t h i r t y - t h r e e

When the concert was finally over, Liv and I gathered our things together. We were just about to walk out it when a security guard stepped out from the side of the path and blocked our way so we couldn't get out the doors. The man was bald and wearing a black short sleeve shirt, black trousers and black sun glasses even though it was dark.

"Ladies, you've been requested back stage by Niall. Please follow me," he said in a deep voice. I looked around quickly to find a large amount of people looking at us. I swallowed and followed Liv who was following the guard. We were lead past a line of other security men, all dressed the same, to the side of the stage where there was a door. The man pushed it open and we were lead down a brightly lit corridor past lots of different people all wearing cew uniform to another door. Dressing room the sign on the door said.

"Excuse me?" I said to the security guard but he just ignored me and knocked on the door. A few seconds later the door was opened and Niall stood in the doorway.

"Thanks Bill," he said to the security guard. Bill walked away, leaving me and Niall looking at each other and Liv just stood there not knowing what to do.

"Hi," he said awkwardly. I kept my mouth shut. Liv had told me it wouldn't matter if he saw me and now here I was stood backstage outside his dressing room.

"Um... you were really good tonight," Liv said to him in an attempt to ease the awkwardness.

"Thanks," he smiled weakly, "Do you wanna come in?"

"Sure!" Liv said fast before I could turn down his offer. I scowled as she pulled me by my wrist into Niall's dressing room. There were a red sofa and a red chair arranged around a small glass coffee table that had a load of food and drink on. The room was lit lightly by a weak light and the curtains were shut. Liv and I sat down on the sofa and Niall on the chair.

"How are you both?" Niall asked but I knew he wanted to talk to me alone. I just knew.

"Great thanks," Liv replied him cheerfully but when she realised he wasn't really focusing on her at all she just sighed and said, "I'll be in the car Lil. But if you take to long I will drive away."

She walked out the room without another word which left me alone with Niall, not knowing what to say.

"Your wearing my ring," he said and gestured to my right hand where the ring he'd given me as my birthday present was on my index finger. It fit perfectly even though he'd never asked me for my size.

"Yeah," I said blankly.

He sighed in annoyance, "What is up with you? I'm tryna be nice and all your doing is shooting me down."

"I'm waiting for my answer," I said in the most monotone voice in the world.

"Answer for what?" he sounded genuinely confused.

"For why you told me you don't care! And don't tell me to stop asking you because I won't, not until I get an answer," I snapped suddenly. He looked surprised at my out burst and I took a deep breath, "I just... I can't move on with my life without getting an answer."

"But you have moved on," he said, "Your dating Jack now."

I shook my head, "We um... we broke up."

"Oh," he said in a sorry voice but his face had lighten up when I'd told him, "Do ya wanna talk about it?"

"I'd rather not," I said. The break up hadn't actually effected me emotionally much at all. I thought I would've been sad but I wasn't. I felt guilty more than anything because I knew how much Jack loved me and it broke my heart that I had to break the news to him that I didn't feel the same way towards him as he did towards me.

Niall sat in silence, looking down and rubbing the back of his neck. I was clearly making him uncomfortable.

"Why did you want me backstage?" I finally asked him because the question had been bugging me for a few minutes.

"Oh um..." he fidgeted in his chair and cleared his throat, "I wanted to ask you to dinner."

My eyes went wide, "What?"

"I wanted to ask you dinner," he repeated.

"No no. I heard you but like... why?"

He ran his hand through his hair, "Cause I was a total arse hole two months ago by just leaving on your birthday and I've felt guilty ever since. So when I saw your right at the front when I was performing I thought I might as well ask."

I tilted my head, "Fine. On one condition," I waited until he nodded his head to continue, "I get to pick where we eat."

He huffed in annoyance, "Really? I had somewhere in mind."

"Ok, you can take me to what ever the restaurant you have in mind is if..." I tried desperately to think of something.

"You can't think of anything can ya?" he laughed.

"No just wait, something will come to mind!" I said, "I know!"

"Oh god, what?"

"I get to pick your order," I smiled but Niall's face stayed serious.

"Your joking."

"I'm not! Come one, it'll be a laugh," I said, "Other wise I won't go to dinner with you."

"Ugh your so stubborn sometimes!" he said in an annoyed voice.

"Me? Your the one refusing to tell me the answer to the question that could literally change the way I feel about you forever," I said.

He sighed and said reluctantly, "Fine, you can pick what I get at dinner."

I smiled and tried my hardest not to laugh but I ended up giggling and making Niall smile. 

"I should probably go otherwise Liv's gonna leave me here all on my own," I said once I'd stopped giggling and stood up.

"Ok," he walked to the door and opened it for me, "I'll pick you up at half 7 tomorrow for dinner yeah?"

I nodded, "Sounds good."

"Great," he smiled awkwardly, "Do I kiss you on the cheek to say bye or-"

"Bye Niall," I said with a chuckle before he could finish his sentence.

"Right," I heard him say quietly as I walked down the corridor back to where the security guard had lead me and Liv down to get to Niall's dressing room.

Everyone had left when I walked back out to where the crowd had been. I had to run to get out the doors before they were shut by a security guard. He'd watched me as I ran across the car park to Liv's car.

"Finally, I was about to leave," she said but I knew she wasn't because she was sat on her phone with her legs on the seat texting Alex.

"Liv I messed up!" I said as soon as I'd shut the passenger door. 

"What have you done?" she asked in an excited voice, she always loved a bit of drama whether it was me or her or just any random stranger from town.

I looked down into my lap, "Niall asked me out for dinner and I said yes."

"What! Wait Lily this is great!" she took hold of both my shoulders and shook me, "Your getting your man back girl!"

"No, this is bad!" I said and pushed her hands off my shoulders roughly.

"How?"

I racked my brain for why going for dinner with Niall was a bad thing and the truth was, I couldn't find any. 

"Exactly," she said happily. I huffed at her and pulled my seat belt on, staring out the window the entire time. 

I didn't talk to her the entire journey home and when we got home I went straight to my room and lay on my bed, staring at my ceiling. I didn't get to sleep properly for ages that night. I kept waking up and then not being able to get back to sleep. I kept asking myself why I agreed to going to dinner with Niall. I knew it was as friends, he'd said that himself. Or had he? I couldn't remember and it was making me stressed and hot. I ended up going into the living room and just sleeping on the sofa. It was much cooler in there anyway.