Coming Home

Chapter 3

~Niall’s POV~

The sun was shining bright and I was feeling a bit tired. It was 4 P.M.

“Oh my God that’s cute!” I heard Amanda squeal as we walked up to another store. “Want to go in?” She asked Ellie.

Oh great.

“Mmhm!” She smiled at her, then looked at me and Louis who were few steps behind. “Come on!”

“Thanks,” I said to Louis as we walked into the store. I didn’t like shopping, but Delenn couldn’t come with Ellie today to go shopping with Louis and his girlfriend Amanda. And she didn’t want Ellie to be the third wheel, so guess who had to go shopping on a nice day? Me.

“Of course Niall,” he laughed. “Any time.”

We had a girl spot us and she started freaking out with her friend. They didn’t try to come to talk though, they just had their phones out to take a picture and called our names. “Louis! Niall!” We both smiled and waved at them as we continued to shop…or rather, follow the girls.

“Louis,” Amanda called him. “Do you like this?” She pulled out a peach coloured blazer.

“Looks stunning babe,” he said as he went to stand by her. As Louis spoiled her as always—not because she asked, but because he wanted to—Ellie looked at me.

“Sorry I kinda dragged you into this.” Her apologetic smile caught me off guard.

“Oh it’s alright,” I shrugged as I smiled at her. “But,” I said as I raised my eyebrow. She gave me a questioning look. “You owe me one.”

A smile grew on her face. “Fine.” She went back to browsing through jackets.

It wasn’t that I liked her. Or maybe I did.

~Ellie’s POV~

After spending a few months in the city, I found out three things. First, London is such a beautiful town. Second, everyone looks like a model. And third, walking around with celebrities is not easy. Sometimes it was peaceful; it was just few girls looking at our direction or taking a picture from far away. Sometimes, especially when it was more than just one of the boys, girls screamed and would not stop jumping up and down. On Twitter, some people caught a picture of me, but most of the time I stayed anonymous…Especially because I didn’t have an account to begin with.

My music classes started about a month ago, which was going great…For the most part. I borrowed one of the guitars from the music room and sat on my bed with a pencil and a notebook. I had one more assignment left that was due next week: writing a song. I could write a cliché love song, but it did no good. As I strummed the guitar aimlessly at 10 o’clock at night, Niall came to my room.

“Nice song there,” he said mockingly as he held a bottle of beer in one hand. The rest of the band was in the house drinking with few girls, including Delenn, Amanda, and Jenna—Liam’s girlfriend.

“Thank you,” I said. “It’s my masterpiece.”

He laughed as he sat down next to me without asking. We’ve grown comfortable around each other this past month, especially because he was carefree and treated me as if he had known me for years. And on top of it, he was tipsy. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had started dancing half naked in my room. “Don’t over think it,” he commented as he looked at my notebook which was full of arrows and words scrambled everywhere.

“Easy for you to say,” I said as I sighed.

“C’mon,” he patted my knee. “Pour your heart out.”

“I have no heart,” I protested as I flipped the page of the notebook.

“Write a love song,” he said casually as he set the bottle on my desk.

“I’m not in love,” I laughed.

“You don’t like anyone?”

I hesitated to answer. I honestly didn’t think I had feelings for anyone, but not gonna lie, this boy was adorable… Along with his band mates. But I kept my mouth shut. I didn’t know any of them well enough to ‘like.’ I just shook my head as I made a face.

“Really? I mean you’ve met Harry, every girl likes him. And Zayn too.” He stared at me with a smile, probably observing my reaction. “Then there’s of course me,” he said casually as he stretched himself.

I couldn’t help but to laugh. “Sure,” I said. We sat there for a minute before I put the guitar down and threw myself back onto the bed. “I’m done.” I could hear the music playing from the other room, and people talking.

He looked down at me. Then “Niggas in Paris” started playing in the other room. I couldn’t stop laughing as he mouthed the lyrics while making a face. “That shit cray!” He yelled out, making everyone down the hall laugh. They all continued to shout out the lyrics, but honestly I couldn’t understand them at all.

Suddenly Niall started laughing out of nowhere. I guess you could blame the alcohol.

For the first time I took a moment to analyze his face... and he caught me staring right at him. I embarrassedly smiled away. This was getting awkward enough. I could feel his gaze burning on me. I raised myself up to go to the kitchen. “I’m gonna get a drink.”

“Wait.” He grabbed my wrist to stop me as I was about to stand. I couldn’t read his expression as his face was blank. His cheeks were rosy, and his blue eyes shined dimly as he stared into my eyes. He pulled me by my arm to hold my face.

“Wha-“

He cut me off with a kiss