"Sure Kaylee, you totally meant that as a joke," I say sarcastically to my best friend at work.

"I did, that is unless you want to give him a ride and not the other way around...," she replied with a wink. Her innuendo, completed with a smirk, was clear as day to me.

I lightly punched her arm and rolled my eyes, blushing lightly at the thought. "No! I am done with relationships for a while, you already know that! Whether it's an emotional one or not." I sigh heavily as the boy who broke my heart just 8 days ago came rudely barging into my thoughts. I shook my head, trying to shake the thoughts out. I tried to focus on my job and not on HIM, because my job is more important than that cheater.

Let me tell you, that is definitely easier said than done, especially since I met him here, at this stupid little fast food restaurant. I use to love coming here when I was a kid but now that I work here, I don't like it much anymore. Especially after meeting him here and falling hopelessly for him only to have him shatter my heart.

Who is this once incredible man I keep mentioning? Niall Horan, my ex.

- - - -

I remember the day I realized that I loved him like it was yesterday. Because I, Cheyden Blake Andrew Johansson, had fallen truly, madly, deeply. I was foolishly, completely in love with none other than...Niall James Horan!

It didn't take much for me to fall for him, not really. He treated me like I was the most important part of his life. Niall made me feel like royalty. At first it was simple, he would look at me like he was surprised that someone like me, breathtakingly gorgeous as he told more than once, could be real and could exist. Leaving my cheeks bright red, as I looked away sheepishly. He would tell me almost daily that I was a masterpiece that was to good for this world to have access to. He said that having me love him back was truly a miracle. Of course I didn't think I was all that great, but the way he made me feel was like no other. I fell for him with no warning and I had no time to prepare for the crashing landing.

It was March 15th, 2021. I was just a clumsy, 20-year-old emotional wreck and he was a perfect 23-year-old who could do no harm in my eyes, at least. At the time I couldn't understand why everyone around me would tell me "He is only bad news, Chey, don't get involved with him." I remember Kaylee once warned me, "Chey, he is only going to hurt you, if you don't believe me just ask his ex Hailee!! Please Chey, please, just don't," She begged me to stay away.

That was when I looked my best friend right in the eyes and decided I needed to tell her the truth. "Kals... I can't promise th—"

"Why can't you, Chey... Do not tell me you like him!! Cheyden Blake Andrew Johansson!!!! You can NOT have feelings for HIM!!"

"I'm sorry..." I mumbled. When I finally got the courage, I looked Kaylee in the eyes again. "I love him, Kals. I truly tried not to fall for him! Because you, my best friend, begged me not to! But somehow, with my shit luck, I fell for him. And it was hard and fast. It happened so fast Kaylee. I am still dizzy form the fall, but it happened! And you can NOT undo falling for someone Kaylee!" I was starting to become worked up. I could tell because I could feel my face heating up, my palms becoming clammy, and my body shaking from anger. Because I was hopelessly in love with the one boy I was SPECIFICALLY told NOT to have ANY feelings for, and what did my best friend do? She just got upset with me.

"IT IS NOT MY FAULT THAT THIS HAPPENED KAYLEE! YOU CAN NOT CONTROL LOVE, SO STOP ACTING LIKE I FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM TO PISS YOU OFF! STOP MAKING THIS AN 'I told you not to, you just HAD to the OPPOSITE of what I tell you' TYPE OF SITUATION! AND STOP TRYING TO FUCKING MAKE THIS ABOUT YOU BECAUSE IT'S NOT, OKAY?" I stop yelling seeing the look of... hurt? betrayal?... flash across her face. I could feel the curious eyes of my manager Levi, on my back, but at that moment I couldn't care less. I was thankful that we are in the back of the store and that we were the only three left that night, otherwise things could have ended up ten times worse. The last thing I needed right than was for my other co-workers or customers hearing me having a breakdown. After that all emotions were gone, both of us feeling so drained. I sighed before continuing, "Trust me Kaylee, when I say, I NEVER wanted to fall for him but, I did!"

Kaylee's face had become one hundred percent expressionless that this point. Which scared the shit out of me! Why was she just staring at me? Why wasn't she saying something? "Kaylee? Say something, you're scaring me with your silence." My voice shaking so bad that my voice cracked causing us both to cringe at the sound.

But that seemed to pull her out of her trance. She look at me, eyes hard, before saying "Okay, I get it. You fell for him, even though I told you not to," I tried to cut her off with a rebuttal, but she just talked over me in a stern voice. "So, just...," she sighed, her shoulders falling and eyes softening in the process. "Just promise me that you will be careful. Please Cheyden that is all I am asking you!"

I saw the tears running down her cheeks, she was crying because she was scared for me, well scared that Niall would hurt me but, all I could do was meekly reply with a "I promise Kaylee!" I said it through my own tears, though I was not sure why I was crying. Was I sacred myself?

Little did I know that I would break that promise. Not because I wanted to, but because Niall broke my heart.