Act Like You're in Love {Niall Horan}

Chapter 53: Visit

~Mariah's P.O.V.~

I exited the airport excitedly. My cab was coming in a couple of minutes, so I sat on a bench with my luggage and reached into my pocket for my phone. I opened the calendar app so that I could plan my trip a little bit, but I stopped. It was 2014 already. April of 2014, to be exact, so it was getting really close to my birthday. Just under a year ago I met Niall. Isn't it crazy?

The yellow vehicle pulled up to the curb, so I stood and wheeled my belongings up to it.

Normally when I'm really excited in anticipation time goes really slowly, but today I was also in such deep thought that the time passed by in mere moments.

The cab pulled up to a modern hotel that One Direction was staying at. Apparently their location hadn't leaked because there weren't swarms of girls at the entrance or by any windows.

I slid my sunglasses back over my eyes and collected my belongings. Also, I quickly shot Niall a text alerting him that I was at his hotel.

When I walked into the lobby, he wasn't there yet, so I checked in. He was just making his way down when I finished.

"I haven't seen you in so long!" I cried out, running towards Niall. He pulled me into a big, comforting hug.

"Hey, Riah," he said looking me over. "You're so pretty as always." He hugged me again. When he broke away this time, he fumbled in his pocket. "I have something for you. It's a bookmark since I know you have plenty of use for it."

My hands held the intricate piece of art. It was a slim slice of silver metal with design engravings running across it. Towards the top in the center is my monogram in cursive. It was all really pretty.

I went in for another hug. "This is so nice, Niall, thanks."

He shuffled shyly. "No problem." A smile rested on his face. "Wanna go see the Washington Monument?"

"Yes!" I squealed. "Can we please climb all the stairs? I've always wanted to do that."

Niall chuckled. "Sure."

Half an hour later we were standing at the foot of the stairwell, and I was bubbling with excitement. Niall gave me a side-smile.

I looked at him, grabbed his hand, and started running up the stairs without fading energy just like a child. Niall's cackling, contagious laugh filled the empty stairs, so I started laughing too. At one point Niall even tripped on the stairs, consequently pulling me backwards with him. I landed on top of him, and we both broke out of a fit of laughter. Of course that was the time somebody chose to come by but turns out the girls were fans and really couldn't care less that Niall and I were clumsy goofballs.

I feel lighter when I'm with Niall. Even just dating him has helped me because I don't feel like my insides are tight knots all the time anymore. It's nice just to let loose and have a good time, especially with him.

Time flies by, too. I feel like tomorrow I'll wake up and it'll be 2020 or something. In fact, time flew by today because we already got to the top and I hardly noticed. (My legs did though.)

We stepped back to the edge at the railway. Niall slipped his arm around my waist while I connected my hands by putting my arms around his torso. I leaned my head into the crook of his neck, and he relaxed his head at an angle against mine.

"My brother was scared of heights," I randomly said aloud, looking down and down and down so far.

I felt Niall's body tense. Ethan was not a common topic between us.

"Really? The way you described him, he seemed so tough."

I giggled. "Ethan tried, but he was just one of those kids who tried to look like a cool guy but really just made me laugh. He was like any other teenage boy, really. But when we went to the Sears Tower once, he flipped. It was hilarious though. I got it on video." At that my smile faded a little bit. It's a bit unnerving to have video of your dead brother -- or any dead person -- in a way.

"Do you still have it?" Niall tentatively asked.

Instead of verbally answering, I took out my phone, unlocked it, and went to the camera roll. I had albums set up, so I clicked on the one called "Ethan" and scrolled through dozens of pictures and other things of Ethan's until I found what I was looking for. I tapped on it to play it.

The sky was getting darker in the video. My mom was walking around to get a glimpse of the sight. My dad was always boring, so he didn't really do too much. But Ethan, oh gosh. His face may as well have had the word terror written all over it because that's definitely what it showed. His eyebrows were up and mouth was slightly open in shock. Being the teasing sister I was, my child voice could be heard daring Ethan to go closer to the edge. Suddenly his frozen face shattered, and he just started to panic and flip out, screaming for my mother. Then you could hear my laugh behind the phone's camera until my mom scolded me and told me to shut it off.

Surprisingly, I didn't cry watching it. I laughed at my childhood antics and went back to talking to Niall.

~

The rest of the trip consisted of me going to a 1D concert and spending time with One Direction in front of the TV. Being the boys they are, they were very into some stupid video game and made me play. Of course I sucked at it, but at least I provided entertainment by being the laughingstock.

It was pleasant getting to see the boys again since last time I saw Niall, he had travelled to me, not accompanied by the boys.

I also spent a lot of time just chatting with Niall. Small things like that are what I look for in a relationship because it proves to me that Niall and I are comfortable with and know each other enough to be able to hold a conversation for two hours over a muffin.

In short, visiting Niall in Washington D.C. was just a reminder of why I loved being in a relationship with him and, most of all, just loved him.

~

This story will officially be 65 chapters + the epilogue! I'm really excited, tell me your thoughts! I really want to start giving dedications again so please do something dedication-worthy haha:):)

Btw I might post during this week, probably Wednesday if I do! (I feel bad because these chapters have been so short and idk why haha.)

Love you (: xx