We're Okay

Chapter 10

Niall

He went to stay with his mum for the weekend. He asked Harry about it first, not because he needed his permission, but because he wanted his honest opinion. And Harry was honest, sometimes a bit too honest, but whatever. Niall loved the bastard anyways.

Harry had told him to go for it, if he honestly believed it was for the best. The thing was, Niall wasn’t sure. Except he knew that, in five months time, he’d most likely be leaving for Uni, and if he ever really wanted to patch things up it had to be done then.

At first, it was awkward. He didn’t feel at home anymore, even though it had only been a couple months since the room at the top of the stairs had been his bedroom. Since the far left end of the couch had been his spot. Since the doorknob to the front closet had been the place where he’d hang up his bag after school.

Also at first, he kind of expected his dad to walk through the front door. He’d sat perched and tense on the edge of the couch, waiting for the blows that could come any moment. Except he didn’t ever show up, and Niall wouldn’t have stayed long enough for them to come anyways.

He relaxed back into his old spot, and his mum made them drinks and sandwiches, and they talked a bit. Talked about school, and how Niall had applied for a scholarship late in November for the school a few hours from their city. Durnham wasn’t the greatest school in the world, but it was easier to get a scholarship to, and they offered the business class Niall wanted to take. And, on top of that -- he’d already looked into it-- there were tons of places near enough to the school that Niall could easily get a job at. His boss, Harvey, had already promised him the greatest recommendation. Now, all he needed was to get the scholarship. He wouldn’t find out until a few days before graduation whether or not he actually did.

His mum cooked them a small dinner of pork chops and mashed potatoes, and they ate curled up on the couch, television playing loudly in the background. And it was just… kind of nice, if not a bit uncomfortable.

It felt like visiting an aunt, though, or a grandparent. He felt welcome and able to help himself to anything in the house, and yet at the same time it wasn’t his . It was weird, and he kept waiting for it to go away, but it didn’t. And at the end of the weekend, when he went back to Harry’s -- greeted with a hug from Anne-- and got back to his room there, he finally felt at home again.

“You’re back,” Harry said, leaning against the doorframe to Niall’s room.

Niall looked up at him. “Yeah, just got in a few minutes ago.”

“And?” Harry questioned. “How’d it go?”

Niall shrugged. “It was fine. A bit weird though, you know? I mean, it just-- it didn’t feel like home anymore?”

Harry smiled at him and moved into the room to wrap Niall in a too tight hug. “That’s ‘cause your home’s here now. We’ve kidnapped you, and I don’t plan on letting you go. Unless you want to, that is.”

“I don’t want to,” Niall said slowly.