In Other Words (Niall Fanfic)

Chapter Six

Chapter Six 

Roxy’s POV

“Dammit.” I muttered as I tugged on the handle of the large steel door at the back of my building. The door had locked behind me. I had forgotten to prop it open as I took out the trash and recycling.  I let out a groan and began the embarrassing walk the front of my apartment building. I hadn’t bothered with shoes to take the trash down the back staircase, and now I was gingerly tiptoeing through the alley way, hoping to avoid needing a tetanus shot.  The sun was beginning to set, and I was grateful for an end to this long day, the first part of which was spent working an event at Bishops Park and finished up with the usual Sunday routine of tidying up the flat, laundry and trash removal.  I took the stairs up from the lobby to find that Penny’s returned.

“Hey Roxy. Howsa going?” she asked as she sat cross-legged on the freshly swept floor and sorted through the laundry basket of random stuff I’ve collected from around our place and labeled ‘Penny’s Problem’. 

“Living the dream, friend. Living the dream. I managed to lock myself out back after taking out the trash. I am pretty sure I’ve contracted the plague in our alley.” I paused. “Is it still too soon for plague jokes? You English types can be quite sensitive.” I added.

“Hey, I thought it was my turn for Rubbish Duty. I would have taken it out, Rox.” She said without commending me on my zinger.

“No biggie, Pen. It was just the last thing that needed to be done before I could take my bra off, sit down on the couch and zone out to the television for the next two to five hours.” I explained. “So, I just did it. Maybe you can unload the dishwasher when it’s finished? I’m going to hop in the shower.” I didn’t wait for an answer, as she’d found the issue of Cosmo that came in the mail this week and I threw in her basket. She was deeply engrossed in discovering “The Secrets of Male Arousal”.

After my shower, I flexed my skills at multi-taksing as I Skyped with my parents (who yammered on about the weather and what funny things their dog had done) as I finished folding my clean laundry. Finally, it was time to toss my feet up on the coffee table and clear out the DVR.  Penny occupied the other half of our couch silently, now having moved on to “The Seven Best Orgasm Tricks in the World” occasionally letting out a “huh” or a “yeah, right”.

Ten minutes into Doctor Who, my phone buzzed, rattling the coffee table under my feet. I eye the screen. It’s Niall. I quickly glance at Penny, who is nosily peering over the edge of the magazine. “I decided you have not yet paid your debts to me despite your delicious offering.” It read. I quickly responded “Oh? You have?” and placed the phone down beside me.

“Whooo is that?” Penny questioned. “Oh, just some lame guy I met at the club on Friday. I must have been buzzed enough to give him my real number.” I said smoothly. “You know how to pick ‘em.” She replied, nose back in the magazine.

“Have supper with me.” The next message read.

I turned the volume up a notch on the TV in hopes that Penny wouldn’t notice my fingers hitting the screen on my phone as I replied “Are you asking me out on a date?”

“It does appear that way.”

“Niall my dear, what kind of a girl do you take me for? If you’d like to ask me out, you’ll need to give me a proper phone call. Texting takes all of the magic out of it, don’t you think?” I sent, hoping he’d sense both my excitement and my sarcasm.

“Late one tonight, love. Can I call you after ten? Will you be awake?”

“Just because I am a tad old-fashioned, doesn’t mean I’m geriatric. Of course I will be awake.” I reply and go back to my show, the butterflies rising in my abdomen. I finish and erase the Doctor, and offer the remote to Penny. She happily turns on E!and tosses her feet on the table next to mine. As Fashion Police wraps up, I say “I’m packing it in early tonight.”  I stand and take a little stretch. Penny blows me an air kiss and said “Goodnight, Roxy.”

Niall’s POV

The hot wash towel feels like heaven on my face, as I scrub for the second time, trying to remove the last remnants of makeup from the day’s photo shoot. I haven’t got time for a shower before my scheduled phone call, and they’ve used waterproof mascara which I can’t manage to get it off without taking out half my eyelashes. I’ve been at this for a number of years now, and it still amazes me the process involved in taking a couple of photos. My ears. I have makeup on my ears, I remember as I rinse the cloth for another pass.

I snag my mobile off the bed and head out to the balcony. The air is cool, and refreshing. I call up Roxy’s info on the screen and let out a breath before bringing it to my squeaky clean ear.

“Hi Niall.” She said in an even but cheery tone.

“Hi, how are ya? Ya doin’ okay?” I say as I hear her let out a small giggle.

“You always say that. How are ya, ya doin’ okay?” She teases, impersonating my accent and fast speaking pace.

“Do I?” I ask, full well knowing her observation is correct. “Shall I start over, then?”

“No, no. That won’t be necessary. I am doing fine; cozied up in my bed now, happy to be unexpectedly chatting with you.”

“Why so unexpected? I thought we had a good time last night. There’s no reason I shouldn’t be giving you a call. Unless..you don’t have yourself a boyfriend do ya? Or did I do something stupid?”

She laughed again, and said “Oh no, it’s not that at all. It’s just that I stopped by the library today and someone had already checked out their copy of Mingling with Famous Folks, so I am going to have to ask you for some direction here. I just figured you probably have a number of people coming into your life that try to stick around when you’d rather just see them on their way.”

“That’s very true.” I responded. “But something feels different about you, and maybe it’s something you put in those biscuits, but I’d like a chance to get to know you.” She cleared her throat loudly, waiting for my formal declaration. “Roxanne, would you care to join me for an evening meal in the near future, for which I will make arrangements as well as fund, as these are the necessary components of what is commonly considered ‘a date’?”

Again with her laugh. She had no witty retort and simply replied “I’d love to.” I spent more time on the phone that night than I had in the past two months total. Roxy was so animated in her storytelling, it was enchanting. We carried on talking until my face was hot from the heat of my mobile and the dreaded dead battery beep was looming.  I could almost feel her eyelids growing heavy as her voice grew softer.  

“Go to sleep now.” I said

 “Okay.” she whispered.  “Hey Ni…”

Her calling me that made a smile creep across my face. “Yeah?”

“Thanks for calling. I never would have had the guts.”

I paused for a moment, not wanting to press ‘end’. “Goodnight” I said softly.

“’Nite.” She said and I held the line listening to her breathe for a few moments. I realized she didn’t want to hit that button either. Knowing that was all I needed, as I tapped the screen which faded to black.