and
Bailey had looked up in surprise. Alice had put her hand on his
shoulder, her laughter slowly ebbing away.
"Gods,
who would thought. Niall, you're positively endearing when you like
a girl. It's just too funny." And that was when he became the butt
of their jokes.
"Anyways, Olta is a walking and talking insecurity complex.
I think she's trying her hardest not to get attached to us, so she
won't get hurt when your job is done. So just be careful with her."
Niall had arched an eyebrow at this. Alice echoing Matilda.
Creepy.
"I'd
like her be our friend and that won't happen if you fuck up, so
don't." Niall had merely nodded mulling over Alice's
words.
Still
Niall was convinced that Olta couldn't be completely unaware of the
fact that they truly liked her company. Someone who had proved
herself very perceptive on more than one occasion could not be that
blind. She couldn't be that insecure. That was simply impossible.
On the other hand, until Monday he had thought it impossible for
him to become an utter fool.
The ring
of the doorbell pulled Niall out of his musings.
"Tirana?" he said in surprise as he opened the door. A
thoroughly drenched Olta looked up to him. Expect for her front
where she was clutching her bag every inch of her was soaking
wet.
"I'm
really sorry, but I've forgotten my keys. Maggie is at a friends'
place and my mom is having drinks with friends and…." He heard her
speak but couldn't honestly he was listening. Her bottom lip was
quivering and her eyes were shining with residue droplets in her
eyelashes. She looked absolutely mesmerizing and it was Friday
afternoon and nobody was home and she really needed to get out of
those wet clothes. He slapped himself mentally and shook himself
out of his reverie.
"Well
don't just stand there." He said, swallowing hard and shifting his
position slightly. Olta stepped inside taking baby steps looking at
him apologetically. She looked down at her feet and Niall followed
her gaze.Slowly but surely there was a small puddle forming on the
parquet flooring.
"Right,
yes, well Matilda is going to kill me for that. Come up to my room.
You can dry up there and I'll have some clothing for you." He said
quickly beckoning her forward. Silently they made their way to his
bedroom. Niall tried out several questions in his mind but none of
them actually made it out of his mouth. Instead he walked two paces
in front of her. He unlocked his bedroom door and showed Olta in.
As he locked the door he heard Olta putting her bag
down.
"Daniel?" she asked tentatively.
Ah yes
Daniel, Niall vaguely remembered him. "Fuck" he thought to himself.
Daniel would be back in an hour and a half. Niall couldn't have
Olta around when he would be back. Nobody knew of his dancing
sessions and he'd be damned if Olta found out. And he'd be damned
to have Daniel find her here.
"He's
out." Niall said quickly. Olta stood a few feet away from him and
she smiled shyly and nodded. She was shivering all over and her
bottom lip was still quivering.
"Do you have a
towel or something?" she asked quietly.
"Of
course. Wait, why don't I get you some clothing and you can change
in my bathroom. Of course if you want you could take a shower.
Maybe catch a movie or something. What do you think?" Yes, his most
basic conversational skills were gone and rambling had taken its
place. He rummaged through his closet until he found an old pair of
sweat pants and an old t-shirt. It might just fit her. He turned
back to Olta, who hadn't moved from her spot but was busy admiring
the décor.
"Yes, that
sounds like a plan. Thanks." She said, not meeting his eyes as she
gingerly took the offered clothing from him. He noticed the blush
on her cheeks.
"This is
the bathroom. Fresh towels are over there." He said quickly. Olta
nodded, still smiling her small smile and she walked into the
bathroom. As she closed the door behind her Niall sat down on his
bed
Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Martin A. Lee, Bruce Shlain