A bit of Nallex, Zila, Edni and Harrah in Valentine's Day.

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On Valentine's Day...

“May I open my eyes now?” Alex asked and heard two girls giggling. A shiver went down her spine, not sure if she should run away in that moment or wait and see what they had done to her.

Why on Earth did she accept to let Phebs and Belle help her to get ready? Oh right, because she wanted to impress Niall.

Normally, Alex didn’t care about stupid mundane celebrations such as Valentine’s day, but many things had changed since Niall got in her life. She still believed it was silly to care so much about one day, but Niall liked to do nice things for her and on Valentine’s day he had the perfect excuse to do something humongous and cute at the same time. The least she could do was to look nice.

“Yes, open up,” Phebs instructed and Alex obeyed, staring at her reflection in the mirror.

She looked like herself, but different at the same time. Belle had made her use a dress with long sleeves in a dark shade of purple with black tights and her boots so she wouldn’t feel uncomfortable or freeze to death that night. Her black leather jacket was over her bed with a purple scarf to add once she had to go out. Her hair was pulled to one side, the opposite of her snake tattoo which. Phebs did her makeup, with smoky eyes, eyeliner, smooth skin thanks to foundation and glossy lips. Simple yet a bit darker, the way she liked it.

The most important thing, she felt like herself yet she looked great. Even Alex could accept that.

“I wanted the red dress but that was too much,” Belle commented offhandedly and Phebs nodded agreeing with the black-haired girl “Anyways, you’re ready to go. Have fun, make good decisions and use protection,” she carried on and Alex smiled.

“Always,” was her answer because it was pointless trying to tell her it wasn’t her business the things Niall and Alex did alone in his room.

She stood up and went for her jacket and scarf to meet with Niall outside who was already waiting according to what Phebs had told her. And she was right, Alex’s boyfriend was in the living room, drinking a coke when she walked in. He immediately rose to his feet and locked his eyes on her, his lips slightly parting at the view.

“You like it?” She asked with a cocky smile spinning around so he could see her completely.

“Love it, you look stunning, Alex,” Niall replied stepping closer. She only smiled without moving from her spot until he was in front of her, his hands on her waist pulling her closer. “Completely gorgeous,” he added before he bent down and kissed her. “Shall we go? I hope you like what I prepared this year.”

It was their second Valentine’s day together, last year he had taken her to the same fair where they met but it didn’t work out quite well when fans started to ditch their dates to approach Niall. Alex had fun, even more when they had to run from all the people that were gathering around him, but Niall was mortified. Perhaps that was the reason he was determined to do something better this year.

Alex nodded and they entwined their fingers together to walk out of the house. Outside it was Niall’s Range Rover and he drove to his flat. Alex knew the road pretty well already, so he couldn’t fool her even if he wanted. She was wondering what he had planned for that night and every time she took a glimpse of him, Niall only smiled enthusiastically.

Not too far away from there, under a blanket in front of a huge TV screen, Zayn and Mila were cuddling whilst drinking hot chocolate and eating popcorn. It was the third movie they had watched that day and no one had seen him. She had arrived to his flat at midnight sharp as their plan was to spend the whole day together. She even skipped uni. No one could bother them, they even turned off their phones. Mila wasn’t the type that got excited over Valentine’s day or that got stressed because she couldn’t find the perfect present. She just liked to be with him, even more when finding time to spend with Zayn was so hard.

They hadn’t done much, just spending time together. Watching movies, playing Call of Duty, eating and other more intimate and pleasant activities. They hadn’t left the flat in the whole day and they weren’t going to do it until that day was over.

“I’m hungry,” Zayn commented when Mr Collins appeared on the screen. Yes, they were watching Pride & Prejudice –she had made Zayn watch that movie because of reasons– and, in all honestly, when that character made his appearance it was always her less favourite part.

“Then go for something to eat,” she replied easily but she heard him moan.

“Come with me, I don’t wanna be lonely in the kitchen. Pretty please!” He begged with puppy eyes and pouting.

