SO LONG || NIALL HORAN || #Wattys2019

TWO

After Niall and Haleigh had known each other for only a few months, their friendship had already grown in multiple ways. Texting was prominent between the pair and they hung out when she didn't have a photo shoot scheduled from the studio where she worked or when he had a concert to prep for. It wasn't ideal, but both of them put in the effort to make it worthwhile. One of the best days they had together is when she was in London for the first time, and he took her out to explore the city.

He was amazed on how excited she became on the smallest of things, like a simple red telephone booth. Multiple pictures were taken of landmarks she dreamed of seeing such as Big Ben or Buckingham Palace. It was a bit city so they spent every second walking or catching a cab from one place to another so she could see as much as possible. Though when they went up to the London Eye, she became perfectly content staring at the horizon with the boy who was slowly making his way into her heart.

Haleigh kept every picture from that day in a scrapbook, along with the other silly adventures they went on together. They were safely stored away in her apartment but at the moment, she wished she could flip through them as they arrived at the next stop. "Is it bad if I was actually expecting a park?" she asked Niall, who was across from her, jokingly. "I mean, it is in the name." Her legs were tucked beneath her, a book open in her lap. However, once her chestnut eyes had glanced out the window she completely zoned out and didn't read a single page.

Niall raised his head from where he was fiddling with his guitar just in time to see a sign reading WELCOME TO TINLEY PARK, ILLINOIS whiz by, making him chuckle under his breath. "Only you, Hals," he replied to her with a smirk. "Only you."

"I can't help it," she stated, looking back outside to see the beautiful trees and the bright sun shining. "My brain is automatically picturing Ferris wheels, junk food and rides that make you super dizzy."

"I thought those were fairgrounds?" Niall questioned as he placed his instrument back on the stand and walked over to sit next to her. "Parks have swings, slides and merry-go-rounds."

"Well this place has neither," she announced to him, shutting her book and turning her head to look at him. "Are you excited though?"

"I'm always excited," he replied genuinely, smiling widely at her. "It's a brand new place with a completely different atmosphere. It's gonna be wicked."

When they finally pulled into the lot of the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, Niall was practically bouncing on the couch. He got this way every time they arrived at a new location, but it never failed to amuse Haleigh. As he stepped off the bus, a huge dramatic sigh left his lips from breathing in fresh air. "Piggyback ride!" his best friend yelled, barely giving him enough time to catch her as she jumped onto his back.

"You're lucky I'm stronger now," he informed her with a laugh as he secured a grip on her legs while she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Back during the Where We Are Tour, you jumped on me and we fell."

"Because neither of us worked out as much then," Haleigh gleefully pointed out to the twenty-four year old, her chin on his shoulder. "But I remember that. That scrape on my forehead lasted for weeks."

He chuckled at her emphasis but started to walk, meeting up with the crew and the band as they exited their buses. Looks of amusement were thrown their way, but no one was really surprised for they did that kind of thing all the time. The managers of the venue were explaining where everything was located and how they assured the best kind of security. Soundcheck for Maren was to begin at one until three, and then Niall would follow. Until then, the stage needed to be properly set up and so did all of the merchandise they had for the fans to purchase.