Chapter 41

Chapter 41:

-          Niall’s POV –

Day 56:

I’m currently laying on my bed; staring up at the ceiling. It was almost dinner time, and as usual, I couldn’t get Liam out of my head. This past week had been chaotic to say the least. Liam still hadn’t touched me, until yesterday he hadn’t even left his bedroom, he still wouldn’t tell me what had left him an utter mess the other day, and above all; he was now avoiding me at all costs.

I have no idea what I’ve done wrong.

I sighed and pulled my phone out of my pocket. I slid the screen open and started scrolling through my images until I found the one that I’d been searching for.

That picture of Liam and I on the balcony from some weeks back.

I stared at it for what felt like hours as my eyes examined every pixel. I was captivated by it. Well, not the side of the picture with me in it, but the side that had Liam. I stared and stared; unable to pull away from his perfection. I loved everything about him. I loved his soft brown hair, his hazelnut eyes that sent sparks shooting through me whenever they met mine, and his soft yet rough lips that I always craved more of. I loved the way that his eyes would scrunch up when he smiled, how when he was confused he’d get all pouty and he’d furrow his eyebrows into an adorable expression, how the feeling of his huge strong arms around me made me feel so secure; yet so nervous at the same time, how he’d always make me his priority; no matter what the cost.

I winced.

Well, he used to.

I sat up; still staring at the picture on my phone. I heard Harry call out from downstairs that dinner was ready and I got up off of my bed. I was about to lock my phone when I had a sudden impulse. I set the picture as my phone wallpaper and smiled to myself before locking the screen and walking downstairs to meet the others.

I came downstairs to see that everyone else was already seated around the breakfast bar. Harry had made spaghetti bolognaise and it smelled amazing. I sat down in my seat next to Liam but didn’t bother to say hello. He wouldn’t have responded anyway. Harry served everyone a plate and we all dug straight in. We ate in silence and I’m not going to lie, it was awkward.

Normally Liam would start a conversation with me and Louis would soon butt in with something random. Then Harry and Zayn would start talking to each other as Liam and Louis started arguing about something and I’d be sitting there laughing at the two of them. However, this time Liam didn’t say anything, so Harry attempted to start up a conversation with Zayn:

“So, anyone special in your life that we don’t know about? I’m pretty sure that you’re the only one here without a crush.” Harry asked casually. I almost choked on my spaghetti and shot Harry a shocked look. He saw it and smirked back at me for a moment before turning his attention back to Zayn.

“Umm... no?” Zayn answered; confused as to why Harry had asked him this random question out of nowhere. Louis laughed.

“Come on now Harry, you’re scaring the little guy!” He chimed in. Liam let out a small laugh next to me and I tensed. I hadn’t heard him laugh in what felt like weeks. I turned my attention back to Harry though; determined to find out what he’d meant by his previous comment.

Does he know..?

“Sorry, sorry! I was just curious is all...” Harry defended then trailed off; his gaze shifting to me again. I started to feel nervous.

“Wh-What..?” I managed to get out. I was almost positive that I didn’t want to hear what he was about to say next but I’d asked anyway. Harry chuckled.

“Oh nothing... just thinking that you look particularly cute today.” Harry joked. “Don’t you agree... Liam?”

 Shit. He does know.

I drew in a deep breath and slowly turned my head to face Liam. Liam smiled and turned to face me too before letting his eyes roam me up and down. My heart started to pound out of my chest.

“He always looks cute.” Liam said; taking another bite of pasta as he continued to stare at me.

Okay now my heart practically exploded. Liam had barely said two words to me the past week, and suddenly he was flirting again..? I didn’t get it.

“Oi, oi, you’re not planning on cheating on me, are you Harry?” Louis cut in; a slight pout of his face. Harry pulled his infamous cheeky grin and reached a hand up to ruffle Louis’ hair.

“No one could ever replace you, Lou.” He murmured. Louis blushed.

“Awwww!” Liam, Zayn and I all cooed at once.

“Now stop worrying and eat my miracle food.” Harry added. Louis laughed.

“I need a drink first, you want one?” Louis asked. He stood up and started walking over to the cupboards and Zayn scoffed.

“God, you’re just as whipped as Harry! Why don’t you offer any of us a drink?” Zayn pouted.

“There’s nothing ‘whipped’ about offering to get a drink for the one you love, if you want a drink, get it yourself.” Louis snapped back. I was about to laugh when Harry suddenly dropped his fork. We all turned our attention back to him to see that his mouth was hanging wide open. The room randomly fell silent.

“Y-You... love... me..?” Harry choked out; still gaping back at Louis. We all shot Harry a confused look, including Louis.

“Yes..? This isn’t news to you, why are you staring at me like that..?” Louis asked. He was just as confused as the rest of us. Harry furrowed his eyebrows.

“No... you’ve never told me that...” He mouthed slowly. Apparently it was news to him. Louis furrowed his eyebrows as well.

“We’ve been dating for almost a month, I’m positive that I’ve told you that at least once.” Louis argued. Harry started to get angry.

“If I can remember how many times you’ve screamed my name during sex, I’m pretty sure that I’d remember if you told me you loved me!” Harry yelled back. Zayn spat out his drink and started coughing all over the place.

When did he even get a drink..?

Liam and I made a face and stifled a laugh. Louis stared back at Harry in shock; eyes wide, mouth open. I felt really awkward just being near this situation.

Had Louis really not told Harry that he loved him yet..?

-          Louis’ POV -

Day 56:

Harry stared back at me in shock and I did the same. I was sure that I’d told him that I loved him.

...hadn’t I..?

Harry stood up and started walking towards me; an all too familiar look in his eyes. I took a step back only to realise that I was already backed up against the sink. Harry’s arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me against him. He leant in close and stared straight into my eyes. I was suddenly really nervous.

“You love me..?” He asked again; this time his eyes were almost begging me to give him the answer that he wanted.

“O-Of course I love you...” I answered, before blushing and looking down at the floor. I was now also suddenly very self conscious. I felt one of Harry’s hands slip from my waist and reach up to cup my cheek and tilt my head up so that I was facing him again. He started leaning closer and I felt my heart start to pound out of my chest. He closed his eyes and then he was kissing me with this feeling that I’d never felt from him before. It was like he needed me there to breathe. I wasn’t sure if I liked him feeling that desperate. Straight away I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. I seemed to get lost in his mouth and was only pulled back by the sound of Liam coughing loudly in the background. Harry didn’t pull away from me though. Instead he smiled against my lips and I felt his body shift as he bent down and scooped me up in his arms. Great, now I was nervous, self conscious, and embarrassed. And just like that without breaking his lips from mine Harry turned around and carried me out of the kitchen and upstairs into his bedroom.

And the more he kissed me like that the more the feeling grew, until I was drowning in it and clawing at Harry for more, then suddenly Harry was throwing me down onto his bed and climbing on top of me. I sat up and matted my hands into his hair and slammed our lips back together again as I dragged him back down with me. Now I really liked that Harry needed me so much. I wanted his entire world to revolve around me.

Eventually I had to pull back for air and Harry shifted to straddle me in my spot; his forehead resting against mine and his eyes staring into my own and making those nerves even stronger. I liked this feeling though. So damn much. Harry flashed me my favourite smile and I found myself smiling back uncontrollably. The room fell silent for a bit.

“...say it again.” Harry murmured. I smiled even wider. His cheesy side was one of my favourites. It made him Harry.

“I love you.” I breathed. Harry leant closer and sunk his teeth into my neck and started on a love bite. I groaned and tightened my grip on his hair.

“Say it again.” Harry urged. I felt his hands start rolling up my shirt and I arched my back and lifted my arms to help him get it off. When I landed back in the pillows I matted my hands back into his hair and pulled his forehead back against mine.

“I love you.” I smirked.

Harry smiled bright and wide and smashed his lips onto mine once again; this time gasping the words out against my lips:

“Say it... again...” He pushed. I felt his hands start fumbling to untie my trackies and I moaned into his mouth and kissed him harder.

“I... love... you...” I gasped. Harry pulled back and slid off my trackies, then wedged himself in between my thighs and held my legs apart. He started trailing his lips up the inside of my thigh and I gasped and clenched my eyes shut.

“...Say it again..!” He growled.

“Harry, I’m not going anywhere...” I gasped. “You’ll always hear it, as much as you want.”

Harry ran his tongue along the ridge of one of my hip bones and I moaned and wove my fingers into his curls.

 “...I’ll make you scream it.” He mumbled. “I love you, Lou.”

I took his face in my hands and pulled him up to meet his lips with mine again. I kissed him hard and slow and didn’t stop until I felt him start to tug my boxers off.

“I love you too, Harry.” I murmured.

-          Niall’s POV -

Day 56:

Liam, Zayn and I just sat there in the kitchen in silence. I think that we were all just trying not to imagine what Harry and Louis were doing right now. Eventually Zayn was the one to break the awkwardness.

“...I’m going out for a drink.” He muttered as he got up and headed for the front door. “You guys wanna join me?” He called from the hallway.

“Nah, we’re gonna stay in!” Liam called back.

Wait, what?

“Suit yourselves!” Zayn called out before opening and shutting the door behind him. Liam and I sat there in silence for a few moments.

“Since when do you get to say what I want?” I pouted. Liam laughed; making my heart skip a beat. He smiled back at me and I almost passed out then and there. I hadn’t realised how much I'd adored his attention, no matter how small.

“You don’t want to stay with me then..?” He mused before getting up and taking his bowl over to the sink.

“...I never said that.” I murmured. I was being as cautious as possible; trying to make sure that Liam didn’t change back into the one that was avoiding me again. Liam smiled back at me and walked into the living room. He sat himself down on the couch in front of the TV; spreading his legs out across both seats and propping himself up against the armrest. He looked up at me and patted the space in front of him on the couch to gesture for me to join him.

I bit my lip.

I didn’t know what was going on, but I definitely wasn’t going to waste a chance to spend any sort of alone time with Liam. I got up from my seat and walked over to join him and sat down in the middle of the couch in front of him. Liam grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. He started flipping through the channels; stopping it on Aladdin, of all things, and then set the remote back down on the table. I looked back at him sceptically:

“Aladdin? Really?” I mused sarcastically. He chuckled.

“Shut up and come over here.” He smirked. And with that, he leant forward and wrapped an arm around my waist and yanked me down into his arms. My heart was pounding. I felt him lean forward and grab my legs; pulling them up onto the couch, then tighten his arm around my waist and slide his other under my head for me to comfortably use his bicep as a pillow. His legs tangled themselves with mine and he leant back against the couch and hugged me even closer. I couldn’t move if I wanted to. Normally this would have me jumping for joy, but he hadn’t even ruffled my hair this past week and now suddenly he was full on spooning me on the couch?

I didn’t get it.

“Wha-Wh-Why are you hugging me..?” I choked; my thoughts slipping out before I could haul them back.

Shit.

I felt Liam’s body shift under me as he got comfortable:

“I thought you said that I didn’t need a reason to hug you..?” He murmured. My heart started to pound even harder.

He'd remembered that..?

“Y-You don’t...” I said softly. “It’s jus-“

“I’m sorry for being a dick to you this week.” Liam cut in. My eyes widened. “It wasn’t intentional that I was avoiding you, it just kind of happened...” He went on.

What the hell does that mean?

“I know that it’s not an excuse, but I had some stuff that I had to work through on my own... I hope that you can forgive me.” He murmured. I felt his hand start playing with my hair and I couldn’t help but lean my head back so that it was resting against his chest as well as his arm. I was in paradise. I smiled and closed my eyes; enjoying the overwhelming feeling of his warm body around mine.

“It’s alright...” I murmured; subconsciously grabbing his hand that was now resting on my stomach and taking it in mine.

Whoops.

I started playing with his fingers to make my intentions seem more irrelevant as I stared down at our hands.

