Addicted|n.h.|

Her heart thumped inside her chest as she pushed her way outside into the empty alley. How could she have been so stupid? How could she have trusted Niall to leave Kelsa for her? He had needs. She knew that. But she ignored that nagging feeling deep inside her. She could feel tears sting her eyes and she quickly wiped them away before they trickled down her cheeks with the back of her sleeve.
She increased her pace but it wasn’t enough. Niall had caught up to her and was now holding her by the elbow. He was saying something but she couldn’t hear him. It was after a while that she could hear him speaking. Something.
“Ashley? Are you listening?” he said, concern laced in his voice.
“what do you want from me? Please don’t waste your time with me when you clearly have other things to do. Especially with Kelsa.” She said, her tone piercing and accusatory. She knew that she was just another girl in his life. She knew she meant nothing to him.
“what are you talking about? What Kelsa did in there, she did that just to make you jealous.” He paused, and sighed. “look, I really like you Ashley. And whatever Kelsa did or will do won’t change my feelings for you.” He stepped in closer.
But she still couldn’t trust him, let alone touch her. She backed away, only a step.
“I still don’t trust you. How do I know you’re telling me the truth and that whatever happened in there was just a lie? Also, she was sitting on your lap. You could’ve pushed her off.” Ashley says, her tone low, almost as though she was heart-broken.
“look, I’m sorry you had to see that, okay? That kiss, it was a mistake and it won’t happen ever again. Trust me?” he said, his voice pleading and genuinely sorry.
Taking a deep breath, Ashley pretended like she was thinking deeply. “okay.” She replied softly.
He pulled her in, holding her tightly by the waist that if he let her go she would disappear. She exhaled, feeling like she’d been holding her breath for a long time before his lips found hers. Kissing her fervently as her fingers found his hair, tugging lightly at the nape. She knew that what she wanted, she’d gotten it already. And maybe there was more. But for now, she was satiated.
They walked back inside holding hands and during that brief period Kelsa had managed to slip out unnoticed. Ashley felt a surge of relief when she noticed that she’d left, even without mentioning a thing.
As they sat together, Niall pulled her closer to him. And she happily obliged by putting her hand in his, entwining their fingers-his hands hot against her warm ones, which suddenly seemed to have become cold. Ignoring the chats of everyone, she put her head on his shoulder, oblivious about what the future held. All she knew was that they were going to be together and maybe along the way, things were going to happen that would break her heart for sure but would in the end be mended by Niall himself.
But could she trust him when he’d done something so reckless in front of her eyes? What would happen if she weren’t there? Would he resist Kelsa? Would he even think about her?
She pushed these unpleasant thoughts aside and focused on the ‘here’ and ‘now’ with Niall. She wasn’t happy about the way things had turned out to be. They weren’t talking, like normal couples did. Instead they were kissing and touching and doing things apart from reaching third base.
She wanted to talk to Niall about them. It had been over two months they’d been dating and she knew that he had needs too. Needs that she wouldn’t satisfy just yet. But was he going to Kelsa to satiate those needs? And if he was, then what could she do?
They walked back to the parking lot holding hands as they were the last ones to leave since all of Niall’s friends had left long before. Ashley’s heart rammed against her chest, her heart moving up to her throat, threatening to choke her. But before she could even take a deep breath, Niall pinned her against the hood of his car as she laid down on it.
“what are you doing Niall?” she whispered as saw his eyes.
“just kissing my girlfriend good bye.” He said, his voice sweet as an angel.
“Girlfriend?” she said, but before she could get her answer, he pressed his lips against hers which were warm and moist against her cold, rough ones.
“Yes girlfriend. Why, you don’t wanna be my girlfriend?” he asked.
“is this a proposal?” Ashley asked, pushing him off but still holding his hands, entwined with hers.
“You could say so.”
“you’re bad at proposing, I should say. There is a proper way of proposing, you know Niall.” She said, teasing him and prolonging the answer to which he was eagerly awaiting.
“Will you or will you not be my girlfriend?” he asked, sounding a bit irritated.
“I’ll think about it.” She said and turned to leave when he pulled her back, her hands quickly flying to his chest to balance herself.
“Please say yes.” He said, his breath warm against her skin. She could feel goose bumps rise on her arms and legs and down her spine. She could feel the same tingling sensation she had felt the first time he’d held so close in that lake.
His lips pressed against hers once again as this time both her hands were around his neck, pulling him closer. The kiss deepened as he entered his tongue in her mouth, causing a low moan to erupt from Ashley. He pressed his body against hers which was pressed against the hood of the car. This was really happening. She couldn’t believe it.
They would be official from now on.
“yes.” She breathed once they pulled apart.
Niall kissed her against, this time a shorter kiss. She could feel her cheeks flush in embarrassment as there were this couple standing there, clapping lightly.

As he held her close to his body, the same hooded figure watched their every move. It was officially on. The game had just begun and the participants didn’t even know about it. But soon they were going to find out.
The hooded figure replayed the recording, watching as the two love-birds kissed each other, their hands groping each other’s bodies with greed and hunger--- pure lust. The hooded figure could feel the spittle threatening to choke. That little whore! Her time would come. All the hooded figure had to have was patience. Something worth waiting for. Nobody to save them now. Not even their own pity little friends. They were up against them, from the beginning. And this time, there was no stopping this person. Not even she could stop him. No matter how much she tried.

Notes