The Guitar Girl

Written by:

13ISMYNUMBER

Chapter 37

The Promise of an Almost Kiss

"Until I remember every single thing about you."

Everyone who had been through the patching up phase or the starting over again phase of a relationship knows that it was not as easy as it sounds. It requires time, effort and loads of patience.

For Riley and Niall, it requires a lot of trust.

Trust that love is enough to keep them together.

Trust that Riley is truly willing to give what they have another try.

Trust that the pace they are taking isn't too fast or too slow.

Trust that even without ever single memory, they could get by.

But the thing was, they never were officially together…or simply together. They fell in love at the most unexpected and unlikable scenario and situation that they never had the chance to have what normal couples would have.

They never went on dates…or maybe they did but both as boys.

They never held each other's hands.

And they never got to even start the fire for their feelings, because even before it started it was long extinguished.

But for Riley, normality was something that she could never have. For her, normal girls don't take up waitress jobs because their dad stole her college funds. For her, normal girls don't dress up as boys for a few months and find out that the one you were working for had been in love with this whole other person you were back then.

Normal girls didn't do what she did.

It was different for Niall though, a boy who started out as a normal kid from Ireland.

For him, he wanted to be able to give Riley the love that she missed because of her circumstances. For him, in order to do this, he needed to have all his memory back because deep down he knows that every night Riley silently prays, "Please, remember me."

The Guitar Girl by 13ismynumber

"It's good that despite your busy schedule, you never miss an appointment." Niall's doctor said as he closed Niall's file.

"Well, I'm still hoping." Niall mutters.

The doctor smiles at him and gives him a pat on the shoulder, "The memories are coming back, piece by piece, right? You're lucky, some people who had as much damage as yours, they don't remember at all."

Niall shrugs and smiles, "I know, I know. I'm just frustrated lately." He explains.

The doctor raises an eyebrow but does not force Niall to say anything more. Niall thanks him and leaves the examination room.

Liam stands up from the plastic chair and asks him, "How'd it go?"

"Like it always goes, he asks me what he needs to ask. Asks me what I remember. Checks stuff on my body and then I'm done." Niall explains, not really giving much care.

"Niall." Liam halts to say. Niall faces back at him expectantly. "You know she'll wait right?"

"I know, but I don't want to burden her anymore." Niall sadly replies.

"Well," Liam scoffs, "if you tell her that you're starting to remember and that most of it are memories with her or of her, then maybe she wouldn't feel so burdened."

Niall runs a hand through his hair and sighs before explaining to Liam, "There are questions in my head that I know only my memories could answer. I don't want to hurt her anymore than I had to. Right now, I'm glad that there's a possibility that I could remember everything that I forgot but I can't help but feel frustrated because I need a lot of patience in what I'm doing."

"What exactly are you doing?"

Niall looks Liam in the eyes and says, "Remembering everything about her."

For Niall, he knows that even if Riley would be happy to hear that he remembers bits and pieces, she would be more happy if he says the words she's been meaning to hear for the past four months of starting over again.

And just like every single time, Niall chooses to wait rather than hasten things that shouldn't be forced in the first place.

The Guitar Girl by 13ismynumber

Riley tucks a hair behind her ear as she waits for Niall to open his flat's door for her.

Niall opens it with a smile and lets her in but not before tugging her forward to him. He gives her a kiss on the forehead and an Eskimo kiss.

Riley shyly smiles before clearing her throat. She still couldn't get used to how affectionate Niall could be, and it seems that he gets more confident every single day to do things to her.

Regardless if they were official or not.

"How's school?" Niall asks as he closes the door behind him.

Riley lets herself fall on the couch before answering with tired voice, "Tiring…stressful." She looks up at Niall who prepares to sit next to her, "They want me to compose stuff on the guitar for this practical exam."

Niall pulls her in his arms and Riley couldn't help but squeak in reply. She remains silent as Niall chuckles. "Do you want me to massage your shoulders, so you can relax a little?"

Riley looks back and up at him with a slightly shocked expression. She was definitely still not used to how affectionate he was. Riley tries to pull herself away from Niall but he secures her in his arms. "Or we could stay this way." Niall whispers next to her ears.

