Brand new fiction - The Nicest Thing
"Katieee!" he grinned as he spotted the brunette walking over, deep in conversation with a friend. She looked up when hearing her name and beamed back. She jogged over and he lifted her up into a enveloping hug, all while I stared, my eyes starting to water a little. He pecked her on the lips and I could see his arm wrapped around the back of her waist and holding him in tight.
"Hellooo? Earth to ?" was snapping his fingers in front of my face.
"Sorry I'm shattered, didn't sleep much last night," I said half-heartedly, trying my hardest to keep my stare on without it wondering off into protected territories.
"Are we going to mine or what?" chirped in, "oi!" he laughed, trying to get 's attention from staring down at Katie, she realised and giggled.
"Sorry mate, miles away," he smiled, and we started to walk down from school to 's house. and Katie strolled behind me, , and , everytime I saw a glimpse of them they were laughing together, always conjoined by the hand. I sighed. I would give anything to just be in her place for a second, to feel what it's like to be next to him and hold his hand. He was the nicest thing I've ever seen, but all I was to him was his mates best friend. I just wished more than anything in the world that we could just give it a go, see if we could be something.
I heard laughter come from next to me so I smiled and forced out a giggle to join in. looked at me and nudged me with a smile that tugged at the side of his face, "you alright?"
"Yeah, like I said, just a bit tired," I smiled back. He rolled his eyes. knew me better than anyone, I just wasn't sure if he'd worked out exactly what was up. I tried to work it out in his eyes but he looked away as we were stepping into 's front door. We all scrubbed our feet on the doormat and took off our shoes. I tugged at mine, not bothered about undoing the laces and stumbled backwards, hopping on one foot. I felt my bum touch an object.
"Watch it!" I heard laugh, I looked behind me to see him leaning over too and taking off his shoes. He winked at me and I felt a shiver go down my spine. It was times like these when my heart melted for him, the rare occasions when we did talk. It was so weird how he always seemed to know me so well, I kinda wished he couldn't figure me out so easily, maybe it would give him more of a reason to try and find out what I was about? I looked back around to see him helping Katie take off her shoes, a dimple showing when she gave a little smile with her perfect pearly white teeth. He looked up at her and I saw a sparkle shine in his eye.
"Just nipping to your loo ," I said quickly, running upstairs with my head down. I rushed in and shut the door behind me. I dabbed my eyes crazily with a tissue. I looked at myself in the mirror. Why was I like this? It was just a guy. A plain old eighteen year old guy. But then I kept seeing the glint in his eye as he grinned at his favourite smile, his favourite girl, the person who he obviously felt he was put on the planet for. But he was just eighteen, could he really feel that strong? But then so was I. I peered a glance back up at the mirror to my bloodshot eyes, I was just as bad as him. I looked down at my clothes. I had what you could say was an individual sense of style, I never dressed to be boring and always made sure I was happy with my outfit before I left - especially recently. But she was always so simple and plain - naturally beautiful, a look that I just couldn't achieve. I put the toilet seat down and sat putting my head in my hands until I jumped at the sound of a gentle knock on the door.
"... are you alright?" I heard 's voice float through the gap underneath the door followed by a short silence, "if it's girly trouble I can fetch Katie, cause, y'kno I don't really wanna know..."
This made me burst into giggles.
"Do I take that as a no?" said sounding slightly confused.
"I'm fine , really, just putting on some makeup," I said, quickly feeling around for the eyeliner in my pocket but it was too late, opened the door and immediately saw my smudged eyes.
"Oh come here, what am I gunna do with you ey?" he sighed, taking me into a hug, "come on, lets go into 's room and sort you out," he smiled, leading me into a quite smelly and messy room with a bed only just visible.
"Why are guy's rooms always so smelly?" I wrinkled up my nose.
"If you think this is bad, you should see mine!" he winked, "now come on, what's up?" I swear was like a gay best friend, but not gay...
"Nothing's up, I had something in my eye," I smiled, trying and failing to sound convincing. He raised his eyebrows.
"Yeah right, I know what this is all about," he put his hand on mine. I looked at it and burst out crying, visioning and Katie's earlier, wishing it was his hand who would hold mine when I was upset, "Is it ?"
I gave up and nodded.
