Like Dreamers Do (Niall Horan Fan-Fiction)

Chapter 5

It was five o clock when my grandad came into my room, looking a lot more cheery than I felt. 

He edged his way in, keeping close to the doorway and giving me a lingering look.

“You need some light Elli, it’s like a cave in here.” His old voice mumbled as he played with the photographs I had placed on the wall. The one he was looking at was of me, when I was five years old. I was wearing a bright pink tutu, my toothless grin widespread over my face.

I couldn’t remember the last time I felt that happy. 

“I like the dark.” I answered simply, unplugging my headphones and silencing the music I had been listening to. My grandad gave me a sad smile, and took a quick step back towards the door. He had given me a lot of space ever since we got back from the One Direction signing earlier today, sensing that something was wrong.

To be honest, I wasn’t even sure why I was upset. They hadn’t said anything bad to me. In fact, it was quite the opposite, but I couldn’t even bring myself to hang out with them. 

The truth was, I wasn’t ready. I lost everything only a mere few weeks ago. I didn’t want to be in the spotlight, which is what hanging out with One Direction would do. I needed to be hidden. I had to be anonymous. 

Luckily, my grandad hadn’t asked too many questions about what had happened today. He simply said ‘yes’ and ‘ah’ in all the right places when Lucy went off on a long tangent about how beautiful and perfect the boys were. He only gave me a small frown when Lucy said “They liked Elli, but she didn’t like them. She doesn’t like anyone her own age.”

I couldn’t blame Lucy for being so blunt. She was so young, and surprisingly intelligent for someone of her age. She simply put things how she saw them, and what she saw was me being a stubborn, anti social bitch. I did feel a little bad about the way I acted, but I doubt anyone from One Direction would care. They met new girls every day. I was simply one of the ones who was unwilling to ‘hang out’ with them. It shouldn’t be a big deal. 

My grandad could sense that I really wasn’t in much of a mood to talk, so he stopped looking at the photograph and took another step closer to the door.

“We’re going to go out for dinner. Get dressed in something nice, it’s a pretty fancy restaurant!” He finished, giving me a small grin, exiting the room before I had the chance to protest. 

I smiled in spite of myself. As much as I wanted to stay in my room and wallow in my own self pity, it would be nice to get out for a change. Plus I hadn’t really worn anything nice the past few weeks, my outfits consisting mainly of old trackies and jeans that could be worn in the greenhouse. 

I glided to my wardrobe and flicked through my dresses, a little shocked to find that most of my favourites from back home would no longer fit me. Everything was too big.

In the end, I decided on my black dress that I had bought years ago, shocked that it actually fitted me now. I quickly threw on a pair of heels and made my way to the bathroom to apply makeup.

Today was the first day I had properly looked at myself. I had gotten so skinny. My cheekbones were so defined now, they never used to be. I put on my make up carefully, not sure why I was putting in so much effort, but it felt nice to be pampered. 

When I looked at myself in the mirror, there was something different about me, something that had been missing the past few weeks in which I had moved to London.

I looked happy again. There was a genuine smile on my face, something I hadn’t experienced in a long time. But I still wasn’t fooling myself. Despite the illusion of happiness, I was still dying inside. I was just so empty and there was nothing I could do about it. I was still having nightmares every single night, and that was going to change anytime soon.

Sighing, I grabbed my handbag from my desk, throwing my phone, wallet and keys inside. I gave myself one last smile in the mirror before making my way downstairs, taking them two at a time. 

I was a little confused as to why my grandad hadn’t gotten changed into appropriate clothes. Unless he was wearing his oldest overalls to a fancy restaurant, there was no way he was planning on going out tonight. He was seated on the old couch in the front room reading a book, his brow furrowed.

“Uh, are we going soon?” I asked hesitantly. He looked up from his book and smiled politely.

“You look so much like your mother. She always wore her hair like you do when she was growing up.” He said, a sad look in his eye.

There was a moment of silence. And it was then I realized, I hadn’t even thought about my grandad. Not only was my mother killed, but his daughter was too. It wasn’t only me who was hurting inside. He too felt the same way I did. I just hadn’t taken any notice of it.

I looked to the ground and sat myself down in the armchair closest to the window. I didn’t have anything to say, so I began fiddling with the strap on my handbag.

“We don’t have to go out, if you’re not feeling up to it.” I said quietly, not looking him in the eye. I heard him chuckle quietly to himself, pausing before he too spoke quietly.

“I might give tonight a miss. Being so old, a night out on town isn’t exactly what I need right now.” 

I nodded my head fiercely, trying hard to respect his decision but I was pretty upset. I had been so looking forward to going out, but I wasn’t going to try and change his mind.

Seeing my disappointed face, my grandad chuckled again.

“That doesn’t mean you can’t go though Elli. A night out might do you some good.” He finished, picking himself up off the couch as he wandered over to the window. I watched the passing headlights of a car light up his old face, a little confused when I realized the car outside was slowing down. 

“Well as fun as going out on the town by myself sounds, I might give that one a miss.” I mumbled, picking myself up off the armchair. I was about to make my way upstairs and spend another night listening to my music in bed, when my grandad called me back.

“You won’t be going alone.” He said suspiciously, and I frowned.

“Do you want me to take Lucy or something? No offense, I mean you know London better than I do, but I don’t really think that’s the best idea.” I reasoned, my grandad laughing. 

“No not Lucy.” He started, the sound of the doorbell interrupting his thoughts. “Ah, this will be them now.” He finished, walking his frail body towards the front door.

My first thought was that he had found one of his old gardening buddies to take me out to dinner. I prayed that it wasn’t going to be Mrs Winterberry, a woman I had met last week who had made me plant twenty tomato plants for her. I had hoped I would never have to see her again.

Sighing, I followed my grandad to the front door and crossed my arms, waiting to see which over fifty five would be treating me to a roast dinner tonight.

You can imagine the shock I got when the door opened and the person standing there was definitely not over fifty five. They were nowhere near fifty five. 

Standing on my porch, wearing a black mickey mouse jumper, light coloured jeans and slightly windswept hair was none other than Harry Styles himself.

(A/N: Updated again(: I Love you all, but i am not getting any votes. so no update in a while. anyways, WISH MY BESTIE A HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! She's turning 12 tmrw. LEAVE A NICE COMMENT TO HER PLEASE? Her name is Alla(: Love You Babe(: )

-11.2,12