Someone Like You

Four Months Later

“He’s here!” Eleanor squealed, peering out my bedroom window down onto the street, before skipping back over to me with boundless enthusiasm.

I was in the middle of zipping up the dress she insisted that I wear, nearly breaking my arm in the process, but the butterflies that shot through my chest made me stop and stare at myself in the mirror.

“Oh, he’s early! I can’t do this,” I said frowning and starting to pull the dress back off. “Go down and tell him I’m sick or something.”

“Yes, you can!” Eleanor protested, grabbing my shoulders. “It’s going to be wonderful!”

“I haven’t been on a date in almost a year,” I whined, still trying to wiggle out of the obnoxiously tight dress she had given me. “I don’t even know if I know how to do it anymore.”

“It’s like riding a bike, you never forget.”

“Loverboy is here,” Louis said, bursting into my room.

“Lou!” I screamed, trying to cover myself up as he slapped a hand across his eyes.

“Sorry!” He ran back out of the room and I glared at Eleanor.

“I don’t want to wear this.”

“It’s your first date. You want to impress him, don’t you? Make him think you’re pretty?”

“Well...yeah...”

“Good. And wear these shoes too.”

I glared at the heels she held up, but knew there was no point in arguing. Eleanor always looked amazing, so it couldn’t hurt to listen to her. A few minutes later I stumbled out of my room into the main room of our flat, tottering on the heels.

Louis and I had moved into this flat in August, just before I started at Uni. Though we had only been here a month, it definitely felt like home. I glanced over at my brother, who was propped up on the window seat, staring down at the street.

“I don’t like him,” he said, shaking his head judgmentally.

“And why not?” I asked, teetering over to the couch and grabbing a purse El had lent me. I realized then that nothing I was wearing was actually mine.

“He doesn’t even come to the door to pick you up? Just rude.”

I rolled my eyes. “He probably doesn’t want to deal with you,” I shot back.

“I resent that,” Louis gasped, pacing a hand on his chest. “I’m a complete saint to all your boyfriends.”

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

“Not yet,” Eleanor cooed, wrapping her arms lovingly around my brother’s waist.

“And I’ve only had one boyfriend and we know how that ended up,” I muttered, grabbing a sweater to take as well.

“This will be better, I promise,” El said, coming over and hugging me. “You’re going to have a great time.”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. “Right. Thanks.”

I made my way to the door, twisting the loose tendrils of my hair anxiously. I was stopped, though, as a familiar face came through the entryway.

“Your date is here,” Harry said cheekily, coming into the flat and giving me a quick hug. “He looks nervous.”

“You didn’t say anything to him, did you?” I asked desperately, searching his face. But, of course, all he did was smirk. “You did, didn’t you? What did you say to him, Styles?”

“Nothing,” he grinned, but then a girl appeared from behind him.

“Harry told him that if he broke your heart he would break his legs.”

Harry shot her a betrayed look, while I gave her the once over.

“I’m JJ,” I said, sticking out my hand to her.

“Jess,” she grinned. “And he tried to say it in some macho, New York accent. He ended up sounding constipated, though.”

“Hey!”

“Yeah, you’ll do,” I replied to her, nodding in approval. “Looks like you finally pulled a good one, Haz.”

Harry smiled then before sliding an arm around Jess’ waist and pulling her close. Harry wasn’t one for serious relationships (as I knew from first hand experience), though we had all known something was going on when he mentioned this Jess girl a few times and we still hadn’t met her. The fact that he brought her over tonight for a double date with Louis and El, though, meant that he wasn’t just in this for shits and giggles. They looked good together, too.

“Alright, well, I’m out,” I replied, nearly tumbling down the first step in those damn shoes.

“Don’t stay out too late,” Louis warned, while I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah and remember all the details, I want to hear them later,” El beamed, while Louis made a gagging face.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Harry called after me as I flicked them all off and finally pulled the door closed behind me.