“You’re being really clingy today,” she said holding back the fit of giggles. He looked adorable.

“Just for today.” Oh, how she adored when he spoke in that accent of his so strong and different, yet so lovely and special.

“Okay,” she gave in and his smile was big and precious, in that way that could light up his whole face, with his eyes sparkling and the tip of his tongue between his teeth.

Together they went to the kitchen after Mila pressed pause, because it didn’t matter that she knew the movie by heart, still she loved every single minute. He had many things, but nothing seemed to call him enough to grab it and take it with them to the sofa again. When she saw him sigh, Mila knew she had to do something.

“And if we make something?” She proposed and maybe that was his plan from the start, because his whole face lit up again and he grabbed her to crush her in a bear hug. “But for that I need to breathe,” she reminded him and Zayn let her go. “Okay, what do you want?”

“Anything, I’m just hungry,” he replied and she walked over to the fridge to see if maybe by looking at the ingredients she could come up of something. There was chicken and maybe she could make it with some sauce and chips. Chips were always welcomed.

Always.

She started to cook but Zayn was around all the time and if she was in the kitchen, she liked her space. Anyways, she couldn’t get mad at him if every time she looked over her shoulder he was still smiling and looking at her with adoration in his dark eyes. How could someone get mad at Zayn when he looked at you in that way? No one, and she wasn’t the exception.

“That looks delicious,” he says and before she realised of what he was doing, Mila saw him poking his finger into the sauce and then liking his index.

“Zayn!” She reprimanded him smacking his hand and he only laughed.

“Oi! It’s not my fault, it smells and tastes delicious! You’re tempting me here,” he defended himself grabbing her by the waist and pulling her against his chest. She tried to set free, but his grip was tight.

“Let me go, Zayn,” Mila threatened but he didn’t obey. “Zayn,” she tried one more time but nothing happened. “You won’t get food then.” Those weren’t the magic words either.

Why couldn’t he be like Niall that could do anything for food? Alex surely had things easier with his leprechaun.

Mila didn’t expect what happened next when Zayn reached the bowl with the sauce burying his fingers in the mix to spread it all over her face. The black-haired girl froze, she even caught her breath out of surprise.

“Oh no, you didn’t,” she whispered and Zayn chuckled, still holding her tight.

“I think I did,” He replied still running his fingers over her cheeks. “You look delicious, by the way.”

“I’m so gonna kill you,” she promised and Zayn burst out laughing, but she was being serious. Or so she thought.

In another flat, a ginger boy was looking at his girlfriend who was practicing the guitar. She had asked him if he could teach her to play that instrument and he was being a patient teacher. She wasn’t hopeless, in fact she was a fast learner, and she also had small hands so any of his guitars was perfect for her as well. Though she used to get distracted staring at the guitar and grinning, recognising it.

She had made things clear. Probably from all the girls that were in his acquaintances, Moni was the one who really hated Valentine’s day. She could get really mad when she saw all those balloons and flowers and cards everywhere. He wasn’t sure if it was for what it happened to her so many years ago, or for another reason. He thought that maybe since they got together she wouldn’t react so negatively to that day, but he was wrong.

Still, he had something for her but he didn’t know how to give it to her. What if she snapped at him for buying her something, even if it was insignificant? What if she got mad at him for that? He regretted so many times having bought it, knowing that she didn’t like Valentine’s day, but he couldn’t help it when he saw it there. It was like it was screaming her name.

“You’re awfully quiet, Ed. Something’s wrong?” she asked though she never raised her sight to meet his.

“Not really. I just like seeing you play,” he answered. It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the complete truth either.

“You mean torturing your poor guitar? I thought you loved them,” she teased and he chuckled.

“You’re not that bad.”

“That bad, uh?” He could only laugh, knowing that she wasn’t offended for that slip of his tongue, she only liked to make him feel a bit uncomfortable for time to time.

