Canon

‘What makes you think I give a damn about where she is?’ Niall growls at his brother with bawled fists.

‘I know you much better than you think little bro.’ Greg grins arrogantly from across the room. ‘Maybe you should go Lizette.’

‘Okay.’ I stare at Greg, confused but I go to grab my purse anyway.

‘Don’t tell her to go.’ Niall grabs my purse from my hands and sets it down on the arm of the sofa, ‘Just wait in the room for me. Will you?’

‘All right.’ I agree going down the small hallway and closing Niall’s bedroom door behind me.

Niall’s Point of View

‘Even if I let you stay here. How do I know that you’re not bullshitting me?’

‘I know how to find her. I kid you not.’

‘I swear to God, if you’re shitting with me I’ll make you pay for it.’

‘So, roommates?’

‘Don’t ever talk about the past around Lizette.’

‘Why? Are you afraid she’ll run as if she was on fire once she meets all of those ugly demons you like to keep hidden?’ Greg smirks and I wanted to ram my fist into his smug face.

He was right and I hated him for it.

Lizette’s Point of View

‘Is everything okay?’ I wonder once Niall comes back into the room.

‘Yeah everything's fine.’ He chimes in response, ‘Greg will just be here for a while.’

‘Uh oh.’ I tease as Niall nears me, ‘Does that mean I can't come over anymore?’

‘You can come over when you want. I'll kick his ass out if I have to.’

‘Okay.’ I smile kissing him, ‘For now - I better go.’

‘Stay another hour or two.’ He blinks running his tongue across his bottom lip.

‘I'm already pushing it, I have half an hour before curfew.’

‘Things were just getting interesting.’

‘Goodnight Niall.’ I laugh standing up from his bed.

‘I'll walk you out.’

Niall wraps his arms around my waist leading me out to the living room. Greg was sitting on the sofa, feet propped over the side with the remote in his hands.

‘Good seeing you again Lizette.’

‘You too.’ I reply as Niall gives me a gentle push out the door before his brother could say anything else.

‘Will you come by tomorrow? I figured we could rent some movies and hang out in my room all day.’

‘I'd love to.’ I fish my keys out of my purse and unlock the door, ‘bye.’

‘Be careful.’ He kisses my head and opens my door for me.

‘Don't kill your brother.’

‘I'll try not to.’

I make it home in time, which pleased my parents. I text Niall until I fall asleep with my phone wrapped in my palm. The next morning I shower and get dressed to go to Niall's. I put on a pair of knit shorts with Niall's Derby County Rams tee shirt along with my black Nike free runs.

‘Good morning.’ My mom singsongs happily from one of the kitchen chairs.

‘Good morning.’

‘Where are you headed?’

‘I'm going to hang out with Rose again.’

This time it wasn't a complete lie. Rose and I made plans to meet down at the bowling alley with Zayn and Niall. I just hadn't told Niall yet.

‘Oh? Are you two just going to hang around her house? You could do that here you know.’

‘We're going bowling actually. We haven't been in a while so we'd thought it'd be fun.’

‘Well have fun then.’

‘I will, thanks.’

‘That's a nice shirt by the way.’ She eyes me with knowing eyes. ‘Looks a little big for you, though.’

‘Mom, I-...’

‘Have fun Liz.’

I casually walk out the door and away from my mom's gaze. She knew. I don't know how she knew but she did. And she wasn't making a big fit about it. Maybe things were starting to change.

‘You look good.’ Niall grins pulling me into his apartment immediately, ‘That shirt looks really familiar.’

‘It should.’ I kiss his cheek following him into the living room.

‘So you ready to get that pizza and a few movies?’

‘Yes but I was thinking that we would make a quick stop.’

‘Oh? Where?’

‘The bowling alley.’

‘The bowling alley?’ Niall raises one of his thick eyebrows at me. ‘Why would be going to the bowling alley?’

Just as I open my mouth to speak Greg emerges from the bathroom in nothing more than a towel. His dark hair drips onto the wooden floor as he walks. Colorful tattoos marked his every single inch of his pale skin.

‘Oh, hello Lizette. I wasn’t aware we had company. Just getting out of shower, as you can see. Forgot me clothes.’

‘Come on, Lizette.’ Niall groans pulling me into his bedroom and sitting down on the bed.

‘How’s the roommate thing working for you?’ I ask standing in between his gapped legs.

