Just as Much

Erica's POV

I brush the thoughts of my dinner with my mom out of my head, she always has a way of getting into the nooks and crannies of my brain. She's probably the main reason I don't stick around with guys long, she would tell me constantly to do things for myself, focus on me, then she got lost in Simon. So I stick with what she used to tell me. I focus on me, I get things done.

I love Fridays. Nothing extremely important this weekend, I only have to go in to the office for a few hours tomorrow, then Allison and I are having a girls night with some of our other friends. It's hard when you're at school and don't live in the dorms, I don't stick around after classes to meet people and a lot of my friends from high school are all over the place so we don't get to meet up very often. But Allison is my oldest and dearest friend so we make an effort.

I stand up from my kneeling position, I've been cleaning Niall's white couches, it's something I probably do once a month. He's not messy, he just did a terrible job at picking out white furniture. Thank god he doesn't have a cat or a dog. I just have to let the mixture dry before I can vacuum it up so while I wait, I have to finish dusting the picture frames Niall has displayed.

Niall is currently out playing golf with Olly Murs. They've been friends since Olly joined them on tour a few years back, and Niall is always trying to get more people into his old man's sport. I won't tell him that I've actually played quite a bit with my grandfather in the past, he would try to use his powers of persuasion to get me to play, and I probably would.

I can hear the garage door open and Niall pull in, shutting his door rather loud, then another door. I can only assume Olly has come back with him. The side door opens, “Honey, I'm home!” Niall shouts and I just scoff.

“Hi Niall.” I see Olly walking in behind him. “Hey Oliver! Long time no see.” I smile at him. I love Olly, he's always so chipper and positive.

“Hey Erica!” He's got a brilliant smile. “How's the blondie?”

“I'm fine thanks, how was the game?” I ask, blowing hair out of my face.

Niall starts laughing before he even gets a chance to speak. “Erica!” He pauses to laugh more, making me laugh. “You should have seen it, Olly can't hit worth a crap. He was losing balls all over the place.” Niall's laugh makes everyone laugh, and even if Olly looked a bit embarrassed he was quickly laughing too.

“Niall, be nice. Olly is just starting to learn.” I remind him and try to stop laughing, but I just can't.

“Yeah Niall, be nice, I'm just learning!” Olly laughs as Niall just shakes his head and walks down the hall. “What's wrong with the couches?” Olly looks at them and back to me.

“Oh shit! I forgot, I cleaned them today, it's just a bit of the what you would call couch shampoo, I'll just vacuum it up quick and you can sit.” I quickly race to the front hall closet to retrieve the vacuum and clean up the mess. “You want anything to drink Olly?” I offer him as I wind the cord back up.

“I can get it Erica.” I hear Niall walking down the hall and I simply shrug my shoulders and return the vacuum.

“Hey, are the guys still coming next weekend Niall?” I ask, interrupting their conversation.

“Yeah, they should be here on Thursday, then I leave on Sunday for the tour, they'll check into a hotel.” He tells me and I nod, Niall's friends from 5SOS will be in town to sign some papers, do some marketing and he's apparently offered his place for them all to stay. Thankfully, Niall will be leaving on Sunday so I can't scold him when I arrive and see how messy his place will be. I can only imagine.

I walk away from their conversation and continue my duties, making the beds, wiping the counters, cleaning the showers, all that's left to do is sweep and mop the floors then I'm off for the weekend. I've already read my assigned chapter for next Tuesday's classes, worked on my essay, and completed my part in a group project so I have nothing to do for school work, just going out with my friends and relaxing.

I get a ping from my phone and I quickly check it seeing as it's from Allison.

From Allison:
Turn on the news, channel 204

I furrow my brows, confused as to why she wants me to turn on the news. More for the fact of why is she watching the news. I shrug my shoulders and oblige, walk into the guest room and turn the tv on, flipping channels till I get to the right one. When the picture clears I'm speechless. My body goes into automatic as I plop down on the edge of the bed. I sit in horror at what I see.

From Allison:
Erica??? Are you watching?

I look down at my phone but don't respond. Hot tears pooling in my eyes as I clasp a hand over my mouth to muffle my incoming sobs. My shoulders wrecked as tears pour down my cheeks.

“Erica?” I hear Olly's voice but don't say anything as I hear his footsteps get closer, my eyes just glued to the news reports and pictures. I don't even notice him at the door. “Erica? Are you okay?” I slowly turn to him and see his face widen in surprise as he rushes towards me. I'm sure I look a mess, but I don't care. “Erica, what's the matter?” All I can do is nod my head towards the tv as what he sees doesn't register as something to be this upset about. “Niall!!” He turns and yells. “Niall, get in here!” He yells again and I hear quick footsteps. I see and hear everything going on around me but it doesn't register. I'm mute.

“What's all the yelling about?” He gripes but pauses when he sees us, me sitting on the bed in stunned silence, Olly on a knee by my feet, both watching the tv. “What's the matter?” He walks further into the room when he sees it. “Oh shit.” He turns his head back and for the from me to the tv, taking in my reaction before finally coming towards me.

“Will someone tell me what the hell is going on?” Olly stands up to move out of Niall's way.

“That's her building Where here flat is.” Niall tells him.

“The one that's in flames?” Olly's eyes get wide as he looks back at me. I can't speak, I simply nod my head as I see flames shooting from the windows as the fire department tries to calm them. All my things. Gone. I pull my legs up and wrap my hands around them, making myself as small as possible as I watch all my memories and things burn.

“It's going to be fine Erica.” I hear Niall whisper in my ear as he wraps his arms around me and pulls me towards him. I turn my body and and close my eyes, hoping to get the sight of the hot flames out of my brain, but it does nothing to calm me.

“Wh-what am I going to do?” I say to no one in particular as try to speak between sobs that are taking control of my body.

I feel Niall's hands start to gently pull at my hair, I actually left it down today, as he starts to run his fingers through it. At least he remembers what to do to calm me down. “Hey Olly, can you get Erica some water?” He asks and out of the corner of my eye I see Olly nod and leave the room. “Everything is going to be okay Erica. I'll help you figure this out.” He wraps his arms tighter around me, now running his fingers down my back trying to stop me from sobbing. “Everything is going to be fine.” He repeats over and over again until Olly comes back with my water, Niall all but forcing me to drink it. It works for a little bit.

“Can you just turn it off?” I point to the tv as Olly quickly fumbles with the remote and turns it off. My phone starts vibrating as Niall leans over and picks it up.

“Hey Allison.” He looks at me as I try to wipe my eyes. “Yeah, it's her place. She's here right now.” He pauses, listening to her speak. “Yeah, she's a little more calm, I'll text you my address to bring stuff over.” Niall ends the conversation, and fiddles around more with my phone, I'm assuming to text Allison like he said he would. “Allison is coming over to bring you some things.” He whispers to me, placing the phone down on the bed, his arms quickly wrapping back around me as us three sit in stunned silence.

Notes

So sorry to do this to you all... I won't be able update until either Christmas or the day after Christmas. I'll still have my phone so I'll be able to read all your fantastic stories and respond to messages and comments.

So, now what? Poor Erica, I can't even imagine a fire taking everything.

Let me know what you think!! Thank you for commenting, voting, subscribing, and reading!!

Happy Holidays!!

xoxox