Secrets

Chapter 44

*Niall's P.O.V* 

"So, Mr. Horan." Mr. Goddard said promptly crossing his leg over his thigh. He looked at me with such closeness I felt sweat beading on my brow. Caroline had gone into the kitchen with her Mother so she wasn't here to rescue me. 

Not that I needed it right now.  

"What do you do?"

"What do I do?", I repeated as in a question. He nodded waiting for my answer as I ached to find that part of my brain.

"I sing in a boy band called one direction," I cleared my throat. "Sir."

Mr. Goddard started chuckling undoing his legs and placing them on either side of the couch. He propped his feet on the coffee table and ruffled my hair.

"You didn't actually think I was one of those stereotypical 'rich-daddy's'. Did you?"

I shook my head swiftly leaving him chuckling again.

"I like you, son. You remind me of me when I was a wee teenage boy,"

"I'll take that as a compliment," I chuckled rubbing my hand on the back of my neck.

"How long will you be staying with us?"

"As long as he would like," I heard Caroline's Mum call from the kitchen.

"Well then you may as well get comfortable." I nodded willingly propping my feet on the same coffee table he had.

"Boys get your feet off the furniture," Mrs. Goddard snapped while setting the kitchen table. We both acted vigorously and continued to watch the game on the tele.  

****

"Dinner's ready," Caroline hollered from the dining room. I got up and headed towards her voice. She greeted me sweetly with a peck on my lips then sitting at the table. I sat next to her turning and grinning.

"You look nice," she had a floral dress on. I wasn't used to seeing her in such girly clothing, or that many flowers for that matter.

"Hush, it's for my mother. She's always nagging about my looks."

"Heard that," Mrs. Goddard stated sitting in the seat directly across from Caroline.

"I think you're perfect just the way you are," I whispered in her ear squeezing her thigh a bit until her Dad came in.

"Where's Derek?" Caroline quizzed.

"Sleeping, playing video games" Her Mum responded.

"Being a lazy arse." Her dad added.

We all shared a light laugh continuing the dinner. Her family was surprisingly pleasant. I was nervous for nothing, it honestly couldn't get any better. The only thing that could be taken from us is time.  

The time we have left together during the summer, then we both part ways. Caroline goes to Uni, the boys & I have constant concerts.

But she's all worth it, she's worth everything.

She is my world.

*Caroline's P.O.V*

"Phones for you," Niall handed me the telephone sitting on the sofa next to me. I put my book down in my lap that I had been absorbed in pretty much all day. We had been here for almost a week, just hanging out, going to the beach, & movies. Niall's countenance was blank and unreadable as he handed me the phone.

"Hello?" I questioned still looking at Niall's blank state as he focused on picking at his nails.

"Cassie?" A raspy voice appeared.

"Speaking,"

"It's Jack," he stated. I got up giving Niall a 'be right back' hand motion walking into the hall. I had been in my bedroom. When I got into the hall I responded willingly.

"Hey! Long time no see,"

"Yeah, sorry bout that. I passed my acuplacer."

"Really?!" I cheered pacing in the hall as I spoke.

"Yeah, you really gave me hope"

"I'm glad I inspired you." I chuckled.

"So when are you coming back from your little get away?" He quizzed sounding nervous. I could hear the constant pacing of his footsteps over the muffled phone.

"We already came back, we're at my parent's house at the moment."

"We?" He sounded defensive.

"As in Niall & I"

"Oh, right." He cleared his throat. "When will you be coming back from that?"

"Probably not until late August, why?" I walked downstairs into the kitchen looking for something good to eat, I was sure Niall was hungry.

"When can I see you?" He seemed needy. Needy to see me.

"Well, Louis & Eleanor are flying in tomorrow, you could join?"

"Maybe, I'll have to see my plans." I could feel the sarcasm.

"Okay, big boy. I'll talk to you later."

"Stay pretty," He retorted before I hung up giggling at his cheekyness. I grabbed a half eaten bag of dorritoes and greeted an unhappy Niall looking at my laptop.

"Everything okay?" I sat next to his body on the bed craining my neck to look at his view. There was a new's article reading 'Caroline Goddard, blondie 1D's new girlfriend already hunting for a new catch?' It was Jack carrying me to the car from the beach, I was drenched.

Why was this just coming popular now?

Right on cue I recieved a text from Emma complaining about the whole Jack thing.

"Niall its really not what you think," I defended placing my phone onto the side table.

"Then what were you doing? How am I supposed to believe it?" He got up from my bed pacing in front of me rubbing his temple underneath his fingers.

"Because I'm you girlfriend, I've told you everything. If there was something going on between me and Jack, which there isn't, I would tell you. We are friends thats all. He carried me back to the car because I won a game, nothing else."

"So it was a bet?" He seemed to have calmed down sitting on the edge of my bed, still fixing sad eyes onto me.

"Exactly. Niall, I love you more than anything. Some boy I barely know isn't going to get between that." I walked slowly over towards him stradling his legs and getting closer so our foreheads were touching. "I wouldn't have gaven myself to you the other night if there was another boy," I whispered. He grinned and nodded then pressing another kiss to my lips.

"Now, guess what we're doing tonight." I smiled, hopping off of his thighs.

"Oh god," He mumbled getting up from the bed.

"You're going to meet your biggest fan,"

Yes its true, Emma got to meet Niall Horan tonight and I was going to meet the boy who fell for Emma. Niall's eyes showed he was nervous yet excited to meet my best friend.

Best friends are the best judges of character.