What The Boys Want || n.h.

F I V E

My heart stopped beating for a few minutes, it must've. Penelope had fallen in love with me? Impossible. I hadn't done anything for her to believe that anything could happen between us. Did I? No.

Oh god, Lo. How would I explain to Lo that her mother was in love with me? That fat cow, of all people. Why couldn't she say she hated me? It would be so much easier than this.

"Del, dear, has Penelope said anything about me, to you before?" I asked the older women, hoping this was all a joke.

"I think she likes you very much Niall. She's always going on about how everything must be clean for you, and she must always look perfect before you wake up."

"Del, she wrote me this... note. She says she loves me, and if I don't feel the same then to just leave."

"Well what will you do about it, sir?" Delores asked, sitting down at the table.

"Anything I say to you must stay between us two, promise Del."

"I swear Sir."

"I don't love Penelope, not the least bit, but I love that little girl, as if she were my own," Well, not my own daughter, but Delores didn't need to know that.

"Then stay Niall, stay for Lo."

"Should I? I mean, if I leave, it'll be easier. For the both of them."

"Niall, you know that Loren loves you, and having you around makes this place happier. And more beautiful, those paintings are something else."

"Delores, my dear, you're making me blush."

"It's true. But listen, if you feel you couldn't go through with this, then do not do it. I don't want you to be unhappy."

I looked at Delores for a moment, contemplating what she had said. Maybe I shouldn't stay. I wouldn't be lying to Penelope, and gorgeous Lo, oh my gorgeous Lo. She would be living a normal life. One where she would no longer have an older man pressuring her into doing horrible things.

If I do leave however, who will protect her? Who will fend off the hormone driven boys from hurting my little girl? What if someone tries to force her into things she doesn't want to do?

"I'm going to stay Delores. I want to protect Loren, and Penelope," I sighed, holding her hand in mine. The last part was a lie, but I smiled my way through it.

"Good, now, we should do something special for Penelope before she gets home."

And suddenly, I felt like a proper husband. I cooked an entire meal, and cleaned the house, with help from Delores of course. Once I heard keys mess with the lock on the door my entire body stiffened.

"Delores, I'm home!" Penelope called from the door.

I could hear the footsteps coming my way. She has no idea, she thinks I've gone and left. I still could. No, I cant, it's too late.

"Niall, hello. Did you-"

"I read your letter, yes. That's why I'm here Penelope."

"Really? You're going to stay? I didn't think you would, I wasn't sure."

"Of course I would, love." That word felt so wrong coming from me, and going to her. It is saved only for Loren, and I shall never call Penelope that again.

She rushed towards me, and enveloped me into a hug. "Oh Niall, I don't think I've ever been this happy before. I love you, very much."

"I love you too Penelope," yet again I felt sick. These words are for Lo, my gorgeous Lo. I shouldn't be speaking to her mother, of all people, this way. I know that if Lo heard me speaking to her mother like this she would shun me. She would never lay her cotton soft lips against my own again.

The thought of marrying this woman, and laying with her every night, instead of my sweet, precious Lo, killed me. I wanted to cry and scream and burn everything to the ground. But, to stay in her life, I must do this. My little Lo is counting on me for that.

"We have to be married right away!" Penelope rejoiced, clapping her small hands together.

"Now Nel, I don't believe we should do that so soon. Shouldn't we wait for Lo to get back home?"

"That little brat? No, of course not! She will only run around and create a mess. We can have a court wedding for now, and in time, when it's right, we can throw a giant wedding and invite everyone we know!"

I wanted so badly to scream at this wretch, and tell her to never speak about Lo like that again. But I couldn't, she would know. She would throw me out and I would never see my beautiful, happy, perfect, gorgeous Lo.

•••

Okay so that was pretty short, and kinda shitty, but I hope this can hold you guys over for now.

I might come back and redo this chapter, idk.

Comment and vote, pls.