Chapter Four ~ Pieces
"So let me get this right, you haven't rehearsed yet?" Zayn's eyes were wide as he lounged on the couch in the office. I was busy trying to fill out some forms, but he didn't seem to be bothered as he distracted me.
The dick.
"No Zayn, as I said not even five minutes ago, we haven't. It's been three days since our little impromptu performance, I don't know why this is such a shock to you." I rolled my eyes as I began to set up an appointment for tomorrow afternoon.
"I just thought you'd be rehearsing all the time is all. I was a bit worried I wouldn't get to see you..." I glanced up to see him staring at the ceiling in embarrassment.
He was so thick sometimes.
"Zayn, it's a hobby. I won't be spending all my free time on it. I'll always have time for you and Lou, you're my best mates. Me without you is like...fried chicken without mashed potatoes, completely irrashional!" I waved my hands around as if to make my point all the clearer, he just chuckled.
"Ni, sometimes I worry about you." There was amusement lacing his voice but a genuine smile lit up his face. He knew I was being completely honest and I could tell that my words meant a lot to him, even if he refused to say so out loud.
"Yeah, well if you don't shut the fuck up you're going to have to worry about yourself more because I'm gonna mess you up. You are seriously a worse distraction than Louis sometimes." I huffed as he shot me a glare.
"Don't compare me to that wanker."
I brushed him off and went back to work, thankfully, so did he.
I had been in pretty high spirits since last Friday night, but it seemed the high was beginning to wear off. I was starting to feel lost again, confined. I don't know why I can't just let go of these feelings, it's like they're my shield, and even though they hurt they also help. They are a reminder, a connection to her. The only one I had left. I was finally coming to terms with her death, and it was still painful to think of Autumn but at least I no longer broke down at just the sound of her name. I could speak about her, I could remember her with a small smile on my face. It wasn't much, but compared to six months ago it was a major improvement.
Change is hard though, and letting go of these thoughts that I've held so close to me is like loosing a part of myself...again.
I just feel like I've been down this road one too many times. There had only been around two moments in the past year that I had felt alright and they had both occurred during the previous week. I was trying my best to wrap my head around it, but it was difficult. There were only two common factors: music, and Harry.
God, I needed a pint, all this thinking was driving me crazy.
I finished filling out the forms, my mind only half paying attention. I just wanted to go out and have a few drinks with the lads, hell maybe even Harry and Liam would come. My fingers were itching for my guitar while my mind was buzzing with the simple prospect of another night out on the town. I didn't go out often, I never felt the need to, but there were some days when staying cooped up inside felt like a prison sentence. I wanted to have fun, just like I used to.
I walked out of the office and went back to the waiting room to give the filled forms back to the customer and then I was free for the night. Dusk was just beginning to settle over the busy city and I was aching to be out in the hustle and bustle.
I knew Louis would be up for a night out, no problem. He always enjoyed public places, it gave him more people to talk to and therefore more people to laugh at his jokes. He was a funny lad with energy seeming to bounce off of him in thick waves. He was a people person to the extreme, which could be a bad thing but mostly it worked out in my favor. At least, it worked out in my favor for nights like these.
Zayn, on the other hand, was a bit more subdued in his actions, but when he came out of his shell he was almost as bad as Louis. He liked to talk and joke around but he didn't always enjoy huge amounts of attention. He preferred to stay a bit more behind the scenes with a few close friends, instead of multitudes of 'friends.'
Yet, when push came to shove I knew I could count on both of them, no matter what. Tonight would be no different.
"Niall! You ready to head out?" Zayn asked as he draped his arm over my shoulders. I shrugged him off and turned to face him.
"You need a ride Malik?"
He grinned sheepishly at me before scratching the back of his neck with his grease coated fingers. We were both covered in smudges of black oil and dirt, just one of the many cons of working in a garage, but it sure as hell beat a desk job.
"Yeah, I don't exactly feel like waiting for cab in this weather." He grimaced as we both looked out at the wind that was whipping about the trees in angles I was sure they weren't supposed to bend.
