f i f t e e n

When I walked back down the stairs after changing I immediately knew where to go because there were 4 different voices, all with thick Irish accents, coming from the same room.

I'd changed into my favourite light blue boyfriend jeans that had rips in. There weren't loads of rips like some jeans but there was a decent amount. I'd paired it with a white, wide sleeve, V neck, knitted cropped jumper that I'd only worn once before. My hair had been a little messy so I'd roughly pulled my brush through it briefly just to make it look a little better. While I'd been picking up clothes and putting them down again, the bracelet Niall had gotten me for my birthday fell onto the floor from somewhere. I'd decided to wear it seeing as though I loved it so much. I hadn't worn if for a while but it felt nice knowing it was on my wrist.

When I entered the room with Niall and his family in my eyes went wide at all the food on the table. There was a huge, golden-brown coloured, roast chicken right in the middle with different herbs all over the top. Next to it, close to Niall, was a big bowl of roast potatoes which looked perfectly cooked. On the table there was also a dish with a range of vegetables in, including carrots, brocoli and peas, Yorkshire puddings, gravy and stuffing. Everything had a serving spoon next to it and I longed to take a large spoon of everything. The entire meal was mouthwatering.

"Lily dear what would you like to drink?" Maura asked from the kitchen. She was stood in the kitchen infront of the pass through, looking into the dinning room and waiting patiently for me to answer.

"Water's fine," I said. She nodded and I heard the tap running before she walked through the doorway holding a tall glass of water and placed it down in the empty space next to Niall. I walked round to the seat and sat down, darting a small look at Niall who was already looking at me. He, of course, made me blush when he smiled a small smile at me.

"Dig in everyone!" Maura exclaimed as she sat down opposite me next to Greg. Bobby was sat at the head of the table on the other side of me and he was eagily taking a spoonful of stuffing from the bowl infront of me. Niall leant in and began cutting the chicken into slices but he failed and ended up just tearing it all. I laughed at his awful attempt and he nudged me slightly. Eventually he gave up and just took a good load of roast potatoes instead from the bowl in between us and dropped them on his plate. Maura had a go at cutting the chicken and she was far better at it, cutting perfectly sized pieces. When Niall finished with the potatoe spoon he gave it to me and I took 5 potatoes and put them on my plate.

Finally, when all five of us had gotten everything we wanted on our plates and had began eating, the conversation started. Mostly we talked about me and my family and my life. I had felt awkward to begin with but within ten minutes in I felt like I had known Niall's family since forever. They all were just so easy to talk to and had a great sense of humor. Greg would tell a story from Niall's childhood any chance he got and every single one made me laugh.

By the time lunch was over I was full with Maura's beautiful food. I was hungrier than I'd thought and I'd eaten all the food on my plate and more. Niall and his family had all eaten loads and between all of us we'd finished thr entire meal apart from a small bit of chicken that Maura wrapped up in tin foil and put in the fridge.

"Do you need help clearing up?" I offered Maura when she began ferrying empty dishes and plates into the kitchen. I felt bad that only Bobby was helping her. Niall had disappeared upstairs because he said he had an important phone call that he had to take and Greg had gone somewhere but I didn't know where.

"It's alright dear, you don't have to," she replied when I walked into the kitchen holding my clear plate and empty glass. She took them from me and put them in the dishwasher that was already nearly full.

"I might as well, I've got nothing else to do," I shrugged. She didn't complain about me helping so I stayed right until the table was spotless and the dishwasher was as full as it could get.

"Thanks ever so much. Niall and Greg barely ever help clearing the table after meals," Maura told me. Bobby had gone to the toilet so it was just me and Maura left in the kitchen, "Do you help your mum often in the kitchen?"

"I did. We made cakes together a lot," I swallowed and looked down at my hands before saying quietly, "She uh... she died when I was 7."

"Oh gosh, Lily I had no idea. I'm so sorry," Maura said apologeticly. There was immense sympathy in my voice that only made me feel more sad.

