twenty-three: live entertainment 

Life seemed to get better after that, or at least I seemed to think it did. Niall and I spent most of Christmas morning together, cuddled up in bed until he finally dragged himself out to return home to spend the rest of the day with his family. He had invited me to come along, but I declined and instead we texted each other through out the rest of the day. Talking to Niall made me feel better, lighter almost as if the weight of all the shit I had been through in my life wasn't so heavy anymore. 

I felt changed, but in a good way... and I wasn't the only one who noticed. It was three days after Christmas, I was sitting in the living room with one of Liam's many guitars in my lap, strumming the instrument and singing along softly. Liam was just getting home from spending the holiday with his folks, walking into the house only to stop dead in his tracks when he sees me. 

He doesn't say a word, he just stares at me and I continue to play. It had been nearly a year since I'd played any sort of instrument, let alone sing... so it was safe to say Liam was a little shocked. 

But he was smiling, so I counted that as a good thing. 

That brought up the idea of live entertainment at the bar again, Liam pestering me for nearly a week about it every single time we worked just like he was tonight. We were getting ready to close, the last call having been sounded and there were only a few stragglers still in the bar. Niall was one of them, but he was just waiting for me so that we could hang out. I had left them alone for maybe a minute, taking all the dirty dishes to the back while Liam balanced out the till. I was on my way back out front, when I heard Liam talking. 

"I don't know what it is that's going on between the both of you, but whatever it is... He's happy again, happier than I've seen in such a long time... I was so worried he wouldn't be able to recover after what happened, I didn't think I'd ever see the Harry I knew so well but just the other day, he was singing and playing his favorite songs with that smile on his face... He hasn't done that for so long and it's because of you... So thank you, you're bringing him back." Liam says and I stop in my tracks mainly because it was weird to hear Liam talk about me, let alone hear him admit he was worried about me. Liam would never tell me this stuff to my face and I guess I understood why, he didn't know how I'd react to it. 

I don't wait for Niall's reply, walking back into view with a smile on my face. 

"What are you guys talking about?" I asked, acting like I hadn't just been eavesdropping. I walk over to Niall, throwing an arm over his shoulder and smiling when he cuddles up into my side almost instantly. 

"You." Niall says, smiling up at me as Liam looks a bit sheepish. 

"Oh? What about me?" I ask, looking over at Liam who bites down on his lip. 

"Just about how you sing and play the guitar, I didn't know you did. You're gonna have to play for me sometime." Niall answers again.

"I've been trying to get him to play some shows here, but he thinks it's a dumb idea." Liam says and maybe I glare at him a little but Niall's eyes light up a little. 

"I think that's a great idea, H." Niall says and I let out a chuckle before shaking my head. 

"I don't know, Niall. It's just something I do with my free time, I don't think I can actually play in front of strangers..." I admitted and Liam lets out a scoff but he doesn't say anything. I had played in a small band during college, so playing in front of strangers wasn't the issue... it was my self confidence level which had taken a swan dive off a cliff ten months ago. 

"I think you should give it a shot at least, you might enjoy it more than you think... I for one would love to hear you play here, might liven up the place." Niall says, looking at Liam near the end and winking at him when Liam lets out a sound of protest. 

"Excuse me, Horan. This place is very lively, it's the only bar in town and you're very frequent for it not being liv-" Liam starts to argue, earning an eye roll from Niall who interrupts him before he finishes with his rant.  

"You need to learn how to take a joke, Payno. Maybe you're the one who needs to liven up a bit." Niall says and Liam looks like he's about to start arguing again but I don't give him a chance. 

"If I agree to do it, will the two of you stop arguing?" I asked and both of them are looking at me. Liam looks shocked, Niall looks proud. 

"You're really gonna do it?" Liam asks and I let out a sigh before nodding. 

"Yeah, but on the conditions that I get to choose what I play with no protest from you." I said, looking at Liam directly before turning my attention on Niall. 

"And that you come to every one of my shows, can't serenade my princess if he isn't there." I whispered the last part, smiling like a fool as a faint blush finds it's way onto Niall's face. He was smiling too, his eyes shining and all I wanted to do was kiss him in that moment so that's what I did.  

"Get a room you two." Liam says, earning laughs from both of us before I pull away. 

Life was finally looking up and I couldn't be happier. 

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this is so fluffy and cute. 

wtf. 

it's also nearly 1:30 in the morning, i hate myself lol

also, it's chapter 23.... wtf. 

QOTC: who's your favorite character in this story so far? 

dedication goes to NazzaStylan

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connie xx