Drive

Chapter 16

I walk out of the bathroom, taking the towel out of my hair and throwing it on the floor. I find Niall asleep on his back, hands crossed behind his head. I climb on top of him, straddling his waist. He shifts underneath me and I can tell he's awake. I catch his lips in mine and he immediately slips his tongue in my mouth, his hands resting on my thighs. He chuckles on my lips and I pull away, a smirk on his face.

"Don't you look sexy," he winks and I hit his chest as he runs over my half-naked body. I'm straddling his waist in only a bra and panties. "Gosh," he breathes out and I hide my face in his neck, cheeks red. "I'm joking, babe. But you do look beautiful." I giggle and catch my lips with his again. He lightly battles his tongue with mine before we hear the door squeek. I quickly jump off Niall and run to the dressers, Niall cackling.

"Mommy," Kaylees small voice grows louder as she enters the room more. "Can we go to the park?" She asks and I look at Niall who is now standing beside the bed in only boxers.

"Yeah, we can go." He answers for me, smirking. "Alex, have you ever rode an elephant?" A huge smile is on his face as I raise my eyebrows and shake my head.

"No," I laugh and he winks before running towards Kaylee and picking her up.

"Let's get dressed." He exits the room, closing the door behind him as I shake my head, searching my closet for a outfit. Unfortunately, I don't have an outfit that would go with riding and elephant because.. well.. I never rode one, the thought never even crossed my mind.

***

"Are you sure?" Niall nods his head and squeezes my hand. "It looks.. scary." I motion to the giant elephants taking slow steps across the sand. People are lined behind the tour guide as she explains something about their habitat.

"Elephant rides will be available for purchase over there," she points to a small red building with Tickets across the top.

"Come on," Niall drags me and Kaylee over to the small building and the lady smiles as she opens the window.

"Uhm, where do we ride elephants?" It sounds silly, Kaylee laughing as Niall takes her from my arms to his.

"The same place the guide showed you," she points and I turn my head. They look intimidating. "Three?" She asks and Niall nods his head. She hands us three tickets and we thanks her. I follow Niall to the elephants, nervous as hell.

***

I squeeze my eyes shut, a light scream falling from my lips as the elephant takes a huge step. I tighten my grip on Kaylee and Niall tightens his on me. It's exhilarating but frightening at the same time.

"Niall!" I squeal and open my eyes, only to look at my surroundings. It's beautiful from up here, I can see everything.

Finally, Niall helps me to the ground. I stumble and fall into him, he catches me and presses his lips to mine quickly before I regain my balance.

"Did you like that Kaylee?" She nods and extends her arms towards Niall. He slides his hands under her armpits and sets her on his hip.

"Let's do it again!" She claps and Niall giggles, kissing her on the head.

As we walk through the zoo, looking at many different animals, and taking bunches of photos, I've noticed not many people have recognized Niall. It's strange, he's usually bombarded by fans and paparazzi. I've seen a few girls point and show their friends, but not much activity.

He intertwines his fingers with mine and brings my hand up to kiss the back.

I heard a high-pitched scream and we jerk out heads to the side, towards the sound. A girl, looking around the age of thirteen or fourteen, her knees tumble to the ground, hand covering her mouth as she stares at her phone. Niall looks over to me, before he heads towards the girl.

She's on her knees, tears spilling out the sides of her eyes. Niall drops my hand and hands Kaylee over to me, before kneeling beside the girl, a hand on her shoulder. She looks up, staring into his eyes. She closes them, more tears flowing down her cheeks before she stands up, Niall following her. He brings her into a hug, tears staining his plain grey shirt.

"Love, what's wrong?" She pulls away, looking down at the ground. She hands her phone to him, a confused look on his face before he reads the phone.

His jaw falls open, eyes widening. I can see the tears threatening at his eyes.

"Niall," I call. He's in pure shock as he hands me the girls phone. I take it quickly and read the headliner.

Retired boy-band member, Liam Payne, died due to overdose on unprescibed medicine.

Liam Payne was found dead on the couch inside of a hotel outside of New York. Harry Styles tells investigators the 20 year-old was buying illegal pills from an old highschool classmate.

I couldn't read anymore, the tears were already building up in my eyes.

Dead.

I was never fond of Liam, he kinda scared me. But that was only because he was the typical "bad boy." Since I've met him, I realized he's messed up a lot in his life, but he was generally a good guy. It goes to show that fame goes to your head. I'll never forget Niall telling me when he first met Liam he was the sweetest human being you've ever met. And I believe that same person was still in there, he just never found him. Now, he doesn't have the chance.

Tears pour down my cheeks as I hand the girl her phone back. Nialls staying strong, but I can see the pain behind the mask, he's hurting inside. He's spent years with this boy who changed his life, without Liam there would've been no One Direction.

"Alex," Nialls voice cracks and I look him dead in the eye, and I can read them. He's trying his best not to cry in front of Kaylee, so she could see a man. But it's OK for him to cry, It's necessary.

The girl begins to walk away, but Niall catches her wrist and pulls her back towards us.

"Where's your parents?" He asks. The girl looks hurt when he asks, but she slowly shakes her head.

"I-I don't live with my parents, im with my sister. But, I lost her and when I called her phone she just ignored me." Another tear rolls down her cheek and by now, I'm crying harder.

"Mommy," Kaylee looks worried so I send her a smile. She wipes the tear away from my cheek and I smile at her, kissing her forehead.

"What's your name, love?" Niall asks and her head shoots up.

"Carmen," she answers and a smile stretches across her tear-stained face.

"So.. Carmen, do you have a home?" I ask, confused. Her eyes flash to me and a look of hurt washes over her as she slowly shakes her head.

"No.. uhm.. Not anymore." I feel for this girl. I have no idea what happened to her parents, but her sister abandoned her.

I look at Niall, reading his eyes. She has nowhere to go, and it hurts. How could someone leave their child? Or sister? I could never leave Kaylee, she means the world to me.

"Well, Carmen. You're a fan of One Direction, I suppose." She nods and a look of hope flashes in her eyes. "Well, was." He adds and her smile falls a little but she nods, looking to the ground.

"Carmen, do you want to come live with me and Alex?" Her head shoots up, wide eyes and a huge smile across her face. She nods quickly, running and wrapping her arms around Nialls neck.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She shouts and a laugh falls from Nialls lips.

"You're welcome," it was a spare of the moment thing, but she has nowhere to go. I couldn't stand leaving her here, knowing she has nowhere to lay her head. It's temporary, just until we find another home for her. I'm not ignorant to the fact that we have no idea where she's going to sleep, or anything of the sort.

She draws back from her hug with Niall and heads over to me.

"Thank you, Alex." She says shyly as she pulls me into a small side hug.