Some days can just never end fast enough. I'm sure you've had those days where it seems as if time might just be going backwards. Well, that's my day today. It has dragged so slow and has been so tedious that I thought my head might explode. It's been a terrible, to say the least. I have been anxiously checking the clock waiting for it to finally be time to go home. The moment it strikes five I'm out of the door and halfway across the carpark before my phone buzzes with a text from Lily.

"Drinks? Your place? Today killed me."

It seems she's also had the day from hell and even though Niall is supposed to call at some point tonight I tell her to come over anyway. It will be nice to relax and have a drink after such a nasty day. Plus at least, with Lily there I won't be checking my phone every other minute.
It's as if the universe is against me because traffic on the way home is horrendous. At this point, I'll be drinking an entire bottle of wine by myself just to take the edge off of today.

When I finally get home and I open my door the quiet calm of my flat seeps into my bones. The weight from the day slides from my shoulders as I drop my bag on the floor and turn on the lights, making the room seem bright and cheerful already ten times better than my heinous day. I wander into my bedroom and pull off my constricting work clothes, throwing them onto the floor with little care. Instead, I slip on a soft threadbare sweatshirt that I've had as long as I can remember. The sleeves turn my hands into paws, hiding them in a puddle of cuff and extra fabric. I look down at my bare legs and wonder if I can get away with just this but I can already hear Lily's voice in my head.

"Harper, don't you own pants?"

I grab a pair of leggings to wear while she's over, fully intending on shedding them the moment she steps out of my door. I just want to relax tonight. Maybe sit on the couch and watch a movie until Niall decides to call. If he even does. I shake my head, silently scolding myself. That wasn't very nice even if he doesn't have the greatest track record I've got to give the benefit of the doubt. He said he'd call. I'll reserve judgment until to tomorrow and give him a chance to keep his word.

Just as I'm walking out of my bedroom, my front door opens and Lily walks in. She looks haggard. That's the best way to put it.

"Man. You look like shit," I say as I take her work bag from her and set it with mine.

She snorts derisively. "Thank you. I love you too."

Walking back to the kitchen I call out. "Wine?"

I hear her make herself comfortable on the couch. "Please. The entire vineyard if you've got it."

Laughing, I grab two glasses and an already chilled bottle from the fridge. By the time I've made it back to my living room, Lily has shed her shoes and bra and she's making grabbing motions to the wine in my hands.

"Thanks for the bottle but what are you going to drink?" she asks in genuine wonder and I roll my eyes at her.

I pull my phone from my back pocket and check it subtly as Lily pours two large glasses of rosé. Nothing from Niall yet. I let out a soft breath and place myself in the corner of my couch, my legs curled under me and my phone tucked into my lap. Lily turns to me, handing me my glass and then holding hers up to make a toast.

"May tonight be better than today and may Frank from accounting get slapped in the face."

She takes a large gulp as I take a small sip, my eyebrows raised in curiosity.

"Care to tell me about Frank from accounting? What did he do to get on your bad side?"

She takes another mouthful, rolling her eyes. "Fucking Frank. He thinks he's god's gift but he's just a fuck up and a wanker."

I giggle. "Damn. Frank is not doing so hot."

"Listen to what the tosser did today." She sits back against the couch making herself comfortable. "So I had to go up to the fourth floor to drop off some spreadsheets and other bullshit nonsense to some people in accounting and while I was up there I stopped to chat with Susan, who's just found out she's pregnant. Well, while I'm standing there he walks up behind me and leans in and makes a disgusting comment about my outfit and more particularly my ass." Her hands are waving about while she explains the exploits of Frank from accounting but miraculously she spills none of her wine. "God I wish I could remember exactly what he said but I can't now. You've never seen Frank have you? Well, he's not much to look at though he seems to think he's supermodel level good looking. The ass can barely keep food from falling on his chin while he's eating. It's disgusting actually. He literally walks about with bits of his lunch stuck as leftovers in his mustache." She twinkles her fingers over her upper lip and I burst into giggles. "Anyway, Susan looked extremely put out and I was so angry I wanted to rip his balls out of his throat and force feed them back to him. Such a fuckwit."

