all too well

one (hannah's POV)

You know that feeling of sleeping in someone else's place, waking up and for a split second being so utterly confused with your surroundings? Thats how the first morning in Nashville went, except instead of waking up in Niall's house on the east side, I was in my own home. 

I blinked as my eyes adjusted to the sunlight pouring through the huge window, and into my new room. 

Curtains. I made a mental note to ask Niall to help me put them up. I laid there, my cat Patrick hoping in next to me. "hey buddy, can you believe we're here already, huh?". He meowed in response, cuddling into me. 

"me either."

It only took me a few cups of coffee to get my morning started. Dozens of boxes ,with my entire life inside them, stared at me from the living room. They all taunted me, waiting to be opened and put to good use.

Niall had helped me put together my bed, and with moving in the rest of my furniture. Today's agenda consisted of displaying all the trinkets my friends and family have given me, and making it feel like more of a home.

Niall called me as soon as I finished putting up the last Funko Pop. 

"Hey, how's moving in coming along?" 

"Its going along great, although I thought you would be too busy to check in today?", hearing from Niall when he was in the studio wasn't an odd thing, but I liked to tease him about it. That's how he was, he was always so protective of me. I don't think there was ever a time where Niall was not on my side or rooting me on. He was always there to lend a helping hand. Even when I felt like it wasn't needed. 

"I just feel sorry for not being able to help you unpack everything."

"Don't be. I like getting to unwind alone. I bet that's an excuse to see Patrick though huh?" I opened another box, revealing a stack of records. I put them away one by one, admiring each cover as I did so. Kiss, Bob Dylan, The Lumineers and so on.  Soon enough my shelf resembled a piece of me.

He stayed silent for a brief second before chuckling, "yea that was it." He cleared his throat before continuing, "hey, seems like all the boys want to stop into your work before heading into the studio tomorrow, would that be cool?" 

The boys he was referring to were his former bandmates, who only recently started talking to him again. I never got the chance to meet anyone from the past, besides his other countless close friends that eventually became mine. Not having met Zayn or Harry yet was no surprised, due to the fact that I had known Niall only after they disbanded. It was a bit weird seeing that side of his past come back to him now, but it was exciting to see that part of him.

"Id love to have everyone! maybe a little after one?" I had started my dream career a month ago before making the big jump to moving into the city. It was like no other job I've ever had, from not having to deal with reckless customers, to actually getting to dive into art everyday, I couldn't have asked for anything more fitting to me.

It had showed up on a simple Linkedin post one morning, after venting to my friends that I simply have to move to Nash soon, and time is slowly slipping away, and the classic if I don't do it soon, then when would I ever do it?

"Why don't you apply for this?" Jesse had said, turning her laptop towards me, "It's in the city and all you need is the degree you graduated in, and you acing the interview with your charm of course." she had smiled contently at herself then, as she always does, typing away my info to set up said interview.

And just like that, everything fell into place, and soon enough I was an assistant art director in Nashville's most prized art museum. Niall was just as excited as me when I got the job, and maybe even more ecstatic that I was only a few blocks away from his Nashville home, one that he resided in way more as soon as I started working. He made every excuse to stop by everyday. He showed me all the important spots, like which grocery stores to shop at for after I'd move in, and all the hidden town gems. And I reaped a long list of benefits, like letting in my best friend and all his other friends, to get a private tour of the endless exhibits we showcased. 

"I'll see you tomorrow then, and don't bring a lunch, I might as well bring in your favorite" He finished, before ending the call. 

I looked off into my window, noticing the skyline that was visible to where I was standing, and into the city that offered me everything that I didn't know was to come.

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