I Can Only Go in One Direction

Could it be...?

"How can he not know?" Niall gasped, his heart breaking for this girl that he'd never known until today.

"She never told him, and he doesn't suspect a thing. He never touches her computer, so there is no way he would be able to find out unless she told him or something happened." Ellie shrugged, putting a spoonful of cereal in her mouth. They were in Ellie's temporary new room. Suddenly the door downstairs opened and clicked shut. "Shoot! They're back early! Quick, get under the bed!" She whispered, lifting the bedspread and pushing him underneath. Niall sneezed as his nose was shoved into a dust bunny. "Shhh!" Ellie shushed, hopping on top of the bed with a magazine. Niall gripped the tiny piece of paper, rereading the letter in the dim, dusty light. He puzzled over it, wondering who this mystery person is. The way it sounded, Zayn's life story of only having a dad and never knowing his mother, then his dad died. How Ellie was so much like Zayn, her dark brown hair, the eyes, it all clicked. But why had Ellie not suspected it? Suddenly the door to Ellie's bedroom opened. Josh walked in, his eyes weary and tired. "Josh? What's wrong?" Ellie asked.

Josh's eyes brimmed with tears. "They're sick. Really sick. A-and they might not make it. I don't know how it happened!" He choked out, sobbing.

"What's wrong with them?" Ellie asked.

"I don't know. And then Mom, her eyes opened and she whispered something before she fell back into the coma..." He hesitated.

"What?"

"She said that she hoped Aunt Jane made contact with her son."

"What? Was my dad in the room? Was my mom in the room?" Ellie whimpered.

"No, they were with my dad with Lily." He paused. "That means," Josh took a shuddery breath, then whispered, "You have a brother."

"Josh, can I trust you to keep a secret?" Ellie asked her cousin. He nodded shakily. "Niall, come out. And bring the letter." Josh did a double take. Niall hesitated, then squirmed out from under the bed, holding the letter.

"N-Niall Horan of One Direction?" He stuttered in shock. Niall nodded.

"The letter, Niall." Ellie demanded, holding out her hand. Niall handed it over numbly, his mind still processing this. Ellie read it aloud, and Josh looked at her.

"How do you have this?" He whispered.

"I snooped on my Mom's computer." Ellie admitted.

He sighed. "I won't ask how, because you've always been the expert on electronics in the family. But does she know you know?" Josh asked.

Ellie shook her head. "No. This has been my secret. And I just don't know who it is. Did Aunt Martha say what his name is?" She looked at Josh expectantly, who shook his head.

"I-I think I m-might know w-who it i-is." Niall stuttered, his ears turning red. Ellie nearly throttled him.

"WHO?"