"Aww ," he put his arm around me and held me in tight, "come on, let it out. I know what it's like to like someone who you can't have," he sighed. 's three-year girlfriend moved to Austrailia a couple of months ago and they decided it was for the best that they broke up seeing as he'd only see her once a year.
"Oh don't , you can't compare what you had to what I'm going through," I looked up guiltily.
"You're right, I can't. This is worse, you know the saying, it's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all," he smiled.
"He's the nicest thing I've ever seen, I just wish we could give it a go, see if we could be something," I sighed.
"I know, but you've got to face the fact that you can't. You've got to decide whether you could risk putting yourself through all this pain just to wait forever until the day he turns round and notices you're there when it might never happen, is he really worth it? Believe me, he's not that much of an amazing person, just smelly old ," he chuckled.
", that is why you're a song writer," I smiled, "but I can't just give up, I don't know what it is, I just wish that he loved me or needed me, I wish that without me he'd be spending all of his nights awake, I wish that without me he couldn't eat, I wish I would be the last thing on his mind before he went to sleep... everything he feels about Katie. How am I supposed to even get near to her level?" I was staring at my feet that were cross-legged in front of me and I heard a gentle knock on the door, just like the one had done earlier.
"Erm... I just came up to see if you two wanted a coffee, tea?" said awkwardly in the doorway, not quite meeting me in the eye.
"Yeah, two coffees please" said.
"How many sugars?" asked.
"Two," I whispered.
"She means three. I'll have one," smirked at me as walked out, "I don't think he heard, don't panic... actually , it doesn't matter, I'll get them," ran out of 's room. I rolled my eyes, nice , leave me alone to go make yourself a coffee! Then I heard some footsteps shuffle closer to the door. I saw walk in, awkwardly scratching his neck and then sat on the bed next to me.
"Y'alright?" he muttered, looking up at me and I saw his eyes widen a little as the sparkles met mine. I looked down.
"Yeah, fine," I said quietly.
"You don't look it," he smirked and I lightly punched him on the arm.
"Cheek!" I giggled.
"Noo! I didn't mean it in that way, I meant you don't look like you're feeling fine!" He laughed himself.
"Well to be honest with you, I'm not that great really," I said, I couldn't really hide it from him.
"Tell Dr. what's up then," he winked, shuffling onto the bed to sit cross-legged facing me.
"Oh I don't know..." I sighed. Where could I start?
"Can I guess?" he grinned, my heart beating faster and I saw how close his hand was to mine. I gulped.
"You and ...?" he winked.
"Eww! No! 's like a brother to me," I laughed.
"I'm right aren't I? It is !" his beaming smile lit up the whole stinking room.
", it's not ," I said, more seriously.
"Ah, it's me then isn't it?" he winked sarcastically.
"Hole in one... or two should I say" I smirked, knowing he wouldn't take me as seriously as I was.
"I knew it! Right from the first day when introduced us and I put mints in your coke when you weren't looking," he winked again. He remembered that? My heart skipped a beat.
"Yep," I smiled, half wanting to shake him by the shoulders and say I wasn't joking around, I was being deadly serious.
"Well you've got me, so there's no need to be upset anymore, is there?" he grinned and squeezed my leg, "seriously though, if you want to talk, I'm here, ears wide open and ready to listen. Don't listen to what Katie says, I'm a good listener," he smiled but a tear escaped from the corner of my eye and before I knew it, more and more were following.
"Hey! Shhh!" he said, shuffling up to sit beside me and put his arm around me, "come here, go ahead, soggy up my hoodie," he chuckled and huddled me into his warmth and smell. He smelt so gorgeous... I wrapped my arms around him, forgetting about the restrictions, just wanting to hold on to him.
"You know, just cause I'm a guy and I have Katie doesn't mean that she's the only girl on the planet, there's other special ones too," I felt his hand squeeze my back, "I still care and I still want to listen. The last thing I want is you being all upset, so even if you don't want to tell me what's up I don't mind going all soppy and letting you let it all out on me... as long as the guys aren't watching otherwise I'll get beat up for being too soppy... god, what am I on about? It should be you letting it all out, not me," he chuckled, I could tell he was feeling awkward with the silence.
"I couldn't tell you because it might effect you," I said, muffled into his hoodie.
"I couldn't care a less if it effects me, as long as you're not telling me I'm going to die or something," he winked.
