look good." He assured me, "I have to keep up appearances otherwise the media will have something to say about it."

"I couldn't lift weights that heavy," I said, nodding towards the weights that he had previously been lifting, "My arm strength's terrible."

"I could help you if you like." He offered, making me smile and nod, "Just let me finish doing mine, then I'll help you."

I nodded and went back over to the cross trainer, putting my music back in whilst I worked.

---

"Just a little more." Ashton encouraged me.

"But I'm really tired, you're wearing me out." I groaned, my arms shaking slightly.

"You're doing really well." He said, his grip on my arms tightening, "Come on, darling."

"Almost there..." I grunted, sweat dripping from my forehead.

"There you go!" He cheered, "Done."

I groaned as I dropped the weight the floor, wiping my forehead with my towel, smiling up at Ashton who clapped.

"Well done, that was tough." He smiled, opening his arms to hug me.

"Ew, you're sweaty!" I squealed, trying back away as he came at me.

"Ah, come on." He laughed, pulling me into him, "We can be sweaty together."

I laughed as he hugged me into him tightly, wrapping my arms around his waist in return.

"What the hell?!" I heard someone shout from behind Ashton, making him turn around quickly and for me to look around him.

I froze when I saw Niall standing there.

"I just thought I'd come and join you, but here I find you, with him." He growled, his eyes narrowing on Ashton, who put his hands up in defense.

"Whoa, man." Ashton said, "Don't worry I was just helping her lift."

"You have no excuse to have you hands on my girl." He spat, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward him roughly.

"Niall, it's fine. We weren't doing anything, he was just helping me." I pleaded, "And I thought you guys were friends?"

"Not after I've warned him to stay away, only to find him with you."

"It's ok, Beth." Ashton said, "I'm sorry, Niall, I didn't mean to offend you."

Niall didn't say anything in return, but simply glared at him, before leading me out of the gym. I gave Ashton a weak smile as I left, him waving back with a sad look on his face.

All I knew is that this afternoon wasn't going to be pleasant.

~*~