I smiled at Niall as he opened the door and led me into his house. "Okay, I have two things t' tell ya," he smiled, biting on his lip. I felt rather apprehensive with this bold statement. I peered up at him anxiously as I sat down on his couch.

"Okay one, ya know that event I was talkin' about d'other day. Well, y'er going, like I already have a dress for ye," he chuckled, smiling at me jubilantly. I smiled softly then as well. "Ye don't like have t' go like if it makes ye uncomfortable, I really don't mind but I would like ye there," he smiled softly, peering down at his feet anxiously.

"No, I'd love to go with you, what about Harper though?"

"Well, she could come, but I thought you wouldn't really want to risk her getting photographed so I already booked the same babysitter I got for her before," he responded and I smiled again. "So ye don't have t' worry 'bout her."

"Thank you, Niall," I smiled, moving closer to him and giving him a hug. A blush rose up my cheeks then when he thought I was leaning in for a kiss. I saw his eyes close and his mouth prepare to kiss me, although, all he received was a hug.

When I pulled back from the embrace he appeared somewhat humiliated. His cheeks were a rosy colour and his eyes cast to his lap. "Sorry," he chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I d'know what I was thinkin' I-"

"Niall, shut up. It's fine," I told him, shaking my head. I let my hand rest on his knee which I rubbed for a few moments before retracting my hand. "What's the second thing you had to tell me?"

"Well, I'm no longer renting this place," he informed me and my smile soon diminished. I suddenly felt fearful. Was he going to move back to the U.K again? My mouth went dry and I felt a lump begin to form in the back of my throat, refraining me from uttering any words. I was nonplussed anyways, I was more than stupefied. I could not form a coherent sentence.

"Oh calm down. No, no, god, you look so worried," he chuckled, placing his hand on top of mine and squeezing it. I felt the heat rush through my body as our hands touched. "I bought this apartment now. Turns out I quite like New York, so I can be over n' back between here n' home if I want t'," he smiled.

"When will you be going back to the U.K?" I questioned, biting on my lip afterwards. I may not want to know the response to this question.

"Don't know," he shrugged. "Not in any rush home anyways," he replied, much to my relief. I felt my nerves somewhat more assuaged. I exhaled a breath I was not aware I was holding in, smiling at Niall then.

"I hope you stay," I smiled, leaning forward and placing a gently, brief kiss on his cheek. "I like having you here and so does Harper," I whispered, taking his hand in mine. He smiled as well, biting on his lip, his eyes casting to my lips. I knew he wanted to kiss me, although I wasn't sure if it was an applicable thing to condone doing, even if I yearned for it.

"I like being here with the two of you as well," he whispered back, leaning forward for a kiss but I quickly stood up. I did not know why I did this, I wanted to kiss him but I was scared...scared of the commitment that acquainted this. I was just apprehensive when it came to trusting anyone. Especially a male, I have never had a man treat me respectfully. Although, how can I expect to be respected considering the deplorable job I condone myself to work in.

"When is the event?" I questioned, quickly changing the subject as I didn't want to sustain the awkward tension which was due for us to be subdued to. I was not prepared to endure this.

"Uh.. Saturday night," he informed me quietly, scratching the back of his head awkwardly and casting his eyes to his lap. I never saw Niall appear so embarrassed over anything, it had me somewhat perplexed. Even in the most awkward of situations, Niall seems to be able to feign an appropriate mien. His demeanour could conciliate ones anxieties immediately.

"Okay, we'll I'm looking forward to it," I told him, picking at my nails timorously, feeling the tension rising between us.

"Me too," Niall grinned, seeming to get over the embarrassment hastily. "So, d'ya like wanna come down d'red carpet with me n' like ye know.." he trailed off.

"...Like a date?" I quietly questioned. He shrugged silently in response and nibbled on my lip.

"I guess, but like only if ya would like want that. Me n' you can go in separately."

"You and I," I corrected him to which he rolled his eyes. I smiled softly at his typical reaction, he soon returned the smile.

"Sh'up," rolled his eyes again, chuckling fondly under his breath. "So like, what would ya be more comfortable with?"

"Uh... I think I should maybe go inside without you. I don't really want to draw attention to myself so I'd quite like to swerve the red carpet if I could," I responded and he nodded solemnly. I knew that response was not the one he was yearning for.

I do not want to be seen in the public eye with Niall. I don't want to be faced with societies preconceptions on us. Once they find out who I am, not only will I be judged, but Niall. I do not want to be the source of hatred for him. I would prefer to stay low, private with the prospect of prejudice. I would not want to be the cause of menace in Niall's life.

"Okay, that's fine. I just want you to be comfortable. I know you don't want to be in the public eye right now and that's totally fine. Although, there may be some photo's of us from inside the event, are you prepared for that?" He questioned, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Um... well I guess I have to be,@ I chuckled.

"There may not be any pictures of us, but just in case there is I want you to be prepared for that," he informed me. I nodded, lacking confidence as I did, despite my attempts to feign it. Niall sighed quietly and took my hand gently in his. He stroked the back of my hand with the pad of my thumb. "Ye don't have t' go just t' please me. If it makes you uncomfortable I can go on me own."

"No, no, I want to go. I guess I'm just a little apprehensive because like, you know, new territory, new experiences, new people," I explained and he nodded, silently informing me he could perceive my anxieties.

"I understand. I told the boys I was takin' a girl n' they're all excited to meet you," he smiled softly at me. I bit on my lip then, becoming even more anxious about encountering new people in unprecedented territories. Meeting new people always has me at unease. Once they become aware of my job, they often disregard me.

"It would be nice to meet them," I told him, smiling softly. Although I am apprehensive to meet them, I know Niall will not allow me to be disdained as inferior in their presence. I'm sure they are more mature and benevolent than Niall's puerile friends.