Stumbling over to the parked car, I felt butterflies soar through my abdomen. I hadn’t felt like this in so long...there was no reason why I should be so nervous, but I was.

“I’m sorry it took so long,” I blushed, approaching him. “They were just going on and on about fuck knows what and then Eleanor made me wear these stupid shoes and then Harry showed up and - ”

But I was cut off as he pressed his lips against mine. They were soft and warm and incredibly tasty, not to mention it felt like they completely molded with mine, as if they belonged together. His arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me to him, deepening the kiss, until I finally giggled and pulled away.

“I didn’t think the first kiss was supposed to come until the end of the date,” I whispered, though I was grinning so much it hurt.

Niall smirked. “I’ve waited too damn long to do that. And now you want me to wait until the end of the date? You’re killing me woman!”

I blushed some more and leaned in to kiss him again, suddenly intoxicated by the taste of him and the rush I felt soar through me.

“Oi! Get a room!”

Niall and I both sent a one fingered salute to Louis, who was leaning out the window of our flat. But Niall smiled at me, looking up and down my body.

“You look...” his face screwed up a bit.

I frowned, suddenly disappointed. “Oh, well, I know it doesn’t fit me very well...It’s Eleanor’s.”

“No!, No, you look stunning,” he said quickly. “It’s just...you look uncomfortable.”

I laughed. “I’m incredibly uncomfortable.”

“Want me to swing by TopShop on our way to the pub?”

“Oh, a pub, huh?” I asked, with a teasing smile. “Wow, big spender.”

“Oh shove it, you know you’d hate going to some posh place.”

He had me there. And I loved him for it.

So, yes, Niall and I were dating. I know that when I left him in Stockholm I had told myself that I was going to stay the hell away from him and One Direction. But, that was easier said than done.

As soon as I had gotten on the plane, I knew that there was no way I was going to be able to forget about Niall. I loved him. I was in love with him. It didn’t matter what other people said or thought. I needed him in my life.

I had called him as soon as I had gotten home and we had talked for hours about our situation. Eventually, we both fell asleep on the phone and I woke up the next morning to sound of Niall snoring softly in my ear. The fact that just that little thing made me happier than I had been in weeks, told me a lot.

When One Direction went back to America after recording their album, Niall and I spoke almost every day. At some point, the whole situation with Harry and me blew over. Harry had done a few interviews, putting the record straight – that we were not in a relationship, that I was one of his good friends, and that there was nothing going on between us. Louis and him were back to being best friends, so any concern about the band not getting on was quickly squashed. It seemed that Directioners had a very short attention span, especially when there were other things to focus on.

I wasn’t going to think about what they were going to say about Niall and I dating – not now at least. I knew that there would be haters, but as long as I had him, I could handle it. I also wasn’t going to think about Niall and the boys heading out on their world tour in three months. I had him with me now and that was all that mattered.

“So, Topshop, then?” Niall asked, opening the door to his new BMW for me.

“Yes please,” I beamed, not only thrilled to be getting out of this God awful outfit, but also that I had found someone who knew me better than I knew myself.

“Listen,” he said, looking over at me from the drivers seat before he pulled out of his parking spot. “I know that this isn’t supposed to come until the end of the date either, but I just want you to know, that...well, you complete me.”

I blinked. And then I snorted.

“What?” He asked grinning in embarrassment.

“You can’t go quoting Jerry McGuire at me, Horan!”

“Damn, I was hoping you wouldn’t catch that.”

“It’s such a well known quote!”

Niall chuckled but looked embarrassed. I leaned over to him and turned his head to face me.

“I love you, Niall Horan,” I said, before kissing him. “You had me at hello.”

Niall gave me a lopsided smile. “You know...maybe we should just skip the pub. I don’t have much at my flat, but we can eat Nutella sandwiches, watch some Top Gear...get you out of that dress...”

I sat back, scandalized. “And just what kind of girl do you think I am?” He shot me a look and I nearly melted right there. I bit my lip and sent him my best smolder. “Step on it.”