Drizzle | N.H.

4

When the gate opens automatically, I heard a honking horn from behind. I didn't bother to turn around, instead I just rest my head on the leather-cushioned chair.

As soon as I tried to close my eyes, I heard a knocking sound on the window. When I look up, it's Niall. What the hell is he doing here? Did he follow me? I thought he doesn't have a license?

I slide down the window, "What are you doing here?"

"I was going to apologize but I didn't have the chance," he tells me.

"Okay?" That's it? My subconscious voicing out from the back of my mind.

"Oh, and I got your results. The doctor said you don't have anything to worry about. It was –" he paused when I smiled. I tried to say something, but I let him finish the sentence.

He smiled before continuing, "It was a good thing that you had a CT scan to really make sure that nothing was damaged in your brain. I'm extremely sorry for what happened," he looks really sorry while handing me the envelope. I can feel my anger slowly fading away.

The way he looked at me cause my heart to flutter a little and make me feel awkward. I avoid his eyes and went out of the car. I told the driver to go ahead inside.

"I thought you didn't have a license yet," I question him.

"Oh yeah, Cal drove me," he says as he runs his hands through his hair. I guess Cal is his driver?

"Why don't you have a license yet? Are you a horrible driver?" I lowkey tease him.

"Nah, I just can't pass my driving lessons due to some technical reasons," he says with his Irish accent and smiles.

As soon as I realized we're in the middle of our driveway, Niall invited me to go with him at Pizzeria Mozza. I decided to hop on his car without having second thoughts. For Pete's sake, we're talking about pizza here.

We were quiet during the drive. We were seated in the backseat, but he just let me rest for a while. Just when I open my eyes to see if we're already in the pizza parlor, the driver stopped the car in front of it. I open the door to my side and head inside. I walk ahead of Niall, I'm too excited like a kid who's craving for pizza!

After searching for seats, I ordered Pizza alla Benno while the blonde-haired boy next to me ordered Chicken Milanese with Puntarelle salad and champagne for the both of us.

"I appreciate the effort of making it up to me by bringing me here, Horan!" I playfully wiggle my eyebrows at him.

"You're welcome, I'm just worried that your dad might file a lawsuit against me," he teases and continued, "Are you still mad?"

"About what?"

"Because we laughed at you earlier in the hospital. I tried to go after you but Ash said I should let you cool down first," he smiles while saying.

"So you're going to continue teasing me then, that's why you brought me here?" I say in a harsh tone pretending to be mad at him.

He looks at me for a moment and I stare back at his blue eyes, "Actually I was just laughing with Nick. But the truth is..." he replies with a little bit of hesitation in his voice. "It doesn't matter what you wear."

Niall let out such words and composes himself into a serious face. I begin to frown at him. "I feel like that's a compliment but it sounds like you're making fun of me."

"No. I like you -- I mean, I like it more when you're simple. No make-up and all that," he tells me while staring straight into my eyes.

The atmosphere is getting a little uncomfortable and I don't know what to say to break out of it. I look away from him and perfect timing! The pizza is about to be served. "Thank God! I'm starving," I murmur to myself while I rub my tummy. I hear him chuckle as he grab a slice of pizza from his own plate. Unfortunately, I choke myself out of gluttony.

"Woah, slow down," he teases me as he rubs my back. He chuckles and hands me a glass of water.

"I never expected that a Sabrina Alderidge would be recklessly eating like this," Niall says surprisingly.

"Well, we never hung out before. That's why you didn't see this part of me," I beam at him while my mouth is full, knowing I have pizza stains on my teeth.

"Are you trying to turn me off?" he mischievously remarks.

"Why? Have I ever turned you on?" I challenge him. Then we both exploded in laughter.