Last Girl Standing

She was confused. She was confused and upset and angry and she wanted to punch something. Or someone. She saw the smile on Niall’s face and the confusion on Zayn’s and felt a frown fall upon her own face.

October had prayed that she would be put with Liam. He was sweet to her and sweet was what she wanted. She didn’t want to be with someone who hated her because she’d gotten a little defensive. She didn’t even mean to be defensive. It had just happened on accident when he’d gotten a little too close for her comfort levels.

But nevertheless, October sat beside Niall at the bonfire. Dinner had passed with hardly any important actions, but as they approached the middle and ending of the bonfire time, things had happened that made even October upset. Haley had left the bonfire upset after the song had finished and she and Louis had both returned silently, taking their places again. The cameramen stood around them, capturing all angles to get the best shots and October couldn’t help but feel over exposed and completely self conscious.

She might have been a strong woman once. She might have even felt brave at one point in time, but that all faded away. It took a long time for her to regain even a little bit of confidence, but as she sat beside Niall, all her confidence had gone. She felt his hand resting beside hers as they reclined on the blanket near the beach, she couldn’t help but feel completely naked. He watched her as she stared at the fire and she knew that he wanted to say something.

“Why are you so quiet, Abelia?” Zayn asked softly.

Maybe no one was supposed to hear it, but everyone did and they all turned to see her frowning. “It’s nothing, I’m just tired.”

“You look sad though,” he murmured, ignoring all the people staring at them. “Is something wrong? Did I do something?”

Abelia shook her head slowly, glancing directly at October and Niall. “You didn’t do anything Zayn. You’ve been great. It’s something else.”

“What is it?” October asked suddenly. She shrank away when she realized she’d been listening to a private conversation. She watched all the couples conversing lightly while she and Niall had remained sitting in terse silence. October was jealous of all the couples who seemed to be getting along, except maybe Louis and Haley. But either way, she wished that she and Niall could have been bantering lightly back and forth like they all were. “Sorry.”

Zayn smiled softly. “It’s alright, October. I think we’re all a little curious about what’s going on. Are you sick? Are you missing home?”

Abelia smiled lightly. “I wish.”

“Is it one of the other girls?” Liam asked gently. He raised his eyebrows in earnest and smiled reassuringly at her.

The girl frowned and shook her head.

“Is it one of us?” Louis asked in horror.

Abelia shot another glance at Niall and October found herself growing ever suspicious of what was happening between everyone. “I’d rather not say.”

October turned her head and saw Niall rolling his eyes. “Just tell everyone, Abelia. I made a huge mistake between me and Abelia. When we were on our date, I was just using her to get back at Zayn because he was taunting me. I kissed her because I knew for a fact that it would piss Zayn off. It was wrong, I know and I shouldn’t have done it.”

“Then why did you do it?” Zayn asked quietly, his voice quaking with anger. “Why would you do something like that, Niall?”

Niall bent his head. “Because there was one girl here that I liked from the beginning and she was always out of grasp. It was because she fancied you, Zayn and I knew that I never stood a chance. I thought that if I just did the same thing to you, you’d understand and you’d back off, but obviously, it wasn’t a very effect method of making my point. Abelia, I’m sorry and I shouldn’t have done it. It was wrong of me and I know that now. If I could take it back and start over, but I know that I can’t and I feel worse than terrible.”

Abelia opened her mouth to say something but Zayn cut her off. “You should feel worse than terrible because that’s the lowest thing you’ve ever done. Honestly, Niall. No wonder you’ve had the worst luck with girls.”

October watched as Niall stood up suddenly and stormed down the beach, hands hands buried deep in his pockets. She glanced around and saw everyone with pale faces. “Is someone going to go talk to him?”

Zayn shook his head angrily and Abelia frowned, bending her head. October took that as a ‘no’ and stood, following Niall down the beach. She called after him and beckoned for him to stop, but he didn’t. In fact, it seemed as if he walked faster away from him.

October sprinted after him, stretching out her hand to grab hold of his shoulder. “Niall, for Christ’s sake, stop!”

He turned around, his face vicious. “Why? So you can reprimand me and tell me how awful I’ve been? I don’t need that. I don’t need any of you.”

October bit her lip. “Then why are you still here?”

“Because there’s someone here and I really like her. I don’t want to leave if there’s a chance we might be together,” Niall muttered harshly.

Her heart sunk and she knew instantly it was one of the other girls. There was no way that he could have been talking to her. He still hated her from their first encounter when she’d insulted him by being so defensive of her past. October painted on a smile anyway even though she felt a pang in her heart. Liam was enamored with Kassandra at the moment and there was no chance for October and Zayn.

She was the girl who everyone ignored because she wasn’t outspoken enough. “Then take a chance and talk to her, Niall. What are you going to do if she ends up with someone else? What are you going to do if she falls in love with one of your friends? That would be the worst thing ever, wouldn’t it?”

Niall’s face softened as a smile spread across his lips. “You’re right. The Love Games is all about taking chances and going for someone you’d never go for in the first place.”

October smiled and nodded. “I’m going to go back and sit by the bonfire again.”

She turned to leave but Niall caught her wrist and turned her around so both of her hands braced against his chest. She raised an eyebrow and a gasp followed as Niall pressed his lips gently against hers. It was a soft kiss but immediately following the contact between their lips, a shiver ran through her skin and she felt sparks ignite on her skin. October instantly knew that Niall was the boy she wanted. He was the one she’d been waiting for and in an instance, she knew that Zayn and Liam were extraneous in her life. They didn’t matter because Niall was the one she’d been waiting for.

Niall pulled away and smiled at her. “I never thought I’d fall for a girl with more ink than a paperback novel.”

October smiled and laughed breathlessly as she snaked her arms around his neck. “And I never thought and Irishman would make me weak in the knees with only one kiss.”