The One That Got Away // Horan [editing]

Chapter 2 - A Change in the Weather

Siena's POV

One night at the family dinner table, my exhausted parents recalled that plans had changed for the upcoming summer: we usually visited friend and relatives in the states, but one of my closest friends, Maddie, was to come to Ireland by herself because of a business trip to India her father was taking with mine.

Part of my deep-rooted annoyance I had for my dad was that he was an executive for Shell drilling company, the same people who had killed hundreds of marine habitats and given organizations like Greenpeace a cause to fight for. To make matters worse, I don't support nonrenewable energy sources, and was planning on an electric car and solar panels as soon as I got out of the house.

Anyway, the Molinson family traditionally hosted us, but obviously could not this summer. I silently thanked God that my parents would cut out any time to think about my meaningful friendship, as summers were the only sacred time I could see Maddie because of the distance between us. But that wasn't for five months. And I had Niall to worry about.

—

As I sat through another interminable US history class lectured by none other than Mr. Brown, I stared down at my outfit. I hoped Niall liked it. I scolded myself for dressing for anyone other than myself, but I couldn't help it. Lately all of what I did seemed to be out of love for this silly boy I was in love with.

"Siena Fox!" Mr. Brown yelled into my face, spraying his wet saliva all over my face as I cringed. After wiping my face of the repulsive liquid, I suddenly realized I had been daydreaming about Niall again. With lots of self-berating and difficulty, I finally pushed Niall to the dark corners of my head.

"Yes, Mr. Brown?" I asked in a mockingly cheery tone.

"I said, what year did Hitler gain power?" He was growing more irritated by the second.

I quickly recalled our unit on the United States' role in World War II. "1919, Mr. Brown," I said with a plastered smile on my face.

"How can you not pay attention and know all the answers, Siena?" he asked in his annoyingly snarly voice. "I know someone's feeding you answers through a brain chip or something! To the principal's office!"

"Yes Mr. Brown." I responded with yet another faked smile. I packed up my things as the smile on my lips contorted to a small and smug grin; I knew from past experience that the sad sack of a school principal left an hour early for speed dating—his search for a girlfriend was endless. Since school was going to be out in thirty minutes anyway, I decided not to stay and to hang out with Niall instead. And to tell him something I thought I had worked up the courage to do after years of waiting for the time to be right. Something right now told me it was now or never.

I texted him, waiting for a quick response. I knew he had gotten out of school already.

Me: school blows yet again. pick me up?

Niall: aw, life is hard for siena. sure, be there in 5

His sarcasm made my heart melt as I rolled my eyes. Well, who am I kidding, everything this kid did made my heart melt. As promised, he swung by school exactly five  minutes following our conversation.

"History with Brown, right? My heart goes out to you, Fox," Niall joked as I climbed in the passenger seat. I was surprised, but beyond thrilled that he had remembered all of my school-related rants, not to mention my schedule. "Where to?"

"Uh... how about coffee? I have a long ass essay tonight, so I could use a boost." He nodded, then the engine restarted and we were off. After some playful banter on the ride from Niall, we arrived at a quaint little café.

—

Sitting down with warm house brews in hand, Niall immediately began speaking. "I'm really glad you asked me to come. Well, besides the fact that you needed a ride." He grinned for a second, but quickly refocused on the task at hand: not that I knew any of what was going on at that moment. "I have something really important to tell you," he said vaguely, leaving me puzzled; what could he possibly have to tell me?

"What is it?" I asked, a million thoughts running through my head.

"Well, um... argh. First off, I have no clue what I'm doing, so bear with me here." Niall was visibly nervous, wringing his clammy hands again and again. I smile at his adorable frazzled behavior. "But, uh, I guess I'll start from the beginning. You're a gift, Siena. I make fun of you much too often, but it's never serious. It's just crazy that someone who complements me so well would be one of the most important people in my life." My heart fluttered at his word. He didn't even need to finish: I'm already choking up. He takes another deep breath. "I don't know how to say this... but I've loved you for... well, I guess it's been a few years, now," he stuttered.

I usually enjoyed straight black coffee, but the hot drink in my mouth turned incredibly bitter and scorched my mouth. The room started to get blazing hot. I was out of breath. My head was spinning. What the hell? I knew my thoughts were about to get the best of me, so I stood up and ran toward the restroom near the back of the café, hot tears streaming down my face.

—

Locked in a stall, I tried to take charge of my body once again. Deep, solid breaths were difficult because of my uncontrolled sobs and breathing. In other words, I was a hot mess. I then remembered the one time I had talked to the doctor about these episodes. She said the most important thing was to understand why I my body was reacting in certain ways.

Peeking out of the small cube of privacy, I checked to make sure I was alone in the tiled bathroom. When I had established that the coast was clear, my feet padded over to the sink, where ice cold water trickled out of the faucet and into my shaking hands.

Using a white paper towel, I silently cursed the fact that the rough material was probably making my face red and irritated. A quick glance in the mirror only confirmed my suspicions, but I found it important to go back to Niall as soon as possible: I had left him hanging in just about the worst way imaginable.

I found him at the small table just outside the restrooms, muttering angrily to himself. "Shit. I shouldn't have said that. I'm such a freaking idiot. What's wrong with—" He started, but got cut off by the sound of my voice. He looked up at me, his crystal blue eyes glittering with fresh tears. I inhaled once more, just to be safe, then finally responded with the cheesiest line I could think of.

"Wow. The love of my life loves me back. This is the best day of my life."