Guarded

||twenty-four||

"I'm Cassidy Billoway. I have an appointment with Alexis Walters?" I say to the blonde lady at the receptionists desk.

"She'll be right with you," the girl says, shoving a handful of M&M's in her mouth. "Have a seat."

I sit down in one of the uncomfortable chairs in the rather small waiting area. The whole of Fad Magazine's office is mostly white, with accents of light green, and it's fairly large.

Niall couldn't come with me this morning because of his own personal business.

"Cassidy Billoway," Alexis greets me. She's wearing a tight, yet professional-looking, red dress and her blonde hair is done in gentle curls. Her already tall height is even taller because of her, at least, four inch heels. "How have you been?"

"I've been okay I guess." I shrug.

"Let's take this into my office, shall we?" Alexis nods and I follow her into her large, brightly lit office.

"You have a very nice office, Alexis," I say hesitantly.

"Thank you." She smiles. "Now, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?"

-

"Niall! Niall! Babe!" I rush into his room, where he's sitting on his bed.

"What is it, Cassie?"

"Alexis agreed to help pay for my mum's medical bills and to pay her back, I got a job at the magazine. The only spot they had open was on the janitorial staff, but, hey, it still pays, right?" I'm grinning widely because I know my mother will be okay. Everything will be okay.

Alexis is so generous and I barely even did anything for her. She gives me faith in humanity.

"That's great, babe." Niall leans over and plants a kiss on my lips.

-

"Hey, mum," I say as I sit down next to her hospital bed. "Guess what?"

"What?" She says weakly.

"Alexis Walters, from Fad Magazine, is helping pay for your medical expenses. You'll be okay! And, also, I got a job as part of the janitorial staff over at the magazine."

"Really? That's great, honey." My mother shuts her eyes briefly, the they shoot open again. "I almost forgot. Happy 18th birthday, Cassidy."

Oh my god, I forgot it was my own birthday. Not just any birthday, my 18th birthday. I'm a legal adult.

"Thanks, mum." I smile and a nurse tells me I need to leave, so I walk out of the room.

Niall is standing in the waiting area with balloons and a cake. "C'mon," he says. "Let's go celebrate you."

"You remembered it was my birthday?" I ask as we walk out to a small courtyard filled with pretty, spring flowers.

"Of course I did." He smiles and kisses my cheek. "How could I forget?"

"I love you," I blurt out. "I'm so in love with you, Niall."

"I'm so in love with you, too, Cassie."

We sit down and start eating the cake. We talk about different things and how we're gonna miss prom tonight, but we don't care. I tell Niall that if he wants to go, he can go and have fun, but he refuses.

"Why would I want to be with those people, when I could be with you?"

I blush and he kisses the tip of my nose. I crinkle my nose, but can't help smiling.

I never want to lose him.

~

I'm v sorry this is so short okay, but a chapter's a chapter no matter how small

also how do you forget about your 18th birthday c'mon Cass I thought you were smart

Comment, vote, & take a mint on your way out :-)

-Anna xo