Across the Hall

Chapter 2

     Niall knew two things waking up from surgery on that blustery Monday morning. First, his legs felt like two huge jelly toys, flopped there at the foot of his bed. Second, painkillers left the worst cotton mouth he'd ever experienced, even after all his prior experiences with alcohol and cigarettes.

"There's my boy." Maura cooed, watching his eyes flutter open, lips smack together, shuffling to get comfortable. Her motherly instincts kicked in immediately; fluffing his pillows, pouring and helping him sip down a cup of water.

"The doctor's said everything went fine. Soon enough you'll be right as rain again." Her small hand gently patted the mounds of gauze surrounding Niall's knobbly knees.

"When can I go back to the apartment?" He asked, voice raspy and husky with sleep still coating his tongue.

"Tomorrow. We'll get your schedule for physical therapy, and how to take care of the incisions so you won't scar so badly." Scars. Niall hadn't thought about that. It barely bugged him enough these past few years to look at pictures of himself in shorts, seeing the odd angle his kneecap would turn. What was it going to be like with two equally jagged scars going down them? He pictured himself looking like some sort of Frankenstein, shivers running down his arms.

"I talked to everyone back home, and they send their love. Even your favorite nephew sends lots of kisses." They shared a chuckle at that, knowing just how little three year old Theo idolized his Uncle Niall. Denise was expecting his little sister in a few months' time, he hoped he'd be cleared to fly by then. Niall's chest grumbled with a yawn, confused at how he could be so exhausted after sleeping the past six hours under anesthesia. Maura reached up to kiss his forehead, her fingers nuzzling his scalp, combing through strands of honey colored hair.

"Sleep, sweetheart. Pleasant dreams." A grin slowly made its way to his lips as he let sleep overtake him, scant memories of a blonde with bubbly giggles flooding his brain.

    When he was little, Niall imagined riding around in a wheelchair, getting pushed around everywhere, not having to waste the energy to walk or run. But after thirty six hours in a bed, thirty minutes in a car, and now sititng in his new wheelchair, he'd give anything to just be able to stand again. Maura was doing the best she could with him, even if he was about twice her size. The lads had called that morning, wanting to see how their favorite leprechaun was doing. Harry had made plans to fly out at the end of the week and stay with Niall, someone that could better handle him than his Tinkerbell sized mother. He huffed in silent frustration as she fumbled with their keys outside the apartment; arms full with paperwork. Niall's lap was already full with his bag of dirty clothes, along with things he'd need for therapy around the flat. Maura cursed silently to herself, never really one to say such foul things, when he heard it.

"Here, can I get some of that for you?" the voice came from his mum's opposite side, small but confident. It had that now familiar Texan drawl, slowing down the perky delivery. Peeking around, Niall was delighted to see their savior was none other than their new neighbor, and literally, the girl of his dreams. She'd dressed a little more girly today, in skinny jeans and bright pink Converse, matching her pink hoodie covering the dark blue tank she had underneath. Niall heart was set on her, and he didn't even know her name.

"Thank you darling, that's so sweet of you!" Maura replied, passing the neighbor the stack of paperwork, now easily able to open the door. They made way for Niall to roll through before Maura, finally she came in, setting the papers on their kitchen table.

"You guys all settled in now? I know you're new around here." Niall saw the smirk on her face; she knew damned well who he was. It wasn't fair that he didn't know her as intimately. Okay. Wrong word. Tons of dirty thoughts an innuendos.

"Yes, thank you sweetie. I take it you live here as well?" Their neighbor's cheeks flushed violently, mentally scolding herself for misplacing her manners.

"Yes ma'am I do. My name's Whitney. I live across the hall with my room mate, Annie. Excuse me, but I should go. Looks like it's about to storm." Niall peered out the windows, seeing the gray skies turning blacker by the minute. With a last thanks from he and his mum, Whitney slipped out the door, Niall's heart already missing her. Maura set to making them some dinner, mainly herself, since the pills Niall took for his pain were still upsetting his stomach. He heard the clattering of cupboards banging around, wheeling himself into the kitchen to see his mum sighing in defeat.

"I can't believe I forgot." 

"Forgot what?"

"To go grocery shopping. I was planning on shopping while you were sleeping, I guess I never did. Are you sure you're not hungry, love? We can get takeout tonight." Niall's nose scrunched, pulling a cup out to pour himself some water.

"Honestly mum, I just feel queasy. Maybe by tomorrow?" Maura just nodded, patting his shoulder.

"Well then. I'm going to run to the market. If the storm comes, I'll wait it out there. Would you be alright on your own?" He rolled his eyes, knowing how his mum forgot almost constantly that he was twenty two and not three.

"Yeah mum. I figure I'll watch some telly, and then take my last pain pill before bed. I might even be asleep before you get home."

Asleep was exactly where Niall was when he heard the knocking on the door. He could have sworn he left the telly going. And the lights for that matter. Lightning crackled across the sky, helping him figure things out pretty quickly. It was his first time alone in the apartment, and now he was without power. Another knock rapped at the door, Niall maneuvering his chair to the door. Wiping the sleep from his eyes, he opened it to see Whitney's damp and bashful face.

"Shit. Fuck. You were sleeping. I shouldn't have...sorry. Dammit, I'm sorry." her shoes scuffed on the floor, desperate to get the attention away from the red pooling her cheeks and staining the tips of her ears.

"It's alright. I dozed off watching the telly. Come in, you're soaked!" He took her hand gently, backing himself up to let her in.

"I was outside reading before the storm hit. I figured since you guys were new here, you wouldn't have any bad weather supplies." He just then noticed the small battery operated lantern in her other hand, watching her place it on the coffee table, illuminating the whole room. He sat her down on the couch, wrapping her in a blanket.

"Where's your room mate?"

"Where's your mum?" she countered, and he grinned. She was a feisty one.

"Well we're here alone in the dark. Tell me about yourself. I already figured you knew all about me." She smirked, nodding in embarrassment.

"I'm twenty seven, and I'm a music journalist. Annie and I moved here a few years ago, once we could afford it." She was smaller than him, but older than him. He liked the fact he still could protect her, even if she was the same age as his brother. The two of them talked until the power came back on, blinding light shining in their faces. After helping him turn everything off, she awkwardly shuffled towards the door.

"I guess I should check up on my place, huh? Annie will be home soon, don't need a fuse blowing in there." Walking through the threshold, Niall stopped her.

"Wait. You've been really nice to me. You should come over again soon. We can do lunch or something." Please say yes, please say yes... his mind chanted. So what if he was basically a paraplegic with his mum in the apartment. He had to try.

"I'd like that. I'll see you later, Niall."