The Irish One

It was some hours later when my phone started to ring insistently. My eyes snap open to the sound of the buzzing. I was faced with a moment of total confusion. My vision was met by darkness the only light coming from a teli in front of me. Something was off. Something was really off. This was not my bed, or my hotel bed, at least. Nor was this my hotel. My hotel room smelled like dirty laundry and Liam's excessive cologne. Where I am at now smells of plants and sweat- which was not too bad, actually. Not only that, but there was movement beside me. Gentle and subtle. It was breathing.
I begin to panic when I try to roll over but am restricted by a weight on my side. I attempt to shift around and immediately freeze when I hear a light snore close to my ear. That was when things had started to become clear. I was still at Avaline's place. We must have fallen asleep during the movie, which can only mean that the plant and sweat-scented room belongs to Avaline, and Avaline is currently fast asleep, cuddled into my shoulder. She look so sweet and nice for once- like she wasn't about to deck someone or something.
As much as I hated to do it, I whispered adoringly, "AJ, wake up." Avaline stirs beside me, but ends up groaning stubbornly and buries her face deeper into my shirt. I knew for a fact that she was truly asleep then. Anyone else would probably still be awake and just snuggling into me because its me, Niall Horan. But for her, if she would have known what she was doing, she probably would have punched herself.
I couldn't stifle the chuckle that escaped my lips at the thought that. I found this behaviour amusing- I got the man's role back. "Avaline. . ." I let my voice trail to see if she'd respond to that as well. Still nothing. "Avaline, C'mon babe. I need to get to my phone."
Avaline mumbles something incoherently into my shirt and as stupid as this all will sound, my hear just about burst because it was the cutest damn thing I could have ever witnessed.
Its hard to describe a girl that is so boyish and so intimidating as cute, but that little moment was it.
"No, actually move." I tell her.
With one final groan, Avaline sits up, the light from the TV partially illuminates her face as she rubs sleepily at her drooping eyes. She looked so tired. I started to feel bad. Maybe I should have just left her alone.
"What time is it?" she asks me, her voice thick and raspy, lower than her normal pitch.
"Umm.." I fish through my now available pocket for my phone. "Its 23:04."
"Well shit, dude. How long were we out?"
"Several hours, I guess."
Due to the long nap we both had just taken, neither of us make a move to get up. Instead, we both lay there, shoulder to shoulder, soaking in each other's warmth. She had her hands in her lap as she toyed with the stray threads of her worn out t-shirt.
The room falls silent, save for the sound of our breathing intertwining. However, that moment was shattered. . .
By fucking Harry.
Sighing loudly, I apologize for the jump-scare before answering it.
"Look who finally answered!" Harry's voice practically yells into the receiver.
"Yeah, sorry 'bout that, mate. I was sleeping." I mumble.
"Sleeping, huh?" The joking accusation is clear in his tone. "Where the hell are you? We thought the paps got your or you got mobbed or-"
"Was watching a film." I grumble.
"Whatever, so you were sleeping?"
"Yes. We were sleeping and it was quite peaceful until we were rudely woken up, Styles."
"We?"
"Yes, we."
"Wait, are you still st that girl's house?" he asked me. He had some contempt laced in his voice. "Niall. . ."
"That girl has a name, Harry."
"Niall, remember last ti-"
"Why were you calling again?"
"Liam wanted to know if you need a ride back to the motel."
At this point, it's obvious that Avaline was listening in on the conversation. She begins tapping on my shoulder, trying to get my attention. "Uh, c'n you hold on ..." It turn to the red-head beside me expectantly. She bites her lip. She looked as though she was second guessing something but then she jumps in and blurts, "It's getting sort of late. You could stay over if you... want. . . "
I almost drop my phone at her shocking invitation. . .
And I was actually beginning to think she actually did hate me.
"I- my- Li'd Kill me if I did."
"Li? As in Liam?" She snorts. "Is he like your dad or something?"
I felt my face go red, and I couldn't have been more thankful for the dark. I thought for a moment. I really did not feel like going back to the motel, nor facing the boys and their accusing questions when I did. Besides, it was pretty late and I'd feel bad for Liam having to drive over just to pick up my lame arse. It wouldn't hurt to crash here for a bit- just the night.
"I- Okay." I whisper to Avaline before turning back to my phone.
"No, I'm staying here tonight."
"You're doing what?" I hear Louis scream in the background. "You better get some or I owe Zayn-"
"Okay, bye!" I yell over Liam's reminder to 'Use protection!' I promptly hand up on a howling Harry.
I just want to tell you I was beyond grateful by this point for the darkness in the room for hiding my ever-deepening blush. Avaline's dying of laughter and I shrivel up further from embarrassment. Of course she had to hear all of that.
"S-Sorry," I say nervously, averting my eyes to the loose threads of my jeans. I found that pulling at the loose threads lifesaving right then. It meant I didn't have to look at her.
This causes Avaline to go into another round of roaring laughter. It takes her another good minute to catch her breath before she says, "S' fine. That was pretty great, actually."
"I can not believe that they would say that."
"I can."
"Sometimes I wonder if I weren't in this band. . . "
"Band?'
I look up at her wide-eyed and froze. The only thing that I could think was 'oh shit, oh shit, OH SHTI'.
"Yeah," I reply calmly. "The other guys kind of met through school and Mi- Harry messaged me over Facebook saying they needed a drummer.." I know that was far from the truth. I literally used the five sause guy's story, but I just didn't want her to find out who I was. This was something so rare for me to experience, to be treated normally, like an everyday person. To even be talked down by someone because they're being honest. Telling me what they actually think of me instead of trying to be on my good side. Avaline was something so rare, and I didn't want to risk losing what we had- whatever this was. "Its only a hobby of ours though. We're not famous or anything.."
She nodded for a second. And just when I thought I was in the clear, she perked up. "You play drums?"
I nod slowly.
"Charlie, m' best mate plays drums too."
Oh. Shit.
"Yeah. . but I'm not the best. I'm better on guitar."
She nods.
Things went silent after that. An hour and quite a bit of stomach growling later, the two of us head to the kitchen for snacks. We load up our arms full of crisps, some biscuits and pops. We have enough of a supply to get us through the next week. As we were settling back into the couch, a thought strikes me. "Do you live here alone?"
She glances over. "No, why?"
"The times that we have been over here, no one else seems to be home." I shrug.
"John lives here too sometimes."
"John's your dad, right?"
She nods.
"Where is he, then?"
"He travels a lot." Avaline shrugs.
"The only reason why I said that was because .. I mean, you look a little young to be on your own and well, you've only mentioned him once and by his first name. . . You just don't really seem to talk about your family I guess."
She then turns to me with a peculiar expression etched across her face. "Why would I need to?"
""But doesn't it get lonely?" As soon as I see Avaline's eyes begin to soften, I immediately want to slap myself for asking. "Never mind, don't answer that." This was really not the time to ask such a personal question. Especially asking such an impersonal person. I thought I had just hit a nerve. Then, Avaline surprised me.
She then turns to me with a peculiar expression etched across her face. And swallowing hard and answering, "Yeah, I suppose it does."
This was one of the first heart to heart answer she had given me. "But I have a friend here now," She says quietly, placing her hand on my shoulder.

Notes