Carrie's P.O.V

My Name's Carrie, Carrie Oakley. Niall calls me Car, though. Let me 'paint the picture' of my entire situation, before we start. I have long, blonde hair, it's a sandy colour. It's wavy, and usually down, so that the wind tousle's it. I have blue eyes, and am average height. I play camogie, but I'm not strong enough to play in the Midfield positions. I have two sisters, Clidhna and Cadhla. I live with them, and my parents. My parents own a small bakery on the main street, in my hometown of Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland. I was childhood bestfriends with the one and only, Nialler. My Niall, who turned into a superstar. This is the story, of, Carrie Oakley, the little girl from the grammar, and my ex-best friend, Niall James Horan.

I sat on the swings, tears in my little eyes. I was eight. My teacher had kept me after to give me a more advanced book, to read. I'd been so happy. It was 'First Term At Malory Towers'. I'd skipped down the path and reached the gate, happily, with the book. I looked up, and saw Tierna O'Reilly. I gulped. She'd always called me a Teacher's Pet. "Look, Hand-Me-Down Oakey's got a new book." She laughed, lifting the book from my hands. "Give it back." I squealed, and sniffed. She laughed, and threw it in the puddle. I kneeled down, and fished it out, but It was no use. My book was ruined. I had began to cry, and rushed to the park, to sit on the swings. No one would ever understand. "Uhm, 'scuse me?" I heard a soft voice say.

I looked up, and saw Niall. He was a popular boy, and I was a nerdy little girl. "Is this seat taken?" He asked, smiling, cheekily. "No." I whispered, looking down. "You're Carrie, aren't you?" He said, looking at me. I nodded, nervously. "I'm Niall."
"I know."
"You don't talk much."
"I do, If I know people well enough, I suppose."
"You talk while...funny."
"I read." I said.
He glanced at the book at my feet. "What happened that?" He asked. I bit my lip.
"Tierna."
"Why don't you stand up to her, Carrie?"
"I don't know. I'm afraid."
"Well I'm going to protect you." He said, and smiled again.

That moment, I did actually believe that Niall would protect me, that brazen, quirky little eight year old boy.

_______

He did, for a while, at least. He became my best friend. In Primary Seven, It was hard. I was going to the grammar, and he was going to the Boys' school. "If I went to the High, I'd be so much closer." I whispered, as we walked home from the park. It was the last day of summer. "Carrie, you're better than that. You're smart, You read, and you can sing. You'll do amazingly at the Grammar, get the highest grades n'all. You'll be the finest girl that's ever passed through it." I smiled, softly, as he lifted my chin. "They're all going to be more intelligent and prettty." I moaned. He cupped my face in his hands. "You're beautiful Carrie Oakley." He said, his voice sure and steady, "Don't let anyone tell you different."

_______

I remembered the teen discos, for 12-14 year olds. It was seven pounds to get in, and some girls would wear the most revealing outfits. I hated the discos, but I went one time, because all the other girls in my year group were going. I wore a tiffany-blue dress, and small pumps. Although I was fourteen, the bouncer looked at me like I was too small to enter. Niall was going, I knew, through facebook. "Carrie!" He said, as I entered. I pushed through the crowd, following Niall's deep eyes, my heart beating faster than ever. I had developed mored than a crush for Niall Horan, I would soon discover.

"I thought you weren't coming?"
"I decided to, because it's Karly's birthday." I smiled. That was half the reason, the other half was that I could have an exuse to see my best friend. "You look..pretty." He smiled, awkwardly. An old song played. It was a themed disco, called oldies, but I didn't actually expect to know anything. It was a special dance, I knew it from 'It's a Wonderful Life'. "I love this song." I thought, aloud. Niall took my hand and pulled me onto the floor. "No!" I squealed, but I couldn't hide my smile.

I blushed. "I have two left feet." I lied,
"So do I." Niall laughed. We continued to dance, and I looked up to see him smiling at me. "You're a natural." He said. I blushed. The next song came on, then another, and another. Soon the disco was over. I began to walk away. "Hey, Carrie!" I turned. I saw Niall, and grinned. "Do y'mind if I walk Holly home? She's on her own, and that."
"Fine. See you tomorrow."
"Thanks Car. You're a great friend."
As he ran away, I felt tears sting my eyes. He linked arms with Holly, and they walked off.

________

That brings us to a painful memory. I was sixteen. I had exams the next week, and Mammy made me stay in and revise, much to my disgust. I'd been texting Niall all week, and we'd made plans for tonight. I was to climb down the Ivy, and go with him down to the park, at 11. I looked at my watch, and made sure everyone was sleeping. On queue, a rock hit my window. I opened the window, and grabbed onto the ivy. I climbed down the side of the house: I was an expert by now. "Carrie." He said, with a distant smile, "I need to tell you something."

The moonlight bounced onto his worried face, and he ran his fingers through my hair, with frustration. He looked angry, but in a suttle way. Like the anger was bubbling inside of them.

"I auditioned, for X-Factor." He exhaled, "And..I'm going to be put in a band."
"Wow!" I smiled, "That's brilliant." He looked up at me. "Carrie, you're a smart girl. You know what this means, don't y'?" I looked up, and thought it through. "You'll be gone for a few months."
"Or More. I just don't know, Carrie." He said, shaking his head.
"I don't mind. I'm a big girl, I mean, I'll miss you, surely, but-"
"Carrie, I have to protect you."
"Niall, I-"

"It's you that doesn't understand."
"I do, clearly."
"Carrie, I made a promise that I can't fulfil."
"We were eight."
"Carrie, So many feelings in my heart have developed since then."
"We're best friends Niall. You have your girlfriend."
"I know."
"So,why aren't you saying goodbye to her at this hour."
"Carrie, you're the one person I thought would understand why I wanted to say goodbye."

I looked up at him, and he roughly pulled me close. I felt his tears fall onto my head, and his arms holding onto me tightly. "I'll miss you." He said, between tears.

"I'll miss you too, Niall."
He pulled away, and looked into my eyes. He swallowed, then talked clearly.
"I have to go. And So do you."
"When can I see you again?" I asked, softly.
"I'm leaving tomorrow."
His harsh voice was unmissible.
"Can I see you-" I began to ask.
"No. I don't want you to. You can't. Goodnight, Carrie Oakley." He turned, and began to walk away.


As he walked away, a tear slipped from my eye.
"Goodnight, Niall Horan."