The Boy Next Door

Maeve’s P.O.V

I honestly have no idea what just came over me. I’m not going to say I regret doing that, because I clearly gave Niall a taste of his own medicine. I’m also done denying that I want Niall, in a sexual way of course. I can take any frustrations out on him, without feeling too much like a slut. I usually don’t do this kind of stuff. I’ve only had sex with two guys. Louis and Niall. So if I don’t want to raise the number I might as well get some from Niall. Okay, that sounded a bit slutty, but it’s not like I’m going from guy to guy. Niall is just a good time, and I have to admit he is very skilled.

I pulled into my driveway and noticed Liam’s car was already here. He usually comes over for dinner after the first day of school. I hopped out of the car. Niall got out as well and walked over to me. I ignored him and started for my front door but he grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

“Be over at eight.” He demanded.

“Maybe.” I shrugged, pulling my arm away from him and walking up to my porch.

“You’ll be there,” He called walking towards his house.

I rolled my eyes and walked in. I heard loud shouting coming from the basement so I went downstairs. Liam and Trevor were in the middle of an intense game of Call of Duty. I plopped down on the couch next to Liam; the exhaustion from the long day finally hit me.

“Hey Mavis.” Liam greeted without taking his eyes off of the game. I always hated when he called me that. He used to tease me when we were kids, and I used to get so pissed when he would call me that. I wouldn't cry like other girls would, I would try and beat him up which always failed. Unfortunately the nick name stuck around, but I've grown used to it.

“I’m starving,” I whined. It was already six thirty. Usually mom had dinner ready when I got home from practice.

“When aren’t you hungry,” Liam said absent mindedly still focusing on the game.

“Mom’s making dinner I think,” Trevor said just as into the game as Liam. As if on cue my mothers voice came booming from the basement door.

“Dinner!” She called.

We all shot up from the couch and ran upstairs to the dining room. Dinner was the same as usual. I ate as much as I could; I was always so hungry after practice. I was a very active person so I was able to eat as much as I wanted without gaining weight. I’m grateful for that because I love food. Mom asked about school, and dad asked about soccer practice. He loved that his daughter was the star player, he was always bragging about me. I was happy to be appreciated by one parent at least; I have always been a daddy’s girl.

After dinner Liam and I went up to my room. We laid on our stomachs with our feet towards the pillows as we watched TV. We had just finished an episode of Entourage, our favorite show, when I looked at the clock. It was seven thirty. I was seriously debating on whether or not I should go see Niall. First of all, wouldn’t the McCabe’s think it was weird if I was there, especially so late on a school night? It’s not like friends normally hang out then. Second of all, I don’t want him to think I will come running to him whenever he asks, because I wont. That is not me. Liam noticed I was struggling with something, he said he could always tell by my face.

“What are you thinking so hard about?” He asked.

“Nothing,” I looked down avoiding his eyes, or he would know I was bullshitting.

“I’m not an idiot Mavis,” he said forcing my chin up to him.

“Niall asked me to come over tonight, like nowish.” I admitted.

“So what’s the problem?” He asked, not exactly getting why Niall wanted me to come over. I looked at him a minute until it sunk in. “What!? Are you kidding me? Who does the prick think he is? Why would you just sleep with him after two days of knowing him?” Liam babbled, enraged.

“Well, I kind of already did.” I said so low, I wasn’t sure if he heard it. I couldn’t lie to Liam anymore though, we always told each other everything. Plus I needed advice from him.

“What do you mean you already slept with him!? When? Last night? During school?”

Okay he needs to stop with the twenty questions. He was so protective sometimes it was annoying. I was happy Trevor was a year younger than me so he wouldn’t be all older brother crazy on me, but Liam easily filled that position anyway.

“No! Liam just listen, okay?” He nodded for me to continue. I explained everything that has happened with Niall. How I met him at the club in Beverly Hills, how I slept with him that night, about our surprise reunion last night, and about Niall’s offer to me in the janitors closet today. I purposefully left out our encounter in the locker room after practice. I felt way too weird talking to Liam about that.

