state of grace // n.h a.u

epilogue

Haley nearly trips over her own feet as she rounds the corner to the street Oasis Lounge is located on; her phone rings from her pocket and she doesn't even look at the caller ID before answering because she knows exactly who it is.

"I'm coming!" she exclaims, weaving her way around a few older ladies who look very concerned on her behalf as she nearly knocks them out with the guitar slung over her shoulder. "Lost track of time, sorry."

"You better be on your way," Madi says through the other end. "You're up in less than five minutes."

"Shit." Haley doesn't bother saying goodbye before she ends the call and picks up her pace down the street, ignoring the looks from passersby at her flustered state.

It's not that Haley forgot all about performing at Oasis Lounge—she's certain she will never forget the ins and outs of that place after playing every single Friday night for months on end—it's more she was distracted by the contents of her Moleskine notebook and the tune she couldn't get out of her head.

Finally, she pushes her way through the building and drops off her bag in the small curtained off area. She takes a minute to catch her breath, but this is when Madi bursts through the curtain as well.

"Took your bloody time," she says, handing Haley a glass of water she had already prepared. "I was beginning to think I would have to go on for you."

Haley pauses, then scrunches up her nose. "Everyone would need earplugs first."

"I would be offended if you weren't absolutely right," Madi replies, chuckling to herself. She really cannot hold a tune to save her life. "Now," she continues, picking up Haley's guitar to pass to her, "are you ready? Apparently, there's someone special in the room tonight."

"How many times do I have to tell you? Niall and I are just friends." Haley grabs her guitar and puts the strap over her shoulder while rolling her eyes at her best friend.

"First of all, two people who are just friends don't fall into old patterns of sleeping together."

Haley wiggles her finger at Madi. "That was only a couple of times, but it means absolutely nothing, and you know that," she reminds her.

After Haley had finally confessed her desires of no marriage and children in the future, it had rightfully upset Niall and caused some distance at first. Haley had expected this, considering they had been romantically and sexually involved at the time and she was well aware that he saw both of those things in his future, but it still didn't mean it had hurt any less when they had decided to call quits on their unlabelled relationship. However, they had both soon realised that regardless of how they were in each other's lives—romantic or platonic—they had enjoyed their time together and felt a connection they didn't want to deny any more. Being just friends was a little awkward at first, and while they've taken two steps backwards a few times after a few too many drinks, they're adamant on being friends and only friends.

It's been nearly five months since Haley first broke the news to Niall, and it's been over two months since they last slept together, but they've only grown closer together as each and every day passes. In fact, Haley thinks Niall might have even started seeing someone else and is a little too shy to tell her about it.

"And second of all," Madi continues, narrowing her eyes, "I wasn't talking about Niall."

"Oh." Haley smacks her lips together.

"I was, however, talking to Niall before you arrived and he said there is someone special here tonight that he wants you to meet after your set."

And there it is. Niall plans to introduce his new girlfriend to her. Haley thinks it's a little odd that on a night where she herself is the main focus Niall would want to introduce the new woman in his life to his ex slash best friend, but alas, Haley brushes it off as a convenient setting instead.