I hated wind more than any other weather, and Zayn shared my distaste for it.
"Alright, come on then." We shuffled over to clock out before going out back to where my small Camery was parked.
The wind licked at my face, blowing my hair about with no regards for the product that was supposed to be holding it in place. I quickened my pace as I felt chills begin to run up and down my body and Zayn was right on my heels.
"Do you want to go to a pub tonight?" I questioned once we were safe and sound in our seats with the doors closed tight.
"Yeah mate, what's the occasion?" Zayn muttered, leaning back in his seat and getting comfortable as I pulled out into the busy London traffic.
"I want a pint."
Zayn laughed at my blunt explanation but made no comment. Over the last four years of friendship he'd come to appreciate my love for all things beer and food.
"You called Louis yet?"
"Nah, I wanted to ask you first. Lou's always up for a night out so I was pretty sure he could wait." He nodded. "Do you mind if I invite Harry and Liam along?"
Zayn was quiet for a bit, he was never one to just blurt out an answer and instead thought it through and seemed to weigh all the different outcomes. I knew better than to bother him while he was in his zone so I simply drove on and waited as patiently as I could for him to come back down to Earth.
"They seemed nice enough, and I have no doubt that they're fun lads." He paused yet again and I could swear I heard the gears turning in his head as he thought his words through carefully. "But...are you sure you're ready to bring new people into your life?"
I frowned at that.
"They're already in my life Zayn, for God's sake we're in a band together!" I huffed, not liking the tone of his voice.
"Ni, that's not what I meant..." He sighed, running his hands over his legs as if trying to wip away his fears. "I just mean, well...you're not going to replace Lou and I with them, right?"
"Why the fuck would I do that?"
"I don't know..."
"Zayn, is that really how you think of me? That I would ditch my two closest friends just because a couple new people came along? For Christ's sake, how long have you known me?! I wouldn't ditch you nor Louis. You twats are stuck with me forever whether you like it or not."
"Wow Niall, you really know how to make a person feel loved." I rolled my eyes as he clutched his chest in mock hurt.
"Sod off."
With that we drove on. The wind made traveling a bit more complicated, but eventually we made it to Zayn's flat. He lived in a rather small complex with only four floors, but he loved it. It was certainly a nice place and his flat was about the same size as mine, if not bigger. I pulled up in front of the building, not needing to park since I was going to head home.
"Thanks Ni, I'll be at your place by eight? Then we can just head to the pub altogether. There's no point to wait for Louis to show up there when we can do it comfortably at yours."
"Aye, that sounds fine. See ya."
"Bye."
I drove off as soon as he entered the building, finally feeling a sense of ease. I was going out tonight, I would let loose and have fun. It was amazing what a night without worries could do to you.
As I entered my flat I was feeling rejuvenated. I took a shower and washed away all the grime that had covered my body, once again, before getting back to business. Even if the others weren't able to make it tonight, at least I had Zayn. He would never let me down, which is probably one of the reasons he's my best mate.
I took out my phone and dialed Harry quickly, rather looking forward to talking to him. I hadn't seen him since Friday night, but I had had such a good time with him I was excited with just the prospect of getting to see him again. It was like I could already feel the developments of a great friendship in the air.
"Hey Niall." Harry said as he picked up his phone, I could just imagine that giant grin on his face.
"Harry, hey how's it going?"
"Pretty good, how 'bout yourself?"
"Alright, anyways, I was wondering if you and Liam were up for a night out? Zayn, Louis and I were gonna go to a pub for a couple beers if you're interested..." I had somehow reverted back to my awkward fifteen year old self with this stupid phone conversation. I felt like a nervous wreck which was strange since I honestly had no reason to be.
"We'd love to! Which pub?" Harry's excited response made me relax almost instantly. I was right, nothing to worry about at all.
"We were just gonna head to DJ's, if that sounds fine to you?"
