CHAPTER 15:

"Never felt like this before. Are we friends or are we more? As I'm walking towards the door, I'm not sure." ~Change My Mind, One Direction.

Saturday, 24th August 2013

LOUIS' POV

Wow. Niall didn't live too far from my own house. I was sitting in my car right now, which was parked in front of Niall's house and to say I was a bit nervous was an understatement. I was feeling really guilty to be facing Niall after what I said to him but Harry is right, I was a jerk to him and I have to apologize.

After spending a few more minutes debating between driving back and getting out, I finally kicked the car door open and got out, walking to Niall's front porch. I rung the door bell and stood back, twiddling my thumbs.

Seconds later, a dishevelled guy opened the door. "Yeah?" He questioned.

"Uh, is Niall in?"

"And you are?" He asked in a heavy Irish accent.

"Niall's friend."

He held his hand out with a grin. "Hi, Niall's friend. I'm Greg, Niall's boyfriend."

"What?" I choked. The dude, Greg, started laughing.

"Chill. I'm his big brother." He informed me and stepped inside, gesturing me to follow him. Then he proceeded to call Niall downstairs who was apparently sleeping at 7 PM.

"Now which friend of his are you? Harry, I'm guessing?"

"Uh, no. I'm—"

"Louis?!" Niall was frozen mid-step on the stairs, gaping at me. I looked back at him nervously. "Er, hi Ni—"

"THAT'S LOUIS?" Niall's brother roared, stepping in front of me and I stepped back, scared.

"Greg, don't!" Niall warned him but before anyone could do anything, he punched me square in the face and I fell on my back, clutching my aching nose. I was feeling a bit woozy but it's a miracle I didn't faint.

"GREG!"

"He deserves it! That's the fucker who made you cry isn't it? How dare he come here like that?!"

"I think you're over reacting, bro! You can't just punch him like that!" Niall was yelling at his brother.

"Oh, then sorry for looking out for you!"

"I can handle these things myself, okay! You can go now," Niall told his brother calmly, who scoffed but thankfully turned around to leave. But not before shooting me an icy glare. Boy, they're not lying when they say that Irish people are easily provoked.

As I was still on the ground cradling my nose, Niall offered me a hand without looking at me directly. When I was on my feet, he turned around and went to the fridge in the kitchen, pulling out an ice pack and tossing it to me. I winced as I put it on my now swollen nose. Thankfully, it wasn't bleeding.

"Er, so your brother's quite protective," I muttered, just to break the awkward tense silence that was weighing the room down.

"Why are you here Louis?" Niall finally looked up.

I cleared my throat. "I just told Harry about what happened at the party, and he made me realize what a jerk I was to you. So I'm here to apologize, Niall."

Niall was listening intently. I took a deep breath and continued. "I-I didn't mean it when I told you that it was all a mi-mistake. I guess I was a bit tipsy. And I just got confused and overwhelmed by my feelings for you that that was the first stupid excuse that came to my mind. Of course I didn't really mean it but—"

"Your feelings for me?" Niall asked, trying to sound nonchalant but failing.

I blushed. "Er, yeah. I guess I do have feelings for you. Dani says I do, and she's never been wrong about reading me. And you know, when you, er, kissed me, it—"

"I guess it's my fault too then. I'm the one that kissed you without your permission."

I shook my head. "But I'm the one that agreed to the dance, and lead you on and I shouldn't have done that. It's mostly my fault. And I should've given you a clear answer. And it's a good thing you kissed me, otherwise I wouldn't have figured out my feelings." I smiled.

"Wow, okay." Niall nodded, still processing the new information.

"So, I'm really sorry again for acting like a jerk and hurting you. I hope you can forgive me," I spoke sincerely.

"You did really hurt me Louis," he whispered sadly. "Everyone always hurts me," he added, almost inaudibly.

Everyone hurts him? "What?"

"Nothing. But you do realize that I can't forgive you that easily?"

I nodded, pouting. "Yeah, I don't expect you to. But I do hope this doesn't put a damper on our friendship. Can we have at least that back to normal until we figure our weird feelings out? Or at least not avoid each other?" I pleaded.

