Now

{Bria}

I'm a simple girl; there isn't much to me. I attend college for Graphic Design while living with my foster sister and best friend Analeya, and after a rough upbringing, I am finally happy with myself and where I'm at in life.

Analeya is artistic like me, but she uses her abilities to do makeup, which is why she is currently practicing Halloween makeup on me for a party tomorrow. I personally prefer not to wear makeup. I've been told I'm good at it, I just don't feel the need to wear it. Analeya strongly disagrees.
"I really think you should do this more often, because you are looking FABULOUS," she states.
"Oh and I don't look fabulous without makeup?" I question playfully, "Are you calling me ugly Leya? I see how it is." We both laugh.
"Makeup doesn't make you prettier, it just enhances your features!" she declares.
"It enhances your features by covering them up? Where is the logic in that?"
"Oh just shut up and let me paint your face, I'm almost done." We giggle as she applies my mascara. "There, perfection." I grab the mirror and look at myself. This time, shes made me look like a skeleton, and I do have to admit it looks pretty good.
"Damn," I say.
"I told you!" she says.
"You told me I should do this more often, you want me to be a perma skeleton?" She rolls her head back and laughs.
"Oh, absolutely. Imagine going into a store like that." I laugh with her as I shake my head.
"Let's take some pictures and then wash this off and go to bed," I suggest, considering it was 11:00 pm and we have things to do tomorrow.
"Bed already? Party pooper!" she yells.
"Oh hush! You know if we stay up any longer you'll be a zombie tomorrow!"
"Okay true. Say cheese!" she clicks a picture on her phone. Then we get cleaned up, put a movie on and fall asleep.

The next morning, Analeya and I wake up and eat a quick breakfast before going shopping for our costumes. Most people have their costumes planned already, but we like to be spontaneous rather than planning things out.
First we stop to get coffee. For us, coffee is the one thing that stays the same. We get what we always get; a medium caramel hazelnut macchiato. As we wait, I spot a man sitting at a table alone. He's wearing a grey hoodie and grey sweatpants, with his hood pulled tight around his face and his head down as if he's hiding from someone.
"Hey, I'll be right back," I tell Analeya. She nods and I head over to the mystery man.
"Hey, did you want something to eat?" I ask. He doesn't move. Does he know I'm talking to him? I nudge him, and he jumps a little as he shakes his head no. "Are you sure? You look like you're having a rough time--"
"I'm fine, please leave me alone," he mumbles. He has a thick accent, Irish I think.
"Alright well I hope you get to where you need to go." And with that, I walk back to Analeya and grab my coffee before continuing with our day.

~At The Party~
Analeya and I walk into the party in our costumes. We decided to go as dark angels and are absolutely loving our costumes. As soon as we say hi to everyone, Analeya goes to get a drink. I stand and talk to the host of the party, Kayla, as we enjoy the food, music, and company of each other.

A few hours later, Analeya stumbles up to me and throws her arms around my neck. She smells like straight up alcohol.
"Bria I'm drunk!" she squeals in my ear.
"Oh, I can tell!" I say, laughing.
"I love you SO much you are literally my sister! Did you know that?" I hold her up as she starts to fall.
"Oh, we're not taking you home like this. Kayla, do you have an extra room?" I ask. She laughs.
"Absolutely, I'll bring her home in the morning. Upstairs, first room on the right."
"Thank you so much. Come on Leya."
"Are we going on an adventure?" Analeya questions, her words slurring together. I shake my head and pick her up as I walk towards the stairs.
"Oh girl, you're already on one."

