Niall's POV

It's like any normal day; I'm still trying to figure out how to ask Harry out on a date, or more like convince him to go out with me. It's a tad bit more complicated than it seems. After Louis married Liam, Harry was so heart broken. He always thought that he had a shot with our other blue eyed best friend. Everyone knew that Harry liked, or still does like Louis. I wouldn't be surprised if Louis himself knew that. I've fancied Harry ever since I laid my eyes on him, it's that cliché.

So it was like a golden opportunity to me when I found out that Louis and Liam were in fact getting married, they were that serious. Of course Harry came to me for comfort since I was his only resort. Zayn was busy with his fiancé, Perrie, and he wouldn't really appreciate a moping Harry on his ass most of the time. I didn't mind being a rebound to Harry, I was that desperate. But I always looked at the brighter side of the situation. What if I managed to make Harry actually fall for me? It was slightly possible wasn't it?

There was just one more thing that made this ordeal even worse. Harry and I weren't exactly from the same social classes. His parents didn't mind me that much when I was only a friend, so I'm not sure about them excepting me as something else, something more than that.

Harry was supposed to come over today at five, and to put it simply, I looked like shit. My idea of Harry miraculously falling in love with me was so far an epic fail because I can't even make myself look presentable before he came. I sighed, getting off my awfully comfortable couch and walked to the bathroom. I messed up my hair even more if that was possible and realized that it was a hopeless case really.

Harry was knocking on the door just as I was flattening my shirt on my torso. C'mon Niall man up, you can do this. With this poor excuse of a prep talk, I swung the door open to come face to face with none other than that face that was chiseled to perfection.

"Hi Harry." I managed to force out without stuttering, which proved an achievement to me.

"Hey Niall, how are you?" We stood there awkwardly, basically me gawking subtly at Harry while he looked at me expectantly.

"Are we going to stay out here the entire day?" Harry chuckled.

"Umm no, no come on in." I snapped out of my gaze and scolded myself for acting like a total idiot out there.

"So, what are we doing today?" Harry looked so perfect in that spot that I just felt like pouncing on him and kissing the living day lights out of him, but really, when did he ever look less than perfect.

"I was thinking maybe dinner and a movie?" I hoped he would get the hint already.

"That sounds so much like a date. Are you trying to ask me out Niall Horan?" Harry asked, seemingly amused.

"I well, maybe?" My throat was dry, my nerves were going in an overdrive, and I simply felt like throwing up.

"Why so nervous?" He asked as he ran a finger across my cheek.

"I-I'm not." I inwardly groaned because that totally showed that I wasn't nervous.

"Are you sure?" He challenged, his finger now on my lips.

"Yes." I said somewhat confidently this time.

"What was that?"

"Yes I'm sure." I finalized.

"Okay then, let's go. Dinner outside or did you prepare anything?"

"I think we all know that I'm not the type of person who should be in the kitchen alone." I laughed slightly.

"Outside it is." Harry said as he grabbed my hand and led me to his car. All I kept thinking about was, what the hell just happened?

And now, four months later I'm still wondering, how and why did that happen. My life seemed so perfect. I was dating Harry and that's what I've wanted all along. But the keyword was seemed.

Dating Harry wasn't exactly how I thought it would be. I wasn't expecting a fairytale, but I didn't want this as well. I know I said that I wouldn't mind being his rebound, but that was starstruck me talking. We haven't really heard much of the newly wed couple after their wedding. Which was good for Harry... and myself.

Harry was convinced that he's moved on from Louis, but I'm sure that he still wasn't over him and I was willing to wait. Sometimes it hurt, like when I talk to him about something related to me he'd only be half interested or just daydream and act like he's listening, but I don't say anything. His parents weren't so keen on our relationship, but they didn't protest either, much to my relief.

"Hey Harry, how was your day baby?" I placed a tender kiss on his cheeks as I pulled him into my arms to give him a hug.

"It was alright, same old same old, how was yours?" One thing that bothered me was that Harry's day consisted of him hanging out with friends like him, as in rich ones, or going to the gym, while I had to work as an assistant to this annoying, but undeniably hot, guy who wasn't much older than myself.

"Anthony was just being an ass, the usual." I sighed in annoyance.

"Hmm, you can handle it." This is exactly what I mean. He always makes me feel like I'm worth nothing, that like whatever I do wouldn't compare to Louis, rich and flamboyant Louis. It gets to me sometimes and I can't help but just let the hurt surface a little. This occasion was one of those times. Tears prickled my eyes and, unfortunately, Harry looked up and saw them. His eyes widened momentarily and I quickly rubbed at my eyes and turned around ready to leave and save myself from further humiliation when Harry grabbed my arm.

"Niall are you crying?" He asked hesitantly.

"No." I said attempting to leave but his grip only tightened around my arm, not enough to hurt me though.

"Niall look at me." Harry pleaded. Why was he acting like that, he never really showed that he cared about me.

"Harry please I'm fine, now could you let me go, I've got some things that I need to handle." I repeated his words again and I briefly glanced at his eyes only to see that they were filled with guilt and sadness, two things that I really didn't like to see in his emeralds, the second one more than the first. I was too emotional to comfort him like I would usually do right now, so I just left the fancy living room that was of course purchased by Harry and his parents. Six months into our relationship, I asked Harry if we could live together. He acted indifferent, but insisted on living in his house since mine wasn't that luxurious. I agreed knowing that my accommodation wasn't an ideal place for Harry Styles to live in.

