out of the blue / n.h

Chapter 24

NIALL HORAN

I drive through the neighborhood and finally make my way to her house. I see my dad’s car parked infront of the white house. Even though I had to be forced to come here, the thought of Melanie, I am beyond thrilled. She doesn’t know I’m coming. I haven’t even spoken to her since the day I got her the stupid flower. If it’s not because of Melanie, I wouldn’t want to come.

I get out of my car and hurry myself into the house. It’s fully opened with a smell of BBQs, I scoot my way to the backyard. I search for my dad first. I see him locks his eyes on mine. His eyes are so big they almost pop out of his face. I make my way to him as he walks over to me instead of the co-workers. I search the whole room for Melanie. Where is she?

“Hey buddy, what’s all this?” He smiles rapidly.

“Yeah, I know. I know.” I roll my eyes and chuckle.

“Well, you should congratulate Mrs. Hills for her promotion. Go ahead.” He points to Mrs. Hills who is talking to other people.

I make my way to her and when she finally looks at me, she walks over to me to give me a hug. “Hey, Niall!”

“Congratulations again, Mrs. Hills.” I smile.

“Thankyou for coming!” She leads me to the bar.

“It’s a pleasure.” I grin the whole conversation.

“I doubt that you’re going to come. Your dad said so.” She shakes her head.

“Well, here I am Mrs. Hills.” I chuckle.

“Gladly you are, enjoy. I have to meet some other people.” She taps me by my shoulder and hands me a glass of wine.

“Mrs. Hills, where’s Melanie?” I look around the room to scan her face.

“Oh, let me call her a minute, darling.” She walks to her house.

“No, no, Mrs. Hills, thankyou. I will search her myself, may I?” I point down to the house.

“Sure, honey, I should go. Thankyou for coming again!” She smiles widely and makes her way to the couple of guys with polo t-shirts.

I take a gulp of the wine and walk down to the house. Her house is so tidy and perfectly the same the last time I got here. Pictures up on the wall, then paintings. I look at Melanie’s picture with Mrs. Hills when she was on her 5th birthday. I bet her dad took the photo.

The next picture is her when she was on the beach. I think she’s around 9 or 10. She was building a palace with a white sand. She was laughing as she looked at the camera. She looks very happy. And the next is her photo taken when she got her singing medal. She was around 14. She took the photo with Mrs. Hills, and the next is with a girl looked a lot like Mrs. Hills. I supposed she’s her aunt?

I look over at the painting above. It’s a painting of a baby. Why would Mrs. Hills displays such a paint like that? It’s pretty creepy and at the same time, weird. I look closer at the painting and see the sign of the artist. “Chr- Chris J. Richards.” I sense familiarity with the name. Chris Richards, Chris Richards. . . I mumble around.

“Niall?” A familiar girly voice calls me out by my name. Without my awareness, I smile timidly. I turn around to see Melanie with her casual dress. She looks a bit pale. “What- what are you doing here?” She arches her brows.

I chuckle. “Your mom invited me the other day, so.” I grin. “Really nice to meet you again.”

She nods and keeps on arching her brows. She shifts her eyes to the ground.

“Just, looking at the picture, I figured there aren’t any photos of your dad. Sorry for being creepy.” I chuckle nervously. 

She nods and smiles. She actually forces her self to smile.

“Where is he? I haven’t met your dad yet and I should, I mean—“

“He left,” He shuts her eyes, blinking rapidly. “died a long time ago.” She answers for me. She looks to the ground and turns her heels. She heads to the kitchen and grabs herself a water.