For a second, I feel worried. Lily can sometimes fly off the handle. "You didn't do anything stupid did you?"

She shook her head, sipping from her glass. "Sadly no. I did get a good remark in, though. He'd said something along the lines of me being a good bit of tail." She starts chuckling to herself as she thinks back on her comment.

"And...?" I ask as I take another drink.

She looks me right in the eyes. "I told him he wouldn't know a good tail even if it sat on his face and wiggled though that wasn't very likely to happen."

I almost spit my wine across the room and we both burst into laughter.

"That is perfect, Lil, simply perfect."

She shrugs. "Yeah, I can't wait to see his face tomorrow though because I also reported him to human resources. Now the loser will have to deal with them too." She gestures to me with her now empty glass. "Refill?"

I nod and she refills us quickly. I check my phone once more while she is occupied but there is still nothing.

"What about you? What's your bad day all about?"

I tuck my phone back quickly. "Oh, just a long day I suppose. Nothing really happened. I was just done and ready to go before the clock even hit 9 this morning."

"I feel that on a deep level today."

"It was one of those days where the clock was going backwards all day. But I'm glad you're here now. I like our wine and whining nights. They make the week so much better." I feel my phone vibrate and I snatch it up, checking it quickly but it's only a text from my mom. I close it, vowing to call her tomorrow and check in with her. It's been too long since we've talked last. From the corner of my eye, I catch Lily giving me an odd look but she shakes it off when I glance back up at her.

"So." She says, bluntly, dropping a bit of news on me from out of nowhere. "I think Ben is going to ask me to marry him."

I look at her in stunned silence. My mouth hanging open like a fish searching for air above water. "You what?"

She takes a slow sip of wine as if she hasn't just told me an extremely interesting piece of gossip and then repeats herself. "I think he is going to propose."

"Shut up!" I exclaim as I smack her, sending her flying backwards. She barely holds on to her glass. Her laughter fills the room around us. "When?"

She blushes slightly. "Not sure exactly. Buuuuut..."

"But what? Lily! Don't hold me in such suspense. It's not fair!"

She smiles. "He's got us dinner reservations at a fancy restaurant in a week or so. When I asked him why he'd picked somewhere so fancy he only shrugged and said he'd felt like going somewhere nice for a change."

"Oh my god! Lily! This is beyond exciting! I'm so happy for you!" I set my glass down and wrap my arms around her, squeezing her in delight. "This is amazing!"

She giggles softly. "Well, it hasn't happened yet. Let's not get our hopes completely up."

I smile rolling my eyes. "Ben is head over heels in love with you. And anyway, if he doesn't ask you, I will."

This makes her really laugh and we talk for a few minutes more about the merits of a potential lesbian wedding. Between off hand remarks about whether she is a suit or a dress type and what our colors would be, I take a few seconds to check my phone but there is still nothing.

"I suppose you wouldn't be so bad to marry. At least, then I'd not have daily conversations about the idiocy of men."

I nod in agreement. "Sometimes they really are more trouble than their worth. But your Ben is such a sweet man. I only wish that I had someone as lovely as he is."

"I could set you up with someone. Or Ben could! He's got a lot of really great friends! Oh! This could be great!" Lily's voice is ringing with excitement as she continues to tell me all about some man named Jacob and how much I'd like him.

I sort of stop listening when I feel my phone vibrate again. I look at it quickly trying not to draw her attention and it's still no one important.

I glance back up to see Lily glaring at me annoyed. "Why the hell do you keep checking your phone? Are you expecting a call from the queen?"

I immediately get flustered. I didn't want her to notice but I've done a shit job of hiding it I guess. I fumble with my words, "I...umm..it's nothing. Really." I tuck my phone under my leg and hope she will drop it.

