Across the Hall

Chapter 16

Buzz. Buzz.

Buzz. Buzz.

     Peeking an eye open, Niall was ready to swat at whatever had taken him from the best sleep he'd had in days, weeks even, to see his phone nearly vibrating itself off the dresser. Sliding the lock screen away, he noticed a text from Harry, saying the trio were out running errands, getting ready to pick up Danielle that night from the airport. She'd come to stay awhile, excited to spend her first American holiday with her boyfriend, and his friends, both old and new. Liam promised they'd be back with lunch and Whitney's pain medicine.

     Whitney. He wished he'd forgotten the hell they'd put each other through this past week, and the condition she was in now, but he couldn't. She slept peacefully on his chest, small breaths making the skin of his chest clammy and warm. Raking softly through her hair, Niall thumbed gingerly around the bruise that no doubt gave her the concussion. It was a particulary ugly shade of bluish purple. Staring down at her sleeping face, Niall said a silent prayer, thanking the heavens above she was here next to him.

    "Keep staring, I might grow a horn." Whitney muttered, eyes not yet open, legs stretching before tucking back slowly next to Niall's.

     "Sorry, baby. I just...love you so damn much." Planting a kiss on the crown of her head, he smiled seeing her finally look up at him.

     "I love you too, babe. Y'know, I love this silence. Just us." Even he had to admit, it was pretty nice. No voices in the kitchen waking him up. No having to tiptoe around, even just to go to the loo.

     "It is pretty amazing. So amazing, in fact, I think we should do something about it."

    "Something like what?"

     "Whaddya say, I move in here with you, and Annie can move in with Harry? Her stuff is mostly over there now anyways." It wasn't a lie. Most of Annie's closet was now tangled with Harry's, her own room mostly just remnants, things she didn't need on the daily.

     "And you'd be okay, moving your stuff over here with me?" Whitney giggled, sitting up a bit to lie back on her own pillow, eye to eye with Niall.

    "Course. I mean, Danielle will be here, and I would honestly feel bad making her and Liam both sleep on the couch. Plus, your flat has a better view." Niall loved how her window overlooked the garden where they spent so much of their early time together.

    "Let's talk it over when they get back with lunch."

    "Lunch? Is it already that late in the morning?" Whitney groaned, a tiny pout forming across her full lips. Niall reached for his phone again to check the time.

    "It's a little past nine. Enough time for us to get cleaned up, maybe finish that movie we were watching the other night?"

    "You remembered?" Niall was taken aback at just how easily Whit's emotions were read through her eyes. So much love, and adoration at the man who failed to mention the reason he remembered the movie they were watching is because he didn't want to take it out of the player. In those moments of panic when he thought she wouldn't come back, it was a sense of peace.

    "I need a shower. I probably smell like I fell in vat of cleaning solution." she groaned, throwing the sheets off herself, still dressed in the clothes she was brought home in.

    "You smell fine, silly girl." Niall rolled his eyes, standing up himself, straightening his crinkled pajama pants. He laughed, watching Whitney gently flop down again on the sheets.

     "My stuff is in my bag. My bag is in Annie's truck."

     "Then come with me."

      "Where?"

    "Shower with me, silly." He didn't miss the redness pooling in her cheeks, no doubt mirroring the same in his own. He didn't know where this boldness was coming from, but he was going to take it and run.

    "Niall..."

     "Neither of us are in any condition for hanky panky in the shower, but I for one, think it would be fun. Right?"

     "Just one thing, though." she replied, limping towards her clothes drawers.

     "Yeah?"

     "No one says hanky panky anymore."

    For most, it would have been quite the intimate moment. Their first shower together, alone. The steam from the shower head keeping them warm from the nippy autumn air outside. But for them in that moment, it was so much more. Niall was already stripped down to his boxers, watching the way his girlfriend still shyly ogled at him. She herself was just in her underwear, and though she was bruised, Niall was amazed at her beauty. Her tummy wasn't flat, and he loved that little pudge. Her butt that he got such enjoyment at hearing her squeal when he slapped it or grabbed it. She wasn't stick thin, or model tall, but she was breathtaking to him nonetheless.

     "C'mon, the water will be like an iceberg if we don't hurry." he chided, shimmying out of his boxers, hopping behind the curtain. Biting her lip in hesitation, Whitney finally ubuckled her bra, letting it fall into the pile of their clothes, and slipped off her own undies, before peeking around the curtain.

     "Help please? I'm scared I'll slip."

     "Not with me around to protect you." Taking his warm and wet hand, he helped her into the tub, turning her to stand underneath the stream of water. Niall helped her wash her hair, being careful to mind that bruise. 

      "Switch me now, I'm getting cold. Wash my back, will you?" she giggled at him, squirting some body wash into her hands.Taking her time, she started massaging his back, smiling at how he hung his head, occasionally groaning in delight.

     "One of these days, my girl. One of these days, we're gonna be in a similar situation, and I'm going to expect you to spoil other parts as well as you do my back." Whit's cheeks flushed at his cheekiness, eyes widening as he turned his soapy hands on her.

     "I'll smell like a dude." she pouted.

     "Yeah. Your favorite dude. Me." she obliged, scooting closer, allowing him to spread the suds on her own body. 

     "Tell me if you get uncomfortable."  he whispered, wrapping his hands around her middle. He wasn't about to keep this adventure purely innocent, but he wanted to make sure she was on his same mindset. Reaching up, she planted her lips on his, an encouragement to continue. He reached down from her waist, grabbing her rear, giving it a tight squeeze, deepening the kiss when she squealed.

     Niall knew he wanted her. From that very first day he saw her run out of her apartment. But he didn't want his first time with her to be in some slippery shower. He didn't know if he'd be able to hold her up, and didn't want to hurt her if they slipped.

    "Let's get dried off. They'll be home soon."  Wrapping her up first in a fluffy blue towel, he helped her out, before stepping out himself.

    "You know, I've never really looked at your scars." Whitney told him, eyeing his knees.

     "Are they that bad?" Niall whined. He hated the ways his legs looked in pictures. His arms would bulk up, but his legs would always look like they belonged to a hairy chicken.

    "No. Not at all. They're still a little pink, but that will keep fading. You almost can't tell."

    "Then how did you?"

     "I know where to look." she told him, slipping on clean undies she'd brought across with her.

    "Here, wear these, they'll keep you warm." he told her, handing her a pair of his sweats and an old "Crazy Mofos" jumper. He liked seeing how the soft cotton that just fit him seemingly swallowed her smaller frame. She picked up her towel, using it to dry her hair, leaving it damp and wavy.

    "God, you're beautiful. You know that?" he asked her, settling her on the bright white countertop.

   "Only for you, Nialler."

   "Damn right." he told her, leaning down for a kiss.