“What are you going to do? I don’t want him hurting you. You of all people don’t need more heartbreak. I won’t stand by and let it happen.”

“He won’t hurt me Li. I won’t give him the chance to. I just think it would be a great way to get my mind off of Louis. Especially since he was amazing in bed, I had been thinking about doing it again since-” Liam cut me off with a disgusted face.

“Too much detail.” He winced. I rolled my eyes and playfully shoved him. “So are you gona go?” He asked me. I plopped down burring my face in the bed.

“I don’t knooow,” I groaned, with a muffled voice from the comforter.

“Why don’t you go and not let him touch you.” He suggested. I lifted my head up and looked at him, quirking an eyebrow. “Come on, it would be perfect. You can show him that you’re not as easy to get as he thinks.” I considered this for a minute. I wanted Niall badly, but I also wanted him to respect me and not just think of me as a girl that he fucks. The only way I could do that is to try and be his friend as well.

“That’s actually not a bad idea.” I said jumping off the bed and going over to my closet.

“Don’t wear anything to tempting or the whole plan will fail,” Liam called from my bed. I rolled my eyes, but agreed. I put on tiny pajama shorts, and an old soccer sweatshirt. I slipped on flip flops and walked out of the closet. I wanted to look casual, and I definitely didn't want to look like I was trying to look good, not at all. Liam gave me the thumbs up.


I knocked twice on the door, now completely regretting my decision to come. What if Mr. or Mrs. McCabe answers the door? It’s not too late to turn around right? I was about to run down the porch when the front door opened and a smirking Niall leaned against it.

“Told you, you’d come.”

“I was just leaving,” I scowled. I didn’t make it two steps before he grabbed my arm stopping me.

“No please Maeve, come in. My aunt and uncle aren’t home; it’s just the lads and I. They’re in their rooms anyway.” He said sweetly, trying to get me to come. I sighed and agreed following him inside.

“So, I see your taking over my job as babysitter.” I joked.

“Well I could always use a helping partner. And when the kids go to bed,” He wiggled his eyebrows trailing off so I could fill in the blanks. I rolled my eyes at him and walked to the game room.

I picked up two x-box controllers and handed him one. “Wanna play a game?” I asked.

“Yes,” he started. “But not that kind of game.” He pulled me on to the couch so I straddled him as he sat down.

“No Niall,” I said weakly as he started lightly kissing my neck. Fuck it felt amazing, I needed to get out of this or I wouldn’t be able to resist. I rolled off of him and he pouted.

“How about we play one game. If I win then you talk to me, and get to know me. If you win, then we can do whatever you want.” I challenged.

He scoffed as if he found it funny that I thought I could beat him. “Fine, but get ready to go up to my room love.” He said taking the controller and I smiled to myself. He has no idea what he agreed to.

After a very close game, I ended up winning. I have to admit he was probably my biggest competitor, it was usually easy for me to beat people in this game, but he put up an impressive fight. I threw my controller on the couch next to me and jumped up shouting in victory. I looked at Niall who seemed shocked and angry that he lost to a girl I’m sure.

“How did you- that never happens.” He said in disbelief. “Rematch, now.”

“No way, I won remember, so spill.” I plopped back on to the couch facing him.

“Spill what?” He asked confused.

“Umm,” I thought about what to ask him. “What were you doing in Beverly Hills?”

He smirked, clearly remembering our night. “I was meeting with a football coach there, about college and scholarships.” He shrugged.

“Wow, really for what school?” I asked. I was offered a few scholarships to schools in that California as well, although my heart was set on Princeton.

“I was actually over by Stanford for a week, talking to coach’s there. Then I made my way to Beverly Hills to check out UCLA.”

“Nice, I actually met with UCLA’s girls coach while I was there.” I said.

“So your not interested?” He asked, I guess he could tell by my lack of excitement.

“Eh,” I shrugged. “It’s just that it’s been my dream to play soccer at Princeton since before I could kick a ball.” I admitted.

“Have you applied then?” He asked genuinely.

