The Secrets We Keep

Meanwhile, in a cozy corner of his family's living room, Niall propped up his phone and answered a FaceTime call from Harry. The screen lit up with Harry's signature grin as he lounged on his couch, wrapped in a fuzzy blanket.

"Hey, mate!" Harry greeted, his curls slightly messy but perfectly suiting his relaxed vibe.

"How's it going? Enjoying the Christmas leftovers?"
Niall laughed, shaking his head.

"Always, you know me. I've probably eaten my weight in ham and mashed potatoes at this point."
Harry chuckled.

"Sounds about right. Did you get anything else ?"

"Oh, loads!" Niall replied, "She knows exactly what I need. And, of course, a massive box of chocolates that l've already made a dent in."

"Classic Niall," Harry teased, laughing."Eating and strumming, your two favorite things. What about Maria? Have you heard from her?"

Niall's smile faltered slightly, but he quickly masked it. "Not really. I figured she's just busy with her family. You know how it is during the holidays."

Harry tilted his head, noticing the brief flicker of emotion in Niall's expression. "You sure everything's all right? She didn't even text you back yesterday?"

Niall shrugged, his tone casual but with a hint of unease. "Nah, but it's fine. She probably had a lot going on. I'm sure she'll message me when she gets a chance."

Harry hummed thoughtfully, his green eyes narrowing slightly. "You sure she's with her family? Did she say anything before Christmas about her plans?"

"Not really," Niall admitted, leaning back in his chair. "I just assumed. I mean, what else would she be doing ?"

Harry nodded slowly but didn't press further, sensing that Niall didn't want to overthink it. Instead, he changed the subject, grinning. "Anyway, when are you heading back to campus? I'm planning to leave the day after tomorrow."

"Same here," Niall said, his smile returning. "Looking forward to seeing everyone again. And maybe dragging Louis out for a pint. He's been suspiciously quiet lately."

Harry laughed. "True. We'll have to get to the bottom of whatever he's been up to. That lad's definitely hiding something."

They both chuckled, continuing to chat about their holiday plans and teasing each other about random things. But in the back of Niall's mind, a small part of him couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right with Maria. He brushed it off for now, trusting that everything would fall into place once they were back on campus.

After hanging up with Harry, Niall set his phone down on the table and leaned back in his chair, letting out a quiet sigh. The cheerful energy from the call lingered, but as the room grew silent again, his thoughts drifted back to Maria.

He missed her.

Niall stared out the window, watching the gray winter sky over Ireland. He couldn't help but wonder what Maria was doing, how her holidays were going, and why she hadn't reached out to him. Usually, she'd send a sweet message or a photo to brighten his day, but this Christmas had been oddly quiet on her end.

A pang of regret tugged at him. "I should've brought her here," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair.

He pictured how it could've been—Maria laughing with his family, sitting by the fire, and sharing stories over cups of tea. His mum would've adored her, and his siblings would've teased him mercilessly, but it would've been worth it just to have her there.

Niall sighed again, shaking his head. I should've asked her to come. I didn't want to pressure her, but maybe she would've said yes...

The thought of her being with her family made him feel a little better, though. She'd probably had a wonderful time surrounded by loved ones, and maybe she was just too busy to check her phone. Still, a small part of him wished she had been here with him, sharing the holiday magic.

"I'll make it up to her," Niall decided, a small smile tugging at his lips. "When we're back on campus, I'll take her out, make it special. Maybe plan a late Christmas surprise or something."

Feeling a bit more hopeful, Niall picked up his guitar and strummed a few soft chords, letting the music fill the room. It helped ease the ache of missing Maria, but he couldn't shake the thought that he'd feel so much better if she were by his side.

As the afternoon turned into evening, Louis and Maria found themselves back on her bed, sitting close together. The cozy atmosphere of her dorm, illuminated by the soft glow of the Christmas lights, only amplified the growing tension between them.

They started talking, laughing softly about little things, but the way Louis kept looking at her—the intensity in his blue eyes, the way his hand brushed against hers—made Maria's heart race.

It didn't take long before Louis leaned in, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was slow and deep, filled with emotion. Maria responded instantly, her hands sliding up to his shoulders as the kiss grew more passionate.

Louis's hand cupped her face, his thumb gently brushing her cheek as he kissed her like he couldn't get enough. Maria's fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, her body leaning into his as if trying to erase any space between them.

"I can't get enough of you," Louis murmured against her lips, his voice low and filled with desire.

Maria's cheeks flushed, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she smiled softly, her breath hitching as she whispered, "I feel the same way."

Their lips met again, more urgent this time, as Louis's hands moved to her waist, pulling her into his lap. Maria giggled softly at the sudden movement, her arms wrapping around his neck as she deepened the kiss.

They couldn't seem to stop, their hands roaming, their breaths mingling as they lost themselves in each other. The rest of the world faded away, leaving only the warmth and intensity of the moment between them.

Every kiss, every touch, spoke volumes about how much they wanted and needed each other. The line between emotion and desire blurred, and neither of them cared to stop it.

For now, there was only them—Louis and Maria, completely consumed by the connection they shared, the consequences of their actions the last thing on their minds.