Niall's POV

Whenever Abbey's name lit up my phone screen, it made me smile. I'd like to think I only thought of her as a friend, because that's what we were supposed to be. But deep down, I knew it was more than that.

I quickly answered the phone before it went to voicemail.

"Hey, Abs. What's up?"

"Luke and I broke up." Her voice was so casual, the actual words caught me off guard. My jaw dropped, and I'm pretty sure my heart skipped a beat. Why wasn't she crying? Not that I wanted her to be... But was she happy? I thought she loved him...

"What?" Was all I could manage to say.

"We broke up." She repeated.

"B-but... but why?"

"After our date tonight, he took me to his house and he kept trying to get in my pants. And I wasn't in the mood. So I got mad, and we got in a fight, and I broke up with him, and I left."

"Are you okay?" I hoped I sounded calm, because I think I was shaking with anger at him. He hurt her again. He can't take advantage of her. Nobody can.

"Actually, yeah. I'm perfectly fine. I feel kind of relieved, to be honest. I mean, after we broke up that first time, our relationship was never really the same, you know? I didn't really feel it anymore."

"Yeah, yeah. I guess that makes sense."

"What are you up to tonight?" She asked, her tone was sweet and normal. It was stupid of me to assume there was any secret meaning behind the question.

"Uh, there's a party we were invited to for some movie premiere, but it didn't sound that exciting. Why?"

"I don't know. Just wondering."

"Do you want to come?"

"To the party?"

"Yeah." For a worldwide celebrity, I felt an awful lot like the awkward kid I had been before X Factor. I was never good at asking girls out. "Like, you know, as friends."

"Well, yeah. I figured." I listened to her clear her throat though the receiver. "Sure, I'll go. What time?"

"Soon. Can you be ready in 15 minutes?"

"You want me to be ready for a celebrity party in 15 minutes?"

"You don't need to be ready. You can come in your pajamas and you'll still be the prettiest girl there." I really needed some kind of filter to make sure I didn't say stupid shit. Ever since I'd realized how deep my feelings for her went, it's like I couldn't stop myself from making it obvious.

"You're sweet. You're a dork, but you're sweet. Anyway, I'll be ready. Are you picking me up?"

"Sure thing, babe. I'll see you then."

"Bye bye, Nialler. See you soon." I could practically hear the smile in her voice as she shut the phone.

At the party, I couldn't take my eyes off of her. Which I guess was normal at this point. She was perfect. Like I'd said earlier, without even trying very hard she was the prettiest one there.

"Here." I said as I handed her a requested Sprite.

"Thanks." She kissed my cheek as she took the glass and sipped from it. Such a simple, meaningless action to her. "So, uhm, what movie is this f-" She was cut off my the sound of my name being called from a couple feet away.

"Niall!"

I turned to see the source of the sound, Josh, walking up to us. At this point, we considered him a member of One Direction.

"Hey, man." I laughed. I wondered in the back of my mind if he was already drunk. He didn't really seem like it, but I probably would've been wasted if Abbey weren't here.

"Who's your friend?" He asked, smiling toward her. "Is this Abbey?"

"That's me." She gave him a flash of her signature dimpled smile. "And you're Josh Devine, right?"

"Yeah, how'd you know? Have you been stalking me?" He joked with her.

"Practically." She laughed along. "I've been trying to study up on my One Direction knowledge since I met Niall."

"Sounds exciting."

I noticed that their eye contact hadn't broken since the second it began. That, plus the way their bodies were angled toward each other made me suddenly feel like the third wheel. Unfortunately, I already knew I wasn't the only one who had a thing for her. It was pretty damn obvious when Josh liked a girl.

I kept trying to separate them, but Josh wouldn't break away from us. Not that I was blaming him. I loved Josh like he was my brother. But I think I had a right to be pissed, given I'd known Abbey first and she'd just broke up with her boyfriend.

Regardless, I doubted anything would happen between her and Josh other than some distant flirting. She'd only been single for a couple hours and they've only known each other for thirty minutes. So, I felt alright to leave them be and hang out with Liam for a few.

Liam was a great friend. He made jokes, and laughed at my jokes, and for the most part distracted me from the fact that my other best friend was unknowingly hitting on my future girlfriend. He couldn't help the fact that I looked over in their direction every couple minutes though. Every time I saw them laughing or talking, I felt like he was stabbing me in the heart and twisting the knife around just to watch me wince in pain.

I kept trying to remind myself that it wasn't Josh's fault. He had no idea I was interested in Abbey. He had no idea that this would've been my first opportunity to present myself as more than a friend to her. He was only doing what any guy would do. But that knowledge didn't help me feel any better.

Liam could tell I was upset about it as he followed my gaze in her direction. Somehow he managed to get me a pint even though we were both underage in the US. After it was gone though, I couldn't find Josh or Abbey. I tried not to worry, but it was easier said than done.

"I'm gonna go find her." I told Liam, unable to take it anymore. I stood from our table and began my search.

After almost an hour of looking though, I was ready to give up. They were absolutely nowhere to be found. I noticed Louis, Harry, Liam, and Zayn glancing at me and whispering about something. They all had an almost identical look on their face- not sadness necessarily, but pity almost.

I ignored it, shaking them off and decided to check the coat closet as a last resort. Maybe she was getting cold and went to grab her sweater or something. On my way there, Harry blocked my path.

