Southern Belle

“No! I refuse to stay in a place where that bastard is staying!” I yelled as my parents confirmed that Niall was coming to stay with us for the summer.
“It’s just for the summer, Ember,” my dad bargained.
“I don’t care! He is an ass! It’s no wonder his dad sent him down here for an attitude adjustment! It’s about time his dad realized just how much his son is an absolute asshole!”
“Will you just stop? Niall is coming down here and there is nothing you can do about it.”
“I’m going to Arlington with Cole,” I said.
“Cole has no room for you, Ember. Also, we need you around here. If we needed Niall’s help, we sure as hell need yours.”
“Liam can handle my shifts just fine!”
“You know damn well that he can’t work every day! If he could, he wouldn’t be able to care for his son and his baby momma.”
“I will stay on one condition. He stays in the hotel.”
“We have every room booked.”
“No. Absolutely not. He is not staying in the house!”
“You don’t have a say in it. Now, clean up your attitude before I make you work by his side every damn day of the summer. Now, he will be here tomorrow, so you will have your morning chores done and presentably dressed by noon,” Dad warned.
I groaned and stormed up my room, my phone in hand. I dialed Harry’s number.
“We’re gonna get plastered tonight.”
“I’m still recovering from last night,” he groaned.
“Niall Horan comes tomorrow for the summer. I don’t care if you’re still recovering from last night. We’re getting plastered.”
“Hell yeah. Niall is one fine specimen of man.”
“Ew. No. Niall is one jackass of men.”
“Whatever. Where are we going?”
So, that’s how the day went for me. I worked my usual, got ready, and then got beyond wasted.
I woke up to the blaring of my alarm clock, the pounding in my head, and it pitch black outside. I groaned. I picked up the Gatorade and Advil by my bed that my mom put there before she goes to bed when I go out drinking. I chugged it down and slip on my old jeans, a worn t-shirt, and my work boots. I threw my hair in a bun and went downstairs.
“Morning. Have fun last night?”
“Shut up until I get coffee,” I mumbled at Cole, making him laugh.
Why was Cole up so early? Well, Cole was leaving today for a few weeks. He would be coming back for the fourth of July, but would leave the fifth.
Once I fixed my coffee, I took a sip and smiled.
“Good?” he asked, making me nod.
“Have fun last night?”
“Lots. Just remember why I don’t drink that much.”
“This is your second night in a row to drink. Cut the crap with me.”
“Niall comes today,” I said, immediately hating the words.
“I know. You’ll make it, sis. I know you will. Y’all used to like each other, remember?”
“When we were like twelve. That was ten years ago. Things change, people change.”
Cole and my family never knew about the fight we had. It took place in the barn away from everywhere. Niall and I were actually really close before it. He just changed.
I finished my cup of coffee, gave Cole a hug goodbye, and then left to start on my morning chores. As I was finishing up, my phone rang.
“Yeah?” I answered, pausing what I was doing.
“Where are you?”
“About to finish milking. Why?”
“It’s 10:30. Your mom and I are headed out to get him.”
“I’ll be cleaned up by the time y’all get back, Dad. I didn’t leave with Cole.”
“When is Harry leaving?”
“When I shove him out of my bed and tell him to go take care of his hangover at his own place,” I said, making Dad laugh.
We said our goodbyes and then hung up. I hopped on the Polaris after loading up the buckets of milk and took them to the factory.
I immediately unloaded them before driving back to the house. I quickly showered, knowing that by looking presentable my mother wanted me to have makeup on. I needed time for that. I threw on a black tank top, shorts, and a red and black flannel. My eyeshadow was a smoky brown look, and my hair was put into a sock bun. By the time I was finished getting ready, I saw it was 11:45. I slipped my converse on and ran downstairs, grabbing my phone on my way out.
I went outside the farmhouse, sitting on one of the chairs on the wrap around porch, and played on my phone while blasting music.
Dibs by Kelsea Ballerini came on, making me jump up.
“If you got a kiss on your lips that you're looking for somebody to take
If you got a heart that ain't afraid of love ain't afraid to break
If you've got a Friday night free and a shotgun seat
Well I'm just saying, I ain't got nowhere to be
So baby I'll take whatever it is you've got to give
Yeah
I'm calling dibs on your lips, on your kiss, on your time
Boy, I'm calling dibs on your hand, on your heart, all mine” I yelled the chorus, dancing around the house on the porch.
As I made it back around the house, I stopped dead in my tracks, seeing my parents standing with none other than Niall Horan, son of Bobby Horan, and the biggest asshole in the universe.
“Hey, I’m Niall,” he said, extending his hand.
My eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
“I know,” I said, making his eyes widen.
“Ember?” he asked.
“Nope. I’m Cole,” I said, laughing.
Mom glared at me, making me roll my eyes.
“Nice to see you again, Niall. Alright, we’ve been reintroduced. I’m going to the hotel now,” I said, turning towards the house to change into my boots.
Bad idea to ride a horse in shorts? Sort of, but I had done it so many times that my legs were calloused where the blisters came, and with Opal I never once blistered because she was a smooth rider. I took off my Converse, slipped in my boots, and then grabbed my Converse and headphones. I was working, and Dad hated me working in my boots.
My parents probably wondered why I was so rude to Niall, but his attitude was something I could never get over.
Life’s got a funny way of doing things though…

Notes

Hello, people! :)
So I apologize for the wait on this. I have had so much going on and writing has been put on the backburner. Sorry, loves!
Life has calmed down for me.
Niall and Ember have met! :D This story is about to pick up serious!