DJ's was the pub I usually frequented. They had an open mic night during the week and amazing bands on the weekends. I'd even seen Ed Sheeran play there a few years back, before he got his big break. Autumn loved him and we went and saw him quite a few times, we even met him. He was a really nice bloke.
"Oh yeah! That sounds great, I love DJ's, it's the perfect mix between a pub and music." I smiled, nodding along with Harry's description, he'd hit it head on.
"It really is! So, we're gonna be heading there around eight? I'm not exactly sure of the exact time because Louis is so damn unpredictable, but if you don't want to be guessing you can just meet us at my flat? It's only just around the corner from the pub." I don't know why I offered, I really don't because the words were tumbling out of my mouth before I even had a chance to comprehend them.
"You sure mate? We could meet you at the pub no big deal." Harry sounded a bit hesitent.
I may not have realized what I was saying at first but I didn't see any problem with them coming to mine, it was bound to happen eventually if we were going to start rehearsing.
"Yeah, it's no problem. Zayn and I will just be watching some television and complaining about Louis. You're more than welcome to join." I was smiling so wide as I pictured the four of us bitching about Louis and just lounging around like old friends.
"Alright, then I guess we'll be at your flat by eight."
Harry eventually hung up after getting directions and just chatting about random things. He was such an easy person to talk to and I really enjoyed it. If I would have been told two weeks ago that I would be part of a band with two blokes I didn't even know I would have never believed it. Actually, I still hardly believed it. I hadn't been singing in public for so long and whenever I did sing I couldn't help but think of Autumn. She loved it when I sang to her, and I just sort of fell out of the habit after she died.
Yet, here I was singing and making new friends again. I would have to give Autumn the credit though, had she not asked me to visit our park once more I would have never met Harry. I would have most likely never returned to that park if she hadn't insisted that I do so, for her. But God, I'd have done anything for her and I guess even now she still knew that. I couldn't help but think she sent me Harry, and she sent him for a reason other than singing. What that reason was, I didn't know, but I felt something in the pit of my stomach whenever he was around and I knew singing wasn't the only thing Harry was going to do for me.
I had a feeling that by the time I figured it out, my life would never be the same.
*+*+*+*
Zayn was late by five minutes, which was an all new record. This time apparently his alarm had not gone off and if it weren't for his next door neighbor's annoying obsession with the drums he would probably still be asleep.
Harry and Liam had been right on time. Actually when I opened the door and saw them standing out in the hall it was a rather comical sight. Both had flushed faces and were breathing hard, though Harry looked peeved while Liam just simply looked concerned.
"Sorry, we lost of track of time. Then of course Harry here, got us lost." Liam sent Harry a glare which was fiercely returned.
"Don't act all innocent Liam. You're the one who was convinced we didn't need to stop and ask for directions." Harry rolled his eyes before turning back to me with a small smile. "Sorry..."
I just laughed at the two.
"You guys didn't have to rush. As I said, we're meeting here first because my friends don't know how to be on time. Zayn always has reasonable excuses at least, while Lou...well he's a unique guy that's for sure." I stepped aside and allowed them to enter my flat.
They both smiled brightly at me while shoving their hands deep into their large winter jumpers. I would guess by their flushed faces that the wind had yet to die down. Just as we had all settled down in the front room my door beeped. I groaned, before getting up and buzzing Zayn in.
I wished there was some way to open the door for them without having to get up. I was a lazy arse and I hated having to walk to the door twice just to let one person inside. While I was up I unlocked the door for Zayn and grabbed a few beers before heading back to my front room.
"Wow Niall, that's a nice guitar." Liam pointed towards my baby which was perched over in the far right corner. I always played her a bit before going to sleep, so I kept her in a place with easy access.
"Aye, my Mum and Dad got it for me about ten years back. She plays beautifully though, so I see no need to replace her." I shrugged before tossing him a beer and then handing one to Harry. They both nodded in thanks.
"I wouldn't ever replace her if I were you. I mean you could buy a few more guitars but you should never get rid of your first one." Liam spoke knowingly.
"You play then?" I perked as I took a sip of my beer.
