The amazing race- A Niall and Jamie story

Niall and I get the new envelope telling us what our next stop is.
"We need to get to Cordova," He hands over the card, and we start running to the car.
We slid in swiftly and Niall informs the driver where he must take us.
I rest my head on his shoulder, listening to him hum some tone he made up. I close my eyes, letting myself calm down from the running.
"Jay! Wake up! We need to run! So many couples have passed us all ready," Niall nudges me awake.
I am groggy from sleep and it takes me a moment to remember where I am.
My cheeks grow hot when it downs on me I fell asleep in front of the cameras, and I hide my face behind Niall.
Niall's eyes don't miss my discomfort, he takes my hand linking our fingers, his lips brushing my temple, as he pulls me to the stand by the end of the road which holds our next clue.
"Wash time," Niall winks and I read over the card.
"Wash time! You may scrub each other all over, to find your next clue,"
As we enter the building we find couples in bathing suits scrubbing each other with bars of soap.
"Ni, I don't want the whole world seeing me in my bathing suit," I whisper in his ear.
"Why? You have the best body here! Come on Jamie, we can do this," He encourages me.
I sigh, and we both hurry to change.
When we return, the sisters have finished jumping up and down waving a wet piece of paper, as the rush out.
"I guess you need to scrub until you find the piece of paper," I tell Niall.
"Aren't you a smart one," Debi calls out, and I roll my eyes.
"Take a bunch at the same time, it will go faster," Niall picks up a few bars and hands them over.
I start scrubbing his back, my cheeks a deep shade of pink, as I think of the last time I have scrubbed him, it didn't involve bathing suits or cameras then.
"I could do this all day," Niall chuckles as I scrub his chest, watching him smile down at me.
Before I have a chance to answer, a woman spills a bucket of ice water over our heads and I shriek.
I stand frozen in place, my eyes shut closed not able to move.
"Fuck! What was that for?" Niall yells angrily, rewording us with chuckles from our surrounding competitors.
"Now there Jamie, that is some body you have," Alex and Max enter then, winking at me as they pass us with their soaps in hand.
"Come Jay, we must get this over with," Niall shakes me slightly, to snap me out of my frozen state.
"I can't," I stutter, my teeth clicking together. My eyes sting from holding back the tears of shock. I don't do well when I freeze.
"Come on baby, let's do this," Niall runs the bars over my body, trying to warm me up.
"Whatever you do, don't cry," He whispers in my ear, placing a kiss to my hair. I shut my eyes trying my best not to let any of my tears slip out, but it's hard when he Is talking to me this way, trying to comfort me.
The lady with the bucket steps closer to us, making me recoil.
"No! Not on her, on me," Niall orders her, shifting in front of her.
She doesn't think twice, spilling the contents of the bucket over his head.
"Wow mate! That is something, hope you appreciate that dear," Max shouts out to us, right before another woman spills a bucket over him, making him scream.
"Niall," I step closer to him wrapping my arms around him trying to warm his freezing skin.
"Thank you," I gush, rubbing his arms.
"Come on, let's get this over with," He mumbles.
Couples around us leave, while we still try to finish our bars of soap.
"It's not in here," I whine, not able to keep my tears in, as we are left on our own.
"It has to be here Jamie, try harder," Niall snaps, his frustration with me is showing, but there is nothing we can do. I know we are the last couple to finish, which means we probably will be going home today. So I understand his behavior, I really do, though I wish there weren't cameras to show it to the world. He might be upset now, but once he sees it on screen he'll be full of shame and regret.
I press my lips together, holding my words in, working harder.
The next bucket of water is spilled on my shoulders, and I bite my lower lip as the icy water slips down my body, mixing with the tears. Niall had enough water spilled on him, and it was my turn to take a hit.
I hold in a sob, and I know Niall can tell, even though he is doing everything in his power not to meet my eyes. He doesn't want to see my suffering, and he is masking his own well.
"I found it!" I peel the paper from the bar of soap, letting the sob out, not caring any more. We are finally done.
"What does it say?" Niall turns to me sharply. But I am too much of a mess to read it, so I give him the paper.
"The finish line for Spain," He sighs.
That's it. We are going home.
I can see the disappointment on his face. He so wanted to continue, but I wasn't strong enough. We were not strong enough together. I wipe at my cheeks, as we head back to our bags, wiping the soap off our bodies and putting our clothes back on.
"How the fuck did we get to be last?" Niall mumbles under his breath. I know the answer. I am not build for this kind of things. I can't deal with so much- heights, cold water and sleep deprivation, is a short version of it, and truth be told I am glad. I am glad to go home, not wanting to see what else awaits us in this sick game of entertainment. My family and friends will see my tear stricken face and see how I broke. They will see how weak I am and they will see the way Niall snapped at me.
"Hey- I'm sorry," Niall whispers when we are in the car, on our way to the finish line.
"For what? Snapping at me? Or for us losing and going home?" I ask him.
"Both," He is regretting his poor behavior all ready, but I am too hurt and tired to forgive him. My tears still slip out now and then, my eyes too tired to hold them in. Niall catches one of them, and wipes it away, his finger lingering on my cheek.
"I know it is my fault all right? And I am sorry! But you know my weaknesses! You knew it from the start that this is not for me, and I will fail! You promised we are doing this for fun- and I am not enjoying any moment of this- it is hurting us," I cry.
"It's not your fault," He holds my face in his palms, "I shouldn't have pushed you so hard, I got caught up in the game- I'm sorry Jamie," He begs for my forgiveness.
I pull away, glancing straight ahead. I don't want to talk about it anymore. Not here, not where the cameras record every word and move for the audience at home.
Niall sits silently by my side. His hand slips to cover mine, and I don't pull away, reminding myself, that he too is having a hard time.
We get out of the car, and follow the signs to where Nick will be waiting for us.
We don't rush since all the couples have already reached the finish line for this country, so there is no point. Instead, Niall entwines his fingers with mine, striding beside me, matching his pace to mine.
Nick's smiling face comes to view, and I am choking down my emotion. I am not ready to go home. I want to, but I am not ready. I have more to prove, to Niall, to the people at home, and to myself.
"Jamie, you had a hard day didn't you?" Nick questions.
I barely nod, but its fine by him.
"What happened to you two today?" He goes on.
"I lost my temper," Niall finally speaks.
"Why was that?"
"Because I can be a shit sometimes," He confesses.
"That's not true!" I point, and they both look at me.
"Niall is a wonderful person, but even he can lose it sometimes.. It was a long day, and we were tired and we didn't do our best, it happens, that does not turn you into a shitty person," I tell him.
"Well, you know you are the last couple to get here today," Nick informs what we already know.
"Which means that you should be heading home," He smiles.
"We should be?" Niall repeats sounding confused.
"You should be, but you won't," He gestures to someone behind us. Niall and I turn to see who it is, and find Roni and Andria walking slowly up to the carpet.
"Andria and Roni had enough, so they decided to switch with you. They will be going home instead,"
"What? But why?" I demand to know, facing a smiling Andria.
"Roni is hurt, he can't continue.. We had our fair share of fun, so now we are giving you some time to have fun too," She hugs me.
"Gosh, I can't believe it!" I gush, grateful to be staying on longer.
"Show the others that you are strong and push further! You can do it and you will!" She promises.
We thank them and say our goodbyes, watching as they exit the building.
"SO Niall and Jamie, are you ready for a new round?" Nick inquires.
"If Jamie is ready then so am I," Niall hugs me.
"I am ready," I promise.
Niall bends down to kisses my lips, and I know I can do it, if not to the finish line then at least a little further.

Notes

It has been a while, but I finally updated x