Hideaway [Niall Horan]

Chapter 1

And in other news, pop star Niall Horan was found barely alive this morning after an suspected drug overdose. His fellow band members have refused to give any details about the stars condition, other then the fact that he will be out of action for at least a year. Could this mean another troubled star will find himself in rehab. More details on this later on, for now though...

I switched the radio off and turned to face my mum, who was currently driving me to the university i would be attending for the next 3 years.

"See mum, he's my age and he's into drugs. Shouldn't you be worried i'l do that!" i objected.

My mother and I had been having a heated 'debate' for the last 20 minutes about what grades would be acceptable at the end of my 3 years at university.

"Sweetheart i am 100% sure that you won't have a drug overdose. However, if i do get a call saying you have died of one, i will kill you!" She replied calmly, but i could see a small smile playing on her lips

"Well that's a bit impossible if i'm already dead" I said, laughing.

"Well then i'll find a way to bring you back to life so I can kill you again. Seriously though darling, work hard and you'll do fine" I couldn't think of a reply to this so i decided to turn the radio back on. They had moved on from the news and were now counting down the Vodafone big top 40.

The car was silent for a few moments before my mum decided to join in with the song, screeching along to the lyrics, causing me break down in hysterics.

"What, is there something wrong with my singing? She asked in mock offence.

"Oh no mother dearest, you have the voice of an angel" i replied and she laughed

"A dying angel?" She questioned

"No mum, an angel which is dying after being tortured for days on end" This caused fits of giggles to explode from both of us

"You know Bells, i'm going to miss this" She said, suddenly turning solemn. The smile on her face was long gone.

"Don't worry mum, i'll be home during the holidays and some weekends when I get my drivers license. Anyway, you have Paul"

Paul was her new boyfriend. My mum and dad had split up when I was 3. I was too young to remember him, but my mother had  told me the reason he left. He was an alcoholic. My mother tried desperately to help him, but all her efforts were in vain. Night after night he would spend hours in the pub downing pint after pint of whatever they would serve him. My mother put up with it because the simple fact was that she loved him.

One night however, he came in more drunk than usual. My mother expected him to fall asleep either on the sofa or the bed as he usually did, instead she found him in my room holding a pillow to my face whilst i screamed. I wasn't screaming for my mum though, i was screaming for my dad to help me. I wasn't to know it was him trying to stop me breathing as I had been asleep when he came in.

Even with the adrenaline pulsing quickly through her veins as she tried to remove me from my fathers grip, she wasn't strong enough. My father was a big, strong man. My desperate pleas for help must have triggered something inside him though as he removed the pillow from my face before sinking against my bed and breaking down into floods of tears. My mother quickly grabbed me and placed me in her room before confronting my father.

She told him that although she loved him, he'd gone to far. Him trying to kill me was the push she finally needed to deliver him an ultimatum. It was me and my mother, or the booze.

My father had moved out the house by the following afternoon, taking all hopes of the perfect childhood my mother had dreamed of for me with him.

For years after my mother refused to search for love again, claiming I was all she needed. This was fine up until i started college.

I would go out with my friends, leaving my mother home alone. She claimed she didn't mind, but i knew she was lonely. I tried and tried to persuade her to try find a man. Any online dating profiles i set up for her, she deleted and any dates i set up with my friends single fathers were cancelled.

But 2 years ago a miracle came in the form of Paul. He was a friendly, handsome police officer who escorted me home after a night out with my friends. Although he knew i was underage, he made no attempt to arrest me. Instead he took me home to my mother, who in thanks asked if there was anything she could do for him. He replied quickly that she could go on a date one time with him. Much to mine and my mothers surprise she agreed.

After 5 month of casual dates, they made their relationship official. Now when i'm off to university, my mother will be moving in with him.

"Oh i know, he's been so helpful through all of this. Considering you're not his and he's never had to deal with all this before" She blabbered on. I knew what she meant. Paul didn't have any kids

"Well it's not too late mum. I mean you're only 37 and Paul's 38. If you happen to get bored you can always make a kid. I promise i won't feel replaced" I said and she laughed.

My mum had been on 17 when she had me. At first her parents refused to have nothing to do with me. They thought it was disgusting for my mother to have me so young, even though she explained many times that there were many people who had kids when they were younger than her. They only agreed to have anything to do with my upbringing after my father left. Any doubts they had about me soon vanished and they were more than happy to play the roles of my doting grandparents.

"Don't be silly Bells, i've told you before. We're both to old to have children" She replied, though her red cheeks were giving her away.

I'd heard her and Paul discussing numerous times whether people in their late 30's were too old to have children. I knew full well a younger brother or sister was possible, especially now they were going to be living in the same house. Paul had always wanted a child. Both me and my mother knew that.

"Yeah yeah mum, keeping telling yourself that" I said and she laughed before smacking me lightly round the head.

"Shush you... Oh look Bells, we're here! Isn't it amazing" She said and i looked at what she was pointing at. Just beyond the trees we were driving past was the university of Cambridge.

"Its um, wow!" I said.

A tall building stood high over the trees, blocking out a large section of sunlight. This cast a shadow over much of the surrounding area

"It looks like something out of a fairy tale" She said and i nodded.

The car stopped and i got out.

"Well lets do this"