Niall Pov: "Hey Nialler?" Dev hops on the edge of my bed. I put my soccer ball down and look to her in Liam's giant grey sweater and a messy bun on top of her head.
"Come here love," I pat next to me. She crawls up to the head of the bed and I put my arm over her shoulder as she wraps hers around my waist and puts her head on my chest.
"Nialler, what's your home like?" she asks. I furrow my brows.
"My home?"
"Yeah, like Ireland, your town, your neighborhood I don't know your house," she elaborates. I smirk thinking about it.
"Its beautiful absolutely," I start.
"Yeah?" she asks.
"Yeah! The streets are always busy and it is always gorgeous out no matter what season. Oh! And in the fall you can smell the crispness in the air and the skies are clear and green is everywhere cause of the trees. Mullingar, my town its just…home. I don't know how else to put it. Everyone is just so friendly and welcoming," I rant. She smiles up at me to continue. "And in my neighborhood I know everyone. Sometimes I'd take my football (soccer ball) out to the field across my house and some of the lads or a few girls around my age would come out and we'd just start up a game. Oh! And always my little next door neighbor Tommy would sprint out and cheer about how he wanted to play footie with me and the big kids," I chuckle thinking about it. She smiles.
"How old is he?" she asks.
"He's… eight now I think. Yeah definitely actually. He's done this since he moved next door about three years ago when he was five. He runs out and always wants to be on my team and everyone else loved having him play, but he stuck to my side every time. He and I were the ultimate team. He's like my little broher. I'd be over ther so often just playing with him. His mom called me recently to tell me that he just joined his first football team. He told her he wanted to be just like me," I ramble. She grins and awes.
"And what about your family?" she asks playing with the end of my t-shirt.
"They are great for the most part, Greg being the exception. He and I really don't have much to do with each other. When we do he just makes fun of me or wants something, so I don't like talking to him much. My dad he doesn't talk too much, but when he does he's really funny and very sensible and smart. He's the one who taught me to play football when I was young. He is always encouraging me especially about coming here. And my mum she's wonderful. She is so caring and motherly. All the lads love her when she visits. Mainly because she brings some of her cooking with her. She is an incredible cook, don't get me wrong you know I love my Nando's but there is nothing better than my mom's cooking. She is also very protective and will stop at nothing to keep her kids safe. I can tell her almost anything," I rave. I smile at my memories.
"Do you miss it?" she asks quietly. I nod looking down at her.
"A lot, all the time actually," I add. I think what brought this on? The topic itself is kind of random. "Do you miss your home?" I ask. Her brows furrow in thought.
"I don't know, I've never really had one," she answers and shrugs. I gulp down the guilt I feel for her. "I guess you can't really miss what you never actually had," she concludes. I stare at her. It shocks me. I can't imagine my life like hers. Mullingar is everything to me. Its where everyone I love is. My family is there. Oh god do I miss them. I miss my mom so much.
"Excuse me for a sec Dev," I announce and pull my phone with me as I step out into the hallway and make sure no one is passing through. I punch in my passcode and click the dialer and press #2.
"Mum?" I ask after 2 rings.
"Niall! Sweety how are you?" she asks warmly. I smile at her voice.
"I'm great mum, just great," I answer.
"Love what's wrong? Why are you calling?" she asks becoming nervous. I sigh. She always worries over me and Greg.
"Mum nothing is wrong, its just…I miss you that's all," I gulp back.
"Aw Niall I miss you very much too but you will be here in a couple weeks for Christmas and we will all catch up then. So what is it you are usually okay about distance," she adds on. I nod to realize only that she cant actually see me through the phone. I chuckle at my stupidity.
"Yeah I know it's just I realized just now how much I miss home and you and how wonderful home actually is," I ramble.
"Why just now?" she asks. I sigh.
"Do you remember my new roommate I told you about?" I ask.
"Devin? Yes is she alright dear?" she asks. I told mum about Dev once or twice. She has yet to actually meet her though but my mum was excited to hear about my little (big) crush on her.
"Yeah she's just grand but she started asking me about home and it brought back so many wonderful memories and thinking of you and all," I inform. I start to cry. I don't like crying but when I do there is a good reason for it. "I miss it all, and when I asked her if she misses her home. She said she's never actually had one before. She cant miss what she's never had," I cry to her. "And I just cant imagine my life without thinking of you guys and Mullingar as my home," I slide down the hall wall.
"Sweetie get out your laptop," my mum instructs. I sniffle wiping my tears.
"What? Why?" I ask confused.
"Just do it," she laughs. I chuckle and try to clean off my face. I knock on the door realizing I forgot my keys when I left.
"What's the password?" Dev sings. My mum hears and laughs as I do.
"Dev let me in or Stoner Paul is so dead," I threaten.
"Stoner paul?" my mum asks. I ignore it. Dev gasps and peaks her head out the door.
"You hurt my banana I will eat your hand and that is a promise," she glares. I push past her to get out my laptop. As I open it up my mum hangs up the phone and I receive a skype call from Maura Horan. I smile wide as my mum's face pops up on the screen.
"Hey mum," I smile. Dev sits across from me behind the laptop not being able to see her.
"Niall as much as I love talking to you put Devin on," she instructs. I look up to Dev who has a shocked expression. I scootch over so Dev can be seen.
"Um hi Mrs. Horan," Devin greets. My mum has a warm smile on her face.
"Well aren't you just lovely," my mum gushes. Oh believe me lovely is an understatement to describe Dev. Dev's cheeks go bright red.
"Well thank you Mrs. Horan," she thanks.
"Maura please," Devin nods. "So sweetie I just wanted to let you know that woman to woman I am here for you 100%. It is probably hell for you right now having no females to talk to. But I am here and if needed be there is always an extra seat at the table to visit," my mum lets Devin know.
"Thank you Maura you have no idea how much that means to me," she gushes.
"Now Niall leave so Devin and I can have our girl talk," my mum instructs.
"Wha- wait this is my computer thought!" I protest. Devin giggles and turns to me.
"Yes Niall leave," she smiles at me. I glare at her teasingly.
"Fine I'll just take my homework and go into the hall," I mutter.
"Love you Nialler!" she calls out. Now if only she meant it.