Just as Much

Erica's POV

I wake up with a heavy heart. I'm leaving New York today. A city I've groan to love. I'm excited to get back to London, see my mom, my best friend, and celebrate Christmas with my Grandparents but I've built a life here in just six months and I'm already planning a trip back. I have to keep tabs on Heath and Kristen anyway.

I can't believe Niall last night. He came back in such a panic and so quickly I didn't know what to expect from him. I didn't expect for him to ask me to be his girlfriend. I've always thought the idea of asking was stupid, I mean, we're twenty-one, you hang out with someone for long enough it's just kind of assumed. But I guess in the industry that Niall is in you have to figure things out before people start assuming and putting labels on you.

“Good Morning sunshine.” Niall returns to our room with a tray full of food. He was chipper this morning, full of energy as soon as he opened his eyes. I wish I could feel the same. My mood from leaving today has really put a damper on me and as much as I try to hide it, it's difficult. “I didn't know what you wanted so I just brought a bunch of things.” He sets the tray down on the bed and joins me.

“What time is our flight today?” I ask, grabbing a chocolate chip muffin and taking a bite. I'm addicted to muffins.

“Um, think it's at eleven, I'll have to check to make sure.” I notice we still have three hours until we have to fly so, meaning we have about an hour to eat, pack, and get ready to go.

“Where is everyone else?” I ask.

“Harry, Louis, Zayn, and Liam all left about an hour ago for London. They wanted to say good bye but you were sleeping so I told them they'd just have to catch you when you came home.” I nod, I don't mind not being able to see them and send them off but it would have been nice to get more time with them. Niall was a bit selfish with me this weekend.

“I'm going to shower and get ready to go.” I pull myself off the bed and rummage through my bag for clothes, a pair of leggings, black boots, and a thick gray gray jumper will do the trick. I don't want anything fancy for our long flight. What sucks is that when we arrive in Dublin, I still have to fly to Manchester, and they're later than us, I'll be getting to Sheffield at like three am. If I'm lucky.

I shower quick, not washing my hair, just waking up my body and dress. I opt for not putting my contacts in just in case I need some sleep, and put my hair in an all to familiar high bun. When I come out of the bathroom I catch Niall throwing things in his bag, not bothering to fold. I cringe at the thought but let it slide, I have things I need to finish.

“Ready girlfriend?” I stand from my kneeling position, I'm not facing him but I can tell he's smiling.

“As long as you never call me that ever again.” I turn to see Niall glaring at me. “I'm just kidding! Goodness. Someone needs a nap.” I zip my bag up and roll it to the door.

“You know, you're a bit of a bed hog.” Niall informs me as he does one last check of the room.

“You know, you can always sleep on the couch.” I'm feeling very sassy today and I think Niall knows it. Just pushing my buttons today.

“I think you'll be the one napping on the plane today.” He laughs at me while we wheel our bags down the hallway towards the elevator.

“Sorry, I'm grumpy today. I don't want to leave.” I admit, it's the truth.

“I know, it's fine. I rather enjoy it when you're grumpy.” I laugh and roll my eyes as the elevator doors open to the main lobby. We have to use the front entrance today and I get anxious as I see a slew of reporters and fans at the doors, just waiting. I tighten my bag on my shoulder, Niall grabs onto my hand.

“It will be fine. Just walk to the car, I'll stay outside and take pictures.” I nod as he kisses my temple, I know that picture will be all over the place in a matter of minutes. The doorman opens the door and I'm overwhelmed with questions, flashes of light, and screams. I'm off to the SUV, someone I don't know opens it for me and I slip inside for safety. I watch as Niall works the crowd, making people laugh, hugging girls that are crying, such a natural.

“So what do you do on a private plane?” I ask, flopping down in the cush leather seats. I've never even flown first class before. I'm sure my mom could afford it when we would fly to Miami to see my grandparents but she always thought the idea of spending more money was stupid. Just one taste of this life and I'll forever hate my coach seat now.

“Well I don't think theirs a protocol.” Niall laughs as he sets his bag down. “I usually just take a nap but we have some time and since I've never flown with you before, I just figured we would relax.” He takes the seat next to me and props his feet up on the seat across from him. I clutch my seat nervously, takes offs are always the worst for me, they make me anxious. “You all right?” Niall looks at me anxiously while we start to pick up speed.

“Yep. Just a really small plane. Crossing an ocean.” I close my eyes as our seats pull back and we lift off the ground.

“Huh.” I look at him through my squinted eyes. “Never took you to be afraid of flying.”

“I'm not afraid. I just don't like taking off or landing.” I inform him. It's the truth. That awkward feeling in your stomach, your ears popping, it's not that much fun. First class, coach, private plane, it's all the same.

