Niall POV

Liam invited me to hang out tonight at a club called Birthdays. I was there for Harry's birthday last year. It is an interesting place with a trendy bar upstairs and a sick music venue in the basement. I was excited to get out, I have been keeping a low profile since I have been home from the tour and I haven't seen Liam in a little over a month.

As soon as I am done getting ready I head out to the train. I love to take the train and tube into the city. I actually don't get bothered very much. You would be surprised. I get a few stares but I think people don't approach me because they don't think someone as famous as me would take the train.

When I get to the bar I open the door searching around for Liam. The bar is packed; I don't see him so I move to the corner of the room to get out of the doorway. I still can't see him as my eyes move slowly across the room. I suddenly stop when I see a girl with red hair. She turns around laughing and my heart starts to beat faster. I notice she is with Liam, Sophia, Louis, and Harry. They are all huddled up talking. She looks so natural and carefree with them, like she has known them for years. I can't help but just stare at her and watch her every move. Those green eyes, freckles, and smile have been in the back of my mind for two months. She isn't the same girl I meet two months ago, she somehow looks different. She has a glow that she didn't have before. She appears freer and happy.

When I met Olivia, she had her walls up because she was afraid to let our friendship turn into something more. She would lower them for me every so often and when she would give me a peak into her world I would always want more. In the end, she was not ready to let someone see behind her wall in fear that the pain and hurt would return.

Now I am watching her from the corner of the bar while she is laughing and singing with my friends who seem to have now become hers. It makes me sad that I am not able to be there next to her. I don't think we know how to just be friends and only friends and I know that she doesn't want more right now.

She moves through the room like she owns it. I don't think I have ever seen her smile so bright. She is now talking to Sophia and another girl and grabs them both by the arm taking them to the center of the room to dance. Her hands are in the air while she spins laughing. I feel like I am watching her in slow motion. I just wanna know this version of Olivia, now.

Liam taps me on my shoulder making me jump.

"Hey mate. Why didn't you tell us you were here?"

He notices that I am staring at something and aligns himself in my view, then he sees what I am staring at.

"Sorry mate. I didn't know she would be here when I sent you the invite. She came with Harry."

She came with Harry?  I think the comment over in my mind for a few seconds. Why Harry? He doesn't even like her.

"No. It's ok. I just didn't expect to see her again."

"I guess I should let you know that she has been hanging out with us since we got back from tour."

I had figured it out for myself that they have been hanging out by the way they all seem so natural around each other. I am just surprised that they have been hanging out with her for a month and no one has mentioned it to me. I am not mad but they all knew how much I liked her so keeping it a secret catches me off guard.

"It's ok but I think I should go. I don't know if she would want to see me."

"Come on mate. Stay for a while. She would be happy to see you."

"I can't."

I turn and walk out the door without even thinking about what I am doing.

Olivia POV

In the middle of one of my many twirls, I think I see Liam talking to Niall in the corner of the bar. I stop dancing to catch my breath. Seeing him makes me nervous. I haven't seen him in two months but I think about him a lot. I miss hanging out and having fun. He always knew how to have a fun time. I also really miss the way he made me feel safe when he was by my side. When I finally pull myself together I look over at Liam but I find him standing alone. I frantically look around the room just in time to see Niall walk out the door.

Without thinking, I push through the crowd and head for the exit. Once I am outside I look down the street and see him walking. I decide not to call out his name as to not bring attention to him. I run up to him and grab the back of his arm. I catch him off guard as he pulls his arm out of my grasp.

Trying to catch my breath his name barely comes out from my mouth, "Niall."

He turns to face me and I don't know what to say or do. I didn't think this through when I ran after him.  We stand looking at each other. Neither of us knowing what to say.

I decide break the silence first. "Hi."

He smiles and says, "Hi," followed by more silence.

I give him a soft smile, "Well this is awkward. How come you left?"

"I forgot I had something to do."

"Oh. Sorry."

"No, it's ok. How have you been?"

"Good. Really good. I am adjusting pretty well to London."

"You look good. London suits you."

I blush at his comment.

"Thank you. What have you been up to?"

"Just taking a break from touring the world."

"Oh, aren't you Mr. Fancy acting like you are in a world famous boy band or something. Did your personal driver drop you off this evening?"

He smiles. "Something like that."

God I miss him but we can't even have a proper conversation with each other. We are just standing on a random London street at night with nothing to say to each other. This is not how I imagined our first run-in to turn out. In my mind there was a lot of laughing and catching up.

"Well. I better let you get back to that thing you need to get to. I just wanted to say hi. I am sure I will see you around sometime."

He looks down at the ground kicking a stone toward the street. "Yeah. Good to see you."

I gave him a quick friendly hug and walk back to the bar. I find my way back to the group. As soon as I returned I am bombarded with questions.

Trying to calm them all down I put a stop to the questions. "Nothing happened guys. I just ran out to say hi. That is it."

"That's it?" Sophia asks in disappointment.

"Yes," I tell her, while rolling my eyes.

She is relentless. I know she wants me to start things up with Niall again so we can do cute couple things together. She talks about it all the time.

Louis leans over to me and asks, "No plans to see each other to talk about what happened?"

"No. Just how are you. Good to see you. And a hug goodbye."

Sophia and Liam give each other a smile when I said I gave Niall a hug. I don't know why they are so excited about a plain old hug.

"Ok guys let's get back to the drinking and dancing. The night is young!"

Harry didn't ask me anything. He has been my confidant for the last month. He knows too much about my past and how it would affect a relationship with Niall. He still holds the same stance about me not hurting his friend that he had from the first time I meet him.  I think knowing more about me and my experiences scares him a little more than before. I am a little thankful that he is protective of Niall because it makes me stick to my word about taking time for myself. My friendship with Harry is important to me and I wouldn't want a relationship with Niall affect it.

I walk over to Harry while everyone else pairs off. "Hey...Are you ok? You were a little quiet when all the questions started."

"I am good. I was just listening to the story. Did it happen like you said? Or was there more to it?" He asks questioning me.

"Add in some awkwardness and silence between us and that was the story. You know I wouldn't lie about what happened."

"Sorry you're right. It was just the first time you saw each other and I wasn't expecting it to be so tame."

"Oh my god Harry. What did you think was going to happen? We were going to run into each other and go shag in the bathroom?"

"Well, yeah. I know how much chemistry you two had."

I playfully hit his arm. "No chemistry tonight just a lot of awkwardness, so he is safe for now."

The rest of the night was full of drinks, laughs, and dancing with the girls. It was great to have Flora hanging out with us tonight. I have spent so many nights getting to know her friends and now I get to bring her into my world. She is getting along with Sophia famously. They talked about her modeling days and their love for fashion. It makes me happy that Flora and Sophia are hitting it off because it makes me have visions of sleepovers and makeovers. That is what girls do right? Maybe just some wine and movies are more up my alley for a girl's night. I have never had many girlfriends, so adding another one to my list is exciting. I love being a guy's girl but having some girls on my side is nice too.

Harry decided that he wanted to head out. Liam, Sophia, and Flora were still going strong and Louis had left a hour ago to go home and be with Eleanor. Now comes the time of the night where I decide who gets to spend the night with me and my nightmares. During the week I usually spend the night at home with Flora and since it is the weekend I think I am going to take the opportunity to spend the night out. Plus Harry makes me breakfast when I spend the night at his house.