"Heeeeeeey, Niall, where you going?" He asked, seeming rushed.

"Just lookin' for Abbey and Josh is all."

"Eh, just forget them for now. Wanna come get another pint with me?"

"Nah." I continued walking. Until Zayn joined us.

"Come 'ere." He said, trying to pull me the other way. Something weird was definitely going on with them. My assumption was only confirmed when Lou and Liam joined us too, telling me had to come meet Cameron Diaz.

"You can't miss this, man, come on!" Louis urged.

"Yeah, her boobs are even bigger in person!" Harry nodded.

"What is your problem?" I asked them, hitting Harry's hand away from mine as I walked up to the coat room.

"Just don't go in here!" Liam ordered, standing in front of door so I couldn't get in.

"Why not...? What's in there?" I started to turn the handle of the door, already knowing the answer to my pathetic question. I knew what they were trying to do. They were only being good friends, trying to keep me from what they knew would hurt me. But it was too late. I knew and now the door was half way opened.

And to no surprise, there it was. Josh was holding her up against the wall, her legs firmly around his waist. Their lips seperated when they heard the door open and they both stared at me, frozen like a deer in the headlights. My jaw fell open slightly, and I felt the beginning of tears starting to sting the corners of my eyes.

I couldn't look anymore. I turned quickly and raced out of the room.

"Niall, wait." I heard Abbey's urgent voice say, but it was too late. I was gone.

"What?" I heard Josh's distant voice, oblivious to the storm of emotions spinning around him.

I went as far away as I could, which at the moment was only two floors up, out on the balcony. If I wasn't so upset, it would've been a great view. It was looking out over the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, and rain was just starting to pour from the sky. I watched the first drop fall into the body of water, creating a ripple. Simultaneously, my first tear fell. The rain gradually fell harder as the seconds passed.

I couldn't get the image of them out of my head. It was everywhere I looked, even when I closed my eyes. The dull pain in my heart grew heavy as my tears fell faster. I felt dramatic and stupid, but everything hurt. I didn't even have a right to be hurt. He didn't know any better, and it wasn't like she was my girlfriend. I'm pretty sure she knew I liked her though.

I remembered just earlier today, holding her close in the lobby of the hotel. I held her closer than I'd ever held anyone before. I remembered not being able to sleep last night because the image of her with Luke kept filling my mind. If only I knew then how much worse things were about to be.

"Niall..?" I heard Josh's voice behind me, but I didn't look up. He walked closer and started to sit beside me. "Is it okay if I sit here?"

"Sure." I choked out, wiping my tears.

"I... I had no idea you felt that way about her. I'm so sorry. Why didn't you say something?"

"It's fine. I know you didn't know."

We both stayed silent for a minute.

"What happened?" I finally asked, no longer able to stand the sound of the silence and the rain.

"It was an accident. I mean, it wasn't. But I didn't mean for it to happen the way it did. She's just so easy to talk to, you know?"

"Yeah. You guys got on really well." I laughed half heartedly.

"Not at first. At first you were all she talked about. It was all Niall, Niall, Niall," He told me. She talked about me. She was thinking about me. Me. Josh continued on in his best high pitched, girl impression voice, "'He's so funny, and adorable. And I'm so happy around him, you know? Almost like a brother. But not. Because he's hot. You know?' And I didn't know. But I said I knew anyway."

"She said that about me?" I don't think I could've smiled wider if I tried. But my smile faded as he finished his story.

"Yeah. But then I got fed up with her missing the point that I was into her. So I kinda just kissed her. And she kissed me back. And I asked her out. And then the coat closet. And yeah. I'm really sorry. I'll break up with her. I didn't know."

My heart sank. It stopped beating, and sunk to the pit of my stomach. If I'd had anything to eat, I probably would've thrown up. "You... You're dating... her..." It was hard to get that last word out. I said it as more of a whisper.

"This probably only happened because she felt used and rejected from Luke. I'll break up with he. I didn't know." He repeated.

"No, Josh-" I shook my head back and forth, threatened by more tears. "Don't. She said yes, so she obviously likes you. And if that's what makes her happy, that's cool, alright? If you guys are both happy, be happy. Don't let me stand in the way."

"But if you're into her..."

"She's my friend. Just my friend. Like a hot sister. It'd be weird to date her anyway. And you guys are good. She's better with you." I didn't know if I was trying to convince him or myself. Maybe both.

"Really?"

"Yeah," I smiled at him, "Don't worry about it."

We were interrupted by a knock on the side of the balcony and then the sound of Abbey clearing her throat.

"Uhm..." She said quietly, gaining her voice. "Is everything okay up here?"

"Yeah, yeah." I stood, smiling again. The smile wasn't fake this time though. Just seeing her, no matter what the conditions, genuinely made me happy. "I was just surprised to see you two together, is all." We all knew I was lying, but we also wanted to pretend it was the truth. So that's what we did.

"You're my best friend, Nialler." She pulled me into a hug. "I love you so much." She said, squeezing me tighter.

That was the first time she'd ever said that to me. I knew the context she meant it in- as a friend. But it still made me feel like she had my heart in her hands and was squeezing it ten times tighter than she should be, waiting for it to explode.

"I love you too, Abs. I just want you to be happy."