She gives me such an 'I don't believe a word that's coming out of your mouth' face that I feel the anxiety start to rise in my throat. I don't really want to tell her about Niall. I don't really want her to give me the lecture that I know she will give me because she doesn't trust him one little bit. I don't even trust him. Not yet. I'm only giving him a chance really.

"It's nothing. I promise. Now, what we were talking about again?"

She purses her lips. "We were discussing who exactly is going to be calling you because you've been checking your phone so often that I'm fully expecting you to tell me that your mum is in hospital."

I sigh. "No, no, it's nothing like that. My mother is perfectly fine. At least, she was the last time I talked to her. It's only...well..."

"Spit it out darling. We both know you're a terrible liar."

She's right. I am. So I decide to go ahead and just tell her. Lecture be damned. "It's Niall."

Lily drops her head back against the couch and her eyes roll so far back I'm afraid they will get stuck. "Oh for fucks sake, not this twat again."

"It's not that big of a deal. I promise. It's nothing really." I try to explain without actually explaining anything.

"What happened to you being mad?" She throws her hands up in frustration. "Why are we not mad at the little leprechaun anymore?"

The defensive side of me wants to tell her to leave me alone but I know that won't work with her. "I don't know. It's been differently lately."

"Lately? Lately! How many times have you talked to him? Are you holding out on me?"

I stay silent not really wanting to antagonize the situation.

"I just don't understand why you keep coming back to him. Especially after what he did to you! Why would you put up with that? Why?" She looks at me and her face shows every ounce of exasperation I can hear in her voice. "Don't you want someone to treat you well? Someone who is actually proud to take you out and say 'look at this beautiful girl! She's mine!'? Don't you want that?"

The weight of her words is heavy on my heart and my head hangs low with the feeling. "Of course, I want that. Do you think I asked for all of this? That I somehow brought it on myself?"

We both sit in silence for a moment before I continue.

"He called me. And we talked. That's it."

She crosses her arms in front her, her glass of wine discarded on the table. "And you didn't think to tell me about it?"

I can tell I've hurt her feelings by not telling her about this when it happened. "It's just...I didn't..."

She leans in towards me, chin jutting out in aggravation. "Didn't what? Think it was a good idea to talk to your best friend about it?"

I let out a soft breath, feeling very defeated. "It's not that Lily. I just know you don't like him. I knew you would tell me it was a bad idea. But it hasn't been bad. Not at all."

Lily closes her eyes like she trying to compose her thoughts. When she opens them again her expression has softened and she looks at me with a hint of sadness in her eye as she explains, "Sweetie, it's not that I don't like him. I mean, yes, he was an ass to you and he used you for his own fun and then mistreated you. But I saw the way you looked when you would talk about him. I knew how much he meant to you. So, no, it's not that I didn't like him. It's that I didn't like what he did to you." She reaches over and pats my arm. "I just worry about you. No one wants to watch their best friend get their heart broken. Again." She sighs, looking at the crease growing between my eyes. "Harper, what do you want?"

I'm not sure I even know how to answer her. These are all things I've worried about myself since the night Niall called. What if I let him back in and it isn't any different. I don't want to be that girl that just chases the same man over and over again to only get her heart broken once more.

"I don't know." I finally answer.

She is looking at me like a child and I'm not sure that I like the way it is making me feel. "Then maybe it's best not to talk to him anymore."

I open my mouth to respond but her phone rings and I'm spared from piecing together whatever I had hoped to say. I watch her as she talks animatedly to, I can only assume, Ben. I take another sip of wine from my glass but instead of tasting sweet and hitting the spot, it turns my stomach with its vinegary aftertaste. I quickly set the glass away from myself and try not to scowl at the happiness oozing from Lily's voice.

This was not how I expected tonight to turn out.

When Lily finally hangs up she has a smile as wide as her face. "That was Ben. He's coming to pick me up since I had something to drink." She stands up from the couch and I follow her lead, helping her gather her things. "He should be here in a few minutes. He was only just down the road." Now she pauses and looks at me seriously. "Harper, I love you and I only want what's best for you. I'm not entirely sure that includes Niall."

