𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲: 𝗡.𝗛.

Chapter Twenty Three

To: Lima Bean: COME TO NIALL'S APARTMENT NOW. NO EXCEPTIONS 

To: Hazzy: Sleepover tonight! 

To: LouBear: YOU. ARE. COMING. TO. MY. SLEEPOVER. TONIGHT.

To: Zaynie: Having a sleepover tonight, you are invited, it's not an optional thing.

Liam will probably freak out. He's the responsible one, that's why I didn't tell him it's a sleepover, I just love messing with him. 

"Niall!" I shout. He's in the kitchen making popcorn and other snacks for tonight. He rushes to my room like he always does, even though he should know by now that I don't call him like that when something is wrong. 

"Yes, love?" 

"When are they going to come? I'm bored." I drag out the word bored and collapse limply in his arms. He shakes his head and laughs. 

"You'll be fine to wait twenty more minutes, love." He says. Niall leaves, I'm assuming to check on the popcorn that is currently popping in the microwave and I lay down on my bed, staring at the ceiling. I don't know how long I stay like this, I don't really care. I only exit my trance or whatever you want to call it when I hear the doorbell ring. I immediately run to open it.

I see Harry, Louis and Zayn all dressed in their pyjamas holding duffel bags which I assume hold sleeping bags and pillows. Liam is the only one dressed casually and is pacing the floor, wondering what's going on. This makes me laugh and I walk over to each of the guys, whispering in each of their ears that I didn't tell Liam that it was a sleepover. By now, we are all laughing and Liam is glaring, still confused.

"It's a sleepover, Mate." Zayn eventually tells him. 

"Oh, so we are all teenage girls now?" He asks. 

"No, but I am." I say, which should be a valid explanation. I run back into the apartment and jump onto the couch.

Scrolling through the many streaming services, I eventually settle on Mean Girls. In the middle of the movie, my head finds its way to Niall's shoulder. 

I'm about to fall asleep when Harry's phone rings, interrupting my peacefulness. 

"It's Gemma." Harry says and answers, putting her on speaker.

"Harold! Why didn't you tell me that I have a niece!" She yells and everyone laughs.

"Lia's not really your niece, Gem." Harry laughs. "She's Niall's daughter and Niall's one of my best friends which kind of makes her my niece. But she isn't really yours." Harry explains. 

"Aw, but I want a niece." Gemma whines and you can hear her frown. 

"I can put her on the phone if you want." Harry gives up and hands the phone to me. I bring the phone to my ear, about to meet my 'aunt'.

***

"Hi Gemma!" I say into the phone.

"Aunt Gemma." She corrects and we all laugh. I talk with Gemma for quite a while. She's fun. I hope she comes to London soon so that we can have a girls day with more than one girl, I don't think that the guys enjoy it very much.

***

"Lia! Love, wake up." An Irish voice shouts distantly. I roll over and pull my pillow out from under my face to put it over my face.

"Dahlia, you know I don't usually wake you at this time but we'll be late." This time I actually open my eyes and sit up.

"Late for what?" I clear my throat between words.

"Oh, I don't know, maybe just the court trial in New York that could determine my custody of you and who you will be living with until you are eighteen?" Niall points out. It's not my fault I forgot, I'm not the brightest when I'm tired.

I get out of my bed and quickly make it so that I can get ready to get on the flight to New York. The flight goes by quite fast, probably because when I wasn't sleeping, I was playing Heartbreak Weather on shuffle. No headphones. Why would I? It's a private flight anyway, the only people who can hear it are myself, Niall, the pilot and other airplane staff. And they don't mind. At least, I don't think they do. They didn't say anything about it.

I grip Niall's hand tightly as we leave the airport and head down the street to the courthouse. I try to smile, pretend everything is ok. But I an tell by how tight Niall's grip is on my hand that he can see through it. He can see through my fake smile.

The court building is large and tall. I'm intimidated by it.

"It'll be alright, love. Everything will be fine. If the judge has any sense, everything will go back to how it should be. You with me. Safe. And the added bonus of your parents never being allowed near you again." Niall says reassuringly, looking straight into my eyes and I can tell he means it.

I nod slowly, trying to believe what he is saying.

But I don't.

I know my parents.

They're not the type to just give up and let go.

***

The room is dark. It's cold. I have hope, though. I have to have hope. I look up at the judge stand.

And I know.

All hope is lost.

***

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