Niall's POV
It's been a rough month for me. Clary and I get closer and closer every day but then some days she pushes me away and just comes up with excuses to not hang out with me. Then there are some days when she is glued to my side. I'm starting to get whiplash I think.
Harry keeps on bothering me about it too. Which does not help whatsoever. I don't know what to tell him, because I honestly don't know what to say. She's acting like that Katy Perry song...Hot 'n' Cold.

Football is starting to die down which is nice...but not really I hate the off-season. Plus, my knee is starting to hurt some. But it gets better after I rest. I haven't really told anyone but I think Clary picked up on it. But she hasn't said anything to me yet. The downside to off-season is that the boys and girls do training on different days so Clary gets rides from Lilly that day, which is Wednesday. The boys train on Thursday. Then it's individual on the other days...coach is pretty trusting that we will train on our own so that's why we only have team training once a week.

Friday is still movie night with Clary. That hasn't changed...however when she goes on her little push away sprees she'll only stay for one movie and won't cuddle with me. Which absolutely sucks ass. They don't happen too often but they still happen. Sometimes I just want to grab her and kiss her so we can stop this stupid little dance that we are doing.

Today is Thursday which meant...Thanksgiving at Clary's. Her mom invited us...and of course my mom said yes. Which is just great...I don't even get why we are going...we aren't American. But my mom agreed and she was attempting to make cranberry sauce. I throw my workout bag into the car and look up to see Clary heading over. She's wearing tight black skinny jeans and her deep green pea coat. Her lips were colored red which only made them more desirable to me. She flashes me a smile and hops in. I get in and look at her. "You look pretty today."

"Thanks Niall...you're almost there." I laugh and start up the car. Thank god today is a good day.

"So you excited for Thanksgiving dinner right?" I shrug at her. I mean I'm not thrilled...but she'll be there so I'm not mad I have to go either. I've came a long way since that first dinner.

"I guess...I'm not really sure what to expect." I look at here when we hit a stop sign. She was grinning from ear to ear.

"Well you better start thinking of the things you're thankful for because we write them down on paper and read them out loud before dinner." THEY WHAT?! I just gape at her.

"But...I mean...what?!" She laughs that adorable one that makes my whole body feel alive. I just stick my tongue out at her then pull into the school lot.

We got out and headed inside. I leaned against her locker while she took off her coat and put books away. "Well what do you usually put down?"

"Oh no. Nice try Horan. But you have to think of these yourself...makes them more special. That's what my mom says." I look at her, now seeing that she was wearing a denim shirt with an olive green shirt underneath.

"Come on Wolf. Do me a solid." She laughs again and I can't help but crack up with her.

"You can always say you're thankful for me." Then she pecks my cheek and heads off for art class. WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?! I just stand there in a trance for a bit then snap out of it and head off for study hall. I walk the whole way replaying her words over and over again.

I walk in and Harry smiles then his eyebrows raise. Then he points to his cheek. Then I wipe mine and my fingers are red...from Clary's lipstick. My eyes widen and then I quickly run back out of the room and to the restroom. I wash off the red and look at myself in the mirror. I just shake my head and go back to class.

I get in trouble for being late but it was worth it because only Harry saw the lipstick. I sat down next to him and he quickly turned so he was facing me. "Whose cherry red lips kissed your cheek?"

"Why do you care?" I look at him out of the corner of my eye while I pull my phone out of my pocket. I see a new text from Clary.

Clary :): On a scale of one to ten how shocked were the gang when they saw the lipstick?
Me: Only Haz saw...I washed it off. I am so not thankful for you right now.
Clary :): Aww...I'm deeply hurt. I'm thankful for youuu! ;)

I didn't really know what to say back and Harry also poked me again. "It's Clary's lipstick right?"

"Yes! Gosh...you're so nosy..." He smiles then moves closer.

"So...does that finally mean you two..."

"Nope." I pop the 'p' to get the point across. This just means that Clary is feeling more flirty towards me...but then that usually get met with a few days of her being distant and silent.

"Bummer...so what are you doing tonight? I know Clary has her weird American holiday to celebrate."