"I just wish we could be something..." I whispered into his hoodie, too quiet for him to hear, or so I thought.
"Seriously though, all joking aside, what's up?" he replied. I stiffened and fell silent.
"All this... can't be about me, surely?" he said, seriously and I felt my cheeks blushing. I sat up properly, I had to face the music. I looked up at him shyly and our eyes met for a second before his fell down to the floor. He shuffled around awkwardly.
"What did I do?" he mumbled.
"Nothing, it's just me being silly... where's with my coffee?" I said, trying to force a laugh and change the subject.
"Why didn't you say..." our eyes met again and I could see guilt.
"Because you and Katie have something between you that I could never compete with, I don't even come close to her, every day I saw you look at each other like you had this connection, like there's only her who exists when she's in the room..." I looked up and realised who I was talking to and stopped. His mouth was hanging open a little, lips parted. He slowly put his hand on mine.
"I'm sorry," he whispered and looked down guilty at the floor. I watched him carefully and he looked back up at me, his face grew closer to mine, he moved closer and closer, I thought he was going to whisper something in my ear, say something. His crystal eyes were centimetres from mine, I could feel his breath tickling my face, my heart was racing at a million miles an hour as I studied his features. Then I felt the soft skin of his lips touch mine, as they pressed together deeper and deeper. My stomach was doing somersaults.
When we parted, I saw a huge grin spread across his face, the sparkle in his eyes that I saw earlier when he looked at Katie was stronger than then. I wanted to pinch myself but didn't want to risk waking up from this amazing dream. Then my heart drooped.
"But Katie..." I sighed.
"I know... but Katie is nothing compared to you, god that sounds cheesy," he laughed and I did too.
"I don't want you to cheat on her," I said seriously, wiping a bit of mascara from my tears off of his face with my thumb.
"Just give me some time to sort things out, yeah? I promise, I'm not like other guys," he said. I knew that, I'd never felt about anyone the way I did about him.
I laughed loudly, keeping my eye on him and listening to every single word he had to say. My hand was fitted perfectly around his, our fingers forming like a lock and key. Every time I took a step I skipped slightly with joy and I could see him intently watching me. Sometimes I wondered if he felt as strongly about me as I did him, I didn't think it was possible to adore a human being as much as I did.
"Here we are, birthday girl," I looked up to see the Eiffel Tower, such a huge object and I hadn't even seen it heading towards us because he was such a bigger part of my mind. I'd always wanted to see the Eiffel Tower and my heart swooned as if it wanted to jump out of my chest and give him butterfly kisses. I obeyed and swung my arms around his neck; he put his arms around my waist and lifted me up, placing a kiss on my lips.
"Oh , I love you!" his smile spread into a grin.
"I love you too"
He lead me to the centre of the tower with his arm protectively around me in the afternoon sun which was starting to set in the sky. I saw people look around jealously, I felt like I was in a film with the dream man and I was the lead role.
He bought two tickets at the kiosk and we jumped into the elevator with a few other people. It lifted us through the metal railings up through the sky and giving us more and more of a gorgeous view. My heart was dancing in my chest with the combination of such pretty sights and the feel of his hands and strong arms around my waist, hugging me to his body. The lift jolted and we jumped off, took me by surprise and chucked me over his shoulder.
"This is why I've been going to the gym so often recently," he whispered into my ear, the answer to the question I'd been asking for weeks. He jogged up the stairs, somehow managing to keep me steady, his hand softly placed on my bum so my dress wouldn't fly up. I got an uncontrollable laughing fit as he sang the batman theme tune as he jogged. I could hear him increasingly puffing for breath.
", it's fine, I'll walk the rest of the way," I whispered in his ear, but he wasn't having any of it.
"Nope, birthday girl can't walk anywhere!" he puffed. I could only see the sky through the railings and the chatter of voices was dying down to silence. He was now actually gasping for breath when he came to a stop.
"S... see! I... did... it...!" he gasped triumphantly.
"Yes and you nearly killed yourself in the process!" I smiled, but gave him an appreciative kiss on the cheek.
"So, here was are!" he grabbed my hand and turned me round. I gasped, the air getting caught in my throat. We were at the very top level of the Eiffel Tower, looking out to a beautiful sunset. We were the only ones up there.
