For Your Eyes Only

“Annie. Wake up, love.”
“Mm-mm.” Go away. I’m sleeping.
“Anniiiieeee…”
“Whaaaaat,” I groaned rolling over, only to find another body. Lips touched mine, then a bandaged nose rubbed my own.
“I’m going to take you back with me.”
“Ok.”
“Annie, wake up and listen,” insisted the voice. Or the body. Or whatever.
“I’m awake alreadyyyy, stooooop,” I mumbled, sitting up groggily. I snapped to attention. “You’re what?” I asked.
“I’m going to take you back to Paris with me. The first show is tonight.”
“Then… wha… why are you here if you have a show?”
“My princess needed me, and her wish is my command.” I smiled and turned so I could see him. His hair was all messed up and his eye was black. All across his nose and under both eyes was bruised, evidence of last night.
“Oh, Niall…” I gasped, putting my hand to my mouth. He smirked and ran a hand lightly over his face, wincing in pain.
“Ouch,” he mumbled. “Can’t wait for the lecture I’m going to get over this.” I giggled and rolled out of bed just as the nurse came in. She laughed the second she saw us. I couldn’t blame her, though. I was in a wrinkled hospital gown with tangled long hair all over the place and dark circles under my eyes, and Niall looked even worse. He was wearing black pre-ripped skinnies and a white tank top with a pair of Jordans. His hair was a style disaster, sticking up in all different directions, and to top it all off he looked like he just got out of a gang fight. The two of us pretty much could be summed up by “train wreck”.
“Ok, how we doin’ this morning, kids?” she asked. I shrugged. I was fine. “Sweety,” she said, addressing me. “You’re going to have to talk to the police if you’re pressing charges about last night.” Her voice held a tone of pity that rubbed me the wrong way. I didn’t want pity.
“No, I’m not. He was just a man being a child. And I’m fairly certain my man scared him enough to stay away from me,” I said, throwing a grin to Niall who was just inside the bathroom, inspecting the damage.
“Paul is going to murder me,” he growled. I laughed, throwing my head back, which I realized didn’t hurt anymore.
“Mr. Horan, is it? I’m also supposed to check your nose,” said the nurse. He shuffled out of the bathroom and sat on the bed. She inspected his face with detached eyes and applied a bit of gel to a small cut just above the bandage on his nose. “Now, if you’d please give Ms. Powl and me just a moment, that’d be fantastic,” she said with a kind smile. He nodded and gave me a kiss before leaving to sign the papaerwork. “Honey, I just wanted to ask what happened. I know you answered all of the doctor’s questions already, but I’d like to hear the story. I know it isn’t my place, but… why did you pass out?” she asked.
“Well, it was actually because of… my boyfriend,” I began.
“Does he… does he hit you?”
“No! No, of course not. Nothing like that. In fact, it was the exact opposite. I hadn’t seen him in a long time, and I really missed him, and I guess I just hadn’t let myself have a good cry about it, if you know what I mean. So I found something he gave me a month and a half ago, and it just all crashed down at once, I suppose. And then, Eric, my coworker showed up at my house just as I passed out. He had tried to ask me out the day before, but I had said no several times. I guess he just didn’t know when to quit, but something awful could have happened if he wasn’t there, so for that I’m thankful. Last night he tried to… touch me inappropriately. I was too out of it to get away, and then Niall walked in and saved me.” I changed clothes while we talked.
“Wow, you got it going on, girl,” she said. “Quite the exciting weekend.”
“I know,” I laughed.
“If I may,” she started. “You’re one lucky gal. I don’t know any guy who would do that for me.”
“Thanks,” I muttered. Niall knocked on the half open door and motioned for me to come. I clung tightly to his hand as we walked out the doors, climbing into a taxi. It was a relatively quiet ride. We just sat and enjoyed each other. It sounds so corny, but it’s true. He took us to the flat and I led Niall upstairs.