"Her mom invited us...so I'll be over there."

"Nice! There ya go! You can try to ask Clary out then!" I look at Harry like he's on some sort of drugs.

"What?! Are you crazy? Heck no. I'm not even sure if she likes me like that." Then I'm hit with a paper ball, which I can only assume was made by Harry. I throw it back at him and shoot him a glare.

"You two are so stupid." Then after that the topic was dropped instead we talked about this upcoming Biology test that we both think we are going to bomb.

---

Clary's POV
Classes go by pretty quick today. Must be because I am so completely focused on that turkey I saw my mom put in one of the ovens before I left for school. I walk into history class, my most hated class. But at least I have it with Niall. "Hey Niall!"

"Hey Clary." He turns and looks at me while I pull out my notebook for notes.

"This day has been going by so fast!" I turn and look at him now.

"Yea I guess...so this Thanksgiving thing...it's a big deal?" I roll my eyes at him and nod.

"Yes! Huge deal...you better come hungry." He smiles at me and I smile back. God he's so hot.

"Count on it love." Then the teacher walks in and I try to fight back the blush creeping up my cheeks. I just silently sit there trying not to peek over at Niall. That boy doesn't know what he's done to me. I could honestly just sit next to him and be happy. Which I think is what scares me the most. I think that's why I have days where I try to fight that feeling by staying away from him. But it doesn't work because it is super hard trying to not talk to one of your best friends.
He just makes me feel so loved. Niall sometimes looks at me like I'm the only thing in the room. Do you know how freaking hot that is? So hot that I freak out internally. Then I over think and push him away...which sometimes I think is for the best. If we get too attached to each other what will happen when I go back to the US for college? It would be horrible...I can't do that. But then he reels me back in with those stupid blue eyes and that laugh that sounds like music to my ears.

So here I am in History class...sitting next to a boy I have an intense crush...thinking about him and not paying attention. But am I going to do anything? Nope I'm not....I want him to make the first move. I have decided that much. It's hard because whenever I think that I am totally ready for him to make some sort of move...I think of Harry and I back off again. I mean...I know that Harry has said that it is fine...and that he's even sternly talked to me about why I haven't gone for it yet. I always tell him that I'm not sure if Niall likes me which usually gets me a very very sassy eye roll and sigh.

The rest of the day flies by. Lilly tells me to just go wait by the car. She'll be out in a few minutes. So I made my way out to her car. Which is right by Niall's. I lean against his car, waiting. I see him crossing the parking lot, eyes already glued to me.

"Hey! Get off my car Wolf!" He's smiling at me then jogs over.

"Bite me Horan." He looks at me for a second then just shakes his head.

"Where's Lills? Do you need a ride home? I can skip team training!" I roll my eyes at him and shove his shoulder.

"No she'll be out in a sec. Plus Coach would kill you if you skipped. You are the captain." He throws his backpack in the back of the car and grabs his workout bag.

"Yea...but you'd be worth all those extra laps. I'll wait until Lilly comes..."

"Fine...and I wouldn't want you to run those extra laps...you're have knee problems." Yea I noticed mister.

"It's nothing Clary okay? Ah here she comes! WITH A BOY! OI LILLS WHOSE THE HUNK?" Lilly's whole face turned as red as my hair. Niall and I just started cracking up laughing.

"That was so good Ni!" He smiles at me then waves at the guy she's with.

"I'm glad I can amuse you so easily love. I've got to go though...I'll see you later tonight!" Then he PECKS ME ON MY CHEEK and just jogs away. I stand there watching his blonde hair fade into the distance. I just got into Lilly's car and sat there, awaiting the stream of questions.

"So...you and Niall are like official right?" I just shake my head. Not really trusting my mouth. I can still feel his lips on my cheek...I bet they would be heavenly on my lips.

"Hello?? Earth to Clary!"

"What? Um no we aren't..." Oh my gosh...I zoned out because I was thinking of his lips...how embarrassing.

"UGH! You two just need to freaking date already! I'm dying over here..." She leans back and sighs. I just roll my eyes at her.