After tucking Analeya into bed, I head out to my car and start to just drive around, not ready to go home yet. It's midnight and I'm somehow not tired, so I go to the coffee shop I was at with Analeya earlier. I order a ham sandwich, and when I go to sit down, I see the man from earlier, sitting in the same position. Curious as to why he's still here, I sit down next to him.
"Hey, it's me again. Do you want half of my sandwich? I'm not that hungry," I admit. He moves his head up ever so slightly. I quickly cut the sandwich in half and slide the left half to him on my napkin before taking a bite. I watch him as he picks the sandwich up and eats it as if it's the first meal he's ever had. He finishes it before I even get to the third bite of mine. I set my sandwich down. "Do you want some more food? You seem pretty hungry," I offer. He quickly shakes his head no. I shrug and finish my sandwich as we sit in silence, then I pick up the garbage and throw it away. When I walk back over, I squat down onto his level.
"Do you have a place to stay tonight?" I question. He shrugs. "What does that mean."
"Look, I appreciate your generosity, but I'll be fine here," he tells me.
"This place closes in ten minutes, where are you going to sleep?"
"Isn't that for me to worry about?" he spits hastily.
"Hey, I'm a caring person, and I know what it's like to be homeless."
"Who says I'm homeless?"
"Oh really? Where do you live then?" I ask. He says nothing. "That's what I thought. Why don't you come stay with me for the night and we can figure something out for you tomorrow?" He sighs.
"Okay look, if I do that, will you promise you won't freak out or tell anyone when I show you who I am?" I frown a little confused, but I let it go.
"Yeah, I promise. I just don't want you sleeping on the streets dude," I tell him. He nods as he stands up, keeping his head down. He picks up his bag and I wave goodbye to the barista before leading him out to my car. I take his bag from him and place it in the back seat of my car, then I open the passenger door for him and shut it once he's inside. I walk around to the driver's seat, noticing his hood is still up as I get in.
"Are you gonna take that off now?" I ask. He groans a little.
"Do I have to?"
"I mean you can do whatever you want. I just prefer to know you aren't a mass shooter," I joke. I see the side of his hoodie move and I know he's smiling. He slowly lifts his hands up and pulls the hoodie down. I observe as his face is revealed, and feel my heart skip a beat as he looks at me. My eyes widen as I take in what's in front of me. The first thing I notice are his eyes, so blue and bright like the water you see in brochures for a fancy resort. Next, his hair, blond and messier than any hair I've ever seen but still perfection. Then I notice his lips, they're full and soft and I can see the smile lines that surround him. My heart starts racing, and I'm at a loss of words. He rolls his head back and groans loudly.
"You said you wouldn't freak out! This happens EVERY time!" I snap out of the haze I'm in and frown a little.
"What do you mean? I don't see what you were so concerned about you're... you're gorgeous..." He looks at me, a puzzled look spread across his face.
"Well that's unexpected."
"Why?"
"You seriously don't know who I am? Oh god that is literally the most amazing thing I have heard in a very long time," he exclaims.
"Are you like... famous or something?" I question. He laughs a little.
"Or something," he says sadly.
"Well, that sucks," I say. He looks at me surprised. "What?" I ask.
"Most people would say 'oh that's so cool! Can I have an autograph?!" he explains.
"Oh, I see. I just don't think there's anything cool about being stalked all the time, having the paparazzi up your ass every second of every day and getting absolutely no privacy. It's like they do one thing and ten more are assumed," I rant. He stares at me. "Sorry, I'm talking a lot."
"No, no, it's fine. You just stole the words right out of my mouth." I smile.
"I guess I just see fame for what it really is, a prison."
"I have not met a single other soul who understands that. Hey, not trying to give you orders or anything, but the car hasn't moved yet," he states with a smile.
"Oh shit!" I quickly start the car and drive off towards my house as I fasten my seatbelt. We drive in silence for a while before I ask, "So, what's your name? Where are you from? I feel bad not knowing who you are."
"You're good, Love. I'm Niall, and I'm from Ireland," he informs me.
"Nice! I've always wanted to visit there."
"It's a beautiful country. What about you, though? Name? Where are you from?"
"Bria, and I'm orignially from Chicago, Illinois."
"So what brings you to Michigan?" he questions.
"My foster sister and I wanted to get away from our roots. We visited here on a school choir trip once and fell in love," I explain.
"Ah, the foster care system?"
"Cracked out parents, nothing new."
"I'm sorry, that's no good." I shrug.
"I've moved on. It made me who I am today. However, I don't miss it at all."
"So who's your foster sister?"
"Her name's Analeya. She was with me in my very first foster home and just happened to be placed in almost every other home I was in. She actually lives with me now."
"She sounds like a good person," Niall states.
"She's amazing, I have no clue what I would do without her." He nods as we turn onto my street. I park in the driveway and lead Niall inside after grabbing his bag for him. We walk into the house and I show him around, guiding him upstairs into Analeya's room.
"Alright, so you can sleep in here tonight, feel free to wake me up in the morning, I can make some breakfast," I tell him.
"What about your sister?" he asks.
"Oh, we were at a Halloween party and she had a few to many, she's crashing there tonight so she won't be home," I inform him.
"Ah, so that's what the costume is about," he states, looking me up and down. I blush a little.
"Oh, yeah I forgot I still had it on sorry I should have elaborated."
"No need to, you look lovely," he compliments.
"Thank you," I reply, biting my lip, "But yeah, get some rest, if you need clothes I can take you out to buy some in the morning."
"Well I don't want to ask for too much--"
"I'm offering, don't worry about it," I say, flashing a smile.
"Well I really can't thank you enough, seriously. And thank you for accepting my mass murdering ways," he jokes. I laugh.
"Any time! Sleep well, I'll see you tomorrow." And with that, I walk to my room, get ready for bed and fall asleep.

Notes

https://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=230255348