Seeing Blind |NH|

Chapter Eleven

"You okay?" I asked, settling into the car seat.

"Yeah.  Why?"

"I don't know, just checking."

She smiled at me.  "You trying to win the best friend award for the day?"

"Maybe," I said, smirking.

The drive to Louis' house consisted of us both singing to the songs on the radio.  The entire ride, I was glad it was just me and her, again. 

We got to Louis' place and all went inside where he put some music on.

"Where's the liquor, Lou?" Esta said.

"Right over here, new girl," he said, walking in the direction he pointed. 

"Want anything?" she asked me.

"Uh, yeah, sure.  A beer is fine."

"One boring beer, coming right up," she winked as she followed Louis.

I went to the bathroom to relieve my bladder before loading up again.  When I walked back out, everyone was outside by the pool.  I made my way out there but didn't see Esta.  I did see Zayn, so I at least knew he hadn't cornered her again.

"There you are," I heard from behind me.  I turned and saw her come up to me, beer in hand.  "Here you go, sir," she said, handing it to me.

"Thanks," I said, taking it from her.  We stood there for a minute.  "Having fun?"

"Yeah," she said, smiling at me as she hooked her arm under mine.  "I am.  You've become quite a good friend in just a matter of hours and days, Niall.  I really could use a good friend." 

"You don't seem like such a bad friend, either."

"I hope I'm not.  Although, I suppose there are some who would beg to differ."

"Why do you keep saying that?  What makes you think you're a bad friend?"

She shrugged her shoulders.  "I don't know.  I just don't seem to keep friends for very long.  Every time I make a friend, I lose them pretty quickly, so it seems."

"Well, I don't know those people.  And it sounds like I don't want to," I said, bringing an arm around her and pulling her in for a hug.  She wrapped her arms around my waist and held on to me tightly.  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zayn watching us.  I don't know why but I really disliked Zayn's flirting with her and it made me feel good seeing him a little jealous that she was holding on to me.

The rest of the evening she divided her time between me and Zayn.  Whenever I got up to go talk to someone else or just get up, he made a beeline for her.  It became quite obvious to all of us what he was after.

"Seems Zayn has a bit of a crush on the new girl," Louis said to me, Harry, and Danielle.

"Obviously," Danielle said.  "They'd be super cute together, too."

"Is she dating anyone, Niall?" Louis asked.

"Huh? Uh, no she's not. But--" I got interrupted.

"Perfect!" Danielle squealed before running off in the direction of Kendall.

"Oh god, she's going to try to play matchmaker now," Harry said.

All three of us watched as she and Kendall looked in the direction of Esta and Zayn, nodded their heads and then we all assumed began planning the matchmaking process of getting Zayn and Esta together. 

"Oh goodie," I said, before walking off for another drink, not realizing that I had said that out loud.  Had I, I would've seen the look Harry and Louis had given me.