"You're not dying...besides...I'm not sure if I want to date him...or if he wants to date me...so there."

"You both literally suck." I just didn't respond because it would be so pointless. Lilly pulled into my driveway and I hopped out.

"Talk to you later girly!"

"Not if you're too busy having Niall's tongue down your throat!" I just slammed the door on her. Then walked up to my front door. I heard her honk so then I just flipped her off. I'm sure she's just laughing about it. Ugh her and Ellie are just nonstop asking me when Niall and I will be official.

I open the door and am immediately greeted with the smell of turkey. Bless. I smile at my mom who appears to be peeling potatoes for mashing. I skip over and kiss her cheek.

"Hey darling. How was school?" I grab a potato and another pair of peelers.

"Pretty good. I'm just excited for this yummy food!" My mom just laughs at me.

"Of course you are..." After that we tag teamed making things. My mom worked on the gravy while I mashed up to potatoes. Which was harder than I thought. Some definitely got in my hair I think.

Soon there was a knock on the door. My mom wiped her hands on her apron and answered. I finally finished with the potatoes and pulled them out of the oven. Oh yes...I will be eating a lot tonight.

"Hey Clary...what happened to your hair?" I look up at Niall and my hand flies to my hair line. Dammit...potato. He chuckles then picks the chunks out. I just stand there frozen because I would want nothing more than for him to just plant one on me right now.

"There...now it looks like you don't have lice. Smells good in here." He steps away and looks at the turkey. "I think I love this holiday."

"Hey...control yourself over there." He cracks a grin and pokes his finger in the potatoes.

"Holy shit...did you make these?" Aw fuck they suck...they are bad.

"Yes...oh they taste bad don't they! Shit..." He instantly shakes his head no.

"Hell no...these are freaking great...damn...I might just eat those."

"You'll have to beat me to them." He gasps then pokes my belly.

"Fat ass." I slap his arm but we were both laughing.

"Hey! You love my fat ass." He stops laughing and looks at me. Dammit that just slipped out.

"Clary..." He grabbed my hand and searched my face...oh shit this was happening and I sure as fuck was not going to stop it. And on cue my mom comes waltzing in with the cranberry sauce. Niall stepped away and smiled at my mom.

"Everything smells awesome Mrs. Wolf."

"Aw thanks Niall...why don't you and Clary help set the table? Clary darling you know what to do." Yep I sure do know how to set a table. It was practically drilled into my head by my grandma.

It was silent as we set the table. Well more like me. Niall didn't really know how to set up for a formal dinner. Can't say I blame him. He wasn't raised to throw balls or galas or whatever the hell called for a formal dining set up. I was.

"Why do we need two forks? You just use the same one!" I sigh and place them down.

"One is the dessert fork...the other one is for dinner. You go from the outside in." He looks at me while I straighten out forks. They were too crooked.

[FLASHBACK]
"No Clarissa...the silverware must be straight. You don't want to seem like a bad hostess...you must be perfect." I looked at the silverware and nodded then fixed them. My grandma smiles at me then sits down. I tell her what is served first and what should be used. It was etiquette day for me.

"Oh perfect...perfect. You did very good. Now come...we will go draw in the gardens." I smile and grab her hand while one of my handmaids got my drawing things. I looked up at my grandma. She really was a great queen...I wanted to be like her when I became queen.
[END FLASHBACK]

"Hey...Clary the forks are fine...I don't think they can be any straighter...what were you mumbling in?" My mom was in the doorway, her eyes wide. I knew what I mumbling in...Russian. I was fussing over things like Grandma always did. My mom shook her head. And I knew what she meant...I couldn't say. The secret had to be kept...so I lied.

"I wasn't mumbling...come on my mom needs help bringing stuff out." I smile and head in. Pretend that it never happened...pretend that it never happened. That's what my dad wanted. But it's so hard to forget something that I was hard-wired to do...but I have to. I can't be having flashbacks and mumbling in Russian. My mom looked at me with sad eyes, but I just smile at her. Put on a brave face. You have to always remain calm...even if you are breaking inside. You have to stay strong for the country...or for my dad's dying wish.

Notes