The Staircases // 5SOS

Chapter 26

*Around 10:00am*

Eliza's P.O.V.

I stretch my arms out as I yawn, the light through the guest room waking me up from my slumber. I squint my eyes open as the memories of last night come flooding back to me. I can feel myself blush and I close my eyes again at the thoughts of Niall kissing me. Niall saying my name. Niall touching me. Niall.

I reach over the crumpled bed sheets and blankets on my left side fumbling for his body but I don't feel it. He might still be sleeping and maybe moved closer to the edge of the bed. I prop my head up on my elbow as I turn towards where he'd be and open my eyes again, astonished he's missing.

I feel my heart sink and I immediately sit straight up.

"Niall?" I call. Maybe he's in the bathroom attached to this room. Maybe he went downstairs. He wouldn't leave.

I get up and quickly put my dress that was in a pile on the floor over my bare body since it's the only thing I have to wear at this second. I absentmindedly brush my fingers through my hair and go check the guest bathroom.

"Niall?" I poke my head into the bathroom. Nope.

I tiptoe away from the door wondering where he could be. I look around the room. His clothes aren't on the floor and the only thing that looks out of place is the unmade bed that's usually made up nicely since we rarely have visitors.

I decide to try the kitchen downstairs and I get giddy thinking maybe he made me some romantic morning after breakfast like they do in the movies.

I scramble down the stairs and make my way to the kitchen and sigh at the mess everywhere. As soon as I find Niall I'm going to have to clean this all before my parents and sisters get home. Zayn must've decided to stay at college this weekend.

I'm about to start cleaning up because my OCD is kicking in but I hear something come from the other stairs by the entrance and I remember Niall.

"Niall?" I call for the third time but all I hear is someone making some racket upstairs.

I see I left my drumsticks on the side table as I pass by the door and snatch them up quickly before I trudge up the steps wishing he'd just answer me already.

I go down the hall and turn into my bright pink and black bedroom to find Niall sitting on my cajon tapping on it. I smile when I see he has a tray with some food on it on my bed. It was a glass of orange juice, a granola bar, and some toast. It wasn't much but I knew he meant well. And he wasn't much of a cook anyway, I wasn't expecting some grand gourmet breakfast.

"Is this for me?" I giggle walking towards it and take a sip from the clear glass while I set my drumsticks on the bed by the tray.

"Yeah, I was gonna bring it to you in a minute if you hadn't woke up" he explains tapping some more on the wooden box.

"I thought maybe you left me after last night when I woke up and you were nowhere to be found" I joke expecting him to laugh. I know he'd never do that. Even though I did panic a bit when I saw he wasn't beside me this morning.

"Well not exactly" he says making eye contact with me and I see he looks worried. Why?

"Niall?" I question setting back down my glass and walking over to him. "What's going on?" I can hear the worry in my own voice.

"Eliza, I" he trails off looking away and my heart is sinking even more now.

Maybe this was like the movies, but the one with the unhappy ending where the boy leaves the girl after he gets what he wants. I never would've fathomed that girl would be me though. And why would he stay to explain? This can't be what I think it is.