Finally, the brunette girl looked up at him, her eyes knowing there was something else and she was just waiting for him to tell her. Perhaps he should forget he bought it, pretend that it never happened but Moni knew there was something he wasn’t saying and she wasn’t going to let it pass.

“Tell me,” she requested putting James II aside and fully focusing on him.

Ed took a deep breath trying to gather the courage to speak and tell her the horrible thing he had done.

“I know you don’t like Valentine’s day,” he started and he saw her opening her mouth to protest, but he raised his hand. “Please, let me say this.” She stayed quiet and nodded. “That’s why I haven’t mentioned it until now and I know you probably are going to get mad but I– I… I just bought you something.”

He closed his eyes, waiting for the moment the bomb exploded, but nothing happened. He opened one eye at the pure Eleven’s style and saw that Moni was only looking at him with amusement. Probably. it was for the face he was making, she adored that face from her favourite TV show, Doctor Who.

“I don’t hate Valentine’s day,” she said and his eyes shot wide open.

“Come again?” He asked shocked and she laughed at him shaking her head from side to side.

“Silly. I don’t hate Valentine’s day, it’s just that I hate how everyone makes such a fuss about it. Why do you have to be romantic and do nice things for the person you love only on Valentine’s? Why can’t you do the same any other day? It feels like a duty and I hate that. It’s only a game from shops to make you spend your money because you have to or you’re a bad boyfriend or girlfriend. Any day can be special, it doesn’t have to be Valentine’s. I hate that everyone buys this shit, that’s all.”

He blinked up at her, still trying to understand that he had been somehow scared the whole day when he, in fact, never really understood why she reacted that way.

“Oh,” was all he said and Moni laughed even more at him. “Then you won’t mind, will you?” He asked rising to his feet to go for the envelope he had hidden in a bookshelf.

He knew Moni was following him with her eyes and her curious expression never left until he came back with the TARDIS blue envelope. Without saying a word, he handed her the envelope that she took and opened it slowly, carefully as if something dangerous could be inside.

When she finally took the card, her jaw hit the floor. It was just that, a card, but it wasn’t any card. It had a picture of the universe on it, a nebula with purple and blue colours, many starts and comets and it had in white letters:

I know I’m only human…

She opened it and her expression changed completely when she saw the rest of the universe with a TARDIS flying across it and the rest of the text.

But I’ll be your Doctor if you are my Rose.

He had written something else, but she didn’t read it yet. She looked up at him, her lips parting, trying to utter some words, but nothing came out. Her eyes showed surprised, gratitude and love, and he knew she had loved the card.

Without any warning, she jumped to his arms and hugged him tightly, the card still in her hands as she kissed him repeatedly. He wasn’t complaining about it, not at all.

“It’s so beautiful, thank you!” She whispered in his ear as she hugged him even tighter. “But I didn’t get you anything!”

“It’s okay, that you liked it is all I could ask for. I wasn’t going to buy you anything, but then I saw it and I couldn’t help it, I just had to buy it. I swear I wasn’t looking for something, I was just buying a new hoodie of The Lord Of The Rings when I saw it.”

“It’s perfect,” she said kissing him one more time. “I love you, Ed,” she added next and he felt his own heart fluttering. She barely said first those words to him, though he knew she did love him.

“And I love you too, Moni,” he replied bringing her even closer as she got comfortable to read the rest of the card. At the end, he had done the right thing at buying that simple and geeky card, and now he understood Moni a bit better.

Niall had hired a catering for them both. With a waiter and a cook that were in his flat only for them. For sure no one was going to bother them that night and she had to admit it, it was beautiful to be only the two of them in his cosy flat, surrounded by the familiarity of that place. He had added some stuff according to the day like red candles and he had a bouquet of roses for her, but it wasn’t too much. It was perfect.

After dinner, and Alex noticed the surprised expression of the waiter for the amounts of food they ate, Niall took her hand to guide her to the living room where a slow song was playing really low, but the moment they stepped inside, Pale by Within Temptation was recognisable and she smiled at him. That band was one of her favourites.