Niall cracked a smile. "Yeah, I guess that's possible." I grinned back at him, relieved.

"So, we're cool?"

"Yeah," he smiled.

I stuck out my hand for him to shake and he shook it. Then, at the last minute, I pulled him close and pecked his cheek. Wow, where did that come from?

~*~

NIALL'S POV:

"So, we're cool?" He asked, smiling a relieved smile. Wow, I'm really happy that he came to apologize. I'd never tell him, but I cried a lot that day at the party, just 'cos of what Louis had said.

And that;s why Greg was so damn mad at Louis. 'Cos he had found me crying and I had told my big brother everything. But I can't believe he punched Louis! Sometimes he acts like I'm his baby sister instead of his brother.

But he's always been protective of me from the start. He was always afraid that kids would bully me 'cos I was different. That's partly the reason he called me to live with him here, in London, where he had his own business. Our parents were mostly always travelling so I was always home alone back in Ireland.

Louis was apologizing right now, but I guess it was my fault too that I kissed him, forced my feelings on him.

But he was right that he had agreed to dance with me first. He could've refused then and there but he hadn't.

"Yeah," I smiled back at him. Louis did hurt me, but his apology seemed sincere. And honestly, I missed being his friend and it's kinda hard to ignore Louis.

And he said he had feelings for me! My heart did a flippy thing when he said that. But I have to be cautious, or I'll end up getting hurt like every time.

And while I was still engrossed in my thoughts, Louis stuck out a hand and I shook it. And then before I could even register what happened, Louis had swooped down and pecked my cheek.

I ducked my head down, hiding my blush. I looked back up at Louis and he was biting his lip shyly.

"Er, sorry. Uh, that was spontaneous, wasn't it?" He mumbled, rubbing his neck, then inched towards the door.

"See you at school!" He called out and I replied with a 'you too' before shutting the door behind him. I'm so glad that we're not ignoring each other now. But was I too forgiving? But I technically hadn't still forgiven Louis.

But I still have to be careful with my feelings.

"Is that twat gone?" Greg asked, coming out of his room, cracking his knuckles menacingly.

"Relax, he's gone." I rolled my eyes, smiling. Poor Lou, hope his nose gets better.

~*~

LOUIS' POV:

"Is that twat gone?" I heard Niall's brother ask from the other side and taking that as my cue to leave, I scurried to my car and drove to Harry's house to give him the merry news. Thankfully, he lived only a block away from my house. And I didn't want to be caught outside past my curfew.

Yeah, yeah I'm a good boy.

"So, how did it—" Harry paused mid-sentence when he opened the door and saw me clutching a now melting ice pack to my bruised nose.

I followed him inside and collapsed on the coach. Harry took a seat beside me.

"I'm taking as it didn't go well," he chuckled. "I didn't know Niall had such a mean right hook!" Harry babbled excitedly and I smacked him on the head.

"Ow!"

"No! It was his brother, Greg. Apparently, I'm in his bad book for now. Niall told him about me and when he heard my name..."

"Ouch," Harry winced, patting my knee.

"So, did you talk to Niall?" He asked and walked up to the kitchen, putting some water on boil for the tea. What a lovely lad. I didn't even have to ask.

"Uh, yeah. We're cool now."

"That's great! One step closer to Nouis becoming official! Woo!" Harry cheered under his breath.

"What?" I frowned.

"Er, nothing!" Harry answered in a high pitched voice, blushing. I rolled my eyes.

"C'mon Harold I want tea now. It's been a looong day."

"And another ice pack too I'm guessing?" Harry teased.

"Yes, please," I mumbled, slipping further into the comfy couch. Looks like I'm sleeping over tonight. 

~*~

LOUIS GOT HURT! HAPPY? xD

Woo! Nouis made up! *rubs hands evilly* Like Hazza said, we're one step closer to Nouis becoming official, wey hey! (*_*)/

Vote, all you Nouis supporters! <3

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~bemycupcake xx