Chapter 1 : Her chapter

Olivia

2007

The night was warm with only a small breeze but we had been talking for hours, laying on the roof of my house. The moon was full and I could feel the warmth of his body next to mine. I turned to him and he did the same, sending me a smirk.

“Are you going to homecoming?” I asked, looking straight in his eyes.

His smirk grew and he chuckled, placing his hands under his head and looking back up at the sky. I wish there would be less lights around so we could see the stars better, but we still had the chance to admire a few and I breathed in.

“I don’t know. I don’t really want to go with a girl and have to dance with her and shit. Maybe i’ll ask me mates to do something on that night instead.”

I licked my lips and shrugged. “We could go together.”

He laughed again and raised his eyebrows. “We’re starting our third year, Liv. People are going to talk if you go there together.”

I rolled my eyes at his stupid comment and sat up to look down at him.

“Everyone knows we’ve been best friends since we were toddlers, it’s not a secret.” I point out with an annoyed tone. “Besides, who cares what they think?”

Niall sent me half a smile and sat up too, moving his knees up and wrapping his arms around them. It was late, maybe around 2 or 3 am as as usual, we were still up.

“Don’t take it so personal, I hate these types of events and you know it.” He explained. “You can come chill with us if you prefer. Or maybe you want the dress and all that jazz.”

We remained in silence for a while until I inhaled deeply. “Niall?”

My voice was low and shy and i hated it.

“Mmhm?” He was only half-listening to me as he watched the stars and I looked down at my hands.

“Do you love me, Nee?”

This time, I had used a soft spoken tone and he finally turned to me and reached for my hand. He squeezed it in his and looked straight in my eyes. I could swear a clan of butterflies had found refuge in my stomach.

“Of course I love you, Olivia. You’re my best friend.” he stated seriously. “Why do you always ask?”

I ignored his question and continued, not daring to look up in his eyes.

“I mean real love, not friendship.”

I could swear his grip loosened on my hand but he quickly gripped my fingers again. It was subtle, but i knew my question had disconcerted him more than he wanted to show.

“Why do you ask?” he frowned before half a smile played on his lips. “Do you love me that way?”

Without thinking, I let out a laugh. “Fuck no.” I blatantly lied, reflecting his frown. “It’s just that girl who…” I stopped and shook my head, shrugging more. “Forget it, this girl told me the way you looked at me meant something but she’s just crazy.”

“We can never date.” he added, laughing too. “I mean we know each other way too much, it would be like dating my sister.”

I rolled my eyes subtly. “You don’t have a sister, Niall.”

“Yes, I do. You.”

If someone had used a shovel to hit me straight in the head, I could bet it wouldn’t have hurt as much as i was hurting now. I wanted to cuss him out, tell him off or even slap him but instead, i remained silent and did the best I could to keep the tears in.

---

2015

“Liv?” I felt myself being shaken and a groan got out of my throat despite myself. “We’re landing, now.”

Breathing in, I forced myself to open my eyes, meeting Niall’s big face extra close to mine. I grimaced more and pressed my palm on his face, pushing it away gently.

“What a fucking ugly way to wake up.” I chuckled, stretching as I put on the belt.

“Fuck you.” he let out, sticking his tongue at me. “What were you dreaming about? Harry?”

“I swear, Horan, i’m gonna hit you in the balls as soon as i get off this seat.”

He started laughing knowing very well that I could do it and kept talking.

“Seriously though, you made all these noises that I kind of wish i’d never hear from you.”

“This is why I hate you.” I simply said with a sigh.

He moved closer to me quickly and stuck his tongue in my ear, making me yell and push him away, which only made him laugh some more. “You love me!” he pointed with a smirk.

“Yea I do and every single day, you make me question it.”

After grabbing our bags we got out of the plane and I crossed my fingers for no paparazzi. I looked like shit and I honestly didn’t need anyone to immortalize it. I walked behind Niall and I knew he hated it but I couldn’t help it. I always felt out of place when we were together in public.

Yes, Niall and I were the good old cliché best friends who met when they were kids and never parted. The story you’ve heard over and over before in books, movies and tv shows, except that we never kissed, dated or even saw each other naked. Okay maybe we saw each other naked but it was by accident and i’m gonna resent it until the end of times.
I’ll spare you the details but when Niall auditioned for x factor and then got signed as a member of One Direction, we didn’t lose touch only to find each other again a few years later and realize we were in love. No. We simply kept texting, calling and we started skyping. When he’d come back from tour, he’d call me and we’d hang out.

We didn’t have a hard time without each other, we were both busy persons but when we finally could spend time together, we enjoyed it as much as we could. Before his last tour, he asked me to go with him and I took a sabbatical. Okay, it helped that I was actually working for my father’s company but for my rent, it was not that easy. Niall ended up paying for the whole year and I slapped him behind the head for that. Yea and then I thanked him and i’m planning to pay him back even if I haven’t told him yet.

