The Player

Chapter 9

His arm was draped over her shoulder as they sat in the little corner booth together. 

"Maybe they are on a date?" Sara said in an unsure tone.

"It looks like it." Jess said.

"You know what, it's bad enough that I have to put with them in school. Now they have to come here?" I said getting annoyed. I grabbed a menu that was on the table and pretended to be reading it. 

"Well, it is a public place El, we can't claim it all to ourselves." Jess said. 

"Yeah, but I just wish they would choose another place to be all lovey dovey instead of rubbing it in my face." I peered over the menu at Niall and Maya in the corner. They didn't even look good together. Well, I mean not as good as Niall and I would look. What am I saying? Why would I think that?

"We can leave if you want." Sara said.

"No, it's fine. If anything, they are the ones leaving first." I snapped.

"You're really riled up about this whole thing." Jess said taking the menu from me.

"Yeah you really are. Are you sure you're not falling for Niall?" Sara asked. 

"Shhh!!! Oh my god Sara he's right over there." I said shushing her. 

"So you are?" she said with a smile. I let out a heavy sigh.

"Okay, this might sound crazy, but I think I am. Like hard." I said as quiet as possible. I looked over at Niall and Maya just as Niall wiped a bit of ice cream from Maya's cheek. I couldn't help but wish that that was me sitting there with Niall and having him wipe or maybe even kiss away  the ice cream on my cheek. Sara and Jess followed my stare.

"I know you do El." Sara said.

"Yeah, it' s a bit obvious." Jess added. I felt my cheeks flush.

"Is it really? Well, it doesn't really matter anymore. He's clearly moved on." 

"It's alright El. Maybe he will come around later on." Jess said trying to cheer me up.

"Yeah, maybe." I said. I slumped back into the booth seat with a sigh. We all finished our ice cream and left the shop. It was weird how Niall and Maya didn't see us sitting there. Or maybe they did and just decided to not say anything. Or maybe they were just too busy being in love to notice anything else going on around them.

We got back to my dorm and Sara and Jess stayed for a little bit longer. Jess started falling asleep so we decided to call it a night.

"See you guys tomorrow." I said as they both left my dorm and walked down the hall.

"Don't let the Niall thing bother you too much El. It's honestly not worth it." Sara said.

"I know. I'll try." I said. I went back into my dorm and closed the door. I changed into sweats and got into bed. I turned out the light, but I didn't go to sleep right away. I just laid on my back and stared up at the ceiling that was hidden in the darkness of the room. My thoughts traveled to Niall, seeing him in the ice cream shop with Maya, laughing and joking together, eating their ice cream, enjoying each other's company. I wished that was me.

I was in love with Niall Horan.   

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The rest of the week and into the next was pure torture watching Niall and Maya strut around campus like they were the next best couple. I hadn't talked to either of them since they started dating again. Whenever I saw them, Maya would always see me and look like she wanted to come over and talk to me, but Niall would always pull her along side him, away from me. I felt bad for Maya that she wanted to say something to me but Niall would force her away. As much as I wanted to be friend's with Maya, Niall was getting in the way. But as much as I wanted to be with Niall, Maya was in the way. It would be so much easier if I hadn't been so stupid and pushed Niall away from me and didn't realize my feelings until now. If I had let him get closer to me I would have let myself believe my feelings, and I wouldn't be feeling all this pain and betrayal now. I would be the one walking hand in hand with Niall, and I would be the one to make him laugh that cute little chuckle he has. I would be the one to get to stare into those beautiful, blue crystal eyes, and tousle that perfectly quiffed blonde hair. I would get to hear him say my name in that adorable Irish accent over and over again. That could have been me.