"Uh..a bit." His cheeks and ears both heated up in a flush but it seemed to suit him.
"It's a lovely instrument. I wish I knew how to play." Harry mused as he stared at my guitar as well.
"I'll teach ya, if ya want." I offered as Harry's head sprung towards me faster than I thought possible. His green eyes were wide and his mouth was slightly parted in surprise.
"Really?"
"Course."
Just then my front door slammed open and in stormed a rather pissed looking Zayn. His usually perfect quiff was standing up in all different directions. His face was also flushed and his eyebrows were furrowed. He had on his heavy black jumper and was sporting his glasses.
"I fucking hate wind." He grumbled before plopping down beside me. "What the fuck is it's purpose? Please, someone do inform me."
"Its purpose is annoying the hell out of us." Liam added in, his eyes also squinting into a frown.
"Amen." Zayn nodded his head.
"Have you talked to Louis?" I asked, taking a gulp of my beer before Zayn stole it from me.
"Yeah, the little diva should be here in ten minutes. I told him we were meeting here at seven thirty so that he might show up on time. It seems to have worked well. We need to remember that one."
"I'll write it down in my journal." I rolled my eyes before slapping Zayn's hand and stealing my beer back. "If you want one you sure as hell know where to find one."
"You're such a tosser." Zayn grumbled as he got up and headed towards the kitchen. "So what's the plan?"
"What plan?" Harry asked as Zayn popped his head out of the kitchen.
"You didn't tell them about the 'plan' mate? God, I don't know how we ever get anything done. We're so forgetful." Zayn sighed before popping back into the room with a beer in his hand. "Whenever we go to the pub on a weeknight we always sing for the open mic night. Usually Niall has a song all picked out for us."
Liam and Harry glanced at me quizzically while I just frowned.
"Zayn we haven't done that in over a year."
"Well is say it's about time we start again then, don't you?" As I stared at Zayn I caught a glimpse of hope in his amber eyes, then everything just sort of hit me.
I had been so much worse than I thought. I had tried to play it off to Zayn and Louis that I was fine, but they saw right through me. They saw through everything, through every attempt I made to make them believe I was fine when everyone knew how much I wasn't fine. I hadn't realized how much the old Niall had disappeared over the last year. I would have usually been singing at the pub at least once, if not twice, a week. Zayn and Louis were always a bit reluctant but they did it for me nonetheless. If Zayn was actually suggesting this now, and with hope that I would actually do it then I must have been bad. I must have scared the living shit out of him and Louis if they were looking forward to the thought of open mic night.
"Yeah, I'd say it is about time we start that up."
The smile I received in return was one of the most joyful I'd seen in a while.
"Got a song?" Harry asked, snapping my attention back to him.
"I've certainly got an idea..." I smirked and they all perked up a bit.
"And that would be...?" Liam joined in.
*+*+*+*
We spent the next twenty minutes preparing our different parts. I had use my acoustic guitar seeing as it was a bit late to be strumming on the electric one. Everyone was laughing and having good time when the buzzer finally rang.
"Leprechaun! Open the fucking door before the wind blows me all the way to Oz. God what the hell is this? I swear I'm standing in the middle of a tornado." Louis' loud voice rang through my flat and I reluctantly got up to buzz him in.
"Louis, use your damn key for once in your life." I yelled down at him.
"Are you bleeding?"
"No."
"Do you have any chest pains, nausea, or dizziness?"
"No." I huffed.
"Then it's not an emergency and I will not use my emergency key!"
"Then enjoy the tornado mate." I laughed as he replied with the most colorful words known to man. I'd repeat them but I'd feel too dirty. "Alright you tosser, get your arse up here so we can leave!"
I walked back into the other room to find the lads laughing their arses off about something or another. I simply plopped back down in my spot and finished off my beer.
"So Louis finally got his arse here I see." Zayn drawled, an amused frown pulling at his face.
"Aye."
"Is he always like that?" Liam asked with a barely repressed smile.