I couldn’t believe he was here. I almost didn’t want to ask who gave him permission to come, knowing the answer would probably be ‘nobody’. It was almost like… like he sensed I need him. Again, corny, but for real. I had a meltdown because I thought he wouldn’t want me anymore, and then he showed up and beat the crap out of another person because he loves me.
“So… this is your room?” he asked, glancing around. It was mostly cleaned up, from the other day. There were a few articles of clothing here and there, but it looked decent. I had old wood planked floors, and gray-blue walls. My white, iron-framed bed faced a window into the backyard that had off-white trim.I had several signs and pictures on the walls, and Niall seemed drawn to the photographs as I threw clothing into a suitcase.
“Yeah. Nothing special,” I answered nervously. I’d never had a boy in my room before. Well, it was a bit silly to think of him as a boy after seeing him go after Eric like that, but still.
“It’s perfect. It fits you perfectly,” he said. I laughed as he back-flopped onto my bed and stretched his hands behind his head. “So… you’re ok with it?”
“What?”
“You know, coming on tour with me and the boys.” Oh, that. Of course I’m freaking ok with it, ya big dummy.
“Yeah, I’m excited. I can keep in touch with Auntie by phone. Oh! I should call her.” I ran to my bag and pulled out my phone, hitting the facetime icon by her contact name. I got Niall to lay on his stomach, and I did the same beside him. We made faces at the camera until finally Auntie appeared on the other end.
“Hey, kiddo! Hey, popstar! How’s my niece treating ya?” I rolled my eyes as Niall laughed.
“Just fine, Ms. Powl,”
“Ew, call me Kathy, Niall. I prefer a first name basis, but Annie is a firm believer in tradition, so I will forever be the stuffy old ‘Aunt Kathy’.” I shook my head with a smile, but got down to business.
“Auntie, I, erm… had an anxiety attack and went to the hospital. Niall herd about it and flew here from Paris. He’s going to take me on tour with him. That’s ok, right?”
“Oh, sweety, I’m sorry I wasn’t there, but right now I’m a bed-ridden old hag.” Niall laughed, but I did little more than fake a smile. I wish she would stop doing that. It isn’t funny. “Niall, seriously, take care of my baby. I don’t want her getting hurt.”
“Yes ma’am, I’ll do my absolute best. She does have me wrapped around her finger, though, so I can’t make any promises,” he grinned at me.
“Whatever. You’re so retarded,” I tossed back. He laughed and we said goodbye to Auntie. I finished packing while Niall grabbed a quick nap on my bed. Of course he did. I didn’t know anyone who slept as much as him. But he was so cute just lying there, stretched out, looking so peaceful. I set my suitcase by the door and tiptoed over to him.
I wanted to kiss him. I sat gently on the edge of the bed and leaned over, memorizing every inch of his sleeping face before brushing my lips against his. He woke with a small start, but then suddenly he was sitting up and mashing his lips against mine as if it was our last day on earth. I eagerly kissed him back, reaching up and raking my fingers through his hair. His big, rough guitarist hands were on my hips, then my neck, then my thighs, then my waist. He was everywhere at once, leaving a little jolt of pleasure with every touch. His lips were working against my own, but soon I began to trail desperate kisses down his neck to his collarbone.
“Annie,” he moaned, combing through my hair with both hands. I had never felt him like this before. We had kissed, but not like this. He seemed so… vulnerable? “A-Annie,” he repeated, but with a different tone. “S-stop.” I stopped to catch my breath, resting my forehead in his neck. “Remember what we said?” he asked, rubbing my back and knowing that if I made the decision that my body was pushing me to make, I would regret it. “Let’s not screw this up now,” he whispered into my ear and left a few kisses on my face. I nodded and kissed him back before pulling him into a tight hug.
“I love you, Ni,” I whispered into his shoulder. He squeezed me close, and I couldn’t help but feel like even if there was a freaking zombie apocalypse, he’d keep me safe.
“I loved you first,” he replied. “Now let’s get on this plane before you make me miss our debut show!”

Notes

Paul is going to kill him! Feedback? How is it so far? Any questions?