Strong arms wrapped around me, preventing me from falling to a harsh fate. My breath caught in my throat once I was pulled away from the edge and stood on my feet steadily. I looked at my rescuer, staring deep into his crystal blue eyes. They alone were enough to make me faint.

“Watch yourself Taylor,” he spoke in the Irish accent I so clearly remember. “I wouldn’t want my little princess to break something.”

I swallowed thickly, catching the nickname he used to call me before he left for the X-Factor. “I think you’re ten years too late for that, Nialler.”

The words that came out of my mouth felt normal, like he hadn’t left me for a full two years. Like we were still best friends.

“But I was there to kiss the pain away.”

“We were six, Niall,” I giggled.

It was at that moment that I realized I was still wrapped in his arms. Heat radiated from his body, making me feel content. But I wriggled from his hold anyway, lifting his hands off my hips.

I cleared my throat, rubbing the sleeve of my shirt. “When did you get back?”

Instead of answering my question, Niall stepped forward, studying the flustered expression on my face. My back was pressed against the wooded siding of the tree house, feeling the prick of flecks of wood against my exposed skin. In one slow movement, he brushed a strand of my hair away from my cheek. Just the slightest touch from him made me shiver with anxiety.

“You haven’t changed a bit,” he whispered.

But he had changed a lot. His flat blonde hair was now styled back into a chic quiff. Some brown was showing in noticeable highlights. Even his style was different. The loose t-shirts and baggy pants were traded in for a tight fitted blue shirt and skinny jeans. In my opinion, he looked amazing.

My heart rate spiked. I could hear it’s pounding in my ears so loudly, it was almost deafening. “Y-you didn’t answer my question.” My words came out shaky and filled with nervousness.

He chuckled. My hands were shaking. Us being this close brought out past feelings that had been buried deep inside me.

“Sorry. The lads and I are taking a break before we go on our world tour.”

By lads I guessed he meant the rest of his band. My eyes widened. “You’re going on a world tour?”

Niall backed up so that I was free. I was glad, yet disappointed at the same time.

“Yeah, as soon as our record drops. Then we’ll be going to the U.S.”

Only one thought came to my mind. He’ll be gone again. “Wow,” I managed to say. “That’s… huge.”

He nodded. “I know.”

There was a short pause, leaving me time to think about our unplanned meeting. Then Niall spoke again.

“How’s Carlee doing?”

“She’s great. There’s not a day that goes by where she doesn’t talk about you.”

He smiled and then turned around to look out over the edge of the tree house. He was slightly hunched over, hands gripping the railing.

“I’m glad you’re back. I missed you, Niall.” I walked toward him, careful of my footing so I wouldn’t trip again.

He looked at me, mouth drawn in a taut line. “I’m sorry we lost contact. We were just so busy all of the time. After getting eliminated, Simon automatically hit us with a record deal. It was like everything happened so fast that I didn’t even have time to text you.”

I felt sympathetic towards his explanation. Of course I couldn’t blame him for losing contact. While he was making his way through fame, I stayed here in Mullingar, spending my days working at Delilah’s.

“I understand. You don’t have to apologize for something great happening in your life.”

He turned, leaning against the railing with a smirk on his face. “Your pushover attitude hasn’t changed either.”

With an agitated huff, I shoved his chest lightly. “I’m not a pushover.”

Niall grabbed my hands and held them to his chest. Slowly, he leaned forward. For a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me, but his head tilted just in time. “But you’re my pushover.”

My cheeks flamed red and I was glad he didn’t see the majority of the blush. Undoubtedly, he would’ve made fun of me for that too. Then, he enveloped me in a tight hug, rubbing my back softly. “We’ve got two months before I leave. Let’s try to make them the best two months we’ve ever had.”

I closed my eyes, absorbing the feel of his body against mine. “Sounds like a plan.”

In a quick movement, he pulled away. “I know just how we can start it.”

“How?”

A huge grin edged onto his lips, making him look like the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland. “I’m having a listening party for the record at my flat on Friday. I’d like you to come.”

My stomach erupted with butterflies. “Okay. Sounds like fun.” I tried to keep my calm, but it was a difficult task. “What’s your record called?”

“Up All Night.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, raising an eyebrow. “To do what exactly?”

He shrugged and we both laughed. It was like old times.

“I can’t wait for you to meet the lads. They’re a right laugh.”

To be honest, I couldn’t wait to meet them either. I’d never seen them before. When Niall was on the X-Factor, I didn’t watch it because my heart ached every time I saw his crooked grin flash across the television screen.

But everything seemed okay now. Niall was back and it was like old times again. But I knew those two months would go by all too quickly for my liking. And then my best friend would be gone again, living it up in America where other girls would soon begin to befriend him. I would be tossed away like last weeks soured milk.

“Do you want me to walk you home?” Niall asked, breaking me from my horrid thoughts.

I shook my head. “No. Let’s stay here.”

Niall smiled. He didn’t have to tell me he agreed because I already knew his answer.