In Other Words (Niall Fanfic)

Chapter Fifty-Four

Chapter Fifty-Four 

Roxy’s POV

I kicked my slippered feet up onto the coffee table and dug into the bowl of ice cream my dad had brought back after he’d snuck off during a commercial break. I’d been home for a week now, and after the frenzy of visiting my various relatives, some more missed than others, I finally felt like I could relax. It was strange being here without Ryan, though. The dog snored lightly as I glanced at the clock on the cable box, and then turned up the ringer on my phone. I was a little anxious.

“Pull him out!” Dad yelled at the t.v. screen, the ref blowing his whistle and signaling a penalty for Icing. “They’re playing like shit.” He muttered, scraping up the last few drops of melted vanilla in the bottom of his bowl. I rose to my feet and took his empty dish along with mine into the kitchen and loaded it into the dishwasher as I heard my phone chime.

Boarding now. Sweet dreams. See you in the mornin.

I smiled as I typed out a quick reply and put my phone under my thigh and turned back to the screen. “Who was that, Annie?” my dad said.

“Dad, I’m not twelve. Don’t call me that.” I smiled. Hearing my parents use that old nickname did make me feel a bit nostalgic. “It was Niall. He’s on his way.”

“I made you, Roxy.” Dad said, yanking the wooden handle on his lounge chair, and leaning back. “I’ll call you whatever I please.”

“Gross!” I laughed. My dad smirked to himself, impressed with his quip. “You better behave in front of Niall.” 

Dad just looked at me sideways. Even though this would be the first time Ni meets my parents in-person, he’s had many a Skype chat with them. And my dad knew damned well that Niall was as foul-mouthed and as foul-minded as us Collinses. I had a feeling that when the chips fell, Niall would be teaming up with my dad in the shit-talking.

The stairs creaked beneath my feet as I climbed up toward my bedroom, popping in on mom who was sitting up in her bed with a book; her usual activity on Hockey Night. Through the window, I could see the snow begin to fall, illuminated by the crescent moon. “You may want to check the radar.” She said, looking up from her page and out the window.

“Mm.” I muttered. “”Night, Mom.”  She smiled and said goodnight, thumbing the tattered page of her well-loved novel.

I flicked off my light and climbed under the covers, opening my laptop to check the weather. “Fuck.” I said, reading the forecast. The brunt of the snowfall would be a few hours from now. I scrolled through my inbox, finding the rental car reservation and forwarded it to Niall.

Ni,

Wanted to be sure you had the reservation number. Make sure to get 4x4…they’re calling for nasty weather…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUES THE WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW… UNTIL 7 AM EST FRIDAY. * ACCUMULATIONS… TOTALS OF 12 TO 18 INCHES.* TIMING… OCCASIONAL SNOW WILL TAPER TO SNOW SHOWERS TONIGHT BEFORE ENDING FRIDAY MORNING.

Love you. Be safe.

R

I shut my laptop and tossed my glasses to the bedside table, forcing my mind to wander to any topic but Niall, sleep taking me within minutes.

Harry’s POV

The holidays had finally passed, and I returned to London. In just a few more days we’d be headed back to America, and I knew I needed to put some things in motion to ensure my return home was as I pictured it.