out of the blue / n.h

Chapter 18

MELANIE RICHARDS

“What did she say?” Jamie asks in a curious tone.

“She said it has been a year since I talked to her about a guy so she found the guy I should date.” I point my index finger to my chest.

“What? I can’t believe she said that!” Jamie tips his head back as he laughs.

“She’s so serious about this guy, I don’t know—it’s weird.” I remark.

It’s weird, really. I think to myself as Jamie drives my car to school. The familiar white SUV car parked right next to my car. It’s Niall’s car. I feel my heart skips a beat as I smile for no reason and shake my head. Seems that I can see him continuosly, by small chances.

I wonder what is he doing here?

“Why are you smiling by yourself?” Jamie asks in sudden as we pass his white SUV.

“No, I’m not.” I scoff.

“Yeah, right. Don’t hide secrets from me.” He smirks.

“Nothing, really. I was just smiling because it’s. . .” I sigh and smile, again.

“You're really weird.”

“What’s your problem?” I tease.

“Nothin’, it seems strange for you smiling at yourself without listening to your stupid 80’s music on Monday morning.” He raises his brows, opening the two-faced mirror door.

“Stop it, at least I don’t listen to some of your freaky indie music.” I snap.

“At least my songs are on our generation.” He shrugs, leading me to his locker. I glare at him then look around the hall to find that charming face of Niall’s. I smile at myself, again.

“Stop it!” Jamie scolds.

“Mind your business. You’re not helping.” I shake my head then leave Jamie to head myself to my locker. I unlock my locker and shove the books from my bag and trade them with English. I grab my cologne and spray it on my neck and my palm.

“Whoa. Easy there.” An Irish accent coos in my ear making my cheekbones pop up. I turn around to see Niall dressed up in a NOSIOP shirt. It takes a little while for me to figure that it’s actually POISON.

“H—Hey.” I smile, closing my locker.

“Hi. How was last Friday?” He grins.

“It went. . . Great.” I lie.

“How was you and Miles going?”

“Fine.”

“I doubt that you went straight home.” He smirks.

“I went to my friend’s house.” I roll my eyes.

“Well, it’s really nice to bump into you again here.” He winks.

“On purpose, yeah. . .” I tease and look behind him to see Jamie passes by throwing glares at me, shaking his head and walks towards his next class.

“So. . .” He nods slowly.

“I have a class to go, so . . .” I tilt my head. “I better go.” I smile nervously.

“Can I see you after school?” He asks.

“Yeah, sure.” I nod.

“Maybe we can grab a lunch together?” He offers.

I laugh with no reason. “Well, see you later.” I wave at him and walk down the hall. I take a look back and see Niall there at the same spot still smiling at me. I turn my head and walk briefly. I feel my cheeks are in a deep shade of red, so I keep my head down.

As I walk in, I scoot to my desk and prepare the assignments I did last night. I keep on focusing on English even if I hate it. In break, I walk to Jamie’s locker to find him behind the locker hitting his fingers on his phone. He lifts his head to see me closing his locker with a huge grin covers my face.

“What.”

“What?” I tease.

“How come you haven't told me about it?”

“About what?”

“The blondie.” He shakes his head.

“It's nothing, we’re just friends. . .” I nod.

“You look so flipped you must be really like him.” He squints his eyes.

“Flipped? What are you talking about?” I laugh.

“See? I've never seen you like this.”

“Like what?”

“Smiling all the time acting like an idiot this whole morning.”

“So what? I can’t be happy for once?”

“Not like that.” He glares.

“What do you want to know?” I rest my shoulder against the locker.

“All the reasons behind your teasing attitude.” He raises his brows. “Smells like Niall Horny—“

“Horan.”

“—tripped you over.” He smiles.

“He doesn’t.”

“It’s actually a good thing for me. You know, to know you’re straight.” He jokes.

“Yeah. Whatever.”

When all classes end, I walk out of the gym and hurry myself to my locker to shove my books. I walk to the lobby to wait for Niall to pick me up.

I try to be cool the same time someone pokes my shoulder, and nearly makes me jump.

NIALL HORAN

I walk to the jeep Luke traded. I wish I can go into the building, again, to see Melanie but I have a class to go also. I get to class as soon the clock hits 8.00 am. Professor Tipton shakes his head as he sees me run into my seat. I shove out my macbook and my glasses then start to write notes. It’s a full time lecture and it almost dozes me off for a moment but I manage myself not to. As the class ends, I make my way to the cafeteria to get a coffee.

I can’t stop thinking about the lunch date with Melanie. Is it a ‘date’? Well, what matters is I’m going out with her.

“Yo.” Wayne taps my shoulder follows by Wyatt and Calvin.

“Hey, what’s up?” I answer.

“Did you bring the jeep?” Cal asks.

“Yeah, it’s in the parking lot.” I nod.

“Sorry you had to do this, though. You know that we’re the highschool’s alumni and we once caught up barging into the school—“ Wyatt takes a seat next to me.

“It’s okay.”

After a long break, I walk to Professor Q’s class and I smile at him when he sees me behind his boss seat.

“Niall, come here.” He stands up and leans in by his hands on his desk.

"Yeah,” I stand after him.

“Listen, Dewey is absent. You’re my secondary assistant and I really need you to help me with these assignments kids did a week ago. It’s only a couple papers left to check, so, maybe you can help me with it.”

“Uhm, actually, I can’t. I have this date to go and—“

“Niall, name this as my final favor. After that, I promise I will give you additional notes for the whole 2 weeks.” He explains. “Is that a deal?”