“Yeah, I’ve actually met with the head coach a few times. They basically offered me a scholarship, but the deal isn’t sealed until after this season.”

“You know, I was looking into Princeton myself.” He winked. “We could be like college buddies.” I rolled my eyes, knowing what he was implying by that.

“The field is a lot bigger in college bud, I wont need you.” I joked.

“Maybe not, but you’ll sure as hell want me.” He said seductively, moving closer to me. I scooted back, before he could try anything. I don’t think I could resist him again.

“So you went to California on your own?” I asked quickly. He sighed, clearly bored with the talking.

“My mate Caden, came along with me. I don’t know if you remember meeting him, but he was there at the club that night. You know, the night where you were all over me. Kind of how I wish you were right now.” He said inching closer again.

“That’s not how this works Niall.” I put a hand out to stop him. That was a wrong move since it was on his chest and I got a nice feel of how toned it was.

“Of course it is. Friends with benefits are allowed to do this stuff without all of the guilt. There’s no reason to fight it anymore, I’m not judging you, I won’t tell anyone.”

“I know, and trust me we will get to that. I’m just trying to work on the friends part.”

“Fine, what else do you want to know?” He groaned, this was probably his first time being turned down. I smiled triumphantly and continued to ask him more questions.

We talked for what seemed like hours. He is actually a really funny and sweet guy when he isn’t acting like a horny pig, or a cocky douche. He told me about his family back home in Ireland. His brother Greg and his wife just had a little baby boy, Theo. He proudly showed me a bunch of pictures of the baby, and I could see how much he adores him. He said his parents were divorced, and that his mom, Mr. McCabes sister, remarried. He is close to her husband, but he doesn’t keep contact with his real father anymore. He seemed troubled by that for a moment, before he pushed whatever was bothering him aside. I thought about asking him about it, but decided not to. He told me about how much he loves Ireland, and plans to move back there one day to settle down. But for now he needed to get away and explore the world. He had always planned on college in America and a few universities for soccer, or ‘football’, scouted him.

We made our way to the kitchen and ate a whole carton of ice cream while he asked me about my life, and he surprisingly listened. I told him about how boring it was to grow up in this town. How much I hated being rich, which he thought was comical. I just really don’t like snobby people, and that is what this town is filled with. I told him about how I have had the same friends since I was born. I even admitted that my mother disapproved in everything I do, and that I was never good enough for her so I gave up trying to be. To change the tenseness, I told him about summers in the Hampton’s, crazy parties, and even a few of my shameful drunk stories. He found all of them hilarious. I talked about my love for soccer, which he seemed to share. We even made plans to practice together on the weekends. I avoided anything that had to do with Louis, and I was grateful that he didn’t bring it up. To my shock, he was a very easy going guy, I don’t usually open up to people this much but for some reason I spilled almost everything to him.

I looked at the clock and realized it was a little after ten o’clock.

“Shit, I should get home.” I got up from the island stool.

“You sure you don’t want to stay?” He asked playfully, but I could tell he meant it.

“Not tonight, but this was fun. Your not such a douche bag after all.” I admitted.

“I’m glad I proved you wrong.” He smiled.

“Me too, plus you will definitely get some kind of reward for that.” I smirked and he fist pumped the air, making me giggle.

“So were really going to do this?” Niall asked, following me to the front door.

“Do what?” I played dumb.

“Friends with Benefits.”

“I guess so,” I shrugged. “I just have one rule,” I said stepping closer to him, we were now in the doorway.

“What?” He asked, moving so our chests connected. I leaned up on my toes and lightly brushed my lips over his.

“Don’t fall in love with me,” I whispered in his mouth, before quickly turning away and walking down his porch.

I wasn’t going to look back but I gave in and saw him smirking, watching me walk home. I wiggled my fingers waving at him, and he waved back. I noticed that he stayed outside watching me until he saw me go in through my front door, knowing that I was safe inside my house. I blocked out the thoughts of how sweet that was. Friends can make sure that friends are safe right? Liam would have done that without hesitation.
Yeah, I shrugged, stop over thinking everything Maeve.

Notes