After (Narry Storan)

Chapter 1

"Niall!!" I hear my mom's voice call from downstairs. I groan to myself and roll out of my tiny yet comfortable bed. While neatly tucking the corners of my bed sheet into the  headboard, I take my time knowing that this will be the last morning I'll be completing this task for months.

"Niall!" She calls again.

"I'm up!" I yell back. The cabinets open and close downstairs, the sounds of her frantically preparing breakfast. The knot in my in my stomach grows with each step to the bathroom, by the time I start the shower, it's nearly unbearable. I spent the last few years nervously anticipating college. My weekends were spent studying and preparing for this day while my peers were out getting drunk, wasting their time and jeopardising their futures. The day my acceptance letter to Washington State came I was thrilled. I expected it but that didn't take any of the excitement away. My mother cried for what felt like hours , and I have to admit I was pretty proud of myself. All my hard work finally paid off. I had once considered leaving Washington for college but eventually decided against it. I like familiarity and routines just like my mother.

The hot water loosens my strained muscles, how long have I been in here? I hurry and wash my and body, carefully running a razor over the bottom half of my face, removing the small stubble that appeared over the weekend.

As I wrap a towel around my waste, my mother calls my name again. I ignore her, I know she is nervous for my arrival day at college but I have had this day planned down to the hour for months. My boyfriend Noah will be here soon to ride with my mother and I. He's one grade younger than me and for the hundredth time I mentally scold his mother for putting him in Kindergarten a year late. Noah keeps a perfect grade point average, he's brilliant and will be joining me at WSU next year. I do wish that he was coming now, especially considering that I won't know a single person at college. I just need a decent roommate, that's the only thing I'm asking for.

"Niall!"

"I'm coming, now please don't call my name again!" I yell as I walk down the stairs.

Noah is sitting at the table across from my mother dressed in a blue polo shirt and khakis, his usual attire. His blonde hair is combed and gelled to perfection.

Hey college man." He smiles a bright, perfectly lined smile while standing to pull me into a tight hug.

"Hey." I give him an equally bright smile and give him a kiss on the cheek as he releases me from his grip.

"Honey, we can wait a couple minutes while you fix your hair." My mom says quietly, running disapproving eyes over me.

I make my way over to the mirror in the hallway and nod, she's right. My hair needs to look presentable for today, and of course she didn't hesitate to remind me. She never does.

"I'll put your bags in the car." Noah offers and picks up the keys from the table. With a quick kiss on my cheek, he disappears from the room.

The butterflies in my stomach dance around as I walk to the car, at least I have two hours to make them disappear. I have no idea what college will be like, will I make friends?