Complacent [Duplicity Niall]

Harry and Aven have finally arrived when Niall and I get back. I give her a small wave, and a nod, to show I don't hate her completely right now. Maybe even like her a little.

Why did I ever resent her again?

"Heres to Aven finally having her ass out!" Niall says, and I roll my eyes, downing my shot.

That's why, yeah, I remember now.

He keeps talking to her, asking if she's coming to his party tonight.

No one invited me to a fucking party.

I sigh, excusing myself from the cabana, pulling cigarettes from my pile of belongings I had on the ground, heading away from the others.

I push my way through the crowd, finding one of those public bathroom hut things, standing outside it by a bench and water fountain, in my bikini, giving into my lung cancer inducing habit, that I had started as a joke, once, with Louis and actually kept up.

It's called a fucking addiction Madison, like the coke, now get your shit together.

I let the cigarette burn down to the filter, flicking it into the trash before I finally push myself off the wall. The last thing I want is to get caught up in a spiral of guilt or anger or whatever the hell this is. I just need to go back. Back to where the party's happening, back to pretending everything's fine.

But as I head toward the door, I nearly collide with Niall, who's standing there like he's been waiting for me.

"Oi, where you going?" he asks, giving me that annoying smirk that always seems to follow him. His eyes are bright, clearly in party mode. He's heading out to his apartment to set everything up.

I glance at him, then look down the hallway. I don't know why I still feel like I need to distance myself from him, but I do. "Just... walking," I say, trying to sound nonchalant, but I can't ignore the knot that's already forming in my stomach.

"Don't tell me you're leaving now," he teases. "Come on, I'm throwing the best party tonight. You have to help me get things ready. You know you want to."

I roll my eyes, pretending like it doesn't get to me. "I wasn't invited to your party."

His grin falters for a second, like he doesn't know whether I'm serious or not. "You're always welcome, Madi. Don't act like you wouldn't be there anyway."

I chew on my lip, trying to figure out what I even want. Do I want to help him with this party? Do I want to be a part of this whole scene that's honestly starting to feel like one big damn joke? Or do I just want to pull away from everything and figure out who I am outside of this?

I'm too sober, I'm getting too introspective. It's exhausting.

Go set up the party with Niall, and have fun Madi. Come on.

I'm so tired of overthinking everything.

"Fine," I mutter, shoulders sagging. "I'll help."

His grin returns, wide and unbothered. "Good. I knew you couldn't resist."

And as he walks off, I can't help but wonder if I'm making another mistake by giving in to him again. And again. And again.

Because giving into him is what got me to Miami in the first place.

I coughed into my elbow, picking up the pace to catch up to him.

"My stuffs at the thingy thing," I say, snapping my fingers, not able to think of what it's called. "With Aven and the guys."

"You'll survive. I'm sure it'll be there when we get back," Niall says, glancing at me, his pace changing to match mine.

We finally get to his building, and we take the elevator up to his apartment-one of those sleek, high-rise buildings that make you feel like you're in a movie. The kind of place with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer a view of the whole city, where it feels like you're floating above everything. Niall's apartment is on the 47th floor, and I can't help but think it's a little ridiculous, how high up it is. But maybe that's just how he likes to feel, untouchable and in control.