t h i r t y - f o u r

Liv helped me pick an outfit for my dinner with Niall. She'd emptied my entire wardrobe and most of hers until she finally found an outfit she'd said was 'perfect for a friendly dinner that is definitely not a date'. It was a long sleeve black body con dress that reached half way down my thighs, a pair of black tie up heels that went just slightly up my ankles and a small black handbag with a gold chain and detailing. She also forced me to wear some of her gold jewelry which was a surprise because she barely ever let people borrow her jewellery, even me. She'd left my hair down which pleased me because I liked my hair most when it was just normal and she left my face completely natural apart from a small bit of eyeliner, mascara and lip balm.

I was pacing back and forth in the living room as soon as the clock hit 7:31, my heels making a sound with every step I took.

"He's not coming," I panicked, "He only asked me because he wanted to make me look like an idiot."

"Oh yeah cause the man who loves you most in the world is really gonna mess with you like that," Liv said. She was sat on the sofa eating chicken strips covered in ketchup in her favourite over sized hoodie and jogging bottoms.

I carried on pacing up and down our flat, staring at my outfit whenever I passed the mirror.

"Why did you dress me in black? I look like I'm going to a funeral," I said when I looked to closely at myself.

"You do not! Anyway," she stood up and walked over to me, "You look hot in black."

I smiled at her and turned to hug her. She pulled me into her warm body and I giggled when she rubbed my back and said quietly, "Your bum looks so good from this ankle."

"How about this," I laughed and wiggled it.

She squealed, "Yes babe! Shake that ass!"

I threw my head back in laughter, causing loud cackles to escape my mouth which made Liv scream with laughter.

Her and I both jumped though when there was a knock on the door. My face dropped and Liv stopped laughing immediately.

"He's here," I hissed.

"Well go answer the door then," she hissed back. I took a deep breathe and walked over to the door. When I looked back around Liv had jumped back onto the sofa and was already half way through another chicken strip, like she'd stayed on the sofa the entire time.

I opened the door to Niall's back but he spun around as soon as he heard it open. He was wearing dark blue jeans, he always wore jeans, a dark green crew neck and grey trainers.

"Hey," he said. He sounded nervous which made me glad because I was also nervous.

"Hi," I said awkwardly.

He stood like a statue for a minute or two just staring at me and my body. I didn't know where to look so I sort of copied him and looked at him.

"Hey Lily!" Liv shouted from inside the flat.

"Yeah?" I replied, turning so I could see her.

"Could you maybe shut that door, it's getting kinda chilly in here," she said in a smug voice. I rolled my eyes at her because I knew full well she was perfectly fine wrapped in her hoodie.

I slammed the door shut and turned back to Niall, "Shall we go?"

He nodded and we walked side by side down the disgusting stair case of mine and Liv's flat building to his car that was parked directly outside the door. 

I climbed into the passenger seat while he climbed into the driver's side and instantly, my brain was taken over by the amazing smell. It really was the best smell in the world.

"So were are we going?" I asked as he pulled out into the road.

"It's a surprise," he said with a smile that made me smile.

"But I need to know what I'm gonna order you."

"Well you'll have to wait until we get there," he said with a smirk. I huffed but I wasn't really mad.

"So how ya been?" Niall asked me after a few moments of silence.

I shrugged even though he didn't see because his eyes were on the road, "Alright."

"That's good," he said. I giggled and he looked at me quickly, "What?"

"Nothing," I said but my laughs got heavier and more harder to hide.

Niall chuckled, "Tell me."

"Your trying so hard," I said, truthfully.

I saw him run his hand through his hair, "Is that bad?"

"No," I shrugged again, "I just prefer you more when your not thinking so much about how your acting."

"But I thought you hated me," he said quietly.

"What?"

"Well you always seem to be so sharp with me. It just seems that everything I do pisses you off," he sounded heartbroken at his own words and I had to stop myself from reaching out and hugging him.

I sighed, "Do you wanna know something?"

"Ok," he said quietly. We reached a huge line of traffic that wasn't moving and the car stopped so Niall turned to look at me.

"I can't hate you."

He looked confused but he didn't say anything so I carried on speaking.

"And you especially should know that. I fell in love with you and your smile and your beautiful laugh and your humor and your eyes and everything about you. Even the tiniest things like how you always have to have a drink of water next to your bed or how when you take a shower you always wash your body first and your hair last," I didn't notice the tears that were falling down my cheeks until one landed on my lips and left a salty taste there after it had dissolved, "It doesn't matter how much I try to make myself hate you, I can't."

Niall sniffed as his response and turned back to the road. The traffic was moving now and we turned a corner down a road I'd never been down.

"We're here," he said in a voice with absolutely no emotion at all. 

Now look what you've done. You opened your big mouth and made it awkward and now the entire evening is ruined I said to myself in my head. I sighed and tried to keep from crying as I climbed out the car and followed Niall into the restaurant.