Drive

Chapter 9

Nialls P.O.V.

After lifting my hoodie over my head and hiding my face the best I can, I slide my hands under Kaylees armpits and set her on my hip; after unbuckling her seatbelt. Alex struggles to carry the bags on her shoulder to the door and I stop her halfway, taking both bags and putting them over my unoccupied shoulder.

"You don't have to do that, I can carry something." She says when we start walking again.

"I got it, babe." I shake my head and look over in time to see her roll her eyes. I reach over and take her hand in mine, intertwining our fingers. When I look at our hands, I look up our eyes meet for a brief second before we both look away.

There's so many things I admire about Alex. Her long brown hair that hits mid-waist, her beautiful blue eyes, the way she looks so focused when you're talking to her, they way that when I hold her hand it molds perfectly with mine. When she smiles her eyes crinkle and her tongue sets behind her teeth. She's exquisitely beautiful, no denying it. But what makes me really admire her, she doesn't know. I watch when she looks in a mirror, her face falls a little and she blinks multiple times at once.

We reach the door and I hold it open for her, seeing her roll her eyes as she passes me. I take her hand once again and she talks to the lady, my head down.

"Lillian Green," her soft voice says and I hear her fingers punch the keys on the keyboard.

"Room 845, level three." She replies, from my judgment she sounds insolent.

Alex pulls me along to the elevator and I can feel a pair of eyes on my back. As tempted as I am to turn around, I don't and continue into the elevator.

"I wanna press the button!" Kaylee squeals and I show her which one to press. I watch as her small hand presses the button and it lights up, she brings her hands up and claps them together.

"I did it!" She laughs and I can hear Alex chuckle from the side. She looks a little uneasy when the doors open, and when she heads towards them I follow her but as soon as we're out I grab her forearm, stopping her.

For the second time today, her eyes are glossy and her breathing is unsteady. She's very distant and quiet.

"Alex, it's going to be okay. She'll be okay," I try to soothe her but she shakes her head and squeezes her eyes shut, something I've learned she does to stop herself from crying.

"Niall, when I talked to her she had a little under a week.. left." My mouth falls open and her eyes dart to Kaylee, who's brows are scrunched together.

"What do you mean, mommy?" She asks and it almost brings my eyes glossy. She blows out a puff of air and takes Kaylee from me, looking for the sign that tells you where the lobby is. Once she finds it, she follows the directions.

I sit down beside her with Kaylee on her lap. There's tears on the edge of her eyes, she's going to break any moment.

"Kaylee.. this is hard for mommy to explain." She starts off with and I take her hand, squeezing it. "Do you remember when Daddy went to heaven?" Kaylee nods her head, her curls bouncing. "Well, Grandmas going there too. So.. this is our last visit before she leaves." Her voice cracks at the end and that's when the tears pour down her cheeks. My heart aches for her, she's been through...

Wait.

Did she say Kaylees father died? I don't know why, but the thought slipped my mind that it takes two people to make a baby. My eyes even become glossy and I bring her hand to my lips, pressing a kiss to it.

"I'm so sorry," I whisper and she shakes her head, wiping at her eyes.

"I'll be okay, let's go." I follow her down the hall and around corners untill we find the room.