She rubs her hand up and down my upper arm and it reminds me of my mother when she would tell me as a teenager that she thought I was making poor decisions. I glance down at her hand and try to cover the face I'm making. "I know, Lily. Thank you for looking out for me." I say the words even though they taste bitter coming off my tongue.

She pulls me into a hug and squeezes me tightly. "Thank you for letting me unwind a bit tonight. It was much needed."

I walk her to the door and open it for her. As she passes through she looks back at me and points a finger at me. "No more Niall babe."

I give her a somewhat believable smile and she prances down the hallway, her purse swinging from her shoulder, her slight drunkenness helping to convince her that I am completely on board with everything she's said to me. I close the door and rest my back on it, letting my head hit the wood with a soft thud.

"No more Niall." I mock her voice in a childish tone. "Yes, mother."

I huff as I push off the door and start to clean up the glasses and the now empty bottle of wine. I take them all into the kitchen and leave them sitting on the counter. I don't even have the energy to clean up right now. As I slump back down into the cushions of my couch I think back on Lily's words. Maybe she's right. Maybe I shouldn't be talking to Niall. I put my head into my heads, my forehead resting on my palms and my fingers raking through my long hair. I have to think about this from my own point of view. I can't let Lily or even Jamie's views on Niall color my own decision to talk to him. Two hours ago I was looking forward to it and now all because of what my best friend had to say I'm not.

I groan out loud. "I hate this."

I curl into a ball and grab the remote. I going to drown out the sound of Lily's voice in my memory with a movie and with any luck Niall will call and it won't seem like such a bad idea after all. I flip through the channels searching for something, anything to watch.

"Nothing. Why is there always nothing on telly?"

I keep flipping until a familiar face appears on the screen. Patrick Swayze, in all his mullet and tight black pants glory. I sink further down into the cushions and let the music of the Dirty Dancing soundtrack make all the noise in my head go away. It's about halfway through already but there are still plenty of good scenes to come. This has always been a favorite movie of mine and it's been way too long since I've watched it. I think back to myself, wondering when the last time I'd sat down and actually watched this movie and then it hits me right in the chest.

7 Months ago

Tonight would be an easy night. I've got nothing going on, just me, my comfy pants, and the telly. But then my phone rings, throwing a giant chink in the chain of my lazy night.

"Hello?" I answer though I already know it's Niall on the other end.

"Sunshine, what are you up to?" His voice sounds tired and not at all like his usual buoyant self.

"Not much."I look around the room and down at my lap. "I am literally sitting on my couch, wearing sweatpants and getting ready to watch a movie."

I hear him yawn through the phone. "Really," His voice still carrying the yawn over. "What movie?"

I smile at the softness of his voice. "Dirty Dancing, an old fave of mine."

He chuckles tiredly. "Mind if I come over? It's been a shit day and I could use the company."

Mind if he comes over? Is that even an actual question for me?

"Yeah. I wasn't planning on doing much. Hope that's okay."

I can hear him physically relax and it shows in his voice. "No, that sounds perfect."

I can't help but smile. "Want me to order some takeout?"

He groans in happiness and I smile wider. "God yes. Chinese? I'll be there in a few."

"I'm on it," I promise as I say goodbye and hang up the phone.

---

It isn't long before the lean form of Niall is striding through my door. One look at his tired face tells me all I need to know about his day. The Chinese food arrived shortly before he did and I've got it all laid out on the coffee table with my movie paused and waiting. I look over my shoulder and watch him make his way sluggishly to where I'm perched on the couch. The truthfulness of my previous statement of not doing much is evident but the blanket draped over my crisscrossed legs and the messy bun at the top of my head. He slumps down next to me, his shoulders sagging in a way I've not noticed before.

"Long day?" I ask as I hand him a white cardboard box of his favorite from my local place and a pair of chopsticks.

He shakes his head as he opens it and the smell of Asian spices wafts out. He sniffs appreciatively. "You have no idea."