"Shall we?" he grinned broadly at the shock and joy on my face and pulled my hand gently closer to the edge. We turned to look at each other at the same time and our lips touched, still sending a shiver down my spine.
"Do you know how long we've been together?" I smiled at him.
"It will be seven years in a week," he said quickly without thinking. An automatic smile grew across my face as I was reminded. It still didn't seem real.
"And you still look as gorgeous as ever, even at your old age of 25!" he said cheekily.
"Oi! You're just as old!" I giggled, poking him in the ribs through the t-shirt he was wearing - my favourite.
"Well I better ask you something then before we both pop our clogs," he grinned at me. My heart skipped a beat even though I knew it wouldn't happen... but then he shuffled back slightly on the metal flooring, the orange sunlight gleaming in his deep shining eyes which were transfixed on mine, I breathed in as he crouched down. One knee placed gently on the floor, his hands reaching down to his trouser pocket where a square shaped lump was hiding away. I couldn't breathe, my heart was in my throat and my stomach felt like it was being tickled by a hundred butterflies. This was it. My dreams coming true. I tried my hardest to take everything in while I was stood there in that perfect moment, wanting to press pause for just a second, to somehow take a picture and video of this moment and permanently engrave it in my brain to rewatch a hundred times.
The box slid out of his pocket, his eyes switched down to it for a moment as he fiddled with it in his hands, I could see them shaking slightly. He looked back up at me from under his eyelashes, I could see the nervousness in his eyes.
"... you're the nicest thing I've seen," then he stopped and laughed, "Jees, I really have a way with words don't I?" I giggled, I didn't care if he messed things up. That was us, clumsy and uncontrollable, daft and unpredictable, it was one of the things I found cutest when he stumbled on his words.
"What I'm trying to say is..." he looked back down at the little black box with a golden rim, "Since the first day I met you, you were constantly on my mind. Way back at school. You've never left me alone since," he smirked at me, "but I wouldn't have it any other way. I love you with all my heart. Every single little thing you do, like when you get nervous and shy when you meet new people, your sense of humour, all of those annoying little habits that make you you. You're perfect. So... , will you make me the happiest man alive by becoming Mrs. ?" he opened the little box to reveal a silver band with a heart-shaped diamond lifted from it. Engraved on the inside of the ring was "forever yours". I felt my eyes sting but I forced the tears back.
"I will!" I practically screeched and he grinned massively, as did I. I dived onto him, my arms wrapping around his neck as he hugged me tightly to him. The tears came flooding down my cheeks in happiness and my whole body was shaking. He held me at arms length to study my face.
"It's not that much of a disappointment is it?" he chuckled softly and I laughed and shook my head.
"Everything is perfect. Beyond perfect!" I grinned, as did he.
"Shall we make it official then?" he still had the box in his hand and I thrust my hand out to him enthusiastically, I couldn't wait to become a step closer to becoming Mrs. . He softly put the ring on my finger.
"There, perfect fit," he smiled, wiping away the tears from my face, "and we don't want this pretty face getting all snotty now do we?" he winked, bringing out a tissue from his trouser pocket and dabbing softly.
We stood hand in hand looking over the soft French sunset, my pink dress blowing in the wind.
My ring already felt a part of me, gleaming in the setting sun, a constant reminder of my perfect fiancé which would bring a smile to my face even when he wasn't around.
All I know is that you're so nice
You're the nicest thing I've seen
I wish that we could give it a go
See if we could be something
I wish I was your favourite girl
I wish you thought I was the reason you are in the world
I wish my smile was your favourite kind of smile
I wish the way that I dressed was your favourite kind of style
I wish you couldn't figure me out
But you always wanna know what I was about
I wish you'd hold my hand
When I was upset
I wish you'd never forget
The look on my face when we first met
I wish you had a favourite beauty spot
That you loved secretly
'Cause it was on a hidden bit
That nobody else could see
Basically, I wish that you loved me
I wish that you needed me
I wish that you knew when I said two sugars,
Actually I meant three
I wish that without me your heart would break
I wish that without me you'd be spending the rest of your nights awake
I wish that without me you couldn't eat
I wish I was the last thing on your mind before you went to sleep
Look, all I know is that you're the nicest thing I've ever seen
And I wish that we could see if we could be something
Yeah I wish that we could see if we could be something