Niall’s off from the moment the party gets mentioned. He tries to play it casual, suggesting they all just skip it this time—movie night, takeaway, anything else. The others don’t really get why he’s pushing so hard, teasing him lightly, assuming he’s just being lazy or not in the mood. When they decide they still want to go, the others insist it’ll be fun, that they haven’t all gone out together in ages Niall forces a small smile and shrugs it off, saying he’s just not feeling great anyway. That part isn’t a lie. His chest feels tight, his head cloudy, and the meds he’s been taking—the ones the boys think are just vitamins—aren’t working like they used to. Everything feels a bit too close to the surface.