Seeing Blind |NH|

Chapter Nine

After everyone got what they wanted, Esta was sitting with Kendall and Danielle. They were talking but she sat there, quiet, with her arms crossed.

"Sorry guys. You ready?" Harry asked.

"Yep," Esta said, curtly, still looking at the ground.

Clearly, no one noticed her abruptness but me.

"Great. How about we all get cleaned up and meet up for dinner?" He suggested.

"Sounds good to me," most everyone said, except Esta. No one noticed that Esta hadn't responded except me.

We all finished packing our things up. By the time I was done, I saw that Esta had already begun making her way back to the parking lot. I started to walk, staying a ways behind her, deciding to leave it be until we were in the car. I kept my eyes on the ground most of the way. At some point, Zayn zoomed past me and I watched as he reached her side, offering to carry her bag for her which she granted, handing it over to him with a smile. I could see him saying something because I then heard a small laugh at whatever he had said, her hand landing on his arm as she laughed.

'What the fuck does he think he's doing?' I wondered.

When we got back to the parking lot, we all went our separate ways and agreed to meet up in a couple of hours for dinner. Esta cheerily said goodbye to everyone and got a hug from everyone, promising she'd see them later. I guess that was a good sign, if she was going to come out with us later. Maybe she wasn't as mad as she seemed.

Opening the trunk of the car to put my stuff back in, I saw Zayn once again whispering something to her and smiling like the Cheshire cat. I saw her smile at him as I threw my stuff into the trunk. I walked over to where they were to get her bag.

"I'll take that, Zayn," I said, reaching for her bag.

"I got it, mate," he said, smiling at me before placing her bag in the car. "See you guys later on." He opened the passenger side door for Esta, to which she smiled, said thanks, and got in. Shutting the door, he looked back up at me and smiled. Bringing me closer, he whispered, "Thanks for bringing her today, mate. She's pretty awesome." He smiled as he lightly punched me in the arm. "See you two later." And he walked off.

I grumbled as I got into my car, sitting down in the driver's seat and starting the engine. Esta sat beside me, arms still crossed, looking out the window, silently. I pulled out of the lot and for a few minutes, we rode silently.

"So," she started, "You just moved to LA because you've been signed with a record company here, eh?"

She continued to look out the window. I looked over at her and sighed, "I'm sorry, Esta. I really am. I should've told you. In fact, that's what I wanted to tell you the other day and totally forgot. I get recognized everywhere I go and I kind of just enjoyed it and took advantage of the fact that you didn't seem to know who I was and just wanted to be my friend to be my friend not because of what I do. And, I just didn't think this morning about the possibility that someone would recognize us today. I'm so sorry. I should've told you and I'm so sorry I didn't."

I looked over at her multiple times as I spoke, trying to gauge what she was thinking but finding that hard to do when I couldn't see her face and I was driving. She remained silent when I finished. The silence became unbearable though, "Please say something."

"I'm thinking." She finally turned back towards me. "I understand but still, that was quite a shock, Niall. I was left standing there, confused. I had to hear from other people what was going on. That's not how that should've happened. Kendall and Danielle looked at me like I lived under rock for not knowing who you are!"

"I'm sorry," I said, softly.

"I see that you are, but still, Niall, that shit fucking sucks to be completely left out of something that is rather important to know."

"I know," I said, softly.

We rode the rest of the way home in silence.

When we got to our doors, I stood there as she unlocked her door. Tossing her bag in, she turned to look at me, arms still crossed. I was beginning to think they were forever locked in that position.

"Are you coming out with us tonight?" I asked, meekly.

"Of course, I am. I already told Kendall and Zayn I would." She paused before she walked up to me and gave me a hug. "I had a good day, Niall. Mostly. I wish you had told me, even if it had been this morning, just so I wouldn't have been completely lost. But," she let go of me and pulled back, "I do understand. I guess it's hard to find true friends along the way. So, I get it."

"So, we're okay?"

"Of course. I guess, we both suck at giving out bits of information that might actually be important. So, I can't be too mad at you. Plus, I don't want to be mad at you. I had fun today. I needed that." She smiled at me before walking backwards to her door. "See you in a bit." She smiled at me again before closing her door.