Strong (Niall Horan)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2-

“She lives in a shadow of a lonely girl, cries so quiet you can't hear a word, always talking but she can't be heard. You can see it here if you catch her eye. Know she's brave but she's trapped inside. Scared to talk but she don't know why. Wish I knew back then what I know now. Wish I could somehow go back in time and maybe listen to my own advice. I'd tell her to speak up, tell her to shout out, talk a bit louder, be a bit prouder. Tell her she's beautiful, wonderful everything she doesn't see. You've got to speak up and shout out and know that right here right now you can be beautiful wonderful anything you want to be little me” my hand flies out and grabs my phone from the table beside the couch. “Hello?” I ask answering it. My voice was still tired and groggy. “You need to come home today” I recognize my mum's voice and a feeling of dread consumes me. I don't want to leave Brie here like this. I especially don't want to go home and spend 'quality time together'. Wait? Why would she want me back after all this time? She never wanted me back before. I have only received around two phone calls from her in the last three years. “Why? What’s wrong? Is everything okay?” I ask. “You need to come home” she replies. “I haven't bought a plane ticket and I have stuff to do” I tell her. “I don't care you need to be here. I took care of everything. It’s on your phone” she says sternly. I glance at Brie as I notice she is awake. “You can go” she mouths. I wish I had remembered this was my mum's ring-tone. I would have never picked up. “I guess I am” I reply uncertain. I don't really like the nervousness and smugness in her tone. “Good, good. Your plane leaves in two hours” she states. “What” I exclaim. “Bring something appropriate we are to have guests” she says in her I'm above you tone. I knew what she was implying and I didn't like it. It was starting to piss me off. Before I can reply she hangs up. “Bitch” I murmur. “Lucky you” Brie says sarcasm dripping from her words. “I know right. Family bonding” I fake cheeriness. “Want help packing?” she asks. “Of course” I reply grinning. She lightly hits my arm as we head into my room.

  "You promise to let me know as soon as the bitch tells you what is making her oh so eager for your company?” Brie asks. I bite my laugh trying not to laugh as her dramatics. “I promise” I tell her as I grin like an idiot. Brie can make any situation funny. I love her for it. “Good” the joking mood disappears as seriousness takes over her face. “I'm going to miss you” she says sadly. “I'm going to miss you too Briebear” I reply. I fling my arms around her shoulders, hugging her tightly. We pull away as my flight is called. “Love you” I tell her. “Love you too Kase” she says. I head to the gate glancing back at my best friend in the whole world. If only I had turned back at that moment like I so badly wanted to. Maybe things would have been different.

