#side:etc

The first time they meet, they hate each other. Or, Harry hates Niall. The second time they meet, Niall doesn't remember Harry. He says he did. The third time they meet, they become friends. They're friends for a long time. And then they're not. And then they fall in love.

Or a When Harry Met Sally au

niall’s getting engaged. harry’s still in love with him.

“So it’s true then? You’re with her?” Harry looks disappointed but Niall can’t help that, Harry’s been with Camille longer than he’s been with Hailee. Harry has no right to be disappointed.

“Yeah.” Harry looks away, finally breaking the intense eye contact that he’s been holding since the conversation started.

“So when we’re single, we’ll talk about it.”

Well, they are both single now...

context is important for this fic! the happened-in-real-life background story is that harry and niall were both at the same fleetwood mac concert in london last night, and stevie dedicated landslide to harry and his mom. they were both backstage but not seen together, and niall's been emo about how much he loves stevie on instagram all day. much to think about.

“I was going to spend my life with you. Everything was supposed to be easy and then-,” Niall finally turned to him eyes defeated and he didn’t even look angry anymore just deflated and barren, “and then you left.”

--

After running off on his fiance Harry goes back to North Carolina his hometown and reunites with old friends and the love of his life.

Niall and Harry are cast in their university's production of 'Spring Awakening', and Niall has an awakening of his own.

“So I’ve been thinking,” Harry says, standing in the doorway of their bedroom as he brushes his teeth, sloshing the brush messily over molars. His mouth is full and slick with toothpaste, and only years of living with him allows Niall to understand him. “I…” …He clears his throat uncertainly before working up the courage to ask the question on his mind. “Maybe it’s time to think about kids?”

Harry falls in love with Niall long before Niall falls into him in return. [Inspired by One Direction’s 18 and companion piece to Eighteen.]