One Shot: Nialler's Big Hit
I was nestled away in the back of a golf cart now, my eyes glued to the AP World History Exam guide in my lap. God had clearly been listening to my prayers last night, because the golf course was virtually empty today; leaving me time to study for my upcoming exams. Aside from the lush green grass surrounding me, and my bright blue Laguna Hills Golf Course polo shirt being tucked into my khaki shorts; it didn’t even feel like work.
At first, it was almost impossible to concentrate. The sun was beating down on me relentlessly, forcing me to continuously wipe the moisture from my forehead every few minutes. But, after awhile, I was fully absorbed in my studies. My eyes were chasing the lines in front of me quickly; only stopping on occasion to pull the yellow highlighter from my pocket to mark an important line.
I was so focused on the task at hand, that I failed to hear the voices shouting for me to clear the way, until it was too late.
“Move!” Someone screamed in the distance. My eyes shot up from the page instantly, in search of the shrill voice’s owner.
Unfortunately, the voice was coming from the same direction as the white golf ball that was sailing through open air, straight towards me.
By the time I let out a startled gasp, it was too late. The rubber ball had slapped me square in the forehead.
I could feel my eyes roll back into my head for a brief, excruciatingly painful second, before the world around me dimmed to nothingness.
The next thing I remember was a series of hushed tones worming their way from my ears and into my brain quietly. The voice sounded off kilter and completely distorted to me, it took me several moments to shake off my trance and recognize the words.
“Hello? Hello! Are you okay?” A nervous voice whispered desperately.
“Oh my gosh, you killed her. She’s dead!” Another voice said, and there was a light and easy laugh that erupted shortly after, helping me jolt back to life now.
“That isn’t funny!” It was the nervous one, again.
I blinked once, careful not to let my eyes open too wide at first, for fear of the blinding sunlight. Then once more, a few seconds later. I bent my knees a little, trying to put some distance between the bear skin on my legs and the grass below me. I don’t find the feeling of grass to be very pleasant.
Everything that happened after that was a complete blur.
I think I made some sort of groaning noise, as the aching between my eyes began to pick up again; and I propped myself up on one elbow to see what was going on around me, when I saw them standing there.
“Oh my…” My voice immediately trailed off in disbelief, leaving me unsure if I was hallucinating or witnessing a real life miracle.
“Are you alright?” The nervous voice belonged to the same person, who owned the most perfect, piercing blue eyes in the known universe. Niall James Horan.
“You? And? Aren’t you?” I could hear myself trying to formulate a sentence, but nothing came out except nonsensical mismatched words.
“I think she’s confused.” Liam whispered in his unmistakable British accent to Zayn, who was standing beside him with his head leaned close in to listen.
“Poor girl did take a white bullet to the head. What do you expect?” Harry said lightly, before getting down on one knee beside Niall now to inspect my face.
The two of them were hovering dangerously close to me, and I could feel my heart thumping inside my chest.
“Here, have some of my water!” Niall practically begged me, pulling an ice cold Evian water bottle from his nearby golf caddy and popping the cap off quickly.
“No, no. I’m fine, really.” I protested, even though I was anything but fine. Between the pounding between my eyes and the small heart attack I was sure to be experiencing; I was bound to keel over and die at any minute.
“Oh my gosh! Look at that bump.” Harry said, his expression now a mirror for the horrific sight that had manifested itself on my forehead.
Niall’s jaw dropped as his fingers rushed to my head, and gently brushed the side swept bangs from my face. I immediately let out an unintentional wimper in pain, at his touch and he recoiled nervously.
“Guys, go get someone.” He looked around at the lads desperately. “Now!” He hissed, when they stared back at him blankly.
The boys instantly responded to his plea, Liam and Zayn heading off in the direction of the pro shop; while Harry took off in the opposite direction towards the information desk.
“I’m so sorry…” He whispered, once we were alone.
“No, don’t worry! It’s not a big deal. Doesn’t even hurt!” I lied, before trying to shoot him a convincing smile without cringing in pain.
“I’m Niall.” He said softly, offering me his hand.
I nodded, as though I was learning this for the first time, even though the searing pain in my forehead was the only think keeping me from squealing like a deranged school girl.
