(Niall's POV)
As we walk into the house, his mother is making supper. The aroma of meatloaf and a hint of lavender fill the air. I can't help but smile. So far, I feel more at home here than I do at my own home and I haven't even been here for a full five minutes yet. His mom seems kind enough and the aura of the house is more peaceful than anything.
"Hello, Harry! Is this the Niall boy I've heard so much about?" she smiles.
"Yes, mom," Harry says.
"Hi, I'm Anne."
"H-Hi.."
"Well, I'll let you boys hang out. Dinner will be done in about half an hour."
(Harry's POV)
I'm absolutely terrified for him to meet my sister. I'm sure she'll like him. But, it's the simple fact that he's meeting my family. Why am I so worried? We're not even dating. Heck, we're not even really good friends yet. I shouldn't care if they think we're dating. I mean, we're just friends. Right?
I lead Niall up to my room - the only place in my house where I can escape. My room is a perfect representation of who I truly am. The walls are an eggshell white with posters of some of my favorite bands and singers everywhere. On my wall, you'll see Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Kings of Leon, and many other bands and artists. As you walk in, you'll see my dresser at the left and my bed right in front of you. The floor in my room is spotless and made of hardwood. On my bed is a set of blue and orange checkered sheets, a deep chocolate teddy bear with a red bow around the neck, a large orange fuzzy pillow, a black body pillow, and a zebra print throw blanket. Across the room, directly in front of my bed, is my television stand. The television is a 51" flat screen Samsung. The stand itself is a wooden desk looking stand. Underneath, I have many different boxes with my dvd's, games, and cd's in them. Beside my television, I have a Play Station 3 and a Wii. In the corner across the room from the door, I have stacks of books lining the wall. Within these books is Fight Club, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Help. If I had to guess, I'd say I have a good two hundred books lining my wall - most of those I still need to read. In the corner beside my dresser is a hamper overflowing with dirty clothes from the last two weeks that still need washed. If you get into my closet - which is right beside the door - you'll find all sorts of black and gray shirts, several graphic tee's, skinny jeans, and jackets. In the extra closet on the other side of my bed, you'll find several boxes of guitar picks, juggling balls, an air mattress, and a list of other odds and ends.
"So," I begin. "What do you think?"
"It's nice. Much better than my house at home. I literally had a beat up mattress on the floor in the corner."
"Well, I have an air mattress. Unless you wanna sleep on my bed."
"I can take the air mattress. I like air mattresses better anyways."
I can't help but fake a smile. Part of me was kind of hoping he would sleep in my bed. I really don't like sleeping alone in my bed. It always feels so alone. But, I guess I'll feel so much better knowing that Niall is right at the foot of my bed on the air mattress. It's the weekend, so we're probably going to be up late tonight. Hopefully I can help Niall feel like he's welcome here because I really don't want him feeling like a burden. He's absolutely not.
We sit down on my bed and I can't help but smile at him, the way he observes things, the way he looks so intrigued by everything.
"So, what are you thinking?" I ask.
"I.... I really like your room."
"Thanks."
"So, what kinds of books do you have here?"
"All different kinds. You can read some of them if you want. I'm sure you can find something you like."
(Niall's POV)
I start looking through all of his books. I hope I can find something that I like in here. There has to be over a hundred books here. I find Harry Potter, To Kill A Mockingbird, and The Hunger Games - along with a bunch of other books I've never read. I plan on reading as many of these as possible. You see, I absolutely love reading. I try to read as much as I can so I don't become super illiterate like half of the people in this school.
"Dinner's ready," I hear Harry's mom yell. What did she say her name was? Anne?
We walk into the kitchen as his mom is putting the food on the table. Meatloaf, green beans, corn, and mashed potatoes. It all looks really good. My mother never cooked like this for me. I always had to fend for myself back home and there was always hardly any good food in the house.
"So, you guys go to school together?" she asks.
"Yeah.... Uh, Harry actually took up for me because a group of kids were teasing me for being gay."
"Oh, well that was nice of him. I've raised you right, Harold," she smiles.
"Well, I... I know Niall would do the same for me. Right Niall?" he says.
"Right," I say.
I've never felt more welcomed somewhere than I do right at this table. This is exactly where I belong. Harry and his family are so nice and welcoming towards me. I've never felt more welcomed than I do with this family.
~~~~~
As soon as we get done eating, Harry and I go back into his room. He tries to help me pick out a few books to read. I pick up a book called Lust. It's part of a series called Seven Deadly Sins. It looks interesting enough. They're small books, so I take the first three - Lust, Envy, and Pride.
He smiles at me and I can't help but smile back. I'm not sure what he's thinking or why he's smiling at me like that. But, it makes me blush.
"I haven't read that series yet," he explains. "Let me know if it's good."
"I will," I smile down at the books.
I don't know why I'm so awkward around him all of a sudden. Maybe it's because I'm at his house or because he's actually showing an interest in me. I'm not completely sure but I feel completely ridiculous. Part of me can't help but wonder what this is going to develop into. Are we always going to be just friends? Is this going to develop into more than just a friendship? I'm not sure. But, all I know is I wouldn't mind either.
I can't help but smile at the thought of us being together. Wait... Do I like Harry? We've known each other for years. But, I've only ever talked to him two or three times before we became friends. We've been friends for a few days now and that truly makes me happy. The fact that he's opened up to me and I can open up to him is the best feeling in the world. I've opened up more to him than I ever have to anyone before - even Savannah. Sure, Savannah is my best friend. But, Harry understands the struggle of being gay. I've never had someone there to help me get through it and understand what I'm going through. I can only hope everything works out.
