The door bell rings a ridiculous amount of times, so I know it’s Niall. Today isn’t exactly one of my best days. I’ve been sitting in my room crying about my mother. I still can’t believe that there are so many more tears that I’m holding in. I consider letting Niall stay outside until he gets the gist that I don’t want to be around anyone today, but when he doesn’t stop ringing the doorbell, I groan and force myself out of bed.

When I open the door, my eyes widen. First, at the shock of cold rain. But more so how white the surroundings have become. It’s snowing.

“Luke, what the hell are you doing inside on such a beautiful, snowy day?” Niall demands, stepping side the house. His big jacket has little specks of snow. He scans my body from head to toe then frowns deeper. “And aren’t you too cold to be wearing shorts a tank top?”

I shrug.

Niall rolls his eyes and grabs my hand. He literally drags me upstairs and pushes me into my bedroom.

“Change,” he says. “You have exactly five minutes or I’m walking in on you.” He winks and closes my bedroom door. I blink a few times before turning on my heel to go look through my wardrobe. I end up pulling on a pair of black tights and a plain black long sleeved shirt. I tug my boots on and grab a very thick pink coat from my coat stand. After applying a bit of mascara and foundation to my face, I grab my phone and head out.

Niall is standing right outside my door, looking down at his watch. He grins.

“You’re early by thirty seconds.”

I roll my eyes. “Probably why I look like shit.”

“Shit is the last thing you look like,”” he says, taking me gently by the wrist. I feel myself blush as he pulls me back down the stairs. I wonder where Hotshot is, but when Niall takes me out of the house, I forget about it. The snow hits my nose instantly. I pull the hood of my coat over my head and laugh, sticking my tongue out to catch a flake or two.

“Come on.” Niall’s grip slides down to my hand and he pulls me around the side of my house to the back. Then I realize he’s taking me to the woods.

“We just can’t stay away, can we?” I laugh, gripping his hand tighter. I see him glance down at our connected hands with a small smile.

“I just feel attracted to the woods,” he says and we maneuver through the trees. I nod and glance at him for a second. His nose is really red, his lips a bright pink. He licks them and glances back at me. I feel his grip on my hand loosen.
He drapes his arm around my shoulder and we continue to walk in a comfortable silence. When we reach the waterfall, we’re surprised by a beautiful act of mother nature.

“It’s so beautiful,” I gasp, meting into his build. Niall’s rosy cheeks become prominent as he smiles. The surrounding trees are covered with snow and the pond area is frozen. Niall releases his arms from me and pulls his phone from his pocket. He snaps a few pictures and I do the same with my phone.

“If only we had brought ice skates, he sighs, putting on a sour face. I laugh and dust some snow from the fallen tree bark and sit down. Niall takes a seat beside me and his arm falls around my waist again.

“Now, aren’t you glad I got you out of that house?”

I don’t want to admit it, so I just don’t answer. Niall laughs when he realizes I’m too proud to be wrong.

“Admit Aesbury, I’m always right.”

“Since when do you call me by my last name?” I ask instead, cocking an eyebrow at him. Niall shrugs.

“I don’t know. Like in movies, the guy meets the girl and then they become best friend. When the guy realizes the girl is actually cool he starts calling her by her last name the way he would with his guy friends.”

“So you think I’m cool?” I giggle, watching Niall’s eyes twinkle. He keeps his mouth closed but nods. The snow has stopped, leaving the world icy and beautiful. I can’t hear the bird tweeting and singing like they usually do, but in replace of that is the peaceful silence with Niall by my side.

“I’m holding a fall party this weekend,” Niall says, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Really?”

“Yeah,” he smiles. “I’d really love it if you could come. My mum really likes you, too. It’ll be most of my friends back from high school. I still keep in touch with them.”

“So you’re inviting me because your mum likes me?” I smirk while Niall’s smile drops.

“No of course not,” he shakes his head, taking both my hands. “I really want you to be there.”

“Sure you do.”

I love messing with Niall. He’s such a gullible lad, and he falls for everything. The downside to that is when he meets people like Fiona; he falls for their act, too.

“Luke, I know you’re messing with me.” I can see he’s fighting a smile.

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

“Am not.”

“You asked for it.” Niall bends down and balls up snow in his hand. When I realize he’s going to peg me, I try to dodge but the damn snowball splats against my face.

“Oh-h-h,” I stutter, trying to regain myself. “You’re going to get it.”

