A Summer In Ireland (Niall Horan fanfic)

Cookies & Sketchbooks

I sat on the couch, mindlessly drawing in my sketchbook. My emotions have been bursting at the seams lately and it felt nice to finally let them all flow out onto the pages.

*Knock Knock*

“I’ll get it!” Aunt Tara called as she trotted to the door while simultaneously trying to put her earrings in.

I didn’t bother to look up. It was probably just one of her friends again. Besides, I was too engulfed in drawing to get up and answer the door anyways.

“Oh nice to see you again, Niall.” Aunt Tara greeted. “Please, come in.” Stepping aside, she kindly gestured him inside.

My head shot up to look at the door as Niall stepped inside.

“Nice seeing you too Mrs. Collins,” he politely smiled back.

“Erin, I do believe this handsome young man is here to see you,” Aunt Tara chirped cheekily as she closed the door.

I closed my sketchbook and slid it under a couch pillow next to me before scurrying off the couch and over to Niall.

When I put the book under the pillow, Niall raised an eyebrow and gave me a bit of a strange look. But I tried to play it off like it was nothing. I really don’t want him to ask me about that book…not yet anyways.

Honestly, my sketchbook was my most private and personal possession. Some girls have diaries or journals where they express all their deepest and innermost thoughts; but for me, it was my sketchbook. Every embarrassing, funny, romantic, traumatic, or memorable moment I experienced was drawn out in there. And I just wasn’t ready to show them to people yet.

“Well I’m going to head out and do some shopping with a few friends.” Aunt Tara informed us as she grabbed her purse off the coffee table. “I’ll be back in a couple hours, so you guys have the house to yourselves until then.”

“Okay, see you later Aunt Tara!” I called to her as she started to walk out the door.

She turned around and yelled after us, “You kids behave while I’m gone! No funny business!”

Niall and I looked at each other and chuckled.

“No worries Mrs. Collins!” he yelled back.

“Buy me something cute while you’re gone!” was what I had to say back to her.

I heard Aunt Tara burst into laughter as she got into her car.

“So were you up to anything interesting before I got here?” Niall inquired.

“Nahh not really.” I said, hoping he wasn’t asking about my sketchbook. “I was actually just getting hungry. Want a snack?”

“Are you kidding me? You do know who you’re talking to, right?” he chuckled. “Of course I want food! I always do!”

We both laughed.

“Alright then hungry boy, what would you like?” I questioned as we walked into the kitchen.

Niall took a seat at the counter and I stood, facing him, on the other side of it.  

“Hmm,” he held his hand up to his chin in a thoughtful pose for a moment before saying, “How ‘bout some sweets. Have you got any?”

I chuckled at his silliness.

“You’re such a goof.” I laughed. “But no, I haven’t got any. We could make some though, if you want.”

“Let’s doooo itttttt!” he cheered in a deep and excited voice.

“Haha, alright then. Cookies sound good? I make a mean chocolate chip cookie.” I said in my best chef voice.