- written from both Niall and Oddie’s POVs
- i don’t proofread, I never do, I hate it.
- AU. Smut. Fluff. Comedy. (tw : cheating)
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1.
Oddie
Have you ever been in love? The feeling that spreads inside you when you realize that the person you're in love with is also in love with you, is something that can not be defined with words. It's something you have to live with your own being, with your heart, with your soul, with your head. It invades you from the pit of your stomach to every single extremities of your body. It makes you euphoric in a way nothing else can, making you believe that anything is possible, and that you're the luckiest person in the world. It makes you think that every single day with this person will be as wonderful as the first.
It's a lie.
Of course, I think love is wonderful, don't get me wrong! But the older you get, the more you change, and you can't expect the person you love to still be the same person you fell in love with decades ago. You're different, too, and that's okay. For some people, it makes them stronger and for others it tears them apart. It's a 50/50 chance and if you don't win, then you have to decide what to do with the relationship you spent so long building. Should you hold on to it in hope it'll get better, or try to start over to get back that inexplicable feeling you used to feel, but this time with someone else?
"Hey, kiddo, are you okay?"
I got out of my thoughts and nodded quickly, taking a sip of my now cold coffee.
"No really, tell me what happened. I sort of thought this morning would have been fun."
Angela was my oldest friend and I loved her. We met in high school and she was pretty much the only friend I had left. Starting a family and getting married at a early age can do that to your friendships, sometimes.
"Oh you know, with Mack knocking at the door while we were doing the missionary, and the fact that Ryan was almost late for work, it was a pretty ordinary morning."
My friend took a sip of wine while staring at me, her eyebrows raised. "Fun." she finally said with sarcasm, putting her glass back on the counter. "That sounds like my last birthday morning, too."
Angela had a son that was a year older than my daughter and had been with her husband for a few years, too. Somehow, I felt like she was the only one who could understand me, even if not completely.
"Let me be brutally honest, Oddie." she added, licking her lips and sighing. "You don't seem much happy these days. In fact, you look depressed and you have for a few weeks now. How are things with Ryan? Do you still love him?"
"Yes, of course I do love him, I mean, he's my first love and, we're perfect for each other." I shrugged, trying to figure out if my words were true.
"Correction, darling : You used to be perfect for each other." she added, tilting her head. "That was over a decade ago, and you were both teenagers."
I wanted to argue with her about the love Ryan and I had for each other, because we did love each other, but instead, I grabbed my glass and took a sip of it. "Are you going to help me with the preparation of this damn party, Angie, or are you only here to convince me that my marriage is a failure?"
I sent her a small smile that she sent back before chuckling. "I just want you thinking outside of the box!" she explained, still smiling. "Think out of this relationship you have."
"It's more than a relationship, we're a family, Angie." I explained gently, getting up. "And my family is the most important thing in my life."
It was true. I was not ready to give up what I had for what I could have. The truth was, I had never loved anyone else but my boyfriend. Of course, a few times, I had met some interesting and pretty persons, but I always ended up comparing them to Ryan, and they never made the cut. To me, it was enough.
We prepared the cake and cooked food for an army. I hated cooking but I knew Ryan preferred it to a caterer and i wanted to make him happy. We decorated the living room and the kitchen, and finished with wrapping up a few gifts, putting them on the coffee table in the living room.
"Shoot, there's no wine anymore."
I glanced at my friend and let out a chuckle. "You drank the whole bottle already?"
"Don't judge me. It's the first day in weeks that I don't spend with my son." she argued. "Can't I have a little fun?"
"Just try not to be completely drunk before the guests arrive, will you?"
The first few guests got right on time, which is half an hour before my boyfriend got back home and then the doorbell never stopped ringing. I got a text message and quickly checked the name on the screen.
I had been communicating with a friend from his work that I had never met before so he would bring my boyfriend on time for his surprise. It was a guy he had spent all his university years with, that he graduated with, and that he now worked with after a year of two of not seeing him. I was pretty sure Ryan suspected I was doing something for him on his birthday, but it didn't matter, I knew he'd be happy tp spend the evening with his friends.
'We'll be there in 5 minutes! Can't wait to meet you for the first time!'
I smiled at my phone and sent him a thumb up and a smiley before putting my phone in my pocket and looking up, biting my bottom lip.
"Okay everyone, Ryan will be there in five minutes! Be ready to scream 'Happy Birthday'!"
It seemed like forever until the doorknob started moving and I felt my heart hit my chest hard when everyone shouted. My lips curled immediately and I started nibbling on my bottom lip.
