t h i r t y - s e v e n

My grandma's funeral was held around a month later, on the 2nd weekend of October. My dad and I arranged most of it, along with a bit of help from my grandma's two best friends Lisa and Mary who sent out all the invitations to my grandma's friends. There weren't to many people at the actual church service and when she was buried but at the reception there were plenty. She always loved big social events even if it was just playing bingo. The reception took place in her favourite pub, The Crown, that was just down the road from her house.

I was sat at the bar drinking a coke when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Hey," Liv said and sat on the bar stool next to me.

I smiled slightly, "Hey."

"How ya doin?" she asked. She hadn't been at the service or burial but my dad had said she could come to the reception. My grandma had always loved Liv and treated her almost like her own grand child.

"Alright," I shrugged. It was true. The first couple of weeks after the news of my grandma's death I'd been a total wreck. I'd basically moved out mine and Liv's flat and back in with my dad, Carol and Tyler. My dad had been incredibly sensitive for a good week and any tiny thing could set him off and make him shut himself in his room for at least an hour and a half.

"Hey um... have you talked to Niall recently?" Liv said and took a sip of her lemonade.

I huffed, "I told you, he dropped me off at my house that night and I haven't spoken to him since. I've been kind of busy."

"I know," she said and pulled her phone out from her bag.

I cleared my throat and her head snapped up as if she'd forgotten I was sat right next to her. 

"Listen, I know you are desperate to get me and Niall together, maybe a little to desperate, but I've had other stuff to deal with in the past month. I promise I'll talk to him soon. Just let me get this over and done with first," I said and gestured to the pub full of people who half of them I'd never met before.

"I'm sorry," she rested her hand on top of mine, "I know how much you loved Ruth. Don't pressure yourself into doing anything until your ready, including talking to Neil or what ever the hell his name is."

I smiled, "I love you."

"I love you too babe," she said and pulled me in for a hug. I smiled again. She really was my best friend.

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I drove back from the reception with Liv. We left at about 5:20 and arrived back at the flat at around 10:25. Liv ordered us Dominos while I changed out my dress and into my favourite hoodie and jogging bottoms that both needed a wash. I wiped all my makeup off and shoved my hair up into a pony tail.

We sat on the sofa watching RuPaul's Drag Race and eating Dominos but my mind kept drifting off to Niall. The funeral was over now. That had been the thing that had stopped me from talking to him. But now it was over, I could talk to him. 

"Can I borrow your car?" I asked Liv suddenly before I changed my mind. I had a plan in my head, a very bad plan, but a plan.

"What?" she said and paused the show so we could talk properly. 

"Your car. I need your car."

"Why?"

"Cause I wanna go talk to Niall."

She sat up suddenly from her slouchy position on the sofa and nearly knocked her pizza on the floor, "What?"

"Are you deaf? I. Want. To. Go-"

"Yeah alright I heard you. I'm just a bit confused."

"Right well you can sort your confusion when I'm gone. Just tell me where your keys are," I demanded and stood up from the sofa, leaving 3 pieces of my pizza behind.

"They're over in the kitchen," she said and pointed to the kitchen counter were her keys and purse were.

"Great," I said and walked over to collect them, slipping on my uggs on my way back towards the door.

"Hey!" Liv said in a raised voice as I opened the door, "Don't crash my car," she said with a smile.

"I won't," I said and smiled as well, "Bye."

"Love you!" she shouted just before the door shut. 

My mind raced as I walked down the disgusting stairs to the bottom floor of mine and Liv's flat building.

"Evening Lily," Billy said to me as I passed his door. Billy was a guy just a few years older than me and Liv. He'd invited us round to his flat for a drink when me and Liv had first moved in. He was tall and slightly intimidating at first but really he was a big softie with 2 white kittens.

"Hiya," I said. He just smiled and I walked away, out to the car park for our flats. Liv's car was parked right near the entrance because she hated having to go further into the car park than she had to. 

I put Niall's address into the satnav and prayed that he still lived in the same house as the last time I'd gone to his house. Before over thinking about it, I turned the keys and followed the directions of the satnav to Niall's house.