Opposites ~ n.h (rewriting)

Chapter 25: Back in Manchester.

I just arrived at my flat. My plan is to just freshen up a bit and go straight to Niall's. I used to never understand why my friends were all crying when they had to be away from their boyfriends for a few days. But now, when I have a boyfriend myself, a proper one, I finally understand. The crying part may be a little overreacted but still, I now understand what missing is. I shower quickly and change my clothes fast. I really don't want to knock on Niall's door with my PJ's still on. I put my Christmas sweater on again but change the sweats for an actual skinny jeans. Yay for my effort to look good. 

I knock on Niall's door, the little box with the ring in my hand.

"Hold on Liz, you can't just jump in her arms. Take it easy she probably had a long drive back here." I hear him say to Eliza. I chuckle. I hear a protest from Eliza right before Niall opens the door.

"Hey, baby." He opens his arms. I walk in them and give him a kiss. I hear Eliza faking a gag as she walks away.

"What's that you got in your hands?" He asks me.

"Your ring." I smile.

"You don't like it?" He frowns.

"Yeah I do, I just wanted you to put in on." I smile. His eyes get that little twist of blue again as he grabs the box and grabs the ring before sitting down on one knee and pulling a dramatic face. I laugh as he slowly puts the ring around my finger. He stands up and opens his arms.

"Come here my love!" He says in a silly voice, making me laugh even more. Can you see why he ripped my heart out and I let him? He makes me laugh and the second he did that for the first time, my heart was his. 

We walk inside the living room and Eliza runs towards me. I catch her in time and lift her off the ground and hug her.

"Thank you for your gifts." She whispers in my ear. I smile.

"No problem." I say back.

"Why do all the kids in my class think there's a Santa?" Eliza asks me and Niall as soon as I've put her down again.

"Because they celebrate Christmas in a different way than we do. We celebrate Christmas like Christians and they celebrate it with Santa." Niall explains.

"Have you ever believed in Santa?" Eliza asks me.

"No, never. We also celebrate it without Santa. Not only because we are Christian but also because I used to visit my grandparents in  Holland and we have another holiday there which is similar to Santa Claus, so my parents never told me Santa Claus exists." I tell her. For the next hour she makes me explain everything about 'Sinterklaas' the Dutch/European version of Santa Claus, a holiday that is celebrated on the 5th or 6th of December.

After explaining the European holiday, Eliza runs out of the room.

"Don't you feel like her father sometimes?" I ask Niall as soon as Eliza has left the room.

"Yeah, all the time really. I mean I've been taking care of her ever since she was born. She used to call me daddy but when she was 6 she finally understood I was her brother and I just happened to be the one raising her." He tells me. 

"Why didn't your mother take care of her?" I ask him. I wonder what makes him so nervous whenever the subject of parents comes op. Niall takes a deep sigh.

"She committed suicide after suffering from depression and anxiety for 3 years. Liz was only 2 years old back then." His head hangs down, facing his lap.

"I'm sorry Niall. That must've been a hard time for you." I rub his back.

"No it's fine really. She's in a better place now." Niall says after a few minutes.