"Oh my god, thanks everyone!"
I chuckled low, staring at my boyfriend, until someone moved next to him, appearing suddenly in my line of sight. The first thing I noticed was his smile, and the way his light blue eyes shined. He laughed, patting my boyfriend on the shoulder, and finally turned to me. Our eyes met and we smiled at each other. For some odd reason, we recognized each other without knowing who we were. Of course, I couldn't be sure if Ryan had showed him a picture of me or not, but it didn't matter. I watched them walk my way and took my eyes off of Niall with difficulty to look at my boyfriend.
"Thank you baby." he whispered, wrapping his arms around me as I tilted my chin up. "That makes me very happy." His lips pressed against mine and I felt his stubble scratch gently my chin.
"You know I love making you happy." I murmured back, kissing his lips against with a smile. "Go have fun with your friends."
He moved slightly away and sent me a smile before grabbing Niall by the sleeve, pulling him closer. "That's my friend Niall, I don't think you two ever met."
"No, but we sort of kept in touch for the past week or so." I admitted, making my boyfriend frown and Niall chuckle. I glanced at him and he looked down before looking back in my eyes. "I found him on your facebook and asked him to help bring you home on time."
Ryan's lips curled and he shook his head slightly. "You're amazing." Once again, he bent down and kissed me but this time, he made the kiss grow and it made my heart jump in my chest for a reason I ignored. "Okay, I'll go talk with people. Thanks again, babe."
I nodded, feeling his hand slip away from my waist and slowly turned to Niall. He passed his hand in his hair and I licked my lips, wondering how it would feel to do it myself. It was crazy. Like I said, I did find other people attractive in the decade I spent with Ryan, but with Niall, it felt different, or at least that's what I thought. Perhaps I would wake up tomorrow morning and roll my eyes at the feeling invading me at this moment, and somehow, I hoped that's what would happen. After all, I was taken, and he was my boyfriend's close friend.
"Thanks a lot for the help." I let out with a small smile, tilting my head slightly. I was a bit scared he'd come back too early."
"Or too late. The guy loves his work."
I laughed and nodded, licking my lips again. Perhaps it was a sign of nervousness, who knows.
"You can go meet people, I need to be a good hostess."
Niall
Ryan had a picture of him, his wife and his daughter on his desk, at work, which means I already knew what Oddie looked like. She was cute, nothing more, and I never really thought anything about it. Not only was she dating one of my oldest friends, she didn't really catch my eyes anyway. When she messaged me about Ryan's birthday, we started talking and I quickly understood why Ryan liked her so much.
I ended up thinking that hanging out with both of them would be fun, but then my eyes met hers. I had not expected her to affect me the way she did. It was like something special emanated from her only to reach me and confuse me in a way I never was. She was looking at Ryan with love in her eyes, and somehow, I wanted it too. I was not sure if I wanted her to look at me like that, or if I had just been single for way too long, but it did something to me that I couldn't explain.
I smiled and pushed my hands in my pockets when Ryan left us together but only a few seconds later, she left. My eyes followed her until she walked in the kitchen and I blinked a few times, licking my lips and looking around. I didn't know many people and it was not something that normally stopped me, but the only person I really wanted to get to know was Oddie.
I shrugged and made my way to the kitchen too, feeling suddenly a bit nervous. I didn't know if she wanted to be left alone, and I felt bad for intruding or imposing myself. I knocked gently and passed my head through the door frame. She turned around, her light brown hair moving around her head, and when she noticed me, her lips curled into a smile.
"I don't want to bother."
She shook her head slightly and closed her eyes for a second before they fluttered back open. "No don't worry, I could definitely use some company."
I walked slowly inside and pressed my lips together as she moved around the kitchen to put more food on plates.
"Can I help?"
"Oh, uhm," she glanced up at me. "Could you get the bottle of white wine in the fridge please?"
I nodded but held my breathe for a few seconds before taking a few steps closer. To reach the fridge, I would have to walk around the table and the isle, or squeeze through her and the counter. I chose the later and without thinking, I put my hands on her waist to hold her in place while I moved on the side to slide behind her.
The way her body responded to my touch made me swallow hard, or perhaps it was the way my body reacted, I was not sure.
"Sorry, I didn't want to-"
"No, no it's cool, no worries." she replied quickly, stammering slightly before sending me a shy smile.
I opened the fridge and grabbed the bottle before finding a glass and pouring some in it. I handed her the glass and she tilted her head before squinting as she stared at me.
"How did you know it was for me, and not just for the guests."