He released my arm reluctantly and I quickly marched up the stairs and walked into our room. Was it really a smart idea on my behalf to date Harry knowing that he was still in love with Louis? I guess not, but I can't change that now. Despite my slightly aching heart, I started to think of what to do for Harry on our one year anniversary. I believed that we weren't taking things too fast since we already knew each other so well, I mean we are best friends after all. That's why I decided that I was going to ask him to marry me. Liam proposed to Louis eight months into their relationship. People may call it idiotic but I would call it stupid or blind love, the sweetest of them all and the most painful at that. That's what I felt for Harry, but sadly, what he felt for me wouldn't be included in the category of love.

I needed to start preparations for that party if I wanted everything to run smoothly. It would be a celebratory party as well as a friends and family gathering because I was inviting everyone and I had to make sure they all came. Last but not least, I need to find the perfect ring for Harry, an exquisite one like him.

It was finally the 20th of May, the marking of our one year anniversary. The party was running smoothly and I had a feeling that Harry was avoiding me. Louis was there, and he had Harry's full attention. It made me question my planned request, what if Harry rejected me?

Two hours later I found myself on one knee in front of a flabbergasted Harry with one simple question,

"Will you marry me?" I watched as Harry looked around to the crowd that was holding its breath and once his eyes landed on Louis who was cuddled up in Liam's arms, his fingers tracing the silver band on his left hand ring finger, Harry sighed and forced a smile on his lips, looked at me and said,

"Yes, of course I'll marry you." He tried to sound enthusiastic, but the people bought it and I didn't.

He only accepted to marry me to show Louis that he was over him, he agreed just because he wanted to show him that he was happy too, he didn't say yes because he wanted me, and that shattered my heart to pieces.

It's been another year since I've married Harry and things were still the same. Harry was only with me physically, never emotionally. His I love you's were monotone. I don't know what I had to do so that he'd just love me as much as he loved, or loves, him.

We had a gathering with Liam, Louis, and Zayn today. Just us five like the old times. Harry was being extra touchy with me tonight and it was only because he was there, and he was watching us.

"Niall baby, I want to go home. I need you right now." Harry was almost purring and I'm pretty sure my eyebrows disappeared under my fringe from how high they were raised.

"Oh Niall is getting some tonight." Louis oohed and Harry just smirked kissing my jaw line.

"He definitely is." I was torn between crying because all of that was an act, or just giving in and enjoying the rare moment while it lasted.

"Let's go Niall." Harry stood up and grabbed my hand, said his farewells to the lads barely giving me time to at least wave at them, before he was dragging me out of the restaurant. Once we were out of sight he dropped my hand and walked away, not even bothering to wait for me. My face crumpled and I couldn't hold it back anymore, a sob escaped my lips which caused Harry to stop and turn to look at me.

"Really Niall, here?" Why was he acting like that? That was weird, even for Harry. I bit down on my lips harshly, not wanting to release any sobs or to cry, at least not here and not in front of Harry. I climbed into the car just wanting to go home already. I felt like everything in my body was on fire, but not in a good way.

I didn't notice that we reached our house having been too drowned in my thoughts, until I heard Harry's door slam shut. I exited the car and ran into the house and up to the bedroom. I could hear footsteps approaching the room, and I really didn't want to talk to Harry at the moment, but I figured it was now or never.

"What was that all about Niall, why did you cry?" He asked that question almost sounding like he didn't want me to cry, like he didn't want me feeling sad, which was impossible.

"Oh I don't know maybe it was because you were acting like an actual husband in that damned restaurant, but when we left his eyesight you were back to normal."

"What are you talking about Niall?"

"Oh please Harry. I know you still love him and I don't know why you keep lying to yourself and saying that you don't. But why are you using me to get over him? I love you Harry, but you never showed any signs that maybe, sometime in the near future, that you'd reciprocate my feelings. I'm tired of having to act like it doesn't kill me on the inside because news flash Harry, it does."

"Tired of what huh? Did you ever dream about living in a house like this, or dressing up like how you do? Did you ever dream about dating me Niall? Look around you, someone else would be kissing my feet for all of that." It was like a slap to the face, a dagger squeezing my lungs and plunging into my heart. I wished that I didn't open that conversation, I wished that I haven't said anything, because I wouldn't have had to hear the sour truth.

"You're right Harry."

"No Niall I'm very sorry, I really didn't mean to say that, I," but he was right, I don't deserve someone like him, he's too good for me.

"It's okay really, you're only saying the truth. I don't deserve you, but I love you, I love you so much." I trailed off. My knees buckled, unable to support my weight anymore and I fell to the ground as a strangled sob escaped my lips. Harry was quick to rush to my side, he picked me up slightly and placed me on his lap. He started rocking us back and forth as I continued to sob into his chest, adamantly soaking his shirt in the process, but he didn't seem to care.

"I'm so sorry Niall. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean any of that, please believe me." I only cried harder because I was finally letting out all of what has been pent up inside of me for two years now. I cried because Harry will never love me, because he was right, because I'm such an idiot, because I love him.

"Niall baby listen to me. I only realized now that I am finally ready to let go of Louis completely. I did fall for you Niall, but not like how you loved me. But I will eventually, I mean anyone would be stupid not to love you, even if it's not in that way. You deserve someone better than me Niall, someone who would treat you like a prince, too bad you're stuck with me for the rest of our life." Harry said as he clasped our hands together, nodding with his head towards our rings.

Maybe that was the start of my recovery.

A/N~~~~~~~~~~

It's 4 am and I'm sorry for any spelling mistakes, I'll edit it tomorrow.

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