"Great, I'm excited," he squeezed my hand.

"Thank you, Niall," I whispered to him, a blush igniting my cheeks as I spoke, although Niall's soft touch against my hand soon diluted this feeling. He made me feel so calm, so serene.

"For what?" He asked, a small smile tugging at the sides of his plush lips.

"Just being you," I responded, which in turn, assimilated a euphoric smile engraved on his face. I couldn't help but smile as well. Niall radiates happiness.

...

Saturday came quicker than I thought it would. The babysitter arrived on time and just as she arrived, the car Niall sent for me was soon here as well. I kissed Harper's forehead, informing her I would be there for her in the morning. She nodded, just assuming I was probably going to work.

Once at Niall's apartment, he lead me to his spare room. "I have the outfit ready f'er ya 'er n' me stylist is gonna do y'er hair n' makeup f'er ya as well." He spoke so hastily I almost could not decipher what he was attempting to say to me in his accent.

"Okay," I smiled, going over to the dress cover and unzipping it. My eyes widened when I saw the dress. It was beautiful and that was an understatement. It was a red laced body con dress, accompanying it was a pair of gold barely there heels.

"Did you pick these?" I questioned, running my hand over the material of the dress, admiring it.

"Yeah," Niall sarcastically responded, rolling his eyes. "No, Lou picked it f'er me f'er you," he winked at me. "So I guess you could say I picked it," he chuckled and my eyes widened, beginning to dwell on the extortionate price he likely paid for this.

"Niall, how much was this?" I swallowed the lump growing in my throat.

"Never ye mind that," he tutted, raising his eyebrows suggestively before going to leave the room. "I shall let you get changed and be back once I am."

"But Niall, I can't. Look, I already owe you so much money and-"

"You owe me nothing," he cut me off. I looked at him as though he was deranged. What does he mean by I owe him nothing? I owe him everything.

"Niall, I owe you so much. You saved me that night and then paid him back for me and now I need to pay you back and-"

"No, I don't want tha' money back. I did it for you n' Harper. I don't want it back so don't mention it again. Okay, I did it to help you, I don't need that money back so don't worry about it," he smiled, taking my hand in his and squeezing it gently. As soon as our skins touched I felt the goosebumps begin to rise on my skin. Why has he got this affect on me?

"How can I thank you?" I asked, my eyes beginning to fill with tears, out of gratitude. This man has treated me in such an exemplary manner. I cannot thank him enough for all he has done for me in the short period of time he has been present in both mine and Harper's lives.

"Just make sure I can trust you. That's all I want," he smiled softly. "Always be honest with me. He told me which made me gulp. I was not honest with him the other day when I told him I was at my mother's house, although in reality I was at the airport, preparing to embark on a journey to seclude myself and Harper from his life.

"That's all you want? To be able to trust me?" I questioned. He nodded and smiled softly, kissing my cheek.

"I can't trust a lot of people in me life. Some only want t' be friends with me because a' me fame. Others because of my wealth. I know you weren't like that, that's what makes me like you, not many girls are like that," he truthfully said.

"Well, as you once said: your job does not define who you are," I grinned. "I am not a stereotypical stripper and you are not a stereotypical 'famous' person," I cringed a little as I said the word. I always detested that word, it's a label society places on people of superior levels. Although some may find that word liberating, if I was ever labelled as famous, I would find it degrading, just as I find the word 'stripper'.

"Indeed it doesn't," he responded, moving a little closer to me and taking my other hand. Now holding both my hands in his he smiled at me, squeezing them gently which sent shivers up my spine.

"I feel as though I can trust you. Right?" It was more of a rhetorical question. I couldn't but say 'yes'. I nodded tentatively, biting on my lip as I did. A smile ignited his face then, emitting one from me as well. When Niall smiles, you can't but smile too.

"I really do like you, Aviana," he whispered, his tongue inching out of his mouth then teasingly moving over his bottom lip, leaving it slick. God, did I want to kiss him again. But I couldn't. I can't just keep kissing Niall. This relationship was presumed to be strictly platonic. And I'm not sure if I consenting to the commitments it will bring if we ever change that.

"I like you too, Niall," I whispered, almost inaudibly. My mouth had uttered those words before my mind had time to catch up. I do indeed like Niall, but I cannot allow him to be informed of that, show my vulnerabilities then.

"Come on then, let's have a good night together," he smiled, kissing my cheek before letting go of my hands to allow me to get changed.

Once he left the room I felt my mind race with thoughts. Thoughts which were not sagacious. I could not but help feel apprehension at the thought of Niall and I becoming so close, so fast. I have never had a serious relationship and although my heart was informing me I was ready, my mind was not in sync.

My fears could not be subdued by the reality, my rational thoughts. In my mind of tremendous adversities that would accompany a relationship, no positivity could overpower those.

I feel as though Niall was expecting to avail of more than just a friendship and I was not prepared for that.

____________________

A/N sorry this is late but I'm on holidays again hahah , I didn't have much time to write last week as my sister was ill and we were back and forth to the hospital three hours away! She's doing good now and thankfully got home before I had to go away!

So yeah, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, wasn't too sure of it haha, thought it might be kind of boring, sorry if it was! Thank you for all the votes and comments on the last chapter! It meant so much to me! Can we get this chapter to 30 votes and 20 comments?! I think we can, you guys are amazing !! And thank you for over 10k already btw ! It's insane how fast the reads have been going up! But I appreciate it to an extend you could never understand! It just means so much to me because I do put a lot of effort into the creating of this book!

Anyways, I love you all sooooo much! Thank you so much for reading and don't forget to vote and comment!!