Stranded

Chapter 49: Bargains

I've honestly written 600 words earlier but Wattpad got crappy again and Liz's perfect POV was gone like poof. Darn you, Wattpad.

Liz's POV

This has been the greatest summer of my life, but like most beautiful things, it has to end.

I'm going back to my quiet little neighborhood tomorrow with things I never had before. And I don't mean material possessions by that. I was talking about the friendship I found without actually seeking for it.

Before all those crazy dreams, I was alone. I had no friends aside from my sisters. For the first time in my whole life, I have friends other than them.

And I am ever so lucky to have Niall James Horan as my best friend.

He asked me to hang out with him today so he could show me something he had been working on. I felt giddy, of course, since even if he is now my best friend, he is still Niall Horan. I agreed, thinking that I had to make most of the last days of my stay in London.

I am braver now. Niall inspires me to be stronger. I've seen him handle the hate during my short stay. He's human, too, and although he looks quite tough, he cries.

I've seen him shieldless. He has put his guard down around me. He gave me access to be with him at his weakest times. It is hard to see a dear friend hurt, but it feels great that he trusts you to make him feel even just slightly better.

I took away my huge framed glasses and put on contact lenses. I tried to dress very casually, but the inner diva inside of me could not just help but wear an overwhelming outfit. So much for trying not to make Niall seen by paps. But hey, better get caught looking like Rihanna.

Niall picked me up from Vicky's flat, where all the girls stayed absolutely for free, at exactly nine in the morning. He was surprised of how I'm dressed, which was exactly what I had anticipated.

"Wow." He just said, taking off his sunglasses, once I came to the door. As always, he was just in a plaid shirt, jeans and some kicks.

"Is that a bad wow or a good one?" I gave him a nervous smile. My hands are cold, numb and shaky. I'll never be used to being around Niall.

"A good one." He smiled, held my cold, numb and shaky hand, and lead me to his car.

We drove to their recording studio talking about random stuff. When we arrived at the place, Niall immediately introduced me to the staff as his best friend and not as a fan. My smile just could not hide my pride.

He went inside the recording space, holding his trusty guitar. He told me earlier that he had practised singing and playing a song I would like. His efforts made me grin sheepishly as he started strumming a tune I know very well.

I promise, I swear...

He was singing Cher Lloyd's Oath like it was the anthem of our friendship, and it made my heart flutter. It has not been the longest friendship he has, but he considers me as his best friend.

Wherever you go, just always remember,
That you got a home, for now and forever,
And if you get low, just call me whenever,
This is my oath to you...

We've established a strong relationship even in such a short while. We've promised to be there for each other. I'm aware that he has to go on tour again and I have to go back to school, but we promised each other that we'll make do.

Even if we don't have time, we'll make time. That's what friends are for, right? And no matter how busy our schedules are, we'll always keep in touch with each other.

We have agreed that even though there will be oceans, continents, mountains and a thousand miles between us, we will stick together.

Niall takes quick glances at me as he sings and strums his guitar.

Wherever you go, just always remember,
You're never alone, we're birds of a feather,
And we'll never change, no matter the weather...

He smiled at me with a twinkle in his eyes, an invitation to sing the last line of the song with him.

This is my oath to you!

☀☀☀

Erin's POV

I woke up feeling okay today, which is quite weird. Lately, the stuff they have been making me take make me so dizzy and nauseous that I always woke up groggy.

Bizarrely, there is no one inside my hospital room but me. I looked around for any note that my grandma might have left but I found none. The weirdest thing is, my Macbook, Jax, is on my bedside table. I'm pretty sure I left her in America.

I helped myself sit up and grabbed Jax, excited because I missed her so much. After hugging my Macbook, I turned her on, only to realize that today is my eighteenth birthday.

Sigh. It's been quite a long eighteen years.

When I was first diagnosed with leukemia, the doctors thought I had a very short time left to live, since technology before was not as advanced as it is now. A year later, they found ways to extend my lifetime, but there were buts.

They worked things out as hard as they could, until they could not do anything anymore.

And then my doctor told me that I'd only live until the age of eighteen.

I've been praying for so long for God to extend my life. I haven't lost hope nor faith in Him, but on my seventeenth birthday, I prayed for something else.

I've prayed for another five years on the earlier years, but on my seventeenth birthday, I prayed that I could meet One Direction before I die.

Fate fulfilled my prayers, but I didn't expect to meet them this way. I was thinking of a normal meeting, concert or maybe a meet and greet, but not this way. But yeah, this is way better than anything I have ever imagined.

Just as I finished saving a word document that I plan to post in my blog soon, Harry entered the room with the boys and the rest of my new found friends. Grandma Ellen, Vicky, Tania and Lorie followed them, holding containers full off food and drinks.

"Happy birthday, Erin..." Harry lead the singing as he walked towards my bed, holding a chocolate cake in his large hands. My lips broke into a smile in an instant. "Happy birthday, Erin."

Everyone greeted me a happy birthday, hugging me and giving me a few presents.

"Thank you." I bit my lip to prevent myself from smiling too much.

Harry let me blow the eighteen candles on my birthday cake, asking me to make a wish, but I highly doubt if I could wish for something greater than this.

I closed my eyes as I thought of my wish. Smiling once I have thought of it, I blew the candles.

"Happy eighteeenth birthday, Erin." Harry whispered to me.

I felt his soft lips kiss me on the cheek gently, my smile growing wider at his gesture.