 I get off the plane and head off through the gate as I look through my phone. I am not sure if it is my dad, mum or brother picking me up. I know Amalee wont do it. “Kase?” my head snaps up as a smile spreads across my face. “James?” I exclaim recognizing my brothers voice. “I can't believe it” he says. I throw myself into his arms. “I missed you so much Jamesy” I tell him. “I missed you too Kase”  he says. I pull away looking at my bid brother. His sandy brown hair was messy the way he has always liked it, his eyes are green like my mum's and he had obviously worked out sense I last saw them because he had more muscle and I could see a six pack through his tight shirt. “You've changed big bro” I tease. “So have you Kase, so have you” he says with a grin as he throws his arm around my shoulder. He takes my bag and throws it in his car. We both get in. “So were you ever planning on visiting?” he asks casually but I could hear the hurt underneath it. “James-” I couldn't find the words to explain. What was I suppose to say after leaving for three years and not visiting? “I'm sorry” I whisper feeling guilty. “Is that all you can say? Three years without my little sister and I barely get to see her except on skype once in a while. The once in a while phone call and the often texts don't make up for it, Kasey” he says. I watch as his hands grip the steering wheel tighter. I glance at his face only to see him staring straight ahead blank faced. “You know I don't belong here. I would never be happy here in Ireland, James. Not like this. Do you remember what it was like when I was here? It was world war III and that couldn't continue. I was tearing our family apart” I tell him softly. He doesn't say anything. “Isn't my happiness worth something? I found where I fit in and there are people who care about me and who don't try to change me. Does that not mean anything? Would you of preferred if I stayed and none of us where happy?” I ask. There is a pregnant pause. “I understand why you would want to leave but you could of visit us. We all miss you” he says his voice dropping down to a whisper. “Two out of four doesn't count as all” I retort. He opens his mouth but I stop him. “Don't defend them. We both know its true. I can't change the past but you didn't visit me either James so it couldn't of been that important to you” I snap. “Mum told us not to” he admits as he pulls into the driveway. “Wow mum rules the world. Everything she says goes, right? I never knew you actually listened to her” I huff. “I'm sorry, Kase” he whispers. “Its not your fault. Things are just complicated” I murmur with a sigh. I couldn't blame him or be mad at him for all of this. It isn't his fault. He doesn't understand the full pressure of what it was like. He hugs me before getting out. I follow his lead and grab my bag. I take a step hesitantly towards the house I grew up in. I haven't been here in three years. “You can do this” James whispers in my ear grabbing my hand. I nod and we walk inside. “We're home” James calls. “Kasey?” I recognize my dad's voice as he comes into the hall from our sitting room. “Dado” I whisper. I take in my dad's sandy blond/brown hair and kind brown eyes before flinging myself into his arms. “I missed you dado” I whisper. “I missed you too Princess” he whispers. I open my mouth to reply when my mum enters the room in her high heels and a dress. “I want you to go start on dinner” she says. “Mum, Kasey just got here” James says. “Kasey” she says narrowing her eyes at me. I knew she wasn't going to back down. I just got here, I don't want to have a fight this early in my first visit in two years. “Somethings never change” I mutter before heading to the kitchen. I start making my famous chicken with potatoes and carrots. I could hear my mum's heels clicking on the floor as she enters. “Go get changed. I left some stuff out on your bed” she orders. I walk upstairs without a word to my room. My door was closed and I slowly open it up. A smile comes to my lips looking it over. It hasn't changed a bit. My bed was in the far corner, there was a case of trophies and medals hanging on the wall across from the door. Mum would never approve of my medals or trophies being shown anywhere else in the house. She didn't really approve of anyone seeing them. There is a walk in closet and I have a huge window. There is a window seat attached. Across from my bed there is a basketball net and a few feet from it there is a desk for work. My walls were white with a whole wall dedicated to pictures of my friends and I over the years and things I painted onto it along with my favourite skateboard that I couldn't bring to college. I glance at my huge bed and see a pink thing and high heels. I knew right away I wouldn't like what I was going to see. I am going to explain one thing right now. I admit I was born into a rich family. It seems as though I have never wanted anything before right? I have and I know that sounds stupid but its true. I have always wanted a mother who would accept me as I am even if we didn't have all this money or any of it. All I want is to have people proud of me and accept me as I am instead of changing me. Everyone expects when they find out where I come from and who I am that I am one of those bitchy girls who always wants these expensive things and loves wearing dresses. I have one thing to say to that. FUCK NO! I am a simple kind of girl. I would rather eat Nandos and wear shorts and a t-shirt. I reach out and poke the dress. Don't ask me why I did it okay. It is just so frilly and I couldn't help thinking it is going to eat me. Maybe that time James dropped me on my head really did some serious damage. Probably not the only thing. Hehe everyone questions my sanity. Maybe I am the normal one and they are all insane? Is it possible? I slowly lift the dress up inspecting it. It was really short, probably reaching just below my bum. It had a very, very low cut. What the FUCK? WHO DOES SHE THINK I AM? AMALEE? We may be twins but we are nothing alike. I throw the dress back on my bed cause there is no way in hell I am wearing that. NOPE! I go to my closet and look through it. I know I have a few dresses from very important occasions. I smirk as I pull out a blue dress. PERFECTION! I strip and pull it on. It reached mid thigh, with a v-neck and spaghetti straps. I pull on a pair of black small heels making my short height a little taller before putting on some eyeliner, mascara and lip gloss. I walk over to my full length mirror and look at myself. I actually look good for once. My hair was in its usual curly, wavy semi mess that looked good on me, my side bangs were slightly in my face. There was a blue under-glow bringing out the blondish brown. The mascara and eyeliner were bringing out my chocolate eyes. The dress hugged my athletic body, flat stomach and good sized chest. I attach my gold bracelet that has the word Irish on it in green and a little football (American soccer) that my dad gave me after I won my first game when I was six.