Here For You (A Niall Horan Fan Fiction)

Chapter 1

You know those stories you see on the news, about the sob stories who have nothing right happen in their life? Well. This is my story.

A year or two ago, I'd have the thought in my head that I had a simple life, just a girl living in Ireland, with a somewhat normal family and loving friends. I thanked God almost everyday for the life I had. But unfortunately, I was born a person who would have a rug placed under them for that rug to eventually get pulled out from under me, knocking me down back to point A. The only true good thing I had in my life was my best friend, Niall Horan. Our mom's grew up being best friends, so naturally, after I was born, Niall and I have been inseparable.

I'm not friends with that many girls.. mainly because I'm always with Niall and his guy friends. I've actually always had the sneaking suspicion most of the girls hated me, including any of Niall's girlfriends. Especially Niall's girlfriends. But he'd always brush that suspicion off my mind and say it's just mere jealousy that they cant be, and I quote, "as fucking cool as you are, Cara."

I've had to comfort him through his oh-so-many heartbreaks.. I rarely needed comforting.. I'm rarely chased by guys, just one or two suitors I've had in the past. And no matter how they ended, Niall's always been there within 5 minutes of the breakup with his emergency snack basket in hand. But it wasn't heartbreak or anything even close to that that was the reason that I would soon need comfort. No, it was something much. worse.

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I can remember the exact date. The exact time. Every word that was said. Every movement. Everything. We had just gotten out on break and Niall walked me home, as usual. 15:38. I invited him in for a quick bite to eat, knowing he wouldn't be able to resist. We walk into the kitchen to find my father at the dining table red in the face, whiskey in hand. The air around him reeked of the smell of the alcohol. 3:41pm. I looked over to see a tear stained, cumpled up paper. I reached to pick it up, my dad trying to hide it at the last minute, but I snatched it up just in time. I stared at it in disbelievement. He had been laid off from work. 3:45pm.

You might be thinking, "Eh, so what? People get laid off everyday. There are new jobs around every corner!" No. That's not how it works. Not in this economy. As I stood in the kitchen, letter in hand, a million thoughts ran through my head.

"What are we going to do?"

"How are we going to survive?"

"Mom doesn't work.."

"How long until we're out on the streets?"

"How many part time jobs will I have to get?"

The list goes on..and on...and on. Dad just got up from the table and walked out the door, going to the pub, no doubt. Niall grabbed my elbow and spinned me around to face him. My vision got blurry, the tears burning in my eyes.

"Cara, what's wrong?" I hand him the paper and he quickly scans it before he pulls me into a hug.

"Everything-I will make everything alright. I promise you that." I don't speak, the lump in my throat holding back all words. I just bury my head deeper in his chest and let the sobs come out. Eventually the sobs give me a migrane, so I broke away from Niall and walk over to the medicine cabinet. I made sure I picked out the strongest pain killers and the most evil thought crossed my mind. But it left as soon as it came. I found myself to be too prideful to take the easy way out. I took out the usual two tablets and knocked them back with a glass of water.. I heard a new pair of feet walking in the room. 4:02pm.

I turned around to see my mother walking in the kitchen, her eyes puffy and a large red handprint on her cheek. Looks like dad got to her again.. She eyed the painkillers, then moved her eyes to meet mine. Niall decided to break the silence.

"M-Mrs. Leary," he stuttered

"I am so sorry about your husband's job..." Mom raised her hand to signal him to stop talking while he can. She went to one of the kitchen drawers and started rummaging around in it, pulling things out, shuffling things around in it, until she found what she was looking for. She stood there staring down in the drawer for a few seconds until she finally turned to Niall and I, her famous fake grin plastered on her face. After a couple of dad's "accidental" drunken beatings, she learned to perfect the fake grin. Almost to the point where it's believable.

She went to her purse and pulled out her wallet, pulling out a couple pounds and shoving them into Niall's hands.

"Ni, why don't you take Cara out for something to eat, hmm? Here. I've got you covered." Niall very kindly declined the money, insisting he pay for our dinner with his own money.

And with that, we were rushed out of the house, but not before my mother pulled me into an abnormally long hug. She kissed my cheek and said the usual 'I love you' and she waved us out the door. I wish I would've stayed. 4:19pm.

We walked to the closest McDonald's, I thanked God. I had been craving hamburgers all day! We stayed in there for about an hour, completely pigging out. One reason Niall and I were best friends was because I was the only person to challenge him to an eating contest. And win. Ever since then, I've had Niall's full respect. He did his best to try and put even the slightest smile on my face, anything to get my mind off that letter. I'm not going to lie, a couple of times he succeeded. Especially when he sang "Hero" by Gabriel Iglesias, in his creepy Gabriel Iglesias imitation. But no matter what he'd do, I couldn't get the words from the letter being replayed in my mind.

"We are very sorry for the inconvenience, but due to the present day economy this company is forced to let some employees go. Although you are a very treasured and hard working worker of this company, we must let you go..." I laid my head on the table, trying to get the words out of my head, Niall rubbing my back in the process. Then I felt my phone vibrating the table. 4:59pm.

It was a strange number I've never seen before. I answered, "Hello?" "Cara Leary?" A deep voice said on the other end. "This is she.." "Yes, this is Chief Graves with the Mullingar police. I'm very sorry to inform you, but your mother has passed away." 5:02pm.