Picking Up the Pieces: A Dark Niall Horan Fan Fiction

Change a Life

I speed home, ignoring Liam's small talk. I get out of the car, grabbing my bag. Liam sighs following me up to our apartment.

"When are you going to stop acting like a brat?" Liam asks as I stomp inside our place.

"I am not acting like a brat." I pout.

"Yeah. Okay." He rolls his eyes, making his way to his room. "Hurry up and get ready. You don't want to be late for your interview."

I enter my bedroom, throwing my bag on my bed and stripping from my clothes. I put on my new outfit, feeling confident. I curl the ends of my hair. I take two strands of hair and pin them in the back with a small black bow. I slip into a pair of black pumps and smile at my outfit in the mirror.

"I am leaving." I walk to the front door, yelling at Liam to his bedroom.

"I am coming with you. I am going to wait with you." He comes out of his bedroom, reaching for his jacket.

"No. I want to go on my own." I grab his jacket, hanging it back on the rack.

"Really Charlie? Are you really going to pro long this whole being mad at me?"

"I am not mad anymore." I am telling the truth. Liam was just looking out for me. "I just feel like I should do this on my own. Nothing personal." I smile at him.

"Fine." He sighs. "But good luck." He says, giving me a small hug.

"Thank you." I tell him before leaving the apartment, I make my way down to my car. I blast Fall Out Boy to calm my nerves. It has just hit me that I am going to be in an interview with the Dean of UNI. What am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to say? Do I shake his hand? All the questions running through my head cause my stomach to turn.

I pull into the parking lot of the admissons office. I exit my car and stop when I get to the front door. I can do this, I think to myself. I take a deep breath before entering the office. A busty blonde in a skimpy outfit is seated at the front desk.

"How may I help you?" She smiles up at me.

"Um I have an i-interview with the Dean." I stutter.

"Just sit and wait. He is with someone at the moment." I nod and take a seat.

My leg starts to shake. Oh god.

"Don't be nervous." The blonde tells me. "You will do great. I looked over your application and Dean Jacobs is going to love you."

What application? Liam must have sent one in for me. Of course.

The door of Dean Jacobs office swings open. The last person I want to see comes stalking out.

"Charlie?" Niall's face turns from angry to releaved.

"Hi Niall." My feelings for him grow stronger each time I see him. I don't like to admit it but it's true.

"What are you doing here?" He questions, walking over to me.

"I have an interview." I say, looking down at my hands.

"You look-" He rubs the back of his neck. Why is he so nervous? "You look beautiful Charlie."

"Um-" I don't get a chance to finish when Dean Jacobs comes out to greet me.

"I am ready for you Charlie." He smiles. Niall glares at him as I make my way over to his office.

"Nice to finally meet you Charlotte." Dean Jacobs Irish accent is thick, he holds out his hand for me to shake and I do so. "Please have a seat."

I do as I am told and sit in the seat in front of his desk, "You can just call me Charlie." I smile up at him.

"Okay Charlie." He nods, sitting down. "Your brother spoke very much of you."

"Nothing bad I hope." I sit up straight, crossing my legs.

"No, not at all. He spoke very highly of you. But I want to hear what you think about yourself. Tell me a little bit about you Charlie." He leans into his desk a little.

"Well my senior year my mother told us that money was tight and college wasn't really an option. So I decided to let my brother go to school and I would wait another year. Work, earn money so I could have a chance to go to college."

"Where do you work?" This isn't going as bad as I thought it would be.

"I work at the record store down on main street." I nod.

"One last question and this will all be over." He smiles. That was quick. "Why do you want to go to UNI?"

"I want to become a teacher. Where else to go then the teachers school." Dean Jacobs laughs a little. "Ever since I was little I have loved to help people. I feel that the best way to help people is by furthering their education."

"You know teachers don't get paid that much Charlie." His eyebrows furrow.

"I don't care about the money. Like I said I only care about the people that I help. I want to change peoples lives, Dean Jacobs. I want to know that one day, when I grow up, that I at least changed one persons life for the better." I take a deep breath.

"That is why I am giving you a full ride." He smiles at me.

"You are?" I ask, shocked.

"You have so much drive, so much energy and that's exactly what I am looking for in a student." He stands up and I do the same. He comes around his desk and I follow him to the door. "You will start this coming school year. Your schedule and things will be online in a few weeks."

"Thank you so much Dean Jacobs." I smile shaking his hand.

"Call me Colin." He says opening the door. "Come in if you ever need anything." He tells me before shutting the door.

I turn around to see Niall standing by the door, waiting for me. I walk over to him and hug him tight.

"Good news?" He asks as I let go quickly, remembering me aren't together.

"I am going to school next year. I am finally going to school!' I say happily as we walk out of the building, Niall follows me to my car.

"That's amazing Charlie." This Niall. This nice aura is throwing me off, he is never this kind. Always stubborn. "Why don't you say we go celebrate."

"Niall I can't." I say looking at the ground. "I um, I have to meet Liam." I lie.

"Of course you fucking do." He scuffs. "See you later love." He scowls before turning around, getting into his car, and driving away.

I sigh, getting into my own car. I drive back home greeting Liam who is waiting right inside the apartment.

"Well?" He quickly walks over to me.

"I am getting my schedule in a few weeks." I can't stop smiling as Liam hugs me tight.

"This is fucking amazing Charlie!"

"I know! He is giving me a full ride too!"

"I can't be-" But before he can finish there is a load knock on the door.

"I'll get it." I quickly open the door and Niall leans against the door frame, breathing hard.

"Come with me. I have a surprise for you."