"It's ok, I don't remember much about her. Sometimes I have dreams where we're at the park on the swings and things like that but most of it is from pictures and videos," I tried to smile a little but I felt the tears coming and Maura could see them too.

"Aww come here sweety," she said and pulled me in for a tight hug. It wasn't like I didn't like Carol as my step mum, in fact she was the perfect step mum, but I missed my mum everyday and to have someone care and comfort me was far more nicer than you could guess so when Maura hugged me I took in her fresh air scent and relaxed for a minute or two before finally pulling away.

She gave me a small smile and patted my cheek, "Go on upstairs and find Niall, I'll finish up here."

"Are you sure, I really don't mind helping," I said as I wiped under my eyes with my finger to get rid of the remaining few tears that were still lingering on my skin.

"It's honestly fine. Now go on," she touched my shoulder and smiled just before I walked out the kitchen and towards the stairs. I walked up them slowly because I was looking at all the pictures hanging on the wall. There were ones of Niall and Greg as babies all the way up until recently, with Niall holding some sort of award and high fiving Greg. They both had huge smiles on their faces and it gave me a small amount of joy looking at the incredible friendship they had despite them being brothers.

When I reached the top of the stairs I spotted another picture frame that I hadn't taken notice of before. Inside it wasn't a picture but a quote.

We live in a wonderful world that if full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.-Jawharlal Nehru

I didn't know what it was about it, but the quote moved me in a strange way. I read it a few times over before walking across the hallway to Niall's door. It was shut but Niall was talking loud enough inside his room that I could hear.

"So you'll be here for Christmas Eve?"

There was a pause.

"Ok, see ya then. Thanks again, bye."

I opened the door a second after he said bye and saw him sat on the end of his bed with his phone in his hands. The screen turned black as soon as he saw me. I walked over to him and sat down on his lap.

"Who was that?" I asked.

"No one important."

"Well if they're going to be here for Christmas Eve then then I want to know because I am also going to be here," I realised how annoying I sounded so I stopped myself from saying to much to avoid getting mad at him.

"It was just an old friend who I invited to spend a few days here 'cause I haven't seen him in ages," he pecked my nose which made me blush and smile both at the same time.

"Ok," I said in a baby voice and kissed him back however I did it on the lips.

"Princess?" he pulled back from me and I tried my hardest to not frown.

"Yes."

He tucked a small piece of my hair behind my ear and smiled, "I love you."

"I love you more," I said with a smile.

"Well that's not possible because I love you the most."

"Your clearly wrong 'cause I love you even more than how much you love me," I couldn't stop myself from giggling when I finished my sentence because it was such a silly thing to say. Niall laughed too and kissed me.

The rest of the day we spent in Niall's room cuddled up on his bed, laughing and kissing and talking and laughing more. I caught him taking a picture of me mid-laugh a few times and I pretended to be mad at him but it only worked for about 10 seconds because he would either tickle me or kiss me which forced me to stop sulking. We watched Remember Me and I cried an unbelievable amount. Niall made fun of me for crying although I was sure I saw a small tear in his eye.

When it got to around 7 o'clock Maura called up to us and asked if we wanted any dinner. We'd been snacking on all Niall's junk food for hours which meant neither of us were super hungry so we politely declined Maura's offer. At about half 9 however Niall suddenly decided he wanted Nandos so he ordered a load of food, most of it for himself, and got it delivered. I stole quite a lot of his Peri Peri chicken. He yelled at me for taking to big of a piece so I threw it at his face but we both ended up laughing.

At half 1 in the morning he insisted I did him a fashion show of all the clothes in my suitcase. He complained to ages because I kept refusing but eventually I gave in because I couldn't deal with his annoying whining anymore. He clapped for everyone and told me I looked flawless and I was pretty certain I was blushing the entire time. By the time he'd finished his Nandos and I'd finished my mini fashion show and had stolen one of his t-shirts that was far to big for me and climbed back into bed it was quarter past 2. I was more tired than I'd ever been in my life so when Niall began humming a tune I'd never heard before yet it immediately became my favourite tune in the whole world and running his hand ever so gently through my hair, I fell straight to sleep in the best way I possibly could.