Across the Hall

Chapter 8

    Niall noticed just how much Texas felt like home that next morning at breakfast. Liam was standing in the kitchen; the only guest he knew that was up earlier than his hosts, and cooking for them. Harry had the radio on low, humming along with one of the country stations he'd found. Niall pulled himself out of his chair, holding onto the kitchen bar to keep him steady. 

     "Should you really be doing that?" Harry warned, watching the way Niall's legs wobbled and threatened to buckle beneath him. He knew having the surgeries was going to be tough on his best mate, but he worried that Niall was pushing himself too hard, desperate to get better and feel more normal.

     "Glen said it was alright if I balanced against something. If it hurts, I'll quit it. Besides, there's not room for me and Leemo in the kitchen, and it smells delicious." Leave it to Niall to be thinking about his stomach more than his own safety and well being. Liam smiled to himself, flipping another pancake in the pan. He missed these boys. Being back in London with Louis and Zayn was alright, and he loved them just the same, but it was hard being with them as well. Liam was the middle member of the band. Louis and Zayn took him under their wings, but Niall and Harry always looked up to him, even if Niall was only two weeks younger than him. 

     "When's the last time you talked to your family, Niall? When is Denise due anyways?"

    "I was on Skype with them just the other night. And Gracie should be here around the New Year."

    "Did you happen to mention to Maura about Whit? She seemed to like her, from the little bit I got to see." Harry inquired, settling into one of the barstools beside Niall.

    "Yeah. She's over the moon, telling me she tol' me so and what not. Wants me to bring her home for Christmas."

       "Are you?"

    "Ahem. Hello. Payno in the kitchen here. Clueless." Liam's thick eyebrows were raised in confusion, matching Harry's.

     "You know, Whitney. Niall's girlfriend?"

    "NIALL HAS A GIRLFRIEND?!" Liam spat, his coffee spilling onto the counter.

    "Yeah, she's best friends with Harry's girlfriend, Annie."

   "YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND TOO?" Niall stifled a laugh while taking in Liam's wide chocolate eyes.

   "Have we really not told you? I could have sworn I had." Harry muttered, taking a sip of his coffee.

    "Well you haven't. I'm offended. But, am I going to meet these mystery ladies anytime soon?" Liam scoffed, turning back to the oven to scoop out the eggs he was making. Of course, Niall got the biggest plate; it kept him from "sampling" theirs. 

    "I think Annie said last night they're supposed to be out all day. Least that's what she told me when I called her last night." Harry shrugged, sipping on the piping hot coffee he'd just poured himself.

    "That's right. Whit did tell me earlier this week they wanted to get ready for their Halloween party." Niall remembered, biting into a piece of bacon.

    "Which means we need to go costume shopping." Liam offered, furrowing his brows when Niall frowned.

    "I dunno. It's not like I can be James Bond in a wheelchair, or on crutches. I don't just wanna be something boring." 

    "Finish eating, and then we'll go look. I'm sure we can find you something."

    Walking around the Halloween store was something Niall had forgotten how much he enjoyed. Ever since they'd made it big on the show, they'd hardly ever been to really shop, even for costumes. He watched from his chair, Liam behind him, pushing his chair along, while Harry darted around, going from gory to cute to just completely weird outfits. One particular costume caught Niall's eye, a small smile threading his lips.

     "D' you think Whitney could pull off Alice?" he wondered aloud, glancing again at the light blue shiny fabric.

     "Why, do you want down her rabbit hole?" Liam teased, Niall facepalming himself.

    "Not you too, Payne. Harry's already starting in."

    "Awh, lighten up, Nialler. I was just picking. You should text her, and see. I bet you could pull off the Mad Hatter whether you're in your chair or in crutches." The spark in Niall's eyes made them the bluest the pair had seen since they found out they had their first number one hit. His calloused thumbs swiped furiously across his phone's screen, small mutters of curse words as auto correct messed with his words. Suddenly he looked up, beaming.

   "She said yes!"

   "Jesus, Nialler. It's not like she's agreed to marry you. Yet. She's just agreed to matching costumes." Harry teased, sticking his tongue out at the blonde. Niall just shrugged, the smile on his face not going anywhere. Two hours later, the three of them had left with enough goodies to decorate both flats, not to mention their costumes.

    It was while Harry was sticking up the last pumpkin cut out of his latest packet when he heard the two giggles he knew very well. Looking over at the clock, green letters glared back at him "7:30".  Not too late for dinner, which he knew they hadn't eaten. Whitney was very much like Niall, snacking all throughout the day, but they would rarely eat before they came home. Opening the door, he saw Annie digging through her purse for her keys, Whitney peeking behind her, blowing into her wind chapped hands.

     "You know, there's room for you lot in here. It's nice and warm already. And I've got someone you should meet." Harry grinned, Annie jumping at the sudden sound of his voice.

    "Hey. Didn't know you were home." she greeted, kissing him quickly, before coming in, Whitney following not far behind.

    "I take it these two are your mystery women?" Liam mused, dusting his hands off before standing beside Harry.

    "Let me guess. This is Annie, and this one with the rosy cheeks is Whitney."

    "Did you see me kiss her, Payne?" Harry chuckled, taking Annie's coat and hanging it up. Niall smiled at his own girlfriend as she slid her shoes off, sitting down beside him, snuggling into his side.

   "I missed you." he whispered, kissing her head, still cool from being outside.

   "I missed you more." she whispered back, playing with the patch of his Ireland shirt.

    "Not possible, silly girl." he laughed, the feeling creeping up on him that something wasn't right.

    "You're being awfully quiet tonight. You alright?" Niall asked her, frowning a bit more when her only reply was a quick nod.

    "She's been like that all day." Annie spoke up from the kitchen, "but then again, we were up kinda late last night." she giggled, even a small smile finding its way onto Whitney's face. Niall still watched her with concern, knowing something more than lack of sleep was wrong with his girl.

    "You hungry?" he mumbled back, twisting a strand of her shoulder length blonde hair around his fingers. She just shook her head, hiding her face in his shirt. Niall pouted, nudging her to sit up and look at him.

    "Let's go for a lie down then, shall we? We can finish that season of Doctor Who." she nodded, prying herself off him, walking slowly into his room.

   "I thought you hated that show." Liam asked, brow arched.

    "She loves it. And I think...I think I love her. I don't think she's feeling too spectacular tonight, so I'm gonna see if I can get her to sleep. Save me a plate, yeah?" Niall asked, before heading into his room, finding his pitiful looking girlfriend already under his big blanket. This might be a long night.