The City (Joe Sugg/ ThatcherJoe Fanfiction)

Chapter 22

Riley's POV

I sit alone at a table in the international room scribbling on a notepad.

Harry didn't meet me at the gate this morning. He has every day since I arrived here and this morning he wasn't waiting for me. 

I don't know why it pisses me off so much really. He has every right to be mad at me. I went off at him for no reason on Saturday and then abandoned him in a room full of strangers for the second time that night.

Fuck I'm an idiot. I've probably just lost my best friend. Well done Riley.

I begin doodling, not really sure what I'm drawing. It starts to form into the shape of a face. Joe's face.

Is it weird that I miss him so much already? I think it doesn't help that I don't have Harry around because there is nothing to distract me from getting lost in the deep, endless pit that is my mind.

"Drawing?"

I quickly snap up the paper as I glance up to find Niall standing in front of my table.

He chuckles, a sweet sound really. "Mind if I sit?"

"Erm, sure." I say, tucking the pad of paper into my backpack.

"Have you seen Harry at all today?" he asks as he sits down opposite me, leaning against the table.

I shake my head, "I haven't seen him at all actually. You?"

"Yeah, he seems really grumpy actually. Thought you might know something about it but you haven't seen him so.."

I smile weakly at the boy. He's quite different to a lot of guys I knows. A lot nicer. His smile is always genuine. He is really happy go lucky and I really admire that about him. He doesn't really seem to care what anyone thinks of him.

"I might, er, know something about that." I admit, glancing down at the table. My finger swirling patterns on the wood.

"Would it have to do with the face your were drawing just now by any chance? Joe, right?"

I feel my cheeks flush. How did he recognize that? I'm not exactly an artist.

"You're not half bad at drawing." he adds, as if reading my mind.

I gulp, raising my eyes to meet Niall's clear blue ones.

"Promise you won't tell anyone?" I ask. He nods and I take a deep breath, "Well, uh, Joe kind of asked me to be his girlfriend on Saturday.."

I have no idea why the hell I am confessing this to a guy who I barely know. I have had all of three conversations with Niall but I feel as though I can trust this boy. He, like me, is pretty new here and us newbies have to stick together, right?

"Weren't you and Harry hanging out on Saturday?"

"Well, uh, yeah. We were and I took Harry along to this YouTuber Christmas party thing and Joe and I kind of had a bit of a fight and I may have yelled at Harry. I totally didn't mean to. And Joe seems to think Harry likes me. Does he? I just- ugh! I'm so stupid."

"Hey, calm down, yeah? Harry does like you but you obviously don't like him back. It's not your fault."

I laugh quietly, a nervous reaction if anything. Here I am. Sitting at a table in London with a young Irish boy comforting me over my poor friend zoned English best friend. This has been the weirdest month of my life.

It's also strange to think that I haven't even been in this country for a month. I feel like it has been forever since I stepped off of the plane at Heathrow ready for my new life abroad.

But no. It's been little over three weeks.

"How the hell do you know about Joe anyway? His demographic is usually teenage girls.."

Niall chuckles, "Yeah, my little sister is obsessed with him."

I laugh before returning back to the subject of Harry.

"I should apologise to him, shouldn't I?"

Niall shrugs, "It's your decision really. He'll be in 2A at lunch time just so you know." He smiles before glancing behind me. "Looks like you have company. I'm off." he says, getting up and leaving.

Seconds later his spot is filled by Harry.

"What did Niall want?" he asks, a frown is etched onto his face.

"Er, nothing," I lie. "Listen, Harry. I'm sorry about Saturday."

He smiles halfheartedly, "Forget it. It was nothing."

"But I really shouldn't have snapped at you. It was totally out of order."

"Oh." his face drops, "You're sorry for snapping at me." he mumbles and I'm not sure if he meant to say it out loud or not.

 "And I'm sorry you had find out about Joe and I that way."

He scoffs, "Why would I even care?" he says harshly though I know he doesn't mean for it to come off that way. "I'm just your friend. Nothing more."

"I'm sorry Harry.."

"It's fine, I get it." he says, an edge of sadness to his voice as he now stares at the desk.

 Fuck. He sure has a knack for knowing how to make me feel bad for him. I know it's not like I was leading him along or anything but I really do feel mean. He shouldn't of had to find out by witnessing us fight in front of him.

"He uh, he left today didn't he?" I nod in response. "Did you two make up?"

"Yeah, we did." 

Disappointment floods his face. As if he had been hoping for the opposite answer. He was.

I am saved from having to think of a way to respond to his attitude by the bell for first class.

"I have to get to class." Harry mumbles, getting up and leaving as fast as possible.

Fuck that kid is weird sometimes.

A/N

Sorry for the crappy chapter.. I think Riley and Niall make good friends. Your opinion?

Thanks for all of the reads guys <3 I love you all!!

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