"Aye, he's either sprouting off insults or making a scene. There are the rare occasions where he prefers to sit back and silently observe the world. Those days can be quite boring, but he's always there when you need him. He's done so many things and been through a lot so he's actually rather good when it comes to giving advice and even though he may not seem like it, he really is a great listener. He doesn't get annoyed or bothered easily." I smiled as I thought of all the times he'd been there to cheer me up. He really was quite a great friend.
"I think he sounds interesting." Harry muttered as he stared at me, I nodded.
"Yeah, he is."
"Niall Horan! I swear to God if I get frostbite because you couldn't just stop your bitching and buzz me in I'll castrate you!" Were Louis' first words as he barged inside. He already had his gloves off and was throwing them at my head.
God, he could be violent.
"Relax Louis, God you're such an idiot. If you refuse to use the key I gave you to use, then I have every right to take my bloody time buzzing you in. Zayn uses his key...when he knows where it is and you just like to bother me by not using your key." I rolled my eyes as I stood up and stretched.
I was currently only wearing a long black flannel, so I walked over to my closet and grabbed my thick black jumper and a nice grey scarf. DJ's may have been only just around the corner but we still had to brave the wanna be tornado outside.
"Is everyone ready to go?" They all nodded their heads in agreement and stood up, shrugging their jumpers back on along with gloves, scarfs, and beanies. "Alright, let's go. Zayn, fill Louis in on the way would you?"
"Fill me in on what?!" I heard Louis say before I walked out my front door.
We all took the lift down to the bottom floor and very caustiously exited the building. The wind had yet to let up and was still whipping every which way. I had to tuck my scarf into my jumper just to keep it on.
"So how long have you known Louis and Zayn?" Harry asked as he fell into step beside me. Zayn and Liam were walking behind us with Louis in the middle, laughing and joking about.
"I've known Louis for about five years now and Zayn for four years." He nodded his head before speaking up again.
"How'd you meet them?"
I laughed a bit at that as I was hit with my first meeting with Louis. God it seemed like only a few months ago but it was already five. Time sure does fly.
"I met Zayn when I started working at the garage." Harry quirked his eyebrow at me as I remembered he didn't know where I worked. "We both work at O'Riely's Automotive or the garage as we like to call it. We just hit it off I guess."
We turned a corner and I could see the sign for DJ's illuminating the darkened sidewalks. It wasn't too far down but it was still a bit of a distance.
"And Louis? How'd you meet him?" Harry was giving me his undivided attention which would normally be a good thing, but when you're walking down a sidewalk with objects littered about it can certainly be a hazard, especially for the uncoordinated.
Harry seemed to fall under that category --no pun intended.
"Harry watch out for th-"
I was too late to stop him and before he knew it he had run smack into a pole. I tried my best to keep my smile under wraps but his stunned face did me in. I was grabbing my stomach and laughing at him as he rubbed the side of his cheek with a frown. It seemed the others had caught sight of his misfortune as well as we heard some cackles behind us.
"Damn things." He mumbled shaking his head a bit.
"Maybe you should watch where you're going, yeah?" I chuckled as I pushed him around the pole.
"Yes mother." He chided, rolling his eyes but doing as I'd suggested nonetheless. "So anyways, how did you two meet?"
"It's a long story, and we're here so I'll just tell you another time yeah?" I glanced at him to find his green eyes staring intently at my face as if he could somehow get the story from me just by staring at me.
"Alright." He drawled out slowly, before entering the pub with the rest of us on his heels.
"Niall, can you go get our booth and I'll order the first round?" Zayn asked me as we entered the slightly crowded pub. It was certainly less packed than The Jolly Wagon but it was a Monday night.
I nodded before walking off with Liam and Louis to go secure a booth towards the left of the stage. Currently there was a lad up there who seemed to believe he was the next big thing as he belted out the lyrics to Bon Jovi's classic song You Give Love A Bad Name. With all the screeches he made I was pretty sure he wasn't the next big thing.