I frown slightly at him as he digs into the steaming noodles, his whole body relaxing into my couch. This isn't what Niall normally uses me for, comfort, that is. He's called me after a long day and come over raring to go but never has he just wanted to rest and sit quietly with me, eating take out and watching movies that were made before he and I were born. I grab my own container and try not to over think what any of this means.

He reaches down, his mouth full of noodles, grabbing the remote of the table and presses play on the movie. We sit in a quiet contentment, eating and watching as Patrick Swayze dances into a room, a pretty blonde on his arm and everyone glad to see him.

This is actually one of my favorite parts of the movie, the first time he dances with Baby, and I sort of get lost in the sway of his hips and the way his hands grab hers, teaching her just the way to move. Like I said before, it's one of my favorites. I look over to see Niall watching me, a grin on his face and I blush. My pink cheeks only make him laugh outright.

"Nothing to be embarrassed about, Sunshine." He nudges me with his elbow. "I see why you like this movie so much."

I roll my eyes. "Shut up."

He chuckles under his breath. "Maybe later I can teach you how to move your hips and you can call me the 'love man'." He says, referencing the song they are dancing to.

"Oh my god. I hate you."

My annoyance only makes him laugh more. Our comfortable silence resumes as the movie goes on. It's nice just sitting here with Niall. I like not doing anything with him. It's simple and it feels normal. About halfway through the movie, I notice his eyes start to droop and he lays his head softly against my shoulder. I gesture to my lap, offering it up as a place to lay his head and he takes it. Placing his scruff of blond hair on my legs and then curling his own onto the couch beside him. Looking down at him it strikes me how much he looks like a tired kid and not a twenty-something pop star. Maybe those two things are actually one in the same in his case.

I thread my fingers absentmindedly through his hair and he groans like a cat being stroked before sinking deeper into my lap. I watch his eyes flicker beneath his lids, watch his breathing even out slowly. He was so tired and exhausted yet he sought my comfort after such a day. I turn my attention back to the movie, a warmth spreading through my body that feels suspiciously like love.

---

I am completely absorbed in the final dance number happening on the screen that I fail to see my screen light up next to me but luckily the vibration against my leg catches my attention and I spring up from the cushions, grabbing the phone. A rush of excitement shoots through me when my eyes land on Niall's name. It only pushes down the exhaustion left over from earlier by a smidge so that my voice stills rings tired when I answer the phone.

"Hello?"

"Harper?" Niall asks confused.

"Yeah, it's me," I say curling myself into a tight ball on the couch and pausing the movie.

"Oh, are you okay? You sound..." His voice trails off. "I don't know. Tired, maybe? Do you want me to let you go?"

"Oh no!" I say just a little too quickly for my own comfort. I'm doing a great job at nonchalant. I try to tame the excitement in my voice slightly. "No, it's okay really, it's just been a very long day."

I can hear him getting comfortable, on his bed, maybe. "Well, what are you doing now?"

I snuggle back down into the couch. "Nothing. Just watching the end of a movie."

"Oh? What movie?"

I smile slightly, thinking back again to the last time I watched this. "Dirty dancing."

"Oh! I remember watching that with you!" His voice sounds warm and full. It makes my chest feel tight. "If I recall correctly I fell asleep in your lap."

I giggle softly, "That you did."

His own chuckle sounds through the phone, matching mine. "You know what you need?"

"What, Niall?"

"You need to watch Dirty Dancing while you rest your head in my lap and this time, I'll scratch your head while you fall asleep."

I can't help but sigh at how wonderful that sounds right now.

"Too bad I'm still so far away. Maybe when I get back?"

A mini explosion of nerves bursts in my chest. When he gets back. Niall wants to see me when he gets back.

"Why don't you lay down, get comfy, and I'll tell you about my day while you just relax."

I spend the rest of my evening with Niall's soft voice in my ear. His words are my story. His accent my soothing mug of tea. And when I finally fall asleep that night, his laugh is my lullaby.

Notes

A/N: I hope you guys liked this newest chapter! I'd love to hear your thoughts! Thanks for reading! *Christina