Falling for Harry Styles

I woke up on something soft like a bed, with a blanket draped over me, and a slight ache in my brain. But I don’t remember getting to a bed last night; come to think of it I don’t remember getting home at all last night. I sat up quickly, instantly regretting it as the combination of the ache and the sunlight filtering in through the window caused my head to pound. I groaned as I grabbed at the sides of my head, lightly massaging it and willing the pain to subside. I realized I was in a lounge, on a couch in a house not my own.
I planted my feet on the floor and looked around the slightly familiar room. I saw a half empty glass of water on the coffee table and didn’t think twice before grabbing it and finishing it off, hearing footsteps approaching behind me. I moved slow to set the glass back down and heard a thick accent behind me, “Mornin’. How ya’ feelin’?” I turned to find Niall carrying a cuppa to me.
“Like hell. Thank you,” I replied as I took the tea from him and sipped at it tentatively.
He sat next to me and carefully spoke, “Do you, uh, remember anything from last night?” I hesitated and thought, trying to recall something from last night and he continued. “Like, how you got here? Or why you came here?”
I shook my head, “No… last thing I remember I was sitting on the sofa watching TV.”
“Do you want me to tell you?” I thought a moment before hesitantly nodding my head. “Okay, but you won’t like it…”

*Flashback Niall’s POV*

The shrill ring of the doorbell jostled me out of sleep as I turned to the clock, 2:58 am. What the hell? I thought as I hauled myself out of bed, pulled on a pair of joggers and made my way to the front door. It buzzed again as I was down the hall, “I’m comin’, I’m comin’,” I barked unlocking it and pulling it open to reveal an out of it looking girl. “Natalie, its tree in the mornin’, the hell are ya’ doin’ ‘ere?”
“Oh…” she giggled, “Did I wake you?”
“Yea,” I replied with squinted eyes as she giggled again with a quiet ‘sorry’. She seemed off; nothing like her usual put together self. “Natalie are you… drunk?” I could hardly believe I was asking it, I mean this was Natalie; the girl who would never have more than a drink or two when we went out and who hated even the idea of being drunk.
“Very,” she replied looking stern before bursting into laughter again.
I sighed “C’mon Nat, inside ya’ go.” I pulled at her arm until she followed me and I lead her to the lounge. “I'm gonna go put water on for tea and then when I come back you’re going to tell me what’s up, okay?” she nodded in response and I hurriedly put the kettle on and filled a glass with water. I returned to the lounge and handed her the water, “Drink.” I sat next to her and watched her take a huge gulp before asking, “So… why ya’ here?”
“Can’t I just visit my favorite Irishman without a reason?” she slurred.
“Not at tree in the mornin’.”
She sighed, taking another big drink and setting the water down on the coffee table. She dropped her head and took a breath, letting it out as she replied “I didn’t want to go home to an empty flat.”
My brows knitted together, “But you were alone last night…?”
“Last night was a long time ago Ni.”
I could sense hurt in her tone, “Oh… um, can you tell me what happened?”
She sighed and took another drink, her whole demeanor changing from giddy drunk to sullen and sad in that moment. She swallowed hard, “Last night…” she sniffed and there were tears in her eyes. I put my hand on her back and rubbed soothing circles there. “Um… last night my sister was still alive.”
My face fell at her words, “Oh, Nat. I’m so sorry.”
She nodded, “It’s... um it’s… yeah,” she shrugged, visibly trying to contain her expression.
I hesitated before asking, “So how much did you have to drink?”
“I… lost count at fifteen shots-” my eyes widened at her words, “-and three boilermakers.”
My jaw dropped and my eyes grew wider, “Wow.” She nodded at me and I heard the kettle whistle, “Hold on, I’ll be right back; chamomile okay?”
“Sure,” she replied quietly.
I pulled down a cup and put the bag in it, carrying the tea and a small plate back with me. “Here Hun.”
“Thanks Ni,” she sniffed again.
I sat back down and we were silent for a moment, “Do you… need anything?” She sniffed again, shaking her head and fighting back tears as she set her tea down. “It’s okay to be upset ya’ know?” at those words she let go and broke down, sobs racking her frame and tears falling from her eyes. I pulled her into a hug and soothed her gently as she cried.
We were like that a while before she started to calm down. “I’m sorry Niall.”
“Hey, hey it’s okay,” I wiped away a few of her tears with my thumb. “I’m happy you came here instead of going home with some random bloke.” She nodded and sniffed again. “I’ll go get you a pillow and some blankets and you can get some rest, yeah?”
“Please…”
I nodded and made my way to the linen closet, grabbing the spare pillow and some blankets. I came back to find her laid out on the couch, shoes kicked off and eyes already half closed. “Can you lean up Nat?” she obliged and I placed the pillow under her head spreading the blankets over her.
“You were right Ni,” she breathed out so quietly I barely heard her, already sounding half asleep.
“About what sweetie?” I sighed out as she settled further into the couch.
“I am in love with Harry,” she mumbled.
I smiled at her drunken confession, “I know Nat, I know. G’nigtht honey; sweet dreams.”
“Night, Ni and thanks.”

Notes