In Other Words (Niall Fanfic)

Chapter Twenty Six

Roxy’s POV

Despite having not set an alarm, I woke up at my usual time. I lay in my bed dozing in and out for an hour, instinctually reaching for my phone twice to check for my usual good morning text from Niall. There wasn’t one. He was following through on his promise.  Today would be like he and I had never even met. Well, with one exception: He was letting me borrow his car so I could run around with Vanessa and Penny today, and get us all to and from the show tonight without having to deal with the Tube.

The kettle whistled and I pushed my laptop on to the couch and hopped up to turn off the stove. “Cuppa tea, Penny?” I shouted.

“No thanks.” Came her reply from behind her closed bedroom door. I figured she’d be up my ass this morning, considering how excited she’s been about the concert. But, rather than go investigate, I decided to relish in the silence, dick around on the internet, and finish my tea.

I tidied up the kitchen and dried my hands on the tea towel before knocking twice on Penny’s door and throwing it open without waiting for permission. “Hey. We’re leaving to grab Vanessa and hit the mall in an hour.  You gonna get up and brush your teeth?” I said.

Penny closed her laptop and tossed it into her mess of blankets before turning on her side to face me, her blonde hair in a wild knot atop her head. “I’m not up for the mall, Rox. Can you just pick me up here before the show?”

 I leaned against the doorframe and crossed my arms. “What’s going on, Pen?” I said. It was highly suspect that Penny would take a pass on the opportunity to shop. “We’ve been planning this for weeks. Now you don’t want to go get a crazy outfit with Vanessa and I?”

“It’s just that…” Penny started. She sat up on the edge of the bed. “You guys are going to be talking the whole time about your boyfriends. And I’m going to feel left out.”

“That’s not even true.” I said. “Plus, even if we did talk about them, might I remind you that you have a boyfriend, too? So, I’m not really sure why you feel like you’d be left out.” 

“It’s not the same.” She said, rolling her eyes.

 I was growing a little annoyed that she was doing this right now, and I have always had a very low tolerance for these whiny, pot-stirring, and superficial problems.  “It’s only different if you make it that way.” I said, turning for my room. “And I really wish you wouldn’t.”

I grabbed my bag from the floor and tossed it over my shoulder. Taking Penny’s closed door as a confirmation that she hadn’t managed to put on her big girl panties, I headed out for Vanessa’s without my roommate. I found Niall’s car parked behind my building where he promised it would be, having dropped it off late last night after he was done with rehearsals.  I stared for a moment at the keypad on the door, trying to remember the code, and pressed in the five digits. I was relieved to get it right on the first try.

The envelope with three tickets was right where he said it would be, his handwriting on the flap.

 Can’t wait to watch you watch me.  -N

Bloody rule breaker.  I slipped on his bracelet that he’d left in the cup holder and reached under the seat for the keys. I was pretty confident in my ability to navigate London. However, my experience was limited to walking and public transit. Driving through the city streets was proving very stressful, and I passed the turn-off for Josh’s place twice before finally pulling up in front of their building to find Vanessa already outside waiting.

“Sorry.” I said sheepishly as she climbed into the passenger seat.

“No worries.” She said. “Where’s your roommate?”