Niall's POV

Homecoming game was the boys' this year. I got Clary wearing my away jersey to school today. I pack up my brace for the game, a momentary fix to my growing knee pain. I was really excited for the game and for the dance because this year I was finally taking Clary as MY DATE. So I get to do all the cute pictures with her and spin her around the dance floor all night. But first I have a game to win. I head out to my car and see Clary leaning up against it. Her red hair was up in a ponytail, she was wearing my jersey and leggings. She spots me and smiles before tackling me in a hug.
"Good morning to you too Clary."
"I'm so excited for this weekend! Oh you will be speechless at my dress." She gives me a quick peck and hops into the car. I pull out and head off for school. I'm busy thinking of how I want tomorrow night to go when Clary's voice snaps me out of my daze.
"You nervous?"
"For the game? No...they're good but if we show up tonight we will win for sure."
"I meant about your knee Niall." We pull into the school and I look at her.
"Yea a little bit...it's been bothering me but not too badly. I have to braces so hopefully I'll be fine." She squints her eyes at me.
"You are not allowed to get hurt. Period. End of story. Got it?"
"Yea mom I got it." Clary just rolls her eyes and punches my arm. I just chuckle and pull into the school parking lot. It was the Friday before Homecoming so the whole school was in the swing of things. Today's theme was school spirit. So the whole parking lot was just a sea of blue and gold. I look over and see Clary hauling her backpack out of the car. I smile yet again over the fact that my name was scrawled on the back of that jersey.
"If you keep on smiling like that I'll put on my own jersey Horan."
"Aw baby...you hurt me so much." I placed my hand over my heart and fake fainted.
"You're impossible." I pulled her into my side and kissed her cheek.
"Ah but you love that about me." Oh my gosh...I did not just let that slip out.
"Ha...think what you want Horan. I'm off to classs...try not to miss me too much." Then without another glance back to she was gone and heading off to class. Lilly somehow got beside her and they were off laughing. I once again smile at just seeing how easy things are for Clary now, just a year later.
"Hey Niall...how's the knees?" Louis was next to me suddenly.
"Fine...they're fine."
"You don't have to lie to me you know. I can tell they bother you." I sigh and look at my best friend.
"I just have to make it through season okay? I'll be fine..." He just looks at me but doesn't bother me again. Hopefully I won't have to deal with Liam asking me questions.
The school day flies by and soon I was out with the guys watching the girls practice before our game. I see Clary and Lilly leading the younger girls through drills. She looks over and waves at us then refocuses on what she's doing. Soon we head back into the locker rooms to get ready for the game.
When we head out the whole stadium is buzzing. I look over to see Clary and all our friends yelling and holding signs. My family is there as well but not in the student section. I take a deep breath and focus on leading us to victory.

