The Bachelor [Niall Horan]

9

"Hey you." I ran into the driveway the next week and saw Niall sitting on the front steps.

"Were you kicked out?" I asked, walking over to him.

"Oh no." He laughed, "I actually just had alot on my mind and thought I would take the time to think."

I sat down next to him.

"Okay, what's on your mind?" I asked, reaching down to stretch my legs.

"You don't have to sit with me." He said with a chuckle.

"This is purely coincidence, I always stretch my legs right here. Actually, its usually where you are sitting." I pointed out.

"I don't know if you would understand." He chuckled, running his fingers through his hair.

"Try me." I smiled.

"I really love being in One Direction." He said.

"There's a but coming." I said.

"It has opened countless doors for me and the guys, but it's also cost me my freedom. I can't do what normal guys do anymore and sometimes that's alot to take in." He said with a sigh.

"I guess it's something you never get used to." I said, studying his face.

"I mean I need to find love on a reality show." He laughed bitterly.

"You probably won't fall in love." I said and he laughed.

"Aren't you optimistic?"

"It's reality - no pun intended. You probably won't fall in love."

"But Niall what's more important is that you should live your life like you want to. I said that the first week. You want to change the rules? Change them. It's your life and you need to grab it and do what you want. And no matter what the people who really care will still be around." I said, rubbing his arm.

"You're right." He nodded, looking at me.

"I should probably go shower." I announced, standing up and reaching my hand down to pull him up.

"Yeah, you smell." He joked and I elbowed him in the side.

"Enjoy your shower, I need to go set up the group date." He waved and walked toward the living room.

"How was your run?" Blair asked when I walked into the room.

"Good! I ran into Niall at the end." I said, falling on my bed.

"Like literally ran into him?" She asked, her eyes wide.

"No he was sitting outside." I said, closing my eyes.

"Oh, what was he doing?" She asked.

"Thinking. I gave him some advice and went on my way." I said, rolling onto my side and grabbing a pillow.

"No, no, no. No sleeping. You need to change before this date." She said, throwing one of her pillows at me.

I groaned, but stood up and changed into clean clothes and twirled my hair into a low bun.

"Happy?" I asked, walking into the room and twirling around.

"Yes." She smiled.

The numbers had begun to dwindle, and now we were left with seven girls. The past week had been quiet. A group date to a movie theater Niall rented out, more movie nights, and Cameron, Kirsten and Olivia had had individual dates. All three girls claimed to have made out with Niall; but after Faith's date Blair and I weren't sure what we believed.

"Karaoke?" Kirsten asked, bouncing on her toes.

Niall had turned the living room into a karaoke bar, complete with a DJ, lights, and surround sound speakers.

The camera crews were set up, taking in our reactions.

"Yeah, I thought it could be fun." Niall smiled.

"You did good, Horan." I smiled and walked over to the couch.

The other girls ran up to the books and chose their songs.

"Are you gonna sing?" Blair asked, walking over with a Coke can.

I smiled and shook my head.

"I doubt it." I laughed.

"Oh come on!" She said, elbowing me.

"No way." I laughed and shook my head.

"I'm gonna let them handle this." I said, pointing at Kimberly, Olivia, and Faith who were singing to Lady Marmalade.

Very badly.

"I'll sing if you will." Niall leaned over the back of the couch and rested his chin on my shoulder.

"Please Mae!" Faith cried, bouncing on the seat next to me.

"Oh fine!" I cried, and everyone cheered.

I walked over to the DJ and started flipping through the book.

I had a pretty eclectic taste in music, especially music I loved to sing.

I chose Eternal Flame by WHO SINGS THIS and grabbed the microphone.

Once I finished everyone stood up and cheered.

"Sing another!" Someone yelled and I laughed.

"Okay fine, one more and then Niall's up here." I said, pointing to him. He was sitting back against the couch, his arms folded and a cheeky smile on his face.

I flipped through the book again and recognized one from Daughtry.

I wanna see you run,
Anywhere you want.
Never let the darkness hold you back,
No fear of getting lost.

Unlike last time, this song came from my heart. Niall sat forward with a look on his face that I had never seen before.

But if you ever fall down straight to the bottom,
And you can't get back where you started.
Any place any time,
You gotta know for you I'll fight.

I'm not gonna lie, I chose this song because I really do love it. As I sang it, I thought about my conversation with Niall and realized how much I meant these lyrics to Niall.

Anywhere you go,
Your gonna find me.
No matter what you need,
If you ever fall down and you can't get back,
If you lose your strength to stand.

I finished and bowed a few times before walking back to Blair and Niall.

Niall squeezed my leg and looked me in the eye.

"Thank you." He mouthed, before heading up to sing.

"JUSTIN BEIBER!" I yelled, causing an eruption from the viewing section.

"Oh no, I have a better idea." He laughed.

"No One Direction." Kirsten said.

"Fine." He leaned over to whisper to the DJ and soon the opening to Classic by MKTO was playing through the room.

"I love this song!" I cried, jumping up to start dancing with Blair.

Woo, pretty baby.
This world mighta gone crazy.
The way you saved me
Who could blame me,
When I just wanna make you smile.

Niall sang into the microphone while other girls squealed.

Blair and I pulled out our best dance moves - driving a car, sprinkler, even made up dance moves.

Your over my head,
I'm out of my mind
Thinkin' I was born in the wrong time
One of a kind,
Livin' in a world gone plastic
Baby your so classic

Niall walked over with the microphone to grab us to dance with him.

By the end, everyone else was dancing and laughing so hard we couldn't breathe.