“Mia!” I croaked, trying to remain calm.
“Mia…” He echoed, flashing me a painfully bright smile, “Nice to meet you.”
“Same.” I said, keeping my words to a minimum, in an attempt to keep myself from blurting out an inappropriate marriage proposal on a whim.
How was it even possible that the boy of my dreams had magically just made his way onto the golf course where I worked; and just hit me in the face with a golf ball. Never in my life have I been so thankful.
“What can I do to make this up to you?” He said after a moment long pause.
“What?” His presence alone was enough compensation.
“Is there anything I can do to make it up for you?” He asked again, his eyes making it clear he was desperate for me to forgive him.
“I just can’t believe you’re here.” I blurted without thinking, his icy blue gaze had broken me.
A smile split across his lips now, and he shook his head knowingly.
“You’re a fan?” He asked, his shoulders relaxing now as he dropped his bottom on to the grass beside me in place of his original uncomfortable looking crouched position.
I could feel the blood rushing through my cheeks, as I nodded, embarassed now.
“How do tickets to our show at the Honda Center tonight sound?” He said, clearly trying to bribe his way out of guilt.
“I already have tickets!” I blurted again, and then bit my tongue. His eyes had put me in a trance, making me lose any sense of censorship I may have had at some point at my life.
“Hm…” He paused for a second now, before his lips curled upwards into a smile again. “I bet you’ve never been backstage at a concert before…how would you like to give it a go?”
“Your concert?” I gasped.
“Sound good?” He asked with a smile on his face.
I nodded wordlessly, unable to speak.
“Can I get your phone number?” He said, pulling his iPhone from his back pocket.
“You want my phone number?” I asked incredulously; and for a moment I could swear his cheeks took on a new hue of red.
“Well, I, was gonna call you and give you details on how to get back there and stuff after I talk to my tour manager. But, if you aren’t comfortable giving me your number, I could just, uh, you could probably just check in at Will Call.” He said quietly, before beginning to tuck his phone back in his pocket.
The next thing I knew I was rattling off my phone number faster than I could remember it.
The smile returned to his face now as he fumbled quickly for his phone once more.
“Thank you!” He said politely, before slowly standing to his feet. “You look a lot better.” He said, before quickly adding, “Not that you looked bad before!”
“Thanks, I feel a lot better!” I nodded, before trying to prop myself up with my arms so I could rise to meet him; but before I had to exert too much physical effort he swooped in and supported my weight with his own to help lift me from the ground.
“I’m so glad to hear it.” He said genuinely, as he helped brush off some of the grass that was stuck to my backside now.
Just then Harry and the others returned with Clyde, our on site nurse, who was all too familiar with golf ball blows to the head.
“Mia, don’t be standing up like that! Get in the golf cart, right now!” He said, jumping out of the golf cart which they had arrived in, and rushing to guide me into the passenger side of the vehicle where Liam had just hopped off.
“Thanks for coming to get me guys! You guys enjoy the rest of your day golfing!” Clyde said, offering his hand to the boys for a quick slap and a fist pound.
“Anytime man, thanks for coming to the rescue!” Zayn said, as he began pulling his golf bag over his shoulder.
The boys began to wave good bye to me now, as Clyde turned the key in the ignition almost ready to take off, before Niall gave me a smile and a wink. “I’ll see you tonight?” He said quietly.
I could feel my teeth digging into my bottom lip, as I gave him a sheepish nod and an oversized grin that probably made it beyond evident I was ecstatic.
As Clyde and I began to pull away at the brisk speed of fifteen miles per hour, the boys began to wave politely. And, for a brief second, I could hear Harry chuckle and say, “If I didn’t know any better, I would almost think you hit her on purpose.”
Just before Zayn added, “Only Nialler would knock a girl out with a golf ball, and then proceed to get a date with her."
A date…with me?
The End.
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felt nostalgic now that we're all grown up, Harry's second solo album is out, and Liam is gone. @thekingofholmeschapel @mariamaquariumofficial to my old tumblr friend, i love you for writing this for me when I was a wee teen. I hope you're doing well.
