Long Way Down

-Sammie

Astonishment. Fear. Confusion. Bewilderment. This was one for the books.

Niall Horan was currently hanging out with ‘my kids’- My phone, lying next to his tan, muscular arm.

All three looked up at me- the kids with wide, happy, vibrant eyes. Niall with a plain stare boring into me.

“Sammie! We’ve missed you! I thought you were never going to come home!” Weston yelled with excitement, jumping from his seat and squishing me with a hug.

Niall puts his hand over his heart, pretending to be hurt by Weston’s words. “And come to think we had an enjoyable night.” Niall shaking his head playfully. Hunter, in a giggle fit with Niall. This was new.

“So, have you guys bathed yet?” I questioned the kids, more to get them out of the room than to actually have them bathe.

Niall, clearing his throat speaking up, “Ah, no, they didn’t. I had no clue they would stay this long. “

“Well, yes they do, and did you guys do your homework?” I said the words frustrated. Not at the kids, but at Niall who is acting like he didn’t almost kill me and throw me in a closet.

They shook their heads in shame, knowing it should have been done before they played games.

“Alright then, don’t stand there, go and sit at the island bar and do it. You guys know the rules.” Shaking my head in disapproval, they both walked off, Hunter gripping Weston’s hand.

When they were out of Niall’s and I’s site he looked at me, “You didn’t have to be so hard on them you know.”

I laughed, flabbergasted. “You, almost killed me, throw me in a closet, take ‘my kids’, and then you have the audacity to tell me to not be so hard on them?” My hands, waving in the air, pointing as I speak.

He stands, “Well, you shouldn’t have pissed me off today and maybe you wouldn’t have got hit!”

We both move towards each, breathing heavily.

“I never did anything to you to piss you off!” The words escaping my mouth in astonishment once again.

“Yea! Well, so! That doesn’t matter! Then how was I supposed to know they stay here or something!? I just picked them up, brought them here and played some cards.” He had grabbed my arm during his self-centered speech.

“Wait! You didn’t feed them?” My eyes grew huge, it was surely six o’clock at this point. I slam my fist against his chest, “You fucking retard! Did you happen to know kids are alive and eat too? Just like us adults.” Sarcasm draining from me.

His hand tightly gripping my wrist. “I know they have to eat, but once again, how was I supposed to know they stay here this late?” His words slow, trying to stay calm with me. When in reality I should calm down because I’m one hundred percent sure they kids heard my foul language.

“You know what I think? You should just leave. I obviously have things I need to do with the kids, and it seems like this conversation isn’t going to end up anywhere.” I pulled my wrist against his hold on me. He thankfully let go of me.

He went to the table, picked his things up and walked out of my door not looking at me or saying a word. The kids came out of the dining area when the heard the door shut.

“Umm, Sammie, I’m sorry for not doing my work and stuff.” Hunter looking at her fingers as she
said the words, playing with them.

“Me too Sam.” He rubbed his neck, looking at me with squinted eyes.

“It’s okay you two. I love you both regardless of what happened earlier. Now, I heard you guys didn’t eat?" I walked to the table where Niall was previously sitting and grabbed my phone. Messages from their school. Figures.

Looking back at both of them, they shake their heads no, giving me the answer I already knew.

I motion for them to follow me into the partially clean kitchen. As I’m looking through the
cabinets and fridge for something to cook, there is a knock at the door. I groan.

“I’ll get it!” Weston speaks up, acknowledging my annoyance at the disruption and turns to the other room.

“Thank you”, I breathed out.

“Umm, Sammie! There is pizza here!” I only hear Weston’s voice, not seeing him.

I grab Hunters hand and walk to the front door where I see Weston and a pizza delivery guy, in his hands, two boxes of pizza and a two liter of orange pop.

“I’m sorry, I believe you have the wrong house sir.” I tell the man as I approach him.

“Nope. This is it. The man that called and ordered told me there was going to be a little girl, a
boy and an older girl named Sandra, or something.” The tone of his voice was flat.

I laughed, “Sammie?”

“Yea! I think that’s right. Oh, and he already paid for everything.” He stretched his arms out towards me, wanting to leave, handed me the boxes, turned and left.

“Weston, shut-the door and come on I guess.”

We made our way to the kitchen, setting plates and cups out, preparing to eat. I started to open a pizza box, when I saw an envelope tapped to the top.

I tore it off and started walking into the living room. “You guys go ahead, I’ll join in a moment.”

Once opened, I pulled the paper inside out. It said-

Sammie, I’m sorry about the kids, here’s to make it up. And don’t mention it.
Niall

Notes

thanks for reading!
l.b.