Pink *Niall Horan Fan Fiction*

Chapter 17

"Transatlantic flight 323 nonstop service from New York to London will be landing in approximately 10 minutes.  Please place your trays and seats in their full, upright position.  Thank you for choosing to fly with us today and we hope you choose us in the near future."  The lady on the final leg of the journey home announces over the intercom. 

I groan and take my headphones off before sitting my seat up and untucking my legs from where they were tucked between the wall and my chest as I slept.  I got some pretty good sleep considering what all I'm going through right now.  I wait for the plane to finally touch down at Heathrow before I push my way through people to get off the plane and into the lobby where I immediately find Carmen.  Carmen has always been like my mom. 

She's been with us since before Mom died, and she's basically raised me.  I collapse in her arms and just sob for a few minutes before she convinces me we should go to the hospital. 

"Come child, your father is waiting."  She soothes, rubbing my back.  I sniffle a few times before picking up my bag and following her out to the car.  Not 15 minutes later we're pulling into the hospital parking lot and I wipe away my tears knowing that Dad isn't going to want me crying over this.  I follow Carmen out of the car and through the double doors of the hospital and up to the 10th floor ICU. 

Several doctors speak to Carmen and she quickly introduces me before continuing to drag me down the hall.  She stops in front of a room and turns to me. 

"Mr. Cowell is in very bad shape.  He has many bandages and braces and bumps and bruises and tubes running out of different places on his body.  He can only say a few words at a time and if he falls asleep in the middle of a sentence he'll just wake up a few minutes later.  I just wanted to warn you about these things before you go in."  I nod and bite my lip, preparing for the worst.  Carmen slowly opens the door and I push past her and to my dad's bedside. 

He slowly flutters his eyelids open and what I think counts as a smile crosses his lips that have a tube running out the corner of his mouth. 

"Heather."  He croaks, raising his hand a few inches off the bed to reach for mine. 

"Daddy."  I whisper, sitting in the chair beside his head and taking his hand in mine.  This hand seems to be the only thing not bandaged on his whole body.  He raises a finger to wipe away a tear that has escaped the tear-duct despite my resistance. 

"You're going to be okay, Daddy."  I whisper again, kissing his hand. 

"I love you, Heather."  He manages to get out before his head slightly turns sideways and his eyes droop closed.  I watch carefully, making sure that the heart monitor beside his bed keeps beeping and that his chest is still slightly rising and falling.  The door opens and uncle Nick appears by my side. 

"The doctors think he's going to make it, but he'll be in here a while, Heather."  Uncle Nick explains, rubbing my shoulder. 

"What exactly happened?"  I ask, sniffling and wiping away a few tears. 

"It was a drunk driver.  He t-boned your dad on the driver's side of his car while he was on his way to meet with a couple of other people he's signed.  I guess the other driver is now behind bars for a DUI and possible manslaughter or murder if your dad doesn't make it."  Uncle Nick explains, pulling up a chair. 

A week has passed before I know it and I've only left the hospital three times.  Each time Carmen and Nick practically have to pry me from my chair and they have to force food down my throat because I just don't feel like eating.  Dad hasn't gotten much better but he can stay awake longer than a few minutes now.  I'm standing in front of my bathroom mirror getting ready to take a shower when my phone rings. 

"Hey Niall."  I say into the phone. 

"Uncle Si doing any better?"  He asks gently. 

"Same as he was a couple days ago."  I reply.  This is basically what all of our conversations have been like for the past couple of days.  He calls to check on Dad and see how I'm doing and then we hang up.  I miss him more than I ever thought possible.  I'm debating whether or not I'm going to cry and decide against it when I step into the shower.  I wash my hair and body and get out and put on some clean clothes. 

As I'm looking around my closet, I realize I haven't been shopping in a while.  Maybe that would make me feel better.  I glance at my phone and reach for it and go to the dial pad.  My fingers hover over the number I haven't dialed in years.  I know the number by heart, but I haven't talked to this person in probably 5 years. I type the numbers in and hit call and hold the phone up to my ear. 

"Heather?"  She asks, probably surprised that I'm calling her. 

"Candice?  I know this is out of the blue, but can we meet up for lunch or something?  I really need to talk to you."  I ask awkwardly. 

"Of course, Heather.  Where?" 

"Do you remember where we used to go all the time?"  I ask, remembering the little coffee shop on the corner. 

"I'll be there."  She replies. 

"Thanks, Candice."  I sigh before hanging up. 

Okay, let me explain.  Candice and I grew up together.  She was practically my sister, literally.  Her mom dated Dad for a few months back when we were 10.  After they broke up, Candice and I stayed friends, but we drifted apart.  I don't really know why, but one day I woke up and Candice and I were no longer best friends.  I couldn't tell her my secrets.  I haven't talked to her since I was 13. 

I pull on some clothes and boots before grabbing a jacket and heading out the door.  I walk the four blocks to the coffee shop and sit in our old booth back in the corner where we used to watch people come in and give them weird nicknames and make fun of them.  Not 5 minutes after I sat down, Candice walks through the door.  She hasn't changed a bit.  I wave to her, but the magazine in her purse catches my eye. 

"Can I see that?"  I ask, pointing to the magazine when she sits down.  She glances down and hands it to me and I just stare at the front cover.

 There, on the front page, is my boyfriend, Niall Horan, with his arm around some other girl's shoulder.