I starred down at my phone as the familiar ring tