Stay

39

EVIE

“Come over to mine? I have this new tea I reckon you’d like,” Niall said once we made it up to the floor where our apartments were. 

The drive back home had been easy. The roads had been considerably empty for this time at night. I was tired, to say the least, but more time spent with Niall worth the lack of sleep. I didn’t have class until the afternoon, so I knew that I could spend a few extra hours sleeping in. It isn’t like I have been getting much sleep lately anyways with all of the reading I’d been doing. 

All in all, I wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity to spend more time with him. 

“Sure,” I followed him through the threshold of his opened door. His apartment was cold, but not too freezing. It was a comfortable type of cold that made you want to smother yourself with as many blankets you possibly could. 

“Mum sent it over when she was in London visiting her sister. She said it has licorice in it I don’t know if you like licorice... I’m not too keen on it, m’self.” He rambled as he filled the kettle with water. 

“I’m not too picky.”

“I know you like coffee more, but I ran out. Someone decided to take the last bit I had because she forgot to go grocery shopping.”

“That wench,” I joked, knowing full well that it was me. What can I say? I needed my daily caffeine fix and he had the goods. “Tea’s fine.”

As we waited for the water to boil, Niall leaned lazily against the kitchen counter. 

“You look drained babe,” he comments. His voice was wavered... distraught. His tired eyes searching mine, looking for some glimpse into how I was feeling. He always looked like that. Worry was constantly etched into his boyish features. 

“M’fine,” I told him, my eyes keeping contact with his own. Hoping that he could see that everything was okay. 

“You don’t mention much about school...”

I shrugged. “There’s not much to say.” 

Niall watched me. His eyes contact not once faltering, just as he always does. “You know that you can come to me right? I’m here for you... always. M’not going anywhere.” 

I gave him a sure nod, a small smile playing at the corners of my lips. “I know that Ni.” 

“Sometimes I feel like you’re holding back from me. That there’s something you’re not telling me... I don’t know.” 

Straightening my posture, I looked at him. With furrowed brows, I bit down on my lip. “Where’s this all coming form?” 

He leaned against his elbows. His hands clasping together in a tight fist and his head bowed. I watched as he bit down on his bottom lip, bringing it into his mouth before releasing it slowly. His brows were furrowed in thought. Before I could say anything else, he straightened his posture. The serious scowl that was once painted across his face vanished, as a small smile replaced it. 

“I’m just being anxious... and stupid. Don’t worry about it,” Niall let out a breathless laugh. 

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah... M’sure.” 

And just before I could say anything else on the topic, the kettle began to scream. 

-

Niall and I cozied up on his couch, two boiling cups of licorice tea sitting against the coffee table. The television was turned on while a Friends rerun played on mute. He rested his feet against the coffee table - his favourite resting posture, while I leaned my body against his side. His arm draped causally over my shoulder... his thumb tracing patterns against my bare arm.