Chapter 6 ― Bubbly Alex

It’s the day. It’s the day! We’re actually going to pick the girls so we can leave tomorrow all together. They will be staying in the same bus as us. Management made sure to get an even bigger bus with more bunks so it’s perfect. This is the most excited I’ve been for a tour and I look as a kid in Christmas’ morning when we’re leaving to pick the girls. I have a feeling this is gonna be the best summer ever. Not only for the tour, that’s always fun, but I’ll get to spend a lot of time with Alex, we’ll get closer and who knows? Maybe by that time she’ll be better and I’ll ask her out again.

And everyone is gonna be happy!

“Niall!” Liam shouts and only then I blink and realise they have been trying to get my attention all the time.

Oops! I feel my cheeks burning already for the caught me daydreaming. Again. Man, I feel like I’m a thirteen-year-old boy all over again. “Sorry. What?”

“Are you ready? Phebs texted me saying they are ready. We can go pick them up now,” the Wolverhampton boy replies and I feel my smile growing impossibly wider. “I take that as a ‘more than ready.’ Let’s go, lads!”

And like that we’re off to pick up the girls. Louis is really happy and he is the first to walk inside once Belle opens the door for us, running to Alex already. Sometimes I find funny their game, sometimes I just wanna push him off the window for touching her so much. I feel very conflicted here, he should be careful.

And talking about Alex, she’s on the sofa and she smiles, but she looks down. Like really, really tired. I know they went shopping today and she is not fond of that activity, but I don’t think it was that bad. So I stay next to her and try to be as casual as possible. I wrap my arm around her shoulders. “How are you? You seem tired,” I ask her and her eyes widen. What? Why is she so surprised I ask that? I notice things about her, of course, because I pay a lot of attention to her.

Yeah, you can call me whipped.

“Nothing to worry about,” she replies with a smile, but she still looks tired. Impulsively, I kiss her temple, trying to make her feel all right. I try not to show how being like this with her makes me feel, I try to play it cool, you know? Dignity is important.

“We’re leaving tomorrow,” Liam informs when Alex looks at them. “That’s why you have to come with us now. We’ll go in the tour bus, but we’ll get hotel rooms in each city, so you don’t have to worry. I’m so glad you’re coming with us.” It’s funny how he was the hardest to convince yet now he is really excited.

Alex smiles but I notice how she tenses and looks at Phebs and she is smiling, but there’s something odd with her eyes. I don’t know what’s going on here, but there’s something. Of that I’m sure.

“It’s gonna be bloody amazing!” Louis shouts ever so excited. As usual with him.

“So grab your stuff ‘cos we’re going. Do you have everything ready?” Liam asks, taking charge of everything as it’s normal with him.

“Yup. We just have to go get our things,” Belle replies and I’m surprised Alex doesn’t even try to move. “Who can help us?” Belle actually bats her eyelashes like in movies, which makes the guys laugh but they follow her.

I stand up but Alex stops me. She doesn’t say anything, but her eyes are asking me to stay and that kind of worries me.

“Are you really okay?” I ask, getting more worried by the second.

“Nothing I can’t handle, Niall. I just want you to stay with me for a while. Please?” She tells me and I feel something twisting in my guts at the way she utters those words. I can’t say no to her. I just can’t.

I sit again and this time she cuddles next to me, resting her head on my chest. I hold her tightly and I feel my heart racing and I’m afraid she may hear it. But if she does, she doesn’t show sign of it.

“You know you can tell me anything, Alex,” I whisper kissing the top of her head, loving this moment too much.

“I know. Seriously, you don’t have to worry, Niall. I’m okay,” she promises and she looks up to meet my eyes and I swear I feel the world stopping around us and all I can see it’s her eyes. And then she bites her lower lip and I feel my heart skipping a beat, dying to get closer and kiss her. I cup her face and stoke her cheeks… so close.

“NIAAAALL!” We hear and I’m no the only one jumping in the air. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY WIFE? GET YOUR NAUGHTY HANDS OFF OF HER!” Louis runs up to us and jumps, landing between Alex and I. “What were you doing? Why didn’t you go for your luggage, wifey? Aren’t you feeling okay?” He asks after none of us replies to his previous question, we only blush.

“I’m okay. I just don’t feel like moving right now. Nothing to worry about, beloved husband. But, seriously, it took you a while to notice I wasn’t with you,” she teases him crossing her arms.