Moving his hand behind himself, Niall grabbed my arm and pulled me closer to him as I let out a groan.

“Are people taking pictures?” I asked, looking down at my feet.

The fact that I was wearing grey sweat pants that were not even mine along with a large t-shirt made it even worse. I knew I would look fat and ugly in those pictures and they would end up running around online forever.

“Who cares? Let them snap what they want then they’ll be out of here.”

I sighed at his words and pulled my sunglasses down on my eyes, following Niall to a limousine that was parked way too far, if you asked me. It was easy for him to say, he looked hot no matter what he was wearing and people from around the globe would bang him even if he hadn’t showered in a year. For me, it wasn’t as easy.

“Are you serious, Nee?” I frowned in a disgusted way. “A limo? Nothing says ‘i’m 80 but fuck 20 years old bimbos’ more than that.”

He laughed and opened the door for me and I only hesitated half a second before to slither in. I took a seat and he sat in front of me with a smirk.

“I’ve always wanted to be a sugar daddy.”

“You can’t by definition. You’re too young.” I pointed out, rolling my eyes.

“Thanks, Webster.” he groaned.

I ignored his comment and laid down slowly on the seat.

“I take back what I said, the limo was a nice idea, it’s perfect to sleep.”

“Why do you think I picked that? I know you.” He laughed before to sigh loud. “You’re too far, come here, you can lay your head on my lap.”

“Fuck off, Horan, i’m already almost asleep.”

I felt him grab my arm just as I was about to enter the world of dreams and slapped his hand lightly. He chuckled and used the only way he had to get me.

“I’ll play with your hair.”

The battle in my head only lasted half a second and I finally rolled to end up crawling on the seat next to him, laying back down and placing my head gently on his lap with a groan. I was going to remind him about his promise but i felt his fingers slip in my hair and rub lightly against my head, making my lips curl into a smile.

“Mmhm, thank you.” I whispered. “I don’t know why you even like doing this, you don’t even do this to the girls you date.”

As his fingers kept stroking my hair, I realized I was having a hard time keeping my eyes open. The tour was over, we were going home, and Niall was going to have a long nice break. I know he had planned on traveling and seeing the boys among other things but it would still be nice to keep seeing him regularly.

“I don’t love them as much as I love you, Liv.”

I mumbled a 'shut up’ as it was getting harder to talk by the second.

“It’s true,” he continued in a soft tone. “You’re my best friend, you’re a part of my family.”

“I know,” I replied, forcing myself to keep my eyes open. “I’m your sister, remember?”

“No, I wouldn’t say that.” he replied after a few seconds of thinking.

I could almost see him frown and rolled on my back, looking up at him, now almost completely awake.

“You’d say what, then.” I dared to ask.

He sighed and his eyes met mine before he just shrugged. So yea, maybe I had feelings for my best friend but there was no way I was ever going to admit it to anyone. It was no big deal because when we were 14, he had made it clear that I was like a sister to him so I gave up. And the fact that Niall kept teasing me with Harry was not a coincidence. He had not picked someone randomly. I really liked Harry, not like I thought I really stood a chance, but me and him got to know each other a lot better while on tour and I enjoyed spending time with him. Beside Niall, he was the one I got along with the best.

“I don’t know, you’re my best friend, that’s all.”

My heart sunk in my chest but i sent him half a smile. It was a wrong hope that had quickly died. Niall didn’t have these feelings for me and although I was well aware of it, i’m human and I have crazy hopes. It was alright, it didn’t matter. I’ve been through worse. I chuckled and shook my head.

“How can you write amazing songs and when it comes to say nice things about your best friend, you fail miserably.”

“I said I love you, didn’t I?” He pointed out, his eyebrows raised, making me laugh more.

I didn’t answer and a few seconds later, we pulled into Niall’s driveway. I sat up and frowned, groaning again. I would have to walk back home with my suitcase or call a cab and I was so not down to that.

“I know what you’re thinking.” Niall just let out, opening the door. “But we’re at my place because I want you to stay okay? I’m not used to being alone yet so you can stay here for a few.”

“Nee, maybe I want to be at my place, in my bed, with my own stuff, too?” I invoked. “I haven’t been home in a very long time either!”

He turned to me and sent me these fucking stupid puppy eyes that I hate more than anything, mouthing a 'please’. After a few seconds, he even pressed his palms together as if he was praying for me to agree. I shook my head and let out an other sigh.

“If i have to sleep in your stupid leopard printed sheets i’m throwing a fit.”

“You bought them for me.” he reminded me with a chuckle.

