"You must suck at boxing, girl, if I was you, I'd stop now." Samantha comments as she grabs her salad and water and sits across from me. We were on our lunch break and all day she'd been making comments about my bruises because I didn't try to cover them up today, sometimes it's just too much work to cover them up because you'll see them regardless.
I let out a chuckle, shaking my head as I take a bite out of my sandwich. "I'm not that bad, I just haven't been on my game lately." I lie through my teeth.
She makes a 'hmph' noise and shakes her head as she stuffs her mouth with a forkful of lettuce.
"I could never box, it's scary, isn't it?" She says and I nod, is boxing scary? I'd assume so. I fight back against my father every time, terrified that it might be the last time I'd walk again or see Eli. I'm constantly terrified I won't make it out alive.
"Yeah, pretty scary... But you get over it, it's all adrenaline." I tell her and she nods, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"Your so tough, I'm jealous." She giggles into her salad and I force out a laugh. Me? Tough? Tough isn't taking it, tough isn't staying in a house where the abuse is constant, that's not tough, that's cowardly.
"Yeah, I guess." I mumble, scratching at the back of my my neck. My phone vibrates against the table and Samantha looks at it at the same time I do.
I grab it, reading the screen quickly.
niall: hey whats up
I start typing out a response, a bland one. When I don't hear Samantha's slightly obnoxious chewing is when I look up at her.
She sits across from me, an eyebrow arched my way mischievously.
"Who's that?" She asks and I put my phone next to my lunch, biting into my sandwich.
"My little brothers girlfriend's cousin." I tell her just to confuse her, I liked to complicate things with her just for my entertainment.
"Why is he texting you?" She asks, genuinely interested and I shrug.
"Not sure, all he said was hi-" My phone buzzes again and Samantha narrows her eyes at me and I can't help but chuckle. She's so juvenile.
niall: after you get off do you want to grab a treat w the kiddos?
I reply with a sure and lock my phone again. Samantha clears her throat, obviously wanting more than the information I gave her. What was there to tell?
"What's his name?" She asks and I laugh, what is she now? My mother?
"His names Niall, fuck, since when did you care about people I texted." I chuckle and she furrows her eyebrows, her hand on her chin.
"That name sounds familiar." She says and I nod.
"He was at the college party we went to, and he hangs out with all your buddies so yeah, you probably know him." I tell her and she nods, her hand clapping as she opens her mouth in shock.
"Oh!!! Him? Your into blondes? I pictured you more with the biker, brunette type." She says and I chuckle, shaking my head at her.
"No ones into no one, we only associate with one another because my brother is 'dating' his cousin." I tell her and she rolls her eyes.
"Sure, that's what they all say." She says and throws away her trash, I stand up after her, tilting my head at her.
"Who's they?" I joke and she rolls her eyes again, raising her brows as if she knows something I don't.
-
I unlock the front door quickly, not wanting to keep Eli too long at Janie's. I just needed to change out my work clothes.
I throw my keys and bag on the small table near the door and rush towards my room, before I even pass the living room I see Niall's blonde hair and suddenly I'm very confused.
I walk fully into the living room and see Eli and Miranda watching TV on the floor, Niall sitting on the couch behind them. He notices me and stands up, his hands wiping against his jeans.
"Hey.." I start out, I definitely had to have a chat with Eli later about who can come into the house when I'm not there. But I'll deal with that later.
"Hey, sorry for barging in, Eli said you'd be home soon and would be okay with us waiting inside, hope your not too upset." Niall explains and I'm not sure why he's explaining himself. Was my face twisted in anger? Probably.
I'm quick to wipe it off, pushing a smile through so he knows I'm not mad.
"Oh no, that's fine. He just has to let me know first." I talk indirectly to Eli and he turns to me, a shy smile on his face.
"Let me, uh, change and then we can head out." I tell Niall and he nods, watching me as I leave the living room. Once I enter my room, I can't help but still feel the burn of his stare on my back, slicing through my skin.
I shake off the thought as I change into something more comfortable, casual. I grab Eli's hat and toss it on my head, hating the nagging in the back of my head that I had nothing on to cover my face with. I reminded myself to not cover it though, there wasn't a need for it, I told myself as well.
I walk back into the living room when I've changed, noticing Niall not sitting on the couch. I walk towards the kitchen and sure enough he's staring at our family pictures on the fridge.
I clear my throat and he turns to me, a small smile on his lips as he looks back at the pictures.
"You had some funky hair in this one." He points at my 8th grade portrait and I laugh, I was smiling in that picture, crooked teeth and acne prone skin. My hair was frizzy and cut so weirdly. I was hideous.
"It's what all the girls had." I joke and he laughs, his eyes landing on me again before going back to the fridge of pictures. Mostly of Eli.
"Did you take all of these?" He points to several pictures of Eli, one of him during Christmas time, one with him and Santa, another of him with a small birthday cake in front of him.
I nod, smiling at each of them. "Yeah, it's mostly just me and him during the holidays. My dad works a lot." I lie and swallow the small lump in my throat. How many lies do I go through in a day? I have to start counting.
"I will never fathom the closeness of you guys... it's so cute." He says turning away from the fridge and I let out a breath, shaking my head at him.
"Neither will I." I tell him truthfully and Niall nods. His stare locked on me again, I can't help but notice his mouth move slightly, like he wants to say something. But he doesn't. He only stares. His eyes even squint a little, studying, storing, he's doing something in his head.
I clear my throat, turning away from his gaze. "We should get going." I tell him and he nods, following me out of the kitchen.
