Act Like You're in Love {Niall Horan}

Chapter 56: Holidays

~Mariah's P.O.V.~

"Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring ting tingling too," I sang joyously with a slight laugh while dancing around from box to box. I had the Christmas music on full blast and was unpacking all of my decorations. I had the heat up and comfy, warm clothes on because outside it was freezing and even starting to snow. Perfect for decorating, right? Not quite. Niall wasn't here yet, and I was also worried that since the snow was coming down hard his plane would be delayed.

I toned down the music and sat at my countertop. My mug of hot cocoa was still warm, so I cradled it in my hands. I sighed. The last time I saw Niall was July, almost five months ago. Recently their fourth tour had ended, but they were starting to record and write a couple more songs for their fifth album. Niall also went to Ireland in November. At least all of them have quite a while off for the holidays now.

Hopefully the weather doesn't change our plans, but they were just to spend Christmas and New Year's together, and alone. We both recently saw our families who don't live near me. Niall considers my place a home, which I really appreciate. But there's just been no time for the two of us, just to be romantic and ourselves.

"Our cheeks are nice and rosy, comfy cozy are we," I quietly murmured along this time. I smiled, reminiscing all thoses Christmases with my parents and Ethan, then the ones mostly alone....

But this time, I have Niall.

With that, I regained my wider smile and stood from the tall chair. Since my feet were getting cold I slipped back on my red fuzzy socks before heading back over to the huge closet at the end of the hall where the decorations sat.

One by one, I looked at each label to make sure it was a Christmas one, not Thanksgiving or another holiday's decorations. When I fished out the four Christmas boxes, I sat on the floor to sort through them. One held everything for the tree like the tree stand, ornaments, tinsel, the star for the top, and a couple of other things. Another held artificial pine brances to wrap around the staircase. The third one was filled with outdoor decorations while the final box was all indoor decorations.

I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and grinned. I didn't even have a tree yet, but the candle scent and the homey smell wafting out from all of these boxes was definitely enough for now.

Breaking the silence, my cell phone started its shrilly ringtone. Oh no, Niall must be calling to say his flight was delayed! I hopped up and ran to the phone, and sure enough, Niall's smiley face was filling the screen.

I slid to answer, and before I could even say hello, he began to talk.

"Hey, Riah!" He sounded too happy to have a flight delayed.... "I was just calling to tell you I'm boarding my flight now. So you can be at the airport in about six hours, yeah?"

Wow, that just made my mood a level higher. "Yeah, yeah, of course! I can't wait to see you, Niall!" I excitedly exclaimed, literally jumping up and down.

I bet Niall could picture me acting like a six-year-old because he chuckled at the other end. "Okay, see you soon, babe."

"Uh-huh. See you!"

Because of the phone call, I had a new flood of energy that let me start to decorate like crazy. Christmas decorating for me was always huge -- although I didn't like it to be tacky, so it was quality over quantity -- so of course Niall wouldn't want to have to endure it all anyway. When he arrived we could do some small finishing touches, get the tree, and then decorate the tree. It would be perfect anyway.

Three hours later I decide to take a break from my insane decorating. I moved on to preparing for Niall's two-week stay. I also made some dinner, just a few bowl's worth of homemade chicken noodle soup.