Weekly updates on Saturday
Maeve Callahan and Niall Horan were neighbours and best friends growing up in Mullingar. While Niall always had his heart set on music, she dreamed of a quiet, simple life - working a steady job, having close friends and enjoying the comfort of anonymity. After Niall left for The X Factor, they drifted apart. Despite the occasional pang of nostalgia when she heard One Direction on the radio, she convinced herself that she had no interest in the high-stakes world of fame and fortune.
In 2015, their paths crossed unexpectedly in the most mundane of places: a café in Dublin. Maeve is on a rare weekend trip, taking a break from her 9-to-5 job as a marketing assistant in Galway and Niall is visiting family after a long stint of touring. He's dressed down, almost unrecognizable to anyone who isn't from Mullingar and grew up with him. But Maeve recognize him instantly.
The meeting is awkward yet nostalgic. He's thrilled to see her again, but Maeve is wary of reconnecting, especially knowing how drastically their world differ. When he suggests catching up over a proper meal, she reluctantly agrees, thinking it's just a one-time thing. However, what starts as a casual reunion spirals into something deeper as Niall begins reaching out more frequently, eager to rekindle the friendship or is there more?
"You're different from what I expected," she said softly.
"How so?" he asked, glancing at her.
"I don't know," she replied, searching for the right words. "You just... have this way of making people feel like they matter. Even here, in this... nightmare."
He was quiet for a moment before responding. "You matter, Y/n. Don't forget that."
OR
Y/n wakes up in the deadly Squid Game, surrounded by strangers and fighting to survive. What she doesn't know is that the mysterious Frontman is watching her every move through the cameras- and she's caught his attention.