Seeing Blind |NH|

Chapter Forty Four

Panic set in. As soon as the song was over, I excused myself and bolted. I ran towards Harry and Kendall and grabbed them both, pulling them aside.

"I'm in love with her."

They both smiled. "We told you," Kendall said.

"But, I can't be in love with her. She's my friend."

"Isn't that how most love stories start out?" Harry questioned.

"No!" They both rolled their eyes at me. "I can't be in love with her. What am I gonna do?"

"You're going to ask her out."

"I can't possibly do that."

"Why not?"

"Well, a myriad of reasons, really. The biggest being I'm about to be gone for I don't know how long and she doesn't need to be dating anyone right now. Plus, who's to say she feels the same way about me? Oh, god, what if she doesn't feel the same way about me?"

Harry chuckled, "Calm down, mate. She feels the same way but, like you, we don't think she realizes it yet."

"How can you be sure?"

"The same way we were sure you were. It's all there. Just...other things...and people, have gotten in the way so you two simply developed a friendship instead of a romance. But, now you can!" Kendall said, all starry eyed.

"Do you really think she's in love with me?"

Kendall smiled. "Yes. I do. We all do."

I turned to Harry who nodded.

"We all do. Think about it, Niall. Think about how the two of you always run to each other when you need something, especially when one of you has just gotten out of a relationship. I mean, she disappeared for hours after Zayn left but we found her outside your room, waiting for you. She latched on to you. She knew exactly who to go to. And you were the only one to put a smile on her face and perk her up the next day. She didn't laugh at a single one of my 'knock knock' jokes."

I chuckled at that. "That's because they're bad."

Ignoring my comment, he went on, "Think of how you barely even mourned your relationship with Melissa because Esta decided to play dress up and had you rolling on the floor laughing, less than 24 hours later. Doesn't sound like you were too heartbroken. Shit, man, Melissa fucking saw it. Who do you think she was talking about? I mean, you were so fucking pissed when Jace showed back up in her life. Rightfully so because he's a prick but you were so fucking pissed and wouldn't shut the fuck up about how she deserved better. You were so focused on her, and his return, that Melissa felt as if she was the one you chose because the one you want was taken. Which is kind of what you did."

I nodded, "Yeah, I did, didn't I?"

"I don't think you did intentionally. I think you did because you knew, somewhere inside of you, that Esta wasn't ready for you. And, she's probably not ready for you now, but you've got to keep her from continuing the pattern of dating shit guys, otherwise, by the time you do get her, she truly won't believe she deserves you. Kendall's right when she said that your relationships, and hers, won't last, until you're together. At least, I'd like to believe that because, well, you two are perfect for each other."

Kendall looked past me and nudged Harry who shut up.

"Hey guys," Esta's voice said, from behind me. I turned around. "Whoa, did I interrupt something? You all look intense. Something happen? I interrupt some sort of top secret meeting?" She giggled.

I swallowed, "Umm."

"Not at all. Niall here was just telling us he was excited to see the finished product of your apartment. We do hope you'll have us all over once it's finished."

"Oh, well, yeah, of course. It's nothing fancy."

"Well, I've never been in it," Harry stated.

"That's true. Okay, well, yeah, maybe I'll do that. But, aren't you guys busy for the rest of the year?"

I turned to Harry, eyes wide, "Yeah, Harry, aren't we busy the rest of the year?"

"Yeah. So?" He looked at me as if to tell me to ignore the rising the panic inside of me.

"Are you two okay? You're seriously acting weird."

"We're fine. Just being boys," I said.

"Okay. Well, Niall, I'm kind of beat. Was going to head out. You wanna come or stick around and find another way home?"

I looked back at Harry and Kendall. They did nothing to help me. "Umm, yeah, sure. I'll get our coats."

"Okay, thanks."

I walked off, trying to contain the tension in my chest.

I grabbed our coats and met her at the exit. She was leaning against the side wall, waiting for me. "Here you go," I said, helping her into her coat.

"Thank you, kind sir. Ready?"

'Not in the slightest,' I thought to myself. "Yep."