Fearless

Chapter 9: Time Flies When You're Having Fun

After the night we kissed, nothing really changed. Niall would act the same and as did I and because we are the only ones who knew about it, everything went back to normal. The only thing that still tugs on my thoughts is, did the kiss mean anything? Did it mean Niall was in love with me? Did it ruin or progress our friendship to something other than a friendship? Did he mean it sincerely?

As much as I kept questioning myself, an answer never fully satisfied me. I didn't want to bring it up again either because I wasn't sure if Niall's answer was something I wanted to hear, especially from him. So I kept it locked in my mind for the next couple days when I decided to go to school.

After two weeks of not attending school, everyone would ask if I was okay. Normally I would be bitting their heads off or cry all the time but I would just simply present a smile and nod as if I was completely fine. Even I surprised myself with my answer to every question about my mother's death. I still felt stress pull on my heart with reminder but not as much as I thought. I started to notice I was hurting less since after the night I let my mom go. I wanted to believe it was because of my mature decision but something inside me tells me different.

For Niall's sake, I let off my insane brick wall of emotions because I didn't want him to feel as depressed as I did. Unlike him, I knew how to deal with things like that.

I was already in the kitchen making breakfast when a car horn honked in the drive way. There's my ride to school. Since I crashed my mom's car and Michael uses his for work and the bar all the time, Niall offered to be my chauffeur until I get the car fixed. I grab two apples and walk into the living room to see Michael passed out in the arm chair with a beer secured in his left hand.

Ever since the funeral, Michael has been getting worse. He'd go to work at noon and come home drunk which leaves me to clean after him and basically be his mother. To me it wouldn't make a difference wether he was here or not but the only reason he's still around is because he pays the bills; plus he is letting me crash at his place. The only reason I'm okay with him drinking is because he doesn't come home and beat me. Every night he just saunters in the house and passes out on the couch with a beer in his hand.

I roll my eyes and take the beer from his hand, dumping a small fleece blanket on top of him. The smell of alcohol makes me gag as I chuck the beer in the garbage. What a slob. The car horn honks again, "One second!" I shout. When I swing open the door, rain pours over the town. "Are you serious?!" I complain to myself and Mother Nature as I run into Niall's truck.

"Mornin" he flashes his million dollar smile before backing out of the drive way.

"Morning" I repeat back, throwing an apple his direction. He catches it and takes a gigantic bite into the apple. I quickly wipe the rain water off my face and clothing. "With all this rain, I'm surprised this place isn't called Atlantis" Niall pulls out of the drive way and drives off to school.

"Well get use to it because rarely does the sun shine over here" he laughs. "So tonight, the lads and I are going to play some football and I was wondering if you wanted to join?" He scratches the back of his neck nervously.

"I didn't know you guys played football?" I raise an eye brow.

"It's actually more of a tradition" he flashes a coy smile.

"Are you sure I should come?" I didn't want to get in the way of Niall and his time with the guys, especially after everything that's happened the past three weeks.

"Please, I want you to come!" He turns his head and pulls of his puppy eyes. I couldn't resist those eyes and give in.

"I would love to" I give him a cheeky grin. The ride was silent and this time an awkward silent. The entire time I kept biting my lip when I wanted to mention about the kiss. I was eager to find out if he really meant everything that night or was it the imprinting that did all the talk?