Parenting

Chapter Thirty One

-Christine's POV-

The junk food and movie night still happened, but Niall was still reminising over what happened. I guess I had to say something.

Putting the whip cream down, I turned to the boy behind the other side of the kitchen putting the chips, chocolate and lollies into bowls. "Niall?"

I whispered though he didn't respond. Daring to walk closer, I cleared my throat.

"Niall." He stopped what he was doing and just froze. I watched him eventually put the chope packet down and run his hands through his hair.

Then he turned to me and we held immediate eye contact. His body faced mine and he stepped forward before pulling me into his chest. The gesture caught me off guard, but I still found myself returning it.

His silence made me worried as he hid his face in my hair, inhaling it.

"W-why-"

"I thought it was obvious." Was his response making my grip tighten on his shirt. "I thought it had been obvious for a while now." What was he talking about?

Niall pulled back and took my face into his hands as he looked over it. My gaze tore downwards as I heard Niall sigh and put his forehead on mine.

"I like you Christine." His words had me tense as my breath hitched.

"B-but," I choked out, "w-we... friends?" My words muddled.

"I thought so to." Niall kissed my forehead and leant back holding our locked gaze. "But I've realized that I need you. I need you more than my hurt in the past and more than I had ever wanted."

His lips brushed mine for a peck catching me off guard.

"Since the day we met and when I began to get to know you, there's been this feeling in the pit of my stomach. But me being selfish, I pushed it away and kept you distant. B-but I can't anymore!"

His confession had me awe struck. No ones ever confessed to me before.

"Christine I want you with me. To let me be the one to take care of you. I don't want anybody treating you like shit or any guy looking at you or touching you or raping you with his eyes-"

"Niall." I stopped him with a slight giggle.

"What I'm trying to say is," I knew exactly what he was trying to say, "will you be my girlfriend?" My smile spread as his thumbs caressed my cheekbones. "I know it sounds cheesy and old, but I mean it. I want to be labelled your boyfriend. I trust you Christine."

"Y-ye-"

Was I ready for this? To be Niall's actual girlfriend? I mean we've come a long way in such a short amount of time. This was a big step I was about to take. Let's hope I know what I'm getting myself into.

"Yes." I breathed stepping onto my tippy toes and letting our lips brush. Niall held the back of my neck and returned the kiss as his hands rested around my lower back. This was all I needed right now.

• • •

Spending the first night together as a couple was kind of ironic since this was my last night here.

Niall had me tucked into his side with my legs draped over his lap. His right hand caressed my outer leg as his other wrapped around my neck.

His lips pressed a kiss to my forehead again tonight for the hundredth time as I kept the bowl of chocolate in my lap with the lollies beside me.

"Christine," Niall whispered as I hummed in response, "can I ask you something?"

"Yeah." My head rested against his chin as he deeply breathed out in a relaxing manner.

"I was thinking about flying over to Australia in a few days to watch some rugby," sounds about right. That's all that boy ever watches on TV, "and I want you to come with me."

What?

My eyes must have been the size of the bowls in front of us as Niall chuckled, lingering a kiss on my hairline.

"A-Australia?" I've never been there before. Oh my god; Niall Horan just offered me a chance to go to Australia. How the fuck do I respond to that.

"Yes and yes darling." Oh shit, did I ask out loud?

"I..." The excitement bubbled inside me as I hid my face on Niall's shoulder. He laughed and stroked my hair as I finally nodded. "Of course."

Niall tilted my chin up. "That's a yes?" The excitement grew in his eyes as well.

"Shit yes." I breathed as he grinned widely and moulded our mouths. This was amazing.

William, Niall and I can fly down to Australia and I can look around. Explore. Go to their food restaurants and compare cultures.

All this literally took my breath away as I began to cry. Niall sat up properly and pulled me into his chest as he rubbed the back of my neck.

"I know this is a bad time," he lightly joked, "but I want to ask something else." Is he gonna surprise me with a jet plane now? "Don't leave tomorrow. Stay here with me. Even until it's until we leave to Australia."

His plump lips kissed around my whole forehead.

"Will you?" I nodded again, looking down and putting more chocolate into my mouth.

I mumbled through my food and looked back at the movie, wanting cry, eat, scream and laugh at the same time.