“Dance with me?” He asked her whispering in her ear and she felt the shiver going down her body, a pleasant one.

Alex nodded and soon Niall placed his hands on her waits, bringing her close, as she wrapped her arms around his neck. At the rhythm of the music, they danced slowly. She closed her eyes and pressed her head in his chest, listening to his heartbeats, strong and even.

After that song, many others came and they never stopped dancing. They didn’t even talk, they only needed to be next to the other. Finally, in a moment of the night, she looked up at him feeling her own heard warmer in her chest with that tingly feeling in her belly.

“Thank you for everything, Niall. Not just for today, but for every day,” she confessed. Niall had changed so many things in her life and, honestly, she was happier with the person she was now.

He didn’t say anything but “I love you,” and kissed her deeply yet slowly. She didn’t need him to say more, that was all she needed of him and she had it: his heart. “Happy Valentine’s day,” he added, still brushing her lips with his before kissing her again.

Meanwhile, in Zayn’s kitchen a war had broken loose. That room was a complete mess and Mila and Zayn weren’t in better shape. Somehow, they had managed to get the flour, Nutella, some syrup and many other things that now looked quite disgusting over them. The chicken long forgotten was still there, waiting to be cooked.

“Truce, truce,” Zayn called out because there was no way Mila would surrender.

“Are you giving up?” She asked from the other side of the isle in the middle of the kitchen.

“Yes, I am. Truce?” He asked but Mila didn’t exactly reply. Man, he needed a white flag.

“Yes, victory!” she exclaim and two seconds later Zayn burst out laughing. She could be so competitive sometimes. “I won, I won!”

While she was chanting and celebrating her victory, he sneaked up on her and caught her before she could see him, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her against him. “Gotcha!”

“Oi! I was celebrating,” she protested and he smiled sweetly.

“May I join you?” She only shook her head.

“Only the winners celebrate,” she stated solemnly, though the humour was in her chocolate eyes.

“And we can’t make an exception just for today, can we?” She seemed to ponder the option and just to persuade her, he kissed her. “Please?”

“But we don’t have food to celebrate,” she pointed out and he looked around. Ugh, he didn’t want to clean later. “Maybe we should order a pizza.”

“We should, and then we keep celebrating your victory.”

“I never allowed you to celebrate with me.” He only laughed at her stubbornness.

“But you will because you love me.”

“I do love you… but I’m not sure about the other part.” He only laughed, knowing that she was joking.

“Then I’ll have to persuade you, and I just happen to know how.” She raised her eyebrow but didn’t say anything before he bent down and kissed her, deeply and with all he had, making sure that this time she wouldn’t refuse to let him celebrate with her.

But as the others were with their girlfriends that day, there was another boy outside a house in his car, waiting, trying to gather the courage to go and knock at her door. She said she was busy that day, but he wanted to see her. He had to see her, even if it was just for a second.

Taking a deep breathe, he grabbed the roses and left the car, walking slowly to her door while snow kept falling over him. There was a cold wind as well that kept blowing his hair in every direction. Man, he should’ve worn a beanie that night.

Already feeling the effects of the cold, he knocked at her door and waited. What if her dad opened up? What would he say? But to his luck, at the other side a ginger girl with the most beautiful green eyes and those adorable freckles over her skin appeared, surprise written all over her face when she saw him.

“Harry?” She asked, blinking rapidly. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to ask you, even if the day is almost over… would you be my valentine, Hannah?” He inquired showing the roses he had behind his back.

Her mouth formed a perfect O and for a couple of seconds he was afraid she would reject him. He still couldn’t be sure with her, he was always afraid she would run away.

But then she smiled, taking a step closer to grab the Roses from his hands, making sure to touch his skin in the process. She sniffled the roses with her eyes closed and Harry waited. She finally looked at him with the most beautiful smile of them all.

“Come in before you freeze to death, Harry Boy-band,” she spoke holding her hand for him, the same hand that he took as he got inside the house with a smile of his own.