A Big Love in The Big Apple

Chapter 1

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The crisp, nighttime New York air tickled my cheeks as I walked to my apartment. It was quiet in this part of the city which was peculiar, considering I was in the city that never sleeps.

I walked and dreamt of being home in Florida. It was always warm there. It's not always warm in New York City. Suddenly, I heard footsteps. Footsteps directly behind me.

I clutched the pepper spray my dad gave to me when I left home and pushed down.

"Ah! What'd you do that for?" I heard an Irish accent when the mysterious figure spoke.

How am I supposed to answer that? What do I say? Should I help him? What if he hurts me?

"Sorry!" That's all I managed to say. "Um... I guess I thought you were some murderer or creeper or something! I'm sorry!" I nervously put my hands to my face. "Force of habit!"

"Force of habit?!" He says," so you just go around pepper spraying any 'suspicious' people?!"

"I don't know!" I struggle, "I guess that I get kind of scared really easily..."

"That's an understatement." He scowls. "Now help me." I turn on the flashlight app on my phone. His eyes are closed with tears involuntarily running down his light pink tinted cheeks. I grab a tissue out of my tote bag and begin to dab.

"So... What's your name?" I ask trying to make everything less awkward... If that's possible.

"Niall." He says, "Niall Horan."

"Oh I'm Rose." I reply. "Rose White." Niall nods and a silence falls upon us. "Where are you from?"

"Mullingar Ireland. How about ye?"

"Tallahassee Florida. Nothing special." He nods and it gets quiet again. "I have more medical stuff at my apartment." I begin, "we can go there."

Niall doesn't say anything but he starts to walk. "Do you need help seeing?" He shakes his head, but his arms are out so I grab them to help steady him. We walk and he winces often.

Soon we arrive to my apartment. I get reluctant and hope that Niall isn't some lunatic who will flash out at me.

I turn the key to my apartment door. Number 243. I sit Niall down on my faded pink sofa. The first aid kit I always have handy is on my kitchen counter. I tend to practice on my stuffed animals when I'm alone. That reminds me. I go into my bedroom and hide the stitched up, fake blood covered stuffed animals in my closet.

"Hurry up!" He yells, "I can't even see!"

I scurry back into the main living area. It is one big room with a kitchen, a dining area, a TV, and my faded pink sofa. Apart from that all I have is a narrow hallway, a bathroom, and a bedroom.

"Coming!" I get a spritzer bottle filled with a medical liquid. I spray him and hope it works.

"Ow! Oh... Wait... Ah..." He breathes a sigh of relief. "How'd you know that would work?" He asks rubbing his eyes.

"Don't rub them. It makes it worse" I tell him, " I'm actually training to be a nurse." I shrug, "I guess I like to help people." I think back to when I was six...

My father had just suffered a heart attack and I was afraid. I was home alone, it was only us. My mom was out grocery shopping with my little brother who found shopping very exciting. So I did the only thing I could think of. I called 911 and told the operator my daddy was on the floor and he wasn't talking. They asked my address and such, soon they were at the door.

My dad was then pronounced dead at the hospital. Ever since then I felt like I needed to help everyone to make up for losing him.

"Rose..." I hear Niall say," are ye alright?"

I become aware of my surroundings and readjust. "Uh yeah. Just thinkin'." My eyes widen and I start to dab his eyes.

Niall's eyes flash open and I jump. They are red but they are a beautiful ocean blue. I instantly get butterflies in my stomach. Actually, more than butterflies... It feels like hornets.

Why did I pepper spray this beautiful creature?

Before I fall under the love spell, I'll need to know more about him and his personality. But his eyes!

"Uh... My eyes are up- wait never mind." He says after he realizes I'm staying into his eyes.

I smile shyly and look down. I feel my face get red and I instantly try to cool down.

"How come you're quiet all of a sudden?" He asks skeptically.

"Oh um..." Do I tell him that his eyes are beautiful? "Can I have your number?" Did I really just ask that? What is the matter with me?!

"Sure," he smiles suavely. "Hand me your phone." I hand my bedazzled phone to him. "Uh what's the pass code?"

"Oops!" I take it back and punch it in.

"Five, six, seven, eight... How original, Rose." He jokes with me.

The way he says my name wraps me with comfort and security.

"Here ye go." He returns my phone to me. It says: Niall Horan :)

"I'll text you so you can have mine." I decided to write a simple: Heyy, it's Rose. :) I send it and look up.

His pocket vibrates. "Ohp! Got it." As he reads it I fumble my fingers. He smiles.

"Where do you live?" I ask, "I don't mean that in a stalkerish way! I just don't want you to walk a long way home with messed up eyes. This city is dangerous." Why do I say stuff like that?! I'm so awkward and weird.

"A few miles away."

"That's too far. Sorry about spraying you, once again." I feel sorry. "What brought you to NYC?"

"Well... I've always wanted to be a singer but it's hard to get noticed." He begins, "So I decided to go to New York City hoping to make it big... It hasn't happened... Yet..." His voice trials off and he shakes his head and smiles. His teeth are crooked and that makes me feel secure and safe. He seems down to earth and normal.

"Oh that's cool! Can I hear a song?" I ask intently.

"Not right now, it's late I've got to go." Niall says nonchalantly.

"Stay here!" I blurt out. Ah! I did it again! "I mean if you want. You can sleep on the couch and I can cook you food, I can cook a mean mac and cheese."

"Haha. That sounds good, actually." He replies. "I love food."

"Same! So what do you say?" I ask.

"Alright. It's late so I'm going to sleep now." He pauses, "hopefully my eyes are better by tomorrow."

"Great. See you tomorrow." I smile and suddenly get self conscious of my smile and look down.

"You've got a beautiful smile." He says.

"No, but thank you." I awkwardly say with a giggle as I slip into my bedroom. "Oh yeah, here's a blanket!" I toss it at him and he catches it.

"Perfect aim."

I laugh and close my door. Adrenaline rushes all throughout me and I scream silently into my pillow. Niall Horan is a wonderful guy, I need to know more about him. I might like him a lot. Like, a lot.

My fuzzy, rubber duck designed pajama pants cover my legs along with a baggy plain white t-shirt. I soar into my bed and fall asleep with a smile on my face.

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That's the end of Chapter 1! I hope you all enjoyed it. It's a little lengthy because I didn't know how to end it. Anyway, thank you for reading and please give me helpful feedback or positive comments. Don't forget to rate!

♡Nora♡