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Clary's POV
I hate watching Niall play, especially now with this growing knee issue he has. He looks over and shoots me a wink. Of course some girls around us just scream they lungs out over it. But I just smile and give him the thumbs up. I know he's looking at only me. Then they meet the other team's captain and the match begins.
It was going pretty good, the braces or whatever that Niall wears really seem to help. We were up by 2 which was a solid lead. Then that's when it all went down hill.
Niall was racing down the field, getting closer and closer to scoring our third goal of the game. Then he was down on the ground, grabbing his knee. He couldn't get up. I was just shell shocked. Louis ran over and helped him up. I could feel Lilly's grip on my arm holding me back from running out on the field. Liam and Louis helped him off the field where the trainer was waiting to check him over. I just kept my eye on Niall the rest of the game. He looked over and gave me a small smile to calm me. But it didn't. Louis did a good job taking the captain roll and keeping the team calm enough to win the match.
I was pacing outside the locker room just waiting for one of the boys to come out and tell me something...anything about Niall.
"Babe..." I whirl around to see Niall limping over.
"Ni!" I run over and hug him. He wraps his arms arond my waist.
"It's fine Clary...honestly I'm...are you crying?"
"You promised you wouldn't get hurt! Oh my god! I would worried sick! Are you okay? Can you still go to the dance tomorrow? We don't have to go if that would be better on your knees...what did the trainer say? Can you play still or are you--" His lips cut off my rambling questions. Then he wiped the stray tears.
"First of all we are going to that dance if it kills me. Secondly as of right now I'm out for the season. And thirdly...there's no need to cry of this." I nod along and help him to the car. I know that he will downplay the injury so there's no point in trying to talk him out of it.
We get back to our houses and I help him out of the car. I help him to the door even though he said he's perfectly capable of doing it himself. He leans down and kisses me ever so gently.
"Until tomorrow." Then he went inside. I was smiling like an idiot when I got back home. I told my mom everything that happened and then headed off to bed. I was nervous about tomorrow but also just as excited...so I knew that I wasn't going to get much sleep tonight.
The Next Day...
I get up early to meet up with the girls to get our hair done. I already kind of know what style I want. And I know that my mom could do it. But I go along to just humor the group. We get to the salon and I just sit there.
"Clary...hello get in a chair!"
"Oh no my mom is going to do my hair...I just wanted to come along." Lilly looked confused but shrugeed.
"What's she going to do?" Perrie looked genuinely curious.
"Uh just an old family hairstyle that's all. But I like it so she agreed to do it."
"So it's Irish?"
"No it's Russian...my dad's from Russian descent so yea..." Perrie smiled at me while I grew increasingly uncomfortable with this questioning.
"That's awesome! Do you know any Russian?"
"Uh no...my dad spoke English..." Ellie was getting hers up in pin-up style. Perrie was getting hers done as well. Lilly's was just curled and pinned to the side a bit. We were all going to meet-up at the park for pictures. I get back home and tell my mom the different hairstyles the girls got.
"Now you know this will not look like how your Grandma used to do...I for the life of my can't tie the the braids as tight as she did."
"It's okay mom you do them well enough." My mom smiled but then pulled me into the chair and off we went.
After she finishes applying the hairspray, my mom hands me a mirror to look it over. I smile happily at it.
"Oh mom you did it perfectly! Thank you so much!" I jump up and give her a hug.
"It took longer than I thought so hurry up and get ready darling. I know how long it will take you to put on your make-up." She gives my forehead a quick kiss then shoos me away to my room. I put on my dress, which meant I had to call my mom up to help me. Then I put on a button up shirt that I use for painting over that just incase I spill make-up. Then I start to apply my make-up.
About about halfway through doing the last of my eye shadow, I hear my mom welcome Niall into the house. I quickly check the time and roll my eyes, he would come early. Doesn't he know by now that I usually am always somewhat late. Like in Princess Diaries: "A queen is never late, everyone else is simply early." I just refocus and finish applying my make-up. I look over my lipstick selection and decide on a pink. Not too bright like Barbie but bright enough that it pops. I slip on my gold heels and look in the mirror. I can see the princess that I was supposed to be in how I stand, how I hold myself. I can almost feel the crown that should be on my head. I can see my dad standing behind me, smiling. I take a deep breath and control the emotions that were threatening to bubble up. Also I can't cry right now since that will ruin my make-up I just spent like an hour or so applying.
I take another deep breath then open my door and head down the stairs.

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Niall's POV
I KNEW I shouldn't have came over early. I know that Clary tends to run on her own weird time schedule. But I honestly couldn't stand being in my house another second. My mom was fussing over everything. My tie wasn't tied right, you'd think that after the 4th time she 'fixed' it...it would be right. WRONG. I ran out of there like the place was on fire. Clary's mom always had that laidback vibe, I think it's because she's an artist and lived in the country. So I knew that there would be no tie fussing, no 'are you sure those shoes are what you want to wear?', no 'you're positive the tie matches?'.
Soon I hear Clary's door open and shut. I look up just in time to see her descending down the stairs like she's a queen. I stand up just completely speechless. Her head it held high and her hand ghosts over the railing. The dress she is wearing perfectly suits her. Everything about her is perfect. She gives me one of those dazzling smiles.
"Wow...you look..." I just scan over her again, she's just grinning, clearly pleased with my reaction to her.
"You don't look so bad yourself Horan. Come on let's go take pictures." I bend over and give her a kiss on the cheek.
"I'm the luckiest guy in the school." I whisper in her ear, she reaches down and grabs my hand. Both our moms take probably 200 pictures each. Eventually I convince them that it is time for us to go. Clary seems grateful once we got in the car. We pull into the school parking lot and see some of our friends getting there. Lilly spots us and runs over.
"Clary!! Holy shit! Look at her hair Ellie!!!" So then all the girls came over to look at Clary's very intricate hairstyle.
The dance flew by it seemed like. Soon it was almost 1AM so they were ushering people out. Clary had her heels in her hand, my arm was around her waist tucking her nicely against my side. Her head was on my shoulder. This night was everything I could've wanted.
We get back to my house and Clary heads up to my room. I stand there watching her take out her braids. Then she looks at me and walks over. Her lips meet mine and everything seems to slow down. Soon she was taking off my shirt and I was unzipping her dress. Soon we were tangled up in each other on the bed. My mom was thankfully out of town due to business this weekend.
"You're sure?" I looked down at the girl that had me completely under spell. She smiles and answers.

"Yea I'm sure." I knew that after this...there was no way I could ever let her go. There was no going back. I was utterly and completely head over heels for this girl.

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