Begin Again [Nouis - Engels]

Eight months. I’ve finally got a date with a really nice boy. And of course, Harry just had to ruin it. A knock on my door. Naturally, I answered it. And there he is.
“You’re not his, you’re mine. I don’t care what you say anymore Niall.” His lips slammed to mine. I couldn’t pull away, because his arms were wrapped around my waist. That doesn’t mean I didn’t try.
“I know you’re still in love with me and I’m not gonna let you go.” He walked away. I was stood there crying. I would never get rid of him, would I?
I shut the door and pressed my back to it, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. I walked to the bathroom, my legs shaking, and looked in the mirror. I took a deep breath, looking over my body. Harry never like it when I wore plaid, but I love plaid.
I walked to my bedroom and locked the door, tears streaming down my face. I plugged my headphones into my iPod. Begin Again by Taylor Swift blared through them, making me smile but cry harder at the same time.
Harry said he never got this song. I bet he still doesn’t get it, even though it’s happening right in front of his eyes. But I get it. I know exactly what it’s about. It’s about moving on and finding someone new, which is what I’m doing.
I wiped away my tears, trying to calm down. Every time I cried, I just couldn’t stop. I walked down to the kitchen and got out a bottle of water, taking a long sip. For some reason, drinking something helps me calm down.
I wiped away my tears and splashed a bit of water on my face. I took a deep breath, wiping my face with a paper towel, and took another deep breath.
I check the time, realizing I had about ten minutes until I had to get to the cafe. It was a Wednesday evening, and I was going on a date with a lovely boy named Louis. He and I had met in the same cafe, where he worked, which is where we decided to have our first date.
I went outside, looking around to make sure Harry wasn’t there before walking down the street. The cafe was there, which was great. I could see Louis pretty much whenever I wanted.
I had about five minutes until the date actually started. I figured I would be waiting a while, so I was surprised when I saw him waiting there for me already, leaning against the door. He brightened up when he saw me, running over and pulling me into a hug.
“There you are! I was waiting for you!” He put me down and smiled.
“How long were you waiting?” I laughed He shrugged.
“About ten minutes.” He admitted, a blush on his cheeks. Wow. He was early! I was expecting him to be late. But then I realized it was Harry that was always late … Of course he has to come up right now, huh?
“That’s really sweet Louis.” I said, a blush settling on my cheeks as well. He smiled and kissed my nose, taking my hand gently.
“Come on.” He smiled, leading me over to the almost empty cafe. He pulled me over to a table and pulled out my seat, helping me into it. Harry never did that … . That was so sweet, I almost felt like crying. He was so gentle and perfect with me … I’ve never had anybody like that. It was a great new feeling.
I don’t think he knows how nice that was, but I sure do. He sat across from me, smiling a dazzling smile as he leaned closer, his elbows resting on the table.
“How was your day?” He asked. As much as I hated to think about Harry, he popped up again, but only for another comparison. Because Harry never cared about my day. He never asked how I was. It was always about him. But Louis, well, he actually cared about me.
“It was great.” I smiled, forgetting about Harry and what he did earlier. “Better now that you’re here.”
He laughed, “You’re cheesy.”
“I do like pizza.” I smiled. One of my stupid jokes. He threw his head back laughing, almost like a little kid. I smiled at the sight of him laughing.
“You’re funny, Niall.” He said, calming down a bit. I smiled, even though I thought it was strange. Strange that he thought I was funny, because Harry never did. He always rolled his eyes at my jokes.
Of course, no matter where I’m at or what I’m doing, I can never get Harry off my mind.
“Thanks.” I smile. “How was your day?”
“It was great. Better now that you’re here.” He says. I laugh.
“You stole my line.” I joke. He laughs as well, and soon, we’re both just sitting there, laughing at nothing. It was … Well … Perfect. Actually, no, perfect is an understatement. I was at a loss of words for that night. I don’t even know what to say.

*Three Hours Later*

We’d had hot chocolate and eaten some pastries. He thanked his co-worker for staying after hours just to serve us and we left, walking hand-in-hand to his house.
“Wanna watch a movie?” He asked, taking my coat and hanging it up. I smiled and nodded.
“Sure. What movie?”
“I dunno. I have a bunch over here. Come look.” He grabbed my hand and walked with me to a movie rack.
“Wow. You have about as many movies as I do.” I laugh, looking through them.
“I’ve never met someone who had as many movies as me.” He said. “But you do. You’re something special, you know?” He smiled. I smiled as well, a blush creeping up my neck and finally making it’s way to my cheeks.
“You’re special, too.” I smiled.