It takes me a good ten minutes of us being in the air for me to feel better and I notice Niall is looking around for things to do.

“Hey Niall, Erica, you two need anything?” A beautiful blonde comes up to us, how does she know my name? I thought we were alone?

“All good Jamie, thank you.” He nods her off and turns to me, obviously I'm confused. “That's Jamie, shes our hostess. She's been with us for a while. She's from Australia.” I nod, I guess it's easier when the same people help you out. “She'll be out of sight for a majority of the flight. She stays in the back or talks to the pilot upfront. She's good about being out of sight.” He assures me, it wouldn't bother me if she was around. “So, I got you something.” He smiles at me and unbuckles his seat belt, standing to dig in his bag. He finds what he's looking for and I can see his empty hand clenched in a fist, I know he's nervous. He's always so nervous for me.

He passes me a perfectly wrapped Christmas present. “I had it gift wrapped. I'm not much for wrapping.” He lets out a nervous laugh and short breaths. I turn it over and start to gently unwrap it at the seam. “It's not much, I didn't really know what to get you.” Niall admits, his legs bouncing up and down, still anxious.

I open it to see its the back of a framed piece, I turn it over to see a quote from one of my favorite men, Ernest Hemingway. It reads, “We would be together and have our books and at night be warm in bed together with the windows open and the starts bright.” It's simple, classic, and perfect. It has a print of his signature at the bottom as well. I take a moment and just admire it, losing focus of my surroundings a bit, suddenly wishing I had a book to read and get lost in. I hear Niall clear his throat and realize I haven't responded to him.

“Oh, sorry Niall, I love it. Thank you.” I hug him and kiss his cheek, turning my attention back to my present.

“I got you something else too.” He pulls something from the floor, it's smaller but wrapped in the same paper.

I smile and start to open it, a little less careful then the first time. It's another picture frame, except this one is of Niall and I, the one that Luke took. It looks like he's made it black and white, matted it with white, and framed it in black. It really makes the picture pop.

“It's the picture Luke took of us.” I mutter before I realize what I've done.

“You knew about that?” Niall's eyes grow wide.

“Well it's not like you two were quiet.” I laugh, touching the glass and remembering that night.

“So you knew I liked you but you didn't say anything to me about it?”

“What did you want me to say Niall? I kissed you, I thought that would be enough.” No need for him to get sassy now. It's over and done with.

“Well you could have made it easier for me.” I laugh.

“It was easy enough Niall. Trust me.” I stand, put my presents down on the seat, and walk towards my bag to fish out my items for Niall. “These are for you mister.” I had him two wrapped presents. I notice his hands are still a bit shaky. “Do you need some food?” I ask and he shakes his head no. He leaves the presents on his lap and looks up at me. “Open this one.” I point to the heaver one. “The other one is for Theo because I know you didn't get to shop for him.”

“Thank you.” He smiles at me, setting the smaller package aside for Theo, coming back and kissing my cheek. Affectionate Niall is someone I'm a fan of. I watch as he turns the package over and rips the paper quickly. I'm anxious, not quite sure how he's going to respond to my gift as I'm taking a big leap.

He opens the small box and looks up at me confused. “They were my dads. I came across them yesterday, stuffed in my suitcase, I must have never removed them when I packed. I know it's an odd gift but when I saw them I thought of you.” I pull my knees up, waiting for his reaction. I pulls them out of the box, carefully studying them.

“Erica.” He pauses, still admiring them. “I can't take these, they were your dads.” I shake my head quickly.

“I won't ever use them, I want you to have them.” I still don't know if he likes them or not.

“Thank you. It means so much to me that you would give me these. I can't wait to ear them.” He leans over and kisses my lips quickly. “Are these rams?” I nod, he's finally figured out why I would give them to him. “Like Derby?” He's getting a little more excited.

“No, not like Derby. My mom said he had an odd obsession with the Dodge car company but she had gotten it misconstrued so when she bought him the gift it was just rams, like the animal so he kept them. Harry thought it would be a good idea.” I pass the buck onto him just in case Niall doesn't like it.

He sets the box down on the table and turns to me, wrapping me in his arms for a hug.”I love them.” His forehead meets mine and I can't help but hide my smile. “So, have you ever thought about joining the mile high club?”

Notes

BIG THANK YOU to not_any_maryjane for helping me with this chapter! If she wouldn't have been there to assist, I wouldn't be posting today! :)

Hope you all like this update, little cute/sentimental if I do say so myself. Thanks so much for commenting, subscribing, voting, and reading!!

Monday again...

xoxox