His are so much bigger than mine... I wonder what they’d feel like against m-

Liam lightly pressed his lips to the top of my head and I instantly forgot about anything or any reason that I could possibly have to forgive him for.

“Are we okay then..?” He murmured into my hair. I squeezed his hand tight in mine and snuggled back closer.

Whoops.

“We’re always okay.” I answered softly.

Day 57:

The next thing I knew I was waking up to the sunlight streaming through the windows of the living room. I heard a moan come from beneath me and I opened my eyes to see Liam’s less than an inch away from mine. My eyes shot wide open and I glanced down to find that I was lying on top of him on the couch. Our legs were still entangled together and his bare arms were wrapped around me; hugging me tighter. My right arm was resting across his chest; my hand grabbing the back of his neck and pulling our foreheads together. That’s not even the worst part. Of course he had to be shirtless as well.

...

Holy fuck.

I slowly tried to get up but realised that my hand was being pinned beneath his waist. He moaned again and his arms tightened around me, and seeing that I hadn’t been this close with him in so long, I decided not move and to make the most of this. I watched his face as he slept and couldn’t help but smile to myself at how perfect he was. A smile of his own started to creep onto his lips and I started to wonder what he could be dreaming about. He let out another moan and I turned my ear to try to make out what he was saying:

“Nnnnn...” He murmured.

Nothing special there...

“Ni...” He breathed. I froze.

‘Ni’..? As in ‘Niall’? That can’t be right... but then again, I can’t think of anything else that starts with ‘Ni’...

I listened even closer.

“Niall...” He breathed again. He sounded extremely happy. My heart stopped.

Say it again.

“Nnnnn...” He murmured.

Say it.

“Ni... I...” He murmured.

Say it!

I unconsciously tightened my grip on Liam’s neck and his eyes started to open.

Shit, act asleep.

I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep as I heard him draw in a shaky breath.

“Wha...” He started but he trailed off. His low morning voice sent a shiver right through me, and he noticed.

“...you awake..?” He asked softly. I fluttered my eyes open to meet his; our faces still less than an inch apart.

“...morning Liam.” I murmured. He smiled back at me and I waited for him to say ‘morning Niall.’

“Morning...” He breathed with a smile.

Wait, no... Say it...

I felt his weight shift beneath me as he started to sit up:

“Sorry, but I have to go to the toilet.” He murmured. He grabbed my arms and flipped me over so that I was briefly beneath him before he stood up and started heading for the downstairs bathroom. It took me a moment to recompose myself.

“Have fun!” I called out. I heard him laugh as he shut the door.

As I laid there in silence I realised I couldn’t remember the last time I'd heard Liam call me by my name.

Why couldn’t I remember how he said it..?

Isn’t that something people normally swoon over? You know, like, the way the one you love says your name?

...so why couldn’t I remember?

I sighed and sat up; running a hand through my hair. Everything this past week had been going by so quickly. No, more than that, everything since the moment I’d found out that Liam was attracted to me had been going by quickly. There were still so many questions that tortured my mind.

Who was he talking to on the phone? What the hell had happened that night at the club? Was whatever that’d happened the reason Liam was crying? Why had he really been avoiding me? Why did we suddenly seem so much more intimate with each other than we used to be? Was Harry going to tell anyone?

...what was going to happen at the end of those sixteen days..?

I tensed. Those sixteen days were almost up, and I was still miles away from getting Liam to fall for me.

I was brought out of my trance by Liam’s hand reaching over my shoulder and grabbing his shirt off of the seat next to me. The sudden closeness of his bare chest had my heart racing. Liam started to pull back and I found my hand grabbing his wrist before I could stop it.

“You alright..?” Liam asked from above me. I looked up at him and realised what I was doing. I let go and averted my gaze from his; trying to hide my now bright red face.

“Ah... never mind...” I murmured before getting up and heading for the stairs.

Everything was a mess and I couldn’t make any sense of it anymore. I felt a knot start to form in the bottom of my stomach and I clenched my fists.

It felt like something big was coming.

Something huge.