*3 Weeks Later*

“So, there I was, in the middle of the pool, when my sister goes down and grabbed my legs. Then, well, I got a little scared. I screamed and peed myself. And that’s the story of why I peed in a pool!” He said. I chuckled and shook my head a bit, biting my bottom lip. I clutched my coffee, taking a little sip.
“What about you? Have you ever peed in a pool before?” He joked. All I did was shake my head, a small smile on my lips. He tilted his head, as if examining me, before setting his coffee down. He reached over and took mine, placing it on the table and taking my hand.
“You’re so shy.” He said. “We’ve been dating for three weeks now, you don’t have to be shy around me anymore Niall. Did someone hurt you?” He seemed so concerned about me, it made me want to cry. Not in a bad way, just, nobody’s ever been this … Sweet.
“No, nobody hurt me.” I said. I never told him about Harry, and honestly, I didn’t want to. Because every day he comes to my house and of course I stupidly answer the door. He says what’s on his mind, usually it’s a lie about me still loving him, but sometimes it’s a nasty comment, and then he kisses me. I feel disgusted but I can’t stop it. He says everything so fast, it’s hard to even hear what he says. And I spend every day with Louis, then he makes me forget about Harry and when I open the door the next morning to his face, everything crashes down on me so hard I’m frozen, I can’t breathe, and before you know it, his lips are on mine.
“Niall, you know you can tell me anything, right?” His face was an expression of concern, something I’d never seem before, and his eyes were so full of worry that I couldn’t control what happened next. I burst into tears.
He immediately pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly, which only made me cry more. How can someone be so nice? This crap only happens in movies.
“No!” I shouted, breaking free of his grip and backing away, into the middle of the living room. He stood up immediately, and began walking towards me, but I shook my head. “No! Stop it! You can’t just be that concerned about me and hold me like that! No! It’s not fair!”
“Wh-what’s wrong Niall?” He stopped walking, his arms outstretched a bit, as if reaching for me.
“What’s wrong?! You’re asking me that?! You don’t hit me, you don’t roll your eyes when I cry, you don’t call me mean names, you don’t do any of that! Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?!” I was breaking.
“N-no, Niall. Wh-why would I do that?” He seemed so confused, and that only added to my emotions.
“That’s what my parents did! They hit each other and yelled at each other, a-and they got into fights! That’s what Harry told me we were supposed to do!” I was so confused. I felt so stupid and disoriented.
“H-Harry? Who’s Harry?” He was walking closer to me and I was backing up.
“H-he was my boyfriend. H-he hit me and was cruel. B-but that happens in real life, right? Good stuff only happens in movies … R-right?” My back hit the wall, and finally reached me.
“No, baby.” He said, bringing me into his arms. “Couples are supposed to love each other. They’re supposed to be gentle with each other and protect each other. I’ll protect you from Harry, I promise. He won’t hurt you ever again. I love you, Niall.”
My heart fluttered. He’d never told me he loved me before. Harry never said that to me, either. “Y-you love me? R-really?”
“Of course I do.” He pulled away from the hug, placing a kiss on my lips. “I love you with all my heart.”
“I-I love you too.” I stuttered. Louis pulled me close, holding me tightly, but gently.
Harry lied to me. Now I get it. He was abusive. He didn’t love me … He was abusing me. My parents abused each other. I’m so shy because of Harry. He made me clueless and stupid. I never wanted to show that. Not my pain, not my bruises, or my scars, or my tears. Nothing that made me weak. I knew if I were to attempt to be outgoing, I would break.
Everything crashed down on me so hard I could barely breathe. More tears escaped my eyes and reality hit me, and my knees buckled, but Louis caught me, holding me tightly. I know what love felt like, what love was. I get it now.
Love is forever. It builds. It wraps you in a warm embrace. I always thought the only things love would do was break, burn, and end. Now I know, after eight months, that love doesn’t just end. I may not have realized it, but that Wednesday in a cafe, I watched love begin again.
Right before my eyes.