FOREVER [Niall Horan] ✔

Chapter 72.

"Because there's nothing is more beautiful than the way ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it's sent away." -Sarah Kay

Ana's POV

"Niall," I mumble half asleep when I don't feel his body wrapped around me and flicker my eyes open before shutting them again as the bright sunlight hits my face. "Shut the blinds, please," I loudly groan and pull the duvet over my head. I hear the blinds shut after a whole minute and decide to pull the duvet off of my face. I look at the clock and notice that it's only a little after seven and a frown touches my lips as Niall's back comes to my view. "Why are you up so early?" I groggily implore, popping on my elbows to see him properly, and he turns around, a scowl etched upon his face.

"Nothing, " He says before coughing and my frown deepens.

"Are you alright?" I ask, patting the bed beside me and motioning him to come over. He visibly gulps and walks over to me before lying down.

"Just couldn't sleep." He shrugs and slides underneath the duvet. "A lot has been going on and I just-" He groans and covers his face. I sigh and cradle him against me, gently skimming my hands over his back. I understand why he must be feeling that way and I hate to say that I'm the cause of it. Everything going on with Tyler is very frightful and tiring and I just wish I could do something to help him but he doesn't want me to, fearing that I might get hurt.

"I know." I nod and remove his palms from his face so that I can see it in the light that's peaking from the shades. I kiss his closed eyelids a couple of times and a smile touches his lips and he gently hums. I drag my lips towards his before softly kissing them. I furrow my eyebrows when I taste the mint on his lips. It isn't usual for him to taste like this, he only does after he smokes and I'm sure he's doesn't anymore. "Why do you taste like after you've smoked, like mint?" I jokingly comment.

"I didn't fucking smoke, Ana," He grits his teeth and I squint my eyes at the tone of his voice.

"I know, I was just kidding," I say and he takes a long breath, opening his eyes. "I know you wouldn't." An emotion passes through his eyes which I can't comprehend.

"I- um- I know. I just- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap," He apologizes and gulps as I nod. I understand that he's just stressed so I don't pay it any mind.

"I know you're stressed but remember you can always talk to me," I say and he hums, turning on his side and throwing his hands over my waist. He stares at me and I raise my eyebrows at him. "What?" I ask.

"Nothing." He shrugs. "So, do you know any Becca?" He questions. "Louis told me to ask you." I rummage through my mind to see if it sounds familiar, it doesn't.

"No, it doesn't ring a bell. Why?" I ask and he shrugs again, saying it's nothing. I know that he's not telling the truth, but I let it go because I trust him to tell me if something was important.

"I'm tired," He mutters after a few minutes and I nod. He moves his head to lay next to mine before pulling my leg to put it over his thighs and sneaking his hand under my neck. "I'm sorry," He says once again before pecking the top of my head as I snuggle against his neck. "Do you want to go back to sleep?"

"Do you?" I ask instead and feel him shake his head. "We can do something else," I propose and he shakes his head again.

"No. I just want to hold you," He softly whispers. There's a soothing silence that follows and there's nowhere I'd rather be.