Riley breathes in and out for a few seconds.

A deafening silence enables the awkwardness that Riley has newly found every single time Niall becomes so…so….so…touchy.

"So how's your preparation for this Saturday's concert?" Riley breaks the ice and tries to calm her pounding heart.

Niall brings her closer if it was possible and leans his chin on her shoulders, "Tiring…stressful." He copies her. "But nothing I can't handle. So far, I'm excited for it."

"That's great to hear," was all Riley could come up with as a reply.

And the silence was back but this time Riley was more awkward than before. Oh how she wishes that Niall could just let her go and let her calm her racing and crazy heart for a minute.

After a few minutes, it was as if Niall heard her silent plea because he loosens his arms and pushes her to sit up properly next to him. Niall's hands were still on her shoulders and he turns her to him. Now, they sitting next to each other but their bodies were facing each other on the couch.

Riley knows that Niall would want to say something so she begins, "Niall—"

"I love you."

Riley examines him…from his lips as the words come out to his eyes. She controls the reaction on her face but her palms seem to sweat and she begins to feel nervous.

Why was it that Niall looks at her with so much familiarity?

As if…as if…he knows her.

She opens her mouth slightly but closes it again to swallow and wet her dry throat.

She begins to feel nervous. She wants to remove such feelings so she begins to reply like she always does, "I love—"

"I love you."

Niall repeats but this time, Riley hears every single sound of the letter. It was slower and was more emphasized.

She stops to breathe for a second and she feels her heart pounding more wildly than before.

Niall's hands cup her face and he brings it closer to his. All Riley could feel was his gaze and her heart…that was before he…he…

He kisses her forehead.

Lowers his lips.

Kisses her nose.

Lowers his lips once more.

And there was almost no distance between their lips, she feels his breath on hers but she knows they are not touching.

She breathes a little to sustain her life.

What was he doing? She asks herself but couldn't bring herself to say it. It even surprises her that she could come up with such coherent thoughts in such a situation.

"I love you," Niall whispers, "So much."

Their eyes meet, and just when Riley thought he was finally going to kiss her. His lips moves on the corner of her mouth and plants itself there for a good second or two.

His hands remain where they are and Niall searches for her eyes again as he returns to his previous position, a few inches away from her lips. The corner of Niall's mouth tugs into a small smile yet so genuine and beautiful, "Which is why I won't stop until I remember you," he begins, "until I remember every single thing about you."

Disclaimer: I do not own ONE DIRECTION but I do own the idea and the plot of this story as well as the fictional characters that are used and will be used in this story. So please don't steal it. Thank you.

I know, I know. I've been gone for more than a year. How could I? I know, I know but before you go hating me and refusing to even review…I only have one thing to say…or maybe two.

I'm sorry.

The reason I wasn't able to update for such a loooooooong time was because I got caught up in the real world…and sometimes, I lose a sense of balance between reality that I live in and the world that I created.

So I really am sorry.

Many people have been messaging me for the past month and even leaving reviews asking me what happened.

But I never break my word and I do intend to finish this story, I just hope that you'd bear with me.

Sadly, this story is really coming to its end. As I've said before right?

Fortunately, I'm starting a new one but it's not a one direction fanfiction and it's not on this site.

In the months that I have been missing, I bathed myself in KPOP to keep my sanity in the real world. And somehow, after reading fanfics after fanfics about them, I decided to write one. I'm aware that there are KPOP fans all over the world and hopefully, you would give my created reality a chance (If you still want to read stories from me that is.)

Hopefully, you'd really try and help me get back on my feet in writing. I've written so many political papers in the past year that I think I lost my touch in describing feelings. Political papers are so straight to the point. Ugh.

Anyway…please do give it a try. I would love to know that at least one of you…if you're even reading this…have not given up on me.

I'm in , my username is 13ismynumber. Search for me then look through my stories and you'd find my latest work: Seoul On The Radio

Thank you.

Anyway. If you've read up to this point…thank you. If you've even read my story again, still, thank you!

I love you all.

Stay safe.

Xoxo,

13ismynumber