An hour later, I’m huddled against a tree with Niall calling my name. I had just pegged him hard in the chest and now he was on the search for me.

Suddenly two hands grab my shoulders and I scream. A ball of snow breaks on top of my head and Niall bursts into laughter. I pull myself up in one motion and tackle him to the ground. He reacts quickly, flipping us over so my hair is pressed against the wet, cold ground. My hands are spread out and my eyes are wide.

“Never peg me in the crotch, ever again.”

Okay, so maybe I pegged him a little lower than his chest.

“You asked for it,” I argue. “You were practically killing me with your snowballs. And have I mentioned your killer aim?”

“Oh,” Niall smirks. “I know I’ve got great aim.”

I roll my eyes. “Asshole.”

“Excuse me?” Niall’s head jerks up in surprise at my language. I don’t think I’ve ever called him that before, but now that I say it, I know it’s not right. I don’t mean it. Niall has been anything but an asshole to me. He’s been caring and funny, and sweet, and I have the nerve to call him an asshole. Suddenly I feel so terrible.

My face must show how conflicted my thoughts have become because Niall rolls off of me and unexpectedly grabs a hold of my face. He stares so intensely at my eyes and then his vision drops to my lips. “You think too much.”

And then he kisses me.

I have no clue in hell what is happening, or what I’m supposed to do. I’ve never been kissed before and this scares me more than anything. I’ll do something wrong. He’ll pull away. He’ll never want to come near me again. He doesn’t need me. I’m no good. I’m just a broken girl with my parents and no future.

Niall’s lips don’t last long on mine. He pulls away and I’m frozen.

“Is everything okay?” he asks slowly. His eyes looks confident but I can see he’s biting his lip nervously.

“No,” I exhale. He slowly pulls himself off me and I sit up as well. “I don’t know.”

“Which is it?”

“Why me? Why me when you could have someone else? I’m just your friend. I’m not pretty, and I’m not skinny. I’m not a model, and I don’t have friends. The closest thing I’ve got to a friend is a dog. I hate people, I hate conversations. I hate that you kissed me because that means you care when there’s obviously nothing here to care about.”

“Why do you always put yourself down?” he whispers, pushing my hair back.

“Because-“

“That’s a rhetorical question, sweetheart,” Niall purrs gently, leaning in again. “There’s absolutely no reason in this world why you should feel so lowly of yourself. Can’t you see, Luke? I like you. I like you a lot and I want to be more than friends with you. You’re different and you’re special. You’re you and that’s all that I want.”

“Really?” I breath out, my voice barely more than a whisper.

Instead of replying, Niall tilts my face up by my chin and his lips find mine. My entire body goes weak and I’m not freezing like in should be in such a cold, snowy atmosphere. My body is burning with excitement and so many other feelings that I didn’t know existed. My hands wrap around his neck and his body presses against mine. His tongue traces down my bottom lip and I mentally freak out. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do but then his tongue pushes in. Fisting my hair in one of his hands, he deepens the kiss, our tongues engaging in a passionate dance. I sigh into the kiss, feeling so at ease with him.

When he retreats, his lips are slightly swollen and I’m sure mine are too. He smiles like an idiot and his fingers trail down the side of my face.

“R-Remember,” Niall pauses to catch his breath. “Remember those times when I told you that I sensed some sort of connection?” I nod. “I-I think this is it.”

“I think so, too.”

“So, will you come to that party?” he asks, sitting up.

“As your date?” I smirk, pulling my coat sleeves over my hands.

“If you want,” Niall shrugs, though by the glimmer in his eyes I know he wants to say yes, yes, yes!

“Okay.” I nod. This will be the first party I’ve ever been to that doesn’t involve watching adults twenty years older than me gossip over work and business related things. This is the first party I might get to have fun at. Right when I’m starting to feel like a normal teenage girl, my cell phone rings and I’ve dragged right back in to the misery of my own world.

“Lucilia? This is Dr. James.”

“Y-Yes? Is everything alright with my dad?”

“Lucilia, I think you need to come to the hospital immediately. Your father has just experienced a heart attack and is in severe conditions at this time. His kidney was already weak after the car accident and it seems to be failing. His request list calls for you and so we’d like it if you could come.”

“Oh my god.”

“I just wanted to let you know. Visiting hours is until nine pm.”

“Oh- ooh okay.”