I shrugged, raising my eyebrows and still holding the glass up. "Lucky guess."
She waited a few more seconds but finally chuckled and took the glass from my hands before taking a long sip of it. I watched her, my lips curling more and more as she emptied her glass.
"Nervous?"
"Very, it's going to be a long evening."
"You don't like socializing?" I asked, putting the bottle on the counter and leaning against it.
"I do, I'm just not good at organizing things, and it stresses me a bit. I always feel like people need more things, or are just bored." she admitted, moving her shoulders up. "But Ryan is good at that, so hopefully he'll entertain his friends."
"And why didn't you opt for a sweet and loving evening only the two of you?"
Oddie breathed in and sighed before tilting her head again. "Ryan prefers evenings like this. Which, I believe, is something you enjoy too. Isn't it how you two met?"
I laughed and nodded. "It's true, we did. But I also enjoy a good evening at home, cuddling on the couch and watching a show."
Her eyes fluttered again and she pressed her lips together. "Yea, me too." She breathed in and shrugged again. "Okay enough chatting, I need to bring the food to my guests."
Something caught my eyes, moving behind her and I looked up only to see Ryan, putting his finger over his lips to tell me to keep quiet. For some reason, I felt like Oddie was not the type of girl who enjoyed being scared from behind but I kept my mouth shut.
Ryan quickly wrapped his arms around her and she jumped, letting out a short but high scream that made him laugh.
"Fuck! I hate when you do that!"
"I know," he replied with a smirk, bending down to kiss her neck. "That's why it's so funny."
I raised my nose up in a grimace but again, remained silent. Who was I to judge the dynamic of their relationship?
"So Niall, what do you think of my girlfriend?" my friend asked me, making me hold my breath.
I watched Oddie move forward to get out of his embrace and finally smiled. "She's cool."
I wanted to tell more but I was not sure why, and I also was not sure he wanted to hear it.
"Damn right she is." he agreed with a chuckle before moving his bottle up. "Beer?"
I nodded quickly as I noticed Oddie grabbing a few plates and walking past her boyfriend to go back to the living room. We followed her but when she moved to the right, I followed Ryan to the left, glancing at his girlfriend as she started talking with a few people.
I tried to put my complete attention back to Ryan and when he handed me a beer, I took it and thanked him. He started chatting about a few things and presented me to a few of his friends. After about an hour and a few beers, I had almost forgotten about the weird feeling Oddie had made me feel.
"I can't believe I'm leaving for a whole weekend." Ryan let out with a sigh after a while. "I mean I love my job, but I'm not sure about leaving my girlfriend and my daughter for two days."
"Why, are you gonna miss them?" I asked with an amused smile, raising my eyebrows.
"Probably, yea." he admitted, looking behind me, probably at his girlfriend. "I mean I've never spent more than a few hours away from them. Also, our boss asked for next weekend, and probably a few more in the next few months."
I didn't understand how you could miss someone after only two days but I didn't argue and took an other sip of my beer. It was getting late and I knew I should go home, I just didn't feel like it.
I ended up sitting on the couch with only a few guests left. Oddie was sitting right in front of me with Ryan's arm laying at her shoulders' level, on the back of the couch. I could see how tired she was. Her eyes were closing by themselves but she was trying really hard to stay awake anyway until she breathed in and shook her head slightly.
"I hope you guys can excuse me, but I'm very tired, I got up early this morning." she let out, catching everyone's attention. "I'm so sorry."
She said her good night to everyone and when she got closer to me, I quickly got up. She moved her chin up to look in my eyes and sent me a tired smile that made something stir in my stomach.
"Good night, Niall. Thank you for the help, I hope we can meet again soon."
"Of course, it was a pleasure to finally meeting you."
Her smile turned into a fond one and I bent down to kiss her cheeks gently. She put both her hands on my shoulders and I felt the warmth of her palm reach my skin through the fabric of my shirt. Without thinking, I put one of my hands on her waist and felt her tense a bit before relaxing suddenly.
"Take a cab, okay?" she whispered just as her cheek pressed against mine. "You drank too much to take your car."
I didn't argue, I just nodded and she did the same before walking past me to reach the stairs. After she disappeared, I breathed in deeply, realizing I had stopped, and turned to Ryan.
"Hey mate, I'm leaving, it was night spending that time with you."
*This drawing contains spoilers for the web comic, Live With Yourself!
I’ve been reading this web comic again, so I drew this. (The inspiration from this image came from a page in the comic). Very suspicious, Oldie.
