For Your Eyes Only

“Sorry! My mate needs to watch where he’s kicking,” he said. His accent surprised me, he was Irish.
“Oh, that’s ok. Here’s your ball,” I replied, ignoring the slight flutter in my stomach.
“You’re American!” he exclaimed, flashing a row of beautifully straight teeth. I smiled and looked up at him, sliding my sunglasses up over my hair.
“You’re Irish,” I objected at his accusation. He laughed, and I couldn’t help but do the same.
“That I am…” he paused, looking at me with a question in his eyes. Confused, I just stared back, when suddenly I realized. He wanted my name.
“Oh! Uh, Annie,” I stuttered, blushing. He grinned yet again and glanced back at his friends who shouted at him.
“I’m Niall.”
“Well, nice to meet you, Niall.”
“Same to you, Annie.” Another shout went up behind him.
“C’mon, Horan! Stop flirting and get back to the game!” called a boy with curly hair. Niall turned bright pink and shot a glare over his shoulder.
“Erm, I’ve got to go. See you,” he said haltingly. I waved as he ran back to his friends. I watched with interest as his friends received him with laughs and glances my way, patting him on the back and hooting. He pushed the curly-haired one away and avoided eye contact with anyone, including me, and went back to the game.
An hour later, I stood and stretched my cramped muscles and looked around for the café the lady at the book store had mentioned. There, across the street was a small blue coffee shop called “Top O’ the Morning”. The boys had long taken off, leaving me alone in the park besides the occasional passer-by. Upon entering the café I was met with shouts of greeting. I groaned. All five boys were crammed into a booth in the corner of the shop guzzling soda and eating pizza.
“Heeeeeyyyy! Come join us, Niall’s girl!” one of them shouted. I blushed deeply than I’d blushed in a long time and hesitantly stepped over to them. Niall shook his head, frowning at the rowdy bunch. He got up, being on the end, and met me halfway.
“You, uh, don’t have to sit with us. Just ignore them,” he said. I smiled, grateful for the warning, but I was a bit lonely.
“I’ll be fine,” I said. He nodded and pulled a chair to the end of the table and pushed it in as I sat down. Wow, I thought. I wish guys in the states were this polite.
“Niall won’t tell us your name,” complained the one closest to me on the left. He had longish hair and a bit of beard, and tattoos running up his arms. He was leaned forward on his elbows, waiting for my reply.
“I’m Annie,” I said.
“What were you reading, Annie?” asked the one farthest on my right. His hair was buzzed on the sides and he had distinct arrow-like tattoos up his right arm.
“Shakespeare’s sonnets," I blushed, embarrassed. They all raised their eyebrows in surprise, but the curly haired boy was the first to speak it.
“You’re American!” he said with a grin in Niall’s direction.
“That I am…” I looked at him, ignoring Niall’s knowing smile. I copied his exact reaction when I said he was Irish.
“I’m Harry,” the boy said.
“Oh yeah, how rude of you Niall! You didn’t introduce your friends!” said the boy with the slight beard. “I’m Louis.”
“Liam,” said the boy with the buzz. He had a thicker beard than Louis, but it was well kept.
“And I’m Deo, but I’ve got to go. I was just visiting the boys here. See ya, guys!” said the last boy. Several of them got up to let him out, and Niall hugged him before he left.
“So, Annie, where in America are you from?” asked Niall as he sat back down. I noticed he scooted a bit closer, setting of those silly butterflies in my stomach again. I blushed, much to my embarrassment, and glanced at my hands folded in my lap.
“I, uh, I’m from Massachusetts,” I stuttered. He smiled and leaned forward, focusing only on me.
“I’ve been there! I visited Boston once!” he exclaimed. “What’re you doing in the U.K.?” Oh, that accent…
“I live with my Aunt. I’ve been here about two years.” He even smelled good, despite the fact that he was sweaty from playing soccer. Harry said something about clearing the plates from the table, initiating the mass exodus of the remaining three, other than Niall. The one left on his side scooted under the table, so as not to make him move, leaving the two of us alone.
“Really? Where does your aunt live?” he asked. His eyes were riveted on my face. Those big, Irish blue eyes…
“We live here in Cheshire. She, er, owns a, um, a shop in the city…” His eyes flickered down to my lips and back so fast that I almost didn’t catch it. My heart was going nuts. I could swear he could hear it… I nearly lost myself in his eyes, and stopped breathing altogether when I saw the tip of his tongue slide along his bottom lip. I didn’t realize how close we were until I felt his breath wash over my flushed face.
Suddenly, I flinched as his phone went off in his pocket. He closed his eyes and growled, jerking it out and answering it with a harsh “What”.
“Fine… No, Saturday… I’m busy, Paul. Call Harry and talk to him… I know, but-… Fine. When are you coming? Yeah, yeah, I’ll be ready. Bye.”
My eyes bore a hole in the ground. I couldn’t meet his stare. Don't panic. Don't panic. Do. Not. Panic. I tried to calm my shaking hands, but he saw them. Then he saw the tears in my eyes. He reached out to touch my arm, but I instinctively jerked away. The pressure in my chest was building. My eyes were clouded by tears that had been forced down for two years. I jumped out of my chair and flew out the door with him not far behind. I couldn’t breathe. You disgusting little brat-scum! I cried out as my mother’s voice penetrated my thoughts. Then I heard my father. Get over here, or I’ll hit you again! I couldn’t hold back the tears, and soon I couldn’t move. I collapsed at a dead run, rolling to a stop but my body didn’t cease its desperate gasping and gulping for air. Someone was calling my name, but it sounded like I was underwater.

Notes

Just so you guys know, there won't be any swearing in this story... I want to make it appropriate for all ages :)