Narry prompt where the two of them are voted most likely to be in a secret relationship in their high school yearbook but they're actually *just friends* Pretty pls?
Ugh, itâs been a while hasnât it? Iâm sorry, I just havenât had the motivation to write fics like I used to. But today I was stressed, and writing felt like the best therapy. So, here is another prompt filled! I enjoyed writing this a lot :)
Its usually the same, ugly photos of his face and printed photographs of memories he would rather forget. A âwhy do I look so fat?â Or âwhy did I decide to wear that?â Coming through in his mind to remind him that he is just an embarrassment.
But this year is different, Niall knows that for a fact. Its the last year before he is off to Uni, on his way to bigger things. So, this years year book is going to have the 'most likely toâ sections and the ugly graduation photos at the end. Niall hated his smile in that particular photo, and of course a pimple decided to grow like a minature mountain right on his chin.
Its not like he can just ignore it all, laugh it off and pretend it never happened. He can sign year books and smile his way through the crowd without taking one look at himself. But his mom would never allow that, Maura wants to see how much he has grown throughout the years, she has bought him a year book every year.
So heâs forced to hold it in his hands, the hardcover book slippery between his sweaty hands. Heâs terrified to open the book, to reveal what he looks like and what people have thought of him throughout the years of him walking these hallways. He wants to burn it, lie to his mom and say he never got the book, that they ran out or that the printer broke. But he hates lying to his mom, so now sheâs going to be waiting for him and expecting it to be slapped onto the kitchen counter for her to gawk at for hours and squeal about how cute and adorable he is.
He sighs out loud, dreading the walk home.
âNiall!â Its the deep voice of Harry shifting his thoughts away from the negativity. And he hides his anxiety with a smile, fond and small with enough power to make Harry smile back.
âHarold.â Niallâs tone sounded a little too exaggerated in excitement, but Harry didnât look fazed, him just keeping that same smile across his face, dimples on display and ready to poke.
âHow has the last day of school been? I see youâve got your yearbook.â Harry points to the book shoved at Niallâs side.
âYea.â Niall says simply, no integrity in his voice, his determination to keep his friend happy slowly leaking out of his mind. He just wants to sleep, knowing he doesnât have to set his alarm for tomorrow.
âGrumpy?â Harrys asks with an over-exaggerated pout, one of his large hands coming out to pinch at Niallâs cheek. Niall isnât dealing with the playful touching today, and he whips his hand out to grip loosely at Harryâs wrist, tugging it away from him with a warning look.
âIâll take that as a yesâŚâ Harry spins on his heels, and Niall feels this washed-over feeling of guilt come over him. Its only for a second though, because Harry stops after two steps and side-eyes him over his shoulder, waiting for him to follow.
Theyâre walking now, side by side down the hallway with their arms brushing together. Its normal until its not, and suddenly Niallâs noticing the more intense and lingering stares that people are giving him. Its not even just him, its a long stare like theyâre looking right through him until they shift their gaze to Harry to give the same bruising look. Its weird, its not normal, and Niall just tightens his fingers along the spine of the year book.
He can see the doors, the sunshine of light acting like a light coming through a storm in the ocean. The beacon of a lighthouse through the mist of waves crashing along the boats. He can see it, and Harry does too, and theyâre both eager to get out under the weight of all the stares.
But then Liam Payne is stopping them, looking all smiles and happiness, holding out his own year book with signatures already written across the back of it.
âHi lads! Mind if you sign?â He moves the book towards Harry first, almost like he knows Harry would be the first to give-in under the pressure of signing. Liam has a pen ready too, and he hands it to Harry enthusiastically.
âI can sign yours too.â Liam says after he realizes Niall isnât going to start a conversation with them while Harry signs. Niall wants to just say no, but he feels bad already for being so grumpy on the last day, so he just obediently hands Liam his book.
Theyâre silent, Liam fishing out another pen from his pencil case to write his name down, surprisingly not questioning the emptiness of names across Niallâs book. Niall is busy writing his own name, scribbling it down as quick as possible.
But then Liam speaks, so casually it doesnât even hit Niall until Harry stutters out a breathless 'w-what?â
âI said how does it feel to be the most likely to be in a secret relationship?â Niallâs fingers turn numb against the pen he is holding, and his cheeks grow a pink shade in seconds, or maybe its his whole face that becomes rosey with embarrassment. Because, wow, thats a little crazy.
âU-uh what no? What are you talking about?â Niall shoves Liamâs book back into his arms and grabs at his own as fast as possible, trying to keep his cool as he flips through the glossy pages of the book until he suddenly is face to face with himself and Harry.
It was when they were at prom, two of the only boys that came without a date. They stayed together the whole night, wearing tuxedos and drinking punch and mini sandwiches as they laughed and made fun of the girls with fake eyelashes falling off their faces and the guys who had shoulder pads on to make themselves look bigger or had so much hair gel on they looked like theyâd go bald.
He remembers the photo too, his awkward smile and Harryâs bright one, Harryâs arm still wrapped around his waist as they stood in the corner. They didnât realize until the last second, until the photographer yelled 'oi lads!â A second before he took the photo with the flash blinding them.
It looks bad, but Niall hides his screams inside of him as he reads the 'most likely to be in a secret relationshipâ under the photograph, hearts as the frame. He closes the book hard, and Liam flinches.
âWeâre just friends. Thanks for the signature Liam, gotta get home though now!â He manouvers past Liam, doesnât even give him a chance to answer before he is gripping at the exit doors and shoving them opened.
He can hear Harryâs fast feet behind him, long legs easily catching up to him.
They donât talk the whole way home, and its obvious theyâre both thinking a lot. So much things flying around in their minds. Its giving Niall a large headache, and he almost just wants to rush off towards his front steps and close the door behind him. Hide away in his house for the summer.
But its almost like Harry knows, like he can just feel the bad vibes vibrating and steaming off of him. He feels Harryâs hand against his, against the hand not holding the book, and now theyâre holding hands tightly in front of Niallâs house.
âGuess we werenât as secret as we thought.â Harry smiles, amused with all of this. Niall wishes he had that kind of reaction to things, always positive. But he doesnât, and all he can do is sigh loudly before leaning up to smooch at Harryâs lips to kiss the smirk off his face.
Harry just keeps smiling, and he is now grabbing at the year book in Niallâs hand. Niall is done fighting, and instead just loosens his grip and silently watches what his boyfriend is doing.
Harry is writing along the back, and Niall canât see a thing. He expects Harry to give it to him, but instead he just closes the book back up, passing it over to him again and keeping the same cheeky smirk across his face.
He then leaves, with one pulse of a squeeze against Niallâs hand with his, one soft kiss against Niallâs cheek, and then he is turning and walking off towards his house. Its only five houses down.
Niall should be patient, walk inside his house where he knows no one can look at him and judge him before he opens the book. But heâs so curious, and his mind is wandering with questions.
His fingers open the book, and he sees Liamâs signature, bold and slick. But then there is a note, Harryâs signature a few centimers away from Liamâs.
âIn Uni, lets make this relationship public, ya? xx Hâ
