That was the summer I met Niall

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

It was the most breath taking night I had seen since I had arrived and I was sitting up on my window ledge watching the stars. The milky lane was visible and the full moon was extremely bright and was reflecting off the calm ocean.

I had visited Niall again that day. He seemed better and was ready to go to the beach, but I had refused and told him to stop being stupid and get back in bed. So we spent the day talking and kissing in his room. We didn’t talk about the end of summer as it was a subject neither of us wanted to touch on, but I knew was also playing in his mind.

I sighed and carefully climbed off the window ledge, walking over to my neatly made bed I pulled the covers off and climbed in between the duvet and crisp white sheet. I wasn’t tired but I had nothing better to do then sleep, so I shut my eyes for several minutes before sighing and opening them. Getting up I walked back over to the open window and looked out at the moon reflecting on the water. Movement below caught my eye and I scanned the lawn that was covered in darkness. My eyes landed on a figure, tall, blonde, Niall.

I smiled and looked at him in confusion, waiting for him to speak.

“Ava!” He called, in a loud whisper.

I giggled and waved, causing him to take a step closer on the lawn.

“Sneak out with me.”

I laughed at the thought of rebelling against my parents, then thought more seriously. I was young and inlove, so grabbing my hoodie, I slide slowly out the window and climbed quickly down the roof, sliding down a pole on the porch and landing in front of Niall who pulled me into a hug.

“Where are we going?” I questioned, quietly as we began to walk across the dark lawn.

“Boardwalk I think.”

“You think?” I asked, raising my eyebrow and looking at him.

“The night is young, Ava, let’s just go with the flow, okay?” he replied, throwing his arm around my shoulder and quickly kissing my cheek.

I smiled at his carefree disposition as we walked along the damp sand towards the colourful lights in the distance.

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“Yes! Yes! Yes!” I cheered, as Niall tossed the last ball into a hoop.

He had been trying to win me a stuffed toy for the last half hour and I was relieved his determination finally paid off.

“Which one do ya’ want?” the carnival worker asked, chewing gum as he spoke.

Niall looked at me, waiting to hear my choice.

“Surprise me.”

I looked away as I heard Niall directing the worker to the fluffy toy of choice and waited until he nudged me. Turning around, I grinned. Niall had selected a medium sized blue dolphin that I had been eyeing the whole time Niall had been playing.

“Niall!” I squealed, throwing my arms around his neck and kissing him. “Thank you! I love it!”

Niall grinned at my response and handed me the stuffed dolphin proudly.

I hugged it closely and smiled at him.

“I’m going to call him….”

I thought for a moment.

“Fynn.” I said, finally.

Niall laughed and kissed the side of my head as we began to walk through the crowds of people.

“Want to get cotton candy?” I asked, talking some money out my pocket. Niall nodded before ordering two.

I observed Fynn while we waited. He had a grey belly and a light blue back, that was curved slightly, as if he was diving. His eyes were black and he was smiling. I held the animal close, looking over at Niall who was paying the man for the cotton candy.

“Niall!”

He swung around and looked at me, confused.

“What’s wrong, babe?”

I blushed. This was the first time he had referred to me as ‘babe’.

“I suggested cotton candy! I am paying!” I scolded, handing the money to the man.

Niall snatched it up, laughing, and put it back in my pocket.

“Well, I already paid, so ha!” He teased.

I scowled at him and folded my arms.

“You don’t need to buy me everything.”

“Babe, I’m the one who invited you on this sneak-out date, therefore I pay.”

I leaned in and kissed him right on the mouth, then thanking the man as I took the cotton candy, took Niall by the hand and led him down to the beach that would lead us home.

“So what is it like living in Pennsylvania?” Niall asked, pulling a huge piece of cotton candy off the stick and attempting to put it all in his wide-open mouth.

“Boring. We never know any of the latest news, whose hot, whose not.”

“Like celebrities?”

‘Yes. And everyone knows each other and stuff.”

“It’s like that in Mullingar. It’s like you can never do anything crazy or different without people judging you.”

“Exactly! Like, this one time, I had a Dalmatian and I was judged terribly for naming him Stripes, can you believe it!”

Niall laughed sarcastically.

“But, seriously, I know what you mean.” I continued. “It’s like you have to remain the person you grew up as, and who people expect you to be, instead of yourself. Even people who aren’t from my town judge. I guess it’s like that everywhere, huh?”

“Not with you.” Niall said, quietly as he looked down at his feet walking on the sand.

I took his hand in mine, urging him to continue.

“It’s like, it’s like you know everything about me, everything I have hidden from the world, but you love it anyway. Every flaw, every habit, like the way I tap my foot when I’m sitting down, you never complain! Or my obsession with Bryan Adams. You love him too! Ava, it’s like you are my missing piece.” He finished, turning and facing me, causing me to stop walking.

For once in my whole life I had no words, so taking the moment as it came, I reached up and pulled his beautiful face down to mine and kissed him. I kissed him like I had never kissed anyone before. I kissed him like it was my very first, yet very last. I took every emotion I had and poured it into that kissed. Then pulling away, I kept my eyes shut, leaning my forehead on his, and breathing in his familiar smell.

“I love you.” I whispered.