“I’m sorry! It’s all Harry’s fault. He distracts me!”

“You’re a lousy husband. And here I thought you only cheated on me with Eleanor, but no, Harry is part of this horrid drama,” she keeps bantering him.

“I promise everything will be fine, you’re the only one I love!” I’m actually laughing at his. “Nothing nor no one will tear us apart!” After this they look simultaneously to the right and I burst out laughing, they actually believe they are in a soap opera!

After that the others join us and we leave with the girls to Harry and Louis’ flat, ready to start with the tour. I can’t wait!

The next morning we wake up to the sweet smell of a homemade breakfast and I swear I just follow the scent, I don’t know where I’m going. My belly is guiding me and I always trust my stomach. I arrive to the kitchen —see? Always trust my stomach— and I see the girls there, preparing loads of food. Something funny happens, though, because when Alex sees me, she practically runs up to me and hugs me. Like that! Out of the blue. I don’t complain, though, I actually like this.

“Niall! Good morning,” she says smiling brightly. She looks almost like a different person.

“Good morning. You’re in a great mood, I see,” I comment, still keeping her in my arms.

“She’s high,” Belle points out confusing me, but Alex only giggles..

“High? Who is high?” Louis asks joining us in the kitchen and Alex points at herself with a big grin. Thinking about it… she looks kind of high. “Wife? Why are you high? But most importantly, why are you high and I’m not?” She giggles and, cutely, hides her face in my chest.

What’s happening here?

“She took some pills. Nothing bad, I promise. She needs them,” Phebs answers but I’m still confused.

“Are you ill, Alex?” I ask, taking her face in my hands, trying to see if there’s something wrong. She may be cuter like this, but I don’t like the idea of Alex being ill.

“It’s normal, you don’t have to worry, lads. It’s just for a couple of days and believe me, you’re gonna love her more. She is all sweet when she is high. We really enjoy her in this state.” Belle’s explanation only confuses me more and I look at Alex and she surprises me by stroking my face.

“I don’t get it, yet. What’s wrong with her?” Liam asks what I want to ask, but I’m too surprised by Alex’s actions.

“Nothing is wrong with her, Liam,” Phebs replies patiently. “It’s normal.” We still look confused and Belle loses it.

“Oh for God’s sake. She’s on her period and it’s horrible for her, that’s why she has to take so many pills. It’s normal! You men are so slow!” Belle bursts out and my eyes shoot wide open. Okay, that’s too much information I didn’t need to know that. But Alex is actually cute, she giggles and hides her face again, hugging me tighter.

“I need cuddling today,” She says softly and with that, I kind of wake up and hug her tighter, too.

“Oh, oh, oh! I want to cuddle with you!” Harry demands but I don’t want to share, I don’t want to let go of Alex.

“Next day, Styles. Today I only want Niall!” She says and my heart skips a beat at her words, my whole body tensing and I feel my cheeks burning.

“Lucky Niall!” Liam jokes making Alex giggle. I’ve never seen her giggling so much like this morning.

“Oh, wife, you prefer Niall over me? I’m hurt!” Louis complains, dramatising again.

“Yup, today I rather stay with Niall,” She replies honestly and she kisses my cheek, surprising me again, my heart doing another flip when Zayn walks in. “Hi, Zayn! Today is Niall’s day. He’s all for me!” She greets him bubbly.

“Do I need to know something?” Zayn asks but I also notice the way he doesn’t approve of Alex and I hugging in the middle of the kitchen.

“Oh, not again! Zayn, believe me, you don’t wanna know!” Liam cries out making me chuckle.

“Oi, don’t be so dramatic. It’s normal, natural,” Belle complains and Alex keeps giggling in my arms. It feels so great to have her like this. “Don’t worry, she just took her pills a while ago. She’ll be a tad more normal in a while.”

“I’ll stop being so annoying!” She says happily.

“You’re not annoying. You’re cute,” I blurt out, I can’t help it and when she looks at me she bites her lower lip. Oh man, how I wish I could kiss her. But I have to be patient, I have to give her time. Even if I’m dying to kiss her, I have to wait.

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Aw, this chapter gives me so many Nallex feels. What about you?

Dedication to @xlittlemissimperfect. I love when even if you don't like 1D, you still read my stories and like them. Thanks!

Bel, xx