t h i r t y - f i v e

"Hi I have a reservation for a table for 2 for 7:50 with the name Horan," Niall said to the woman at the front desk. She looked him up and down with a small smile and I frowned. Why could she not just do her job and show us to our table.

"Oh yes, right this way," the woman said in a voice that she was clearly trying to make sound sexy but it didn't work at all. Niall just laughed and when the woman looked at him he pretended he was coughing which just made me chuckle.

Niall and I were lead through the restaurant past lots of people that were clearly very rich. We were given a table right at the back of the restaurant. There was a candle already lit in the center of the table, along with a thin glass with a single white rose in, a salt and pepper shaker and 2 menus. The cutlery was positioned perfectly and the wine glass was the perfect length away from the knife. There were 2 other tables near ours but they were both empty and didn't look prepped. 

"Someone will come and take your order soon," the woman said when Niall and I had both taken our seats opposite each other. Niall nodded at her and she walked away.

I figited in my seat while we waited. My eyes looked away but Niall's but I knew his eyes were on me.

"So what are you picking for me to eat?" he asked, trying to make conversation.

I shrugged, "You can choose, I don't mind."

My leg started bouncing under neath the table and I hopped Niall wouldn't notice me getting nervous. But he did. And when I felt his foot reach out and rest on top of my foot, my eyes snapped up and looked at him for the first time since we'd sat down.

He opened his mouth to speak but I shot up from the table before he had the chance.

"I'll be right back," I said in a wobbly voice and walked quickly through the restaurant to the toilets that had been pointed out for us when we'd arrived.

I slammed the door open and went to the sink, leaning over it like I was going to be sick. I had no clue what was going on with my body but it was strange. My emotions were all over the place, probably because I hadn't been sleeping to well the past week. One second I wanted to slap Niall and the next I wanted to kiss him. But over riding all the emotions was one stronger than them all.

Fear.

I was scared that I would mess up the entire being friends thing by making a stupid move. I was scared that if I said the words I still love you to him he wouldn't say the same back. I was so so scared that at any moment he was going to give me the answer to the question that had been eating at me for almost 2 years and I would have my heart shattered again.

I was leant over the sink for about 2 minutes until I heard a toilet flush and I stood up straight and pretended to be checking my hair. A beautiful black haired woman with pale skin and piercing blue eyes and red lips walked out the cubicle. She smiled at me in the mirror as she washed her hands in the sink next to me and I forced a smile back. She quickly pulled a white paper towel out the holder and dabbed her hands dry before walking out the bathroom, leaving me alone.

I took a few deep breathes.

"Stop making a fuss, it's just one dinner," I said quietly to myself. I checked myself in the mirror one last time before sighing and walking out the toilets and back to mine and Niall's table where there was a very handsome waiter stood with a note pad and pen.

"Hey," I said quietly to Niall as I slid back into my seat. He gave me a small smile.

"Do you know what you would like madam?" the waiter asked.

"Oh um... I'll just have the carbonara and some garlic bread please," I said. My voice was weird and I cleared my throat to try and make it normal.

"And drink?" the waiter asked.

"Just a glass of water," I replied, shooting a quick glance at Niall who was staring under neath the table to what I could only presume was his phone.

"Ok, your meals should be out shortly," the waiter said and walked away.

For the second time that evening, my eyes looked anywhere but Niall. I twirled a strand of my hair around my fingers for a minute or two but it got boring quickly. I could feel Niall watching me and I just know I blushed about 50 times in the space of a single minute.

"Lily?"

I heard Niall say my name but I was to deep in my thoughts to answer him.

I need to tell him how I feel. But what if he laughs at me? He always laughs at me. But maybe he won't. He can be serious sometimes, if he really wants to be. But would he want to be serious. He might just think I'm lying and trying to make a joke.

"Lily?" Niall said, louder this time.

"Hm?" I snapped out my thoughts and looked up at him.

"I asked you a question."

Did he? I couldn't recall him asking me anything.

"Oh... sorry," I said and began playing with my fingers because I was nervous, "What was the question?"

"What's wrong?"

His voice was soft and cautious and I had to force myself not to walk around the table and fall into his arms that I always felt safe in.

I shook my head a little, "Nothing."

He sighed, "Ok that's it."

"What are you doing?" I said when he got up from his seat and walked towards the front of the restaurant.

The woman who had shown us to our table suddenly appeared and looked at Niall with a confused face. I didn't hear their conversation but it didn't last long. It ended with the woman nodding and walking away and Niall walking back to me.

When he reached me he took my hand in his and pulled me up from my chair.

"Get your bag," he demanded.

"Why?"

"C'mon just do it."

I sighed and picked my bag up from the floor and slung it over my shoulder. He was smiling when I looked back up at him.

"What?" I said, trying not to giggle.

His smile widened and then suddenly we were basically running through the restaurant to the glass doors. The cool air from outside made me shiver when we stepped outside.

"What are you doing?" I asked him again. He stopped walking and turned to me.

"We're going on a walk," he smiled but when my face stayed the same his smile dropped slightly, "Lily, c'mon. I wanna have fun and you and I both know that sitting in that restaurant with that annoying waiter who was totally in love with me is not fun."

"She wasn't in love with you," I rolled my eyes.

"I think she was," he said and I couldn't help but chuckle.

I sighed, "Let's walk then."

His smile reappeared, "Where do ya wanna go?"

I smiled as well, "Anywhere and everywhere."