A Light in the Dark // Flicker Series Part I #wattys2019

Everything I Need

Chapter 35
Evie's POV // Everything I Need 

I wake up on the couch alone and wondering where Niall is. I pick up my phone from the coffee table where I left it hours ago, and find it's now 4am.

An hour before we have to wake up to get Niall to the airport in time.

Niall and I decided he would spend his last night here, instead of at a hotel so we could spend more time together and then I could accompany him to the airport first thing this morning.

I feel terrible that I fell asleep and wasted our last few hours together. He must have gone to bed after I dozed off.

I'm wide awake now, but he's probably sleep. I think about waking him to at least cuddle for the next hour or so before he has to leave, but he needs the rest so I decide to leave him alone.

He leaves in a couple hours and as much as I tried to avoid it, the feelings are finally starting to hit me.

Maybe I should just leave with him? I'll skip the Australia trip, Beck can Skype me in for meetings...I can work remotely and make sure everything goes smoothly.

No. You've made a commitment to Beck and you need to follow through. You always keep your word, Evie. Two weeks will fly by.

There is no way i'll be able to get any more sleep, so I decide to just give up and make the first of many cups of coffee for the day.

"What are you doing up?" Niall asks, startlingly me as his sleepy voice croaks through the quiet house.

His morning voice is my favorite. Ok, everything is my favorite. But I definitely love when his voice sounds like that. It does something to me.

"I could ask you the same thing, mister. You know it's 4am right?" I ask placing my palms on his chest as he wraps me in his arms. That's my favorite too.

"I do know that. Do you know that?" He jokes, kissing my jaw bone and then down my neck while I giggle at him.

"Couldn't sleep." I shrug as he leans back up to look at me.

"Me either. Been trying since 2."

"I'm sorry I fell asleep and wasted our time together." I apologize.

"No don't be sorry. You needed the rest." He kisses my forehead. "You look so relaxed when you're asleep. It makes me happy. I sat with you until Nora came home and we talked for a bit. When I came back you had sprawled out in my spot so I went to bed. But it was a waste because I couldn't sleep that far away from you. I would have had better odds on the floor." He chuckles.

I laugh with him, my smile slowly fading as I look lovingly up into his eyes.

"I'm gonna miss you." I whisper, my voice threatening to give way to the emotions i've been suppressing.

He leans down connecting my lips in a long romantic kiss.

"I keep telling myself that quitting my job is a very bad idea." He jokes, weakly.

"It is a bad idea! I would never let you do that for me." I say quickly.

"Nora said you would say that." He laughs.

"Been talking about me huh?" I ask, with a smirk.

"She gives really good advice." He admits.

"She does." I nod in agreement.

We stand tangled up with each other in the dim light of the kitchen, eyes locked lovingly with each other.

"We'll be ok, Niall." I nod. 

"I know." He agrees.

"You have to know that i'm not worried about us...I'm just really really gonna miss you" I tell him.

"But, I need you to know that I need you." He says this so seriously that I know it comes directly from his heart. The weight behind them almost more powerful than a first 'I love you'.

It's one thing to say that you love someone, and when they say it back that's the greatest thing in the world. But needing someone is something different. Needing someone means you can't live without them. 

"I need you. I don't just want to be with you, I need you. You're the first person who has ever made me think about giving up everything else in my life, just to be with you because you're the most important thing to me. I need you like air, and I don't want to leave Evie." His eyes bore into mine, their surface becoming glassy as he speaks.

I can't imagine anyone saying that to me. But I definitely feel the same way for him. I need him.

"I need you too, Niall. I've thought of every possible way that I could get on that plane with you today..."

"Then do it. Come with me." He pleads, both of us knowing I can't.

"I can't, baby..." I say leaning our foreheads together and caressing his cheek with the palm of my hand.

"Are you sure?" He asks with the slightest chuckle in his voice.

We both laugh weakly, holding onto each other as if life depended on it.

"I promise I'll be there as soon as I can be Niall. But we'll be ok." I repeat.

"I love you." He says, sealing my lips with his.