Family Matters

The Library was quiet as Charlotte sat pouring over her textbooks, the glossy pages and bright diagrams aggravating the pounding headache that had been resonating behind her eyes all day. Louis, who sat several chairs down had long since given up studying and sat playing a game on his phone in complete and utter boredom. Charlotte had told him he didn't have to stay with her but not having anything better to do he had shrugged it off.

Spinning her chair aimlessly Charlotte observed the quiet library with it's colorful book spines that spelled hell for everyone who had to use them. Finals were going to be the death of her, and her scholarship but there was only so much preparing she could do. Louis had suggested heading to Niall's party and by the darkening sky they would have to leave soon if they wanted to make it.

"Ready?" Charlotte whispered dumping the organized chaos of her schoolwork back into her bag.

Louis didn't even answer but shoved his phone into his pocket and grabbed his back on his way out leaving Charlotte to take quick steps to try and catch up her bag bouncing uncomfortably. The quad was as busy as usual. Couples who used stargazing as an excuse for PDA, Frat boys surrounded by bottles that weren't actually water and sorority girls who thought that wearing barely no clothing and giggling actually made them cuter.

"Are we going to the party?" The question hung in the air as Louis turned to Charlotte with a grin.

"You sure?"

Charlotte replied with a simple shrug of her shoulders. An evening of having some fun and getting a little drunk actually sounded nice after days of studying. Niall was a decent guy if you could get past his crude mouth and tendency to be a little clingy and his parties were legendary in certain circles.

The parties were held in an old radio station that was a front for the old vintage bar in the basement that had been the scene of numerous drunken college events. Strobe lights lit up a small stage that was currently housing a DJ stand to incite dancing across the crowded space.

Charlotte raised her hands to her temples. Flashing lights and loud noises were doing wonders for her headache. Louis had left the instant they got there going off to greet several of his class buddies who were playing a vicarious game of beer pong.

"Charlie!" The exclamation came from Niall who was waving frantically from behind the bar.

Charlotte sent him a small glare for his pet name for her that she still didn't like. He quickly made his way around the bar to envelop her in a tight hug leaving Charlotte patting his back awkwardly when he didn't let go. Finally releasing her Niall gave her a cocky smile.

"I thought you weren't coming."

"It was Louis' idea."

"Well I'm glad the little asshole dragged you over."

Leading her to the dance floor Niall didn't even ask her if she wanted to dance before his hands were at her hips swaying the both of them to the music. Charlotte shook her head her hair falling into her face before resting her head on his shoulder as the music turned slower. She knew that by the night she was going to fall into his wily charms no matter how many times she told herself she wasn't that kind of girl.

"So there's a new Chinese place opening, it's supposed to make the best fucking Chow Mein around."

Charlotte shook her head. Niall had been asking her out for months and while she found him quite attractive she just couldn't bring herself to say yes. The complications of drama and commitment to another person scared her to death. Niall stared into the blue pools of her eyes hoping that he could finally break through the sadness of her impregnable walls.

"I can't Ni." Charlotte whispered but seeing the sad look that crossed his face she leaned in and planted a light kiss on his lips a mischievous look on her face. "But that doesn't mean we can't have a little fun."

The look of sorrow was quickly replaced as Niall pulled her to the bar and ordered drinks using the reference code that you simply just had to know. As far as the college was concerned they only served soda and varieties of juice not knowing that rum was apple juice and vodka was sprite. Vibrations echoed through Charlotte's pockets before she ignored the call not recognizing the number.

Hours passed of pleasant conversation and entirely too much giggling. Louis made frequent stops to check in on them and exchange horrible jokes with Niall who's hand remained a constant fixture on Charlotte's thigh as she rejected numerous calls telling herself to just check her voicemail later. But too soon the air turned toxic full of the heavy scent of sweat and alcohol.

"My place or yours?" Came the husky whisper from Niall who was well past drunk.

Not bothering to answer Charlotte grabbed a firm handful of the front of his shirt and pulled his from the bar. A million stars twinkled like glitter across the sky as the two made a quick pace across the park Niall's hand often roaming to ticklish places causing Charlotte to squeal. Niall drunk stumbled over a branch bringing them both down.

"Hi." Niall murmured drunkly causing Charlotte to giggle and entrap him in another kiss that tasted of alcohol and hot sauce.

Things quickly got heated as Niall rolled over hovering above Charlotte who was also quite a bit tipsy. Despite the being out in the open Niall's shirt had come unbuttoned and Charlotte's camisole was exposed to the air. The two lay there breathing heavily just staring into each others eyes twin pools of sapphire.

"Shit." Charlotte exclaimed as a shrill ringing broke the silence.

She sat up scrambling for her phone to see a now familiar number appear across the screen. Charlotte was tempted to ignore it yet again but it might have just saved her from Niall's wiles. Giving him a half smile she held up a finger telling him she had to take it.

"It'll just take a second."

Standing Charlotte answered the phone tapping her foot impatiently. The same number had called her about a dozen times in the last several hours so somebody was obviously desperate to get a hold of her although she couldn't think of why. As she listened any alcohol that might have been in her system lost all effect as her face drained of color.

"Miss Jennings, sorry to bother you. It's the Orange County Memorial Hospital, your sister is here and you might want to get here soon."

Notes

Hey everyone! So I was in the mood for something that was sweet and fluffy but had a deeper twist to it. This idea's been in my mind for a while and I'm really excited to be writing it.

Let me know what you think

-A