“And I sincerely regret it.”

We got out of the limo and I stared at the three heavy and full bags the driver placed in front of me. I groaned and flipped my hair back, taking one and bringing it slowly to the front door before turning around to get the others. Niall had been quicker and was bringing my two bags left along with all of his. He was all packed and looking at him like that made me laugh.

“Will you at least open the fucking door?”

I started laughing more as he grimaced and got closer to him to slip my hand in his pocket. In the middle of the tour, he had started wearing skinny jeans and I was not sure how I felt about this. Oh he looked nice, but trying to get his keys out was not an easy task. I made a grimace when my hand got further. I could swear I actually touched his genitals.

“For fuck’s sake tell me that was not your penis.” I asked, horrified, as he started laughing. “You should wear those baggy pants again.”

“Just open the door.” he smirked at me.

I sighed and shook my head, my lips curling as I quickly unlocked the door and let him in. He dropped all the bags in the vestibule and I strode over them, almost tripping and holding my balance by gripping Niall’s shirt. He smiled at me again and I just chuckled, following him to his room. The house was abnormally quiet and it felt like I hadn’t step foot in here forever. Perhaps it was actually the case.

I looked at him taking his shirt off and throwing it on the floor. It was not like him to do that. Niall is actually one of the cleanest person I know but being just back from a long tour I bet he had other things to think about. Plus, I was probably the messiest person in the world so I was not going to complain.

“Who did you borrow that shirt to?” he wondered after a few minutes of silence as he was unzipping his pants.

With my thumb and forefinger, i pulled on the top of my shirt, noticing the large amount of holes scattered over the plain white fabric.

“Oh, it’s Harry’s.” I shrugged.

“I’m sure it smells by now, you’ve been wearing it the whole trip.” Niall mentioned, searching quickly through his drawers.

He took out a dark blue shirt and simply threw it to me. I caught it and rolled my eyes with a chuckle before to take off the shirt I was wearing and letting it fall on the floor next to Niall’s bed. I put on the clean one and noticed it smelled good despite being forgotten in a drawer for months. I brought my shoulders closer to me in an attempt to take an other whiff. Niall sent me a smile and pulled his pants down before to let himself fall on his bed with a loud sigh. Swiftly, I took my pants down too as he started pulling on the bottom on his own shirt that I was wearing.

“You look good like that.” he complimented, making me half-smile. “Come on, let’s sleep, I know you’re tired.”

I inhaled deeply and joined him in bed right before he pulled the covers over us. His arm slipped around my waist under the blankets and he dragged me closer, pressing my back against his chest.

“You never told me what you dreamed about in the plane.” He asked low.

I smiled when I felt his breath on my neck and just shrugged.

“It was a memory actually, or, kind of like one.” I started. “It was about that time in third year when I asked you about homecoming.”

I looked slightly behind me and noticed the frown spreading on his face. I didn’t really expect him to remember but I was going to try.

“You know, that time you decided to skip homecoming to spend time with your friends? We were laying on my parents’ roof and you said I was like a sister to you.”

“Was that what it was all about, earlier, when you said you were my sister?” he questioned.
“Are you sure you didn’t just imagine that? Maybe your memory is distorted or something?”

“No, I remember really well, you said that.”

“Then I was wrong.” he confessed after a short silent moment. “I wouldn’t spoon with my sister if i had one, and here I am, doing it with you. You’re my best friend and I love you like a best friend, not like a sister.”

Even if it didn’t change much, I appreciated the correction about our status. I didn’t answer and his grip around me tightened slightly.

“Are you ready to sleep for about a month now?” he joked with a chuckle.

“You know it.”

I heard my phone vibrating but I ignored it as I closed my eyes, trying to stop my heartbeats from trying to jump out of my rib cage. I was back home and my life was going to go back to what it used to be. My life was going to be normal again and I was not sure I was ready for it. I had spent so many months following Niall on tour and hanging out with all of them that going back to what I was not used to anymore was scary. I would have to call my parents, my friends and try to jump back into my life. I took Niall’s hand that was laying on my stomach and pressed it in mine. I heard him groan, realizing he was already asleep and suddenly, I was not so tired anymore. I slipped out of his arms gently and searched through my sweatpants on the floor to find my phone, checking the incoming text I had received.

“Hope you had a safe trip. If you need me just call, i know going back to a normal life can be confusing sometimes. love, Harry.”

I bit my bottom lip, trying to suppress the smile that suddenly appeared on my face and decided to quickly type a reply.

“When can I see you?”

After sending it, I got back under the covers and cuddled my best friend who groaned some more and wrapped his arm around me again and this time, it took me only a few seconds to fall asleep.

Notes

this story means a lot to me so if you read and review ily!