“I’m very very sorry, Ms. Aesbury.” Dr. James hangs up.

I nearly drop my phone as I attempt to turn off the screen. My hands are shaking instantly and I’m staggering away from Niall. I need to get out of the woods. I need to go see my father. I’m so stupid. Why did I avoid him? Why did I think it was a good idea to let him stay alone in that hospital room every day since the car crash? I was so selfish and I hadn’t even realized it. I’m shivering so hard and suddenly that cold reaches my throat, making it dry and sore.

“Luke, what happened?” Niall caught up to me and grabs my arm, stopping me. “Tell me.”

“This is why I can’t do this,” I snap, shrugging him off. “I have too much to deal with right now. I have my father to worry about but instead I come out here with you and fool around. All while my dad is probably dying in the emergency care room! You distract from the world, Niall, and that’s not a good thing.”

Niall looks shocked by my words, and so am I.

“I need to get to the hospital.”

Niall’s eyes narrow and his jaw clenches tight. “Need a ride?”

I can’t believe he still wants to give me a ride after what I just told him, but he does. That’s just how Niall is. He’s too nice for his own good.

“Please.” I beg, wiping away tears. It takes us longer to get back to my house because the snow has piled up on the ground. My body is freezing and I can’t feel my fingers or my mouth when I speak. We reach my house and I head straight for Niall’s car. He follows me and we get inside quickly. Niall starts the engine and turns up the heater. He puts his hands on the wheels but sighs and sets them down on his lap.

“I can’t,” he says. “My hands are completely frozen.”

I bit the inside of my cheek and look up at him. I’m pretty sure there are still tears in my eyes. I try not to cry and take him hands. I rub them in between mine in a fast motion, applying friction to his hands. I lean down and blow hot breath onto our hands. Niall smiles.

“I did that for you,” he notices, his voice filling the car. “That day when you dried off at the pond.”

“You did,” I nod. “Can’t believe just three weeks ago it was warm enough to go for a swim. Are your hands warm enough?”

Niall takes his hands away from mine and adjusts his fingers on the steering wheel. “Much better.”

He begins driving and in less than half an hour, we’re running through the main entrance to the hospital. Again, people give Niall looks, an I assume it’s because of that band he’s in. I find out what room my father is in and literally drag Niall through the hallways to the elevator, and straight to the room.

We stop in front of the doorway. It’s closed. I don’t know if I’m allowed to go inside but I forget what’s stopping me when Niall pulls me into the room.

There is my father, hooked up to several tubes. The heart meter is low and he looks incredibly pale. I can barely see his chest moving, but it still is.

“I can’t do this,” I whimper, burying my head in Niall’s chest. He strokes my hair and holds me tight until I get myself together

“Daddy?” I whisper, walking up to the bed. My knees go weak when I touch his skin and realize how cold he is. My body turns to jelly and I feel myself fall. Niall sprints towards me and catches me just as I hit the ground. “H-He’s freezing.” I cry, unable to look at my father.

“He’s going to be okay, Luke.” Niall whispers, kissing my forehead. “He’s going to be fine. The doctor’s are going to fix him up and he’s going to be home soon. You’re not going to lose him, Luke.”

“How do you know that?” I gulp, not believing him. Whatever Niall says, he doesn’t have proof.

“I don’t know it.” He sighs, “but I do know that God won’t let an angel get hurt this much.”

I can’t help but blush when he says this, but knowing my father is slowly dying beside me brushes away all feelings. I wiggle out of Niall’s grasp and stand up. When I turn around to look at Niall, his eyes are on the ground and he looks hurt. I know I’ve made him feel this way but I can’t handle two big things at once. It’s my dad or him.

I have a lot to owe to my dad. I haven’t the best daughter since, well, day one. I haven’t treated him the way I should, even though I know he cares about me. Niall would understand what I’m going through. He would understand that I can’t deal with anything close to a love type relationship while my father is hospitalized. Niall would understand that being just friends is what is meant for us.

That’s what I keep telling myself. I hope I’m not lying to myself.

Though I probably am.

Notes

Sorry for a long wait! Thirteen days to be exact! Been working on my other story but I figured it was time to write another chapter for this one.

So....Luke and Niall kissed. What do you think of that? But of course, Luke had to be Luke and turned him down. Poor Niall... :( Hope you guys like it. And for all you Niall and Luke shippers, help out and come up with a couple name! :)