‘Don’t you try and change the subject.’ He looks up at me, ‘Why would we be going to the bowling alley?’

‘Because Rose and Zayn may be waiting to meet up with us there.’

‘Pass.’

‘Aw come on, it’ll be fun.’ I plead, ‘Just a few hours.’

‘I don’t know. Whenever fucking Zayn’s around shit ends up going downhill.’

‘It won’t.’

‘Fine. You owe me.’ He caves in with a nod, ‘We are watching what ever movie I want – no complaints.’

‘What ever you want.’ I agree happily pulling Niall onto his feet, ‘Let’s go.’

Niall fishes out his wallet and car keys from his dresser drawer and slips them into his pocket. I wrap an arm around him following him back down the hall.

‘We’re leaving. I don’t want any of your addict buddies in my place while I’m gone. Neither do you unless you want to live on the streets.’ Niall takes one long gaze at his brother before opening the door.

We make it to the bowling alley about half an hour later and go inside. I notice the double takes that Niall receives as he walks into the building. I hold onto his hand while he pays for the two of us to bowl for two hours.

‘Liz! Over here.’ Rose flags us down from a nearby lane. ‘So happy you both made it!’

‘Where’s Zayn?’

‘Picking out some balls.’

‘Good, he needed some.’ Niall snickers to himself dropping the rental shoes that he refused to wear.

‘You won’t be talking shit when I kick your ass in this game of bowling.’ Zayn replies handing Rose a bowling ball and plopping down into his seat.

‘Me and Lizette against you two.’ Niall chimes going off to get us a few bowling balls.

Niall and I ended up killing Rose and Zayn in several games because Niall was exceptionally great at it while Rose was exceptionally bad at it.

‘Oh Malik, I believe I’m still talking shit.’ Niall bends over with laughter throwing another strike. ‘When we’re you supposed to kick my ass?’

‘Shut the hell up.’ Zayn scoffs taking a sip of his soda.

Niall takes his seat beside me and grabs my drink bringing it to his lips. I reach over to his French fries and grab a handful without thinking. Zayn and Rose both stare at us with knowing eyes.

‘What the hell is your problem?’ Niall questions setting down the drink in front of me.

‘Are you two dating?’ Rose blurts out and I mentally kick myself.

‘Clearly. They’re all over each other, sharing food and shit.’

‘It’s not like that.’ Niall answers and I couldn’t help but step a few feet back inside my head.

‘Aw come on. Don’t be so mysterious.’ Rose eggs Niall on and I desperately wanted the two of them to stop pushing the subject.

‘We’re not together. So just drop it.’ Niall abruptly stands up and goes to the concession stand.

For the remainder of the game Niall sits further away from me, completely on the other side of the lane. I was thankful that the timer went off signaling our time was up.

‘Call me later, all right?’ Rose wonders as the four of us were walking out the bowling alley.

‘Sure.’

‘Are you pissed at what happened back there?’

‘Nope. Later.’ I wave silently sliding into Niall’s car.

‘So, I was thinking we’d get some movies and then just order the pizza a little later. That’s if you’re not hungry. I mean I can always eat.’

‘Actually, I really should be getting back home so maybe you could just take me to the apartment so I can get my car.’

‘Hold up – you said if I went to this dumbass bowling thing we’d watch movies for the rest of the day.’

‘Well, that’s before I knew how you really felt.’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘As soon as Zayn and Rose started grilling you about us you acted like I had some kind of plague.’

‘I don’t feel like I should explain this to anyone.’

‘I don’t even know what the hell this is Niall. We can almost sleep together but God forbid someone say we’re together.’

‘You know it’s not like that.’

‘No, Niall I don’t.’

The rest of the ride to the apartment is silent and awkward. Niall gets out the car and walks over to mine blocking the driver door.

‘Move.’

‘Just talking to me for a minute, okay?’

‘Okay talk.’

‘No, not right here. Come up to the room and we’ll sit down and figure all of this shit out because I thought you were happy.’

I follow Niall up to his apartment and wait while he fishes out the key. He pushes the door open to reveal Greg and some woman in a deep make out session on the sofa.

‘What the hell?!’ Niall shouts slamming the door.

The girl scurries off of Greg’s lap and straightens out her holey, baggy shirt. Her faded pink hair was messily shoved into a ponytail and she had just as many tattoos as Greg.

‘Oh, you’re home.’ Greg awkwardly speaks looking from the girl to Niall.