"God, that has to be one of the worst things about open mic night. You have some stellar performances and then some like mister banshee over there who almost blows out your ear drums." Louis complained as we settled into our booth.
"You have to take the good with the bad I guess." I shrugged my shoulders as Harry made his way over to our booth and took a seat beside me.
"We go on in ten." He smirked slyly as I rolled my eyes still craving that pint.
"This is so exciting! Niall I've missed this." Louis' eyes took on an even bluer color as he stared at me with a bit of sadness.
"Me too." I sighed and went back to watching the awful performance take place.
Zayn arrived at the end of the song with a pint for each of us. Once the alcohol was out we all loosened up a bit and started to joke around. Liam was actually a rather amusing lad and had a sharp tongue that was often covered up by the fact that he seemed so damn responsible. Harry made a few stupid jokes, and when I say stupid I mean stupid, but it still made me laugh which caused his smile to only brighten and the dimples in his cheeks to deepen to a depth I'd yet to see before. Three acts went on after the screecher and they weren't half as bad as him. There was one girl who sang Roar by Katy Perry and she didn't do bad. A girl and guy went up after and sang Lucky very well. Then right before us was a lad who sang a rendition of Hey There Deliah that I thought was beautiful.
"Alright, everyone ready for this shit?" I yelled as well made our way on stage.
Harry looked like he was buzzing with energy and Liam seemed about ready to jump up and down in excitement. Zayn was more calm but I could still see how happy he was to be doing this with me again. Louis just looked happy.
"Hell yeah!" Louis yelled excitedly putting his hand in the center of our circle. "On three?"
We all placed our hands on top of his and threw 'em up at three. We probably looked like children but I didn't care, I was happy and enjoying myself. It didn't matter how we looked because I felt at home up on the stage as I grabbed an electric guitar and tuned it. We all took our places behind our mics as I began to strum out the first few chords.
"Shawty said she wants to run away, says I look like a boy she used to date. Took me by the hand and pulled me to the stairs." Liam started off, putting a load of sass behind every damn syllable and causing me to smile widely.
"Put her tongue all up in my ear, almost made me spill my beer, she's up and ready to go but I don't care." Zayn took over and it was amazing to see how their voices complemented each other.
"Cause I'm in the zone, turn off my phone I've got my own agenda." Louis sang out, and it was all I could do to concentrate on the chords I was strumming. They sounded amazing together, it felt right.
"I feel like dancing tonight! I'm gonna party like it's my civil right." We all sang the chorus with Liam leading.
"Everybody get kinda awesome." Zayn echoed and it was like all the pieces of a puzzle were finally fitting together perfectly.
"It doesn't matter where, I don't care if people stare, (Woah!) Cause I feel like dancing tonight." We finished the chorus and then Harry started his solo.
"Everybody getting kind of crunk, I think some dude just grabbed my junk. Now I know how Ke$ha must be feeling." Then it was my turn.
"Bros try to turn me upside down, put a keg tap to my mouth, but that's ok I'm dancin' on the ceiling."
And the song continued on with it's fast pace and easy beat. People were out of their seats dancing along and all I could do was marvel out at the crowd before looking at the lads who were singing beside me on stage. For some reason this felt right, it felt so God damn right to have all five of us up here together singing and harmonizing as one. I know Harry and Liam thought that with me they would finally have the missing piece they needed but I think they were wrong. I think there were still two pieces missing from our band, two very important pieces.
And after tonight I was going to make it my job to put all of us together. We needed each other, and fuck it if anything or anyone was going to stand in our way.
Together, anything was possible.
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Dedicated to @Givskov because I absolutely love their Narry story Bad Habits. It's one of the few Narry books that isn't an AU and has a different plot! You have to read it...if you haven't.
Narry will take a while to develop but they will get there, just be patient :)
Vote/Comment?
~ Annette
P.S. The song they sang is on the side
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Autumn. (Narry)
FanfictionNiall is lost. But it seems no matter how far Niall falls Autumn is always there to pick him back up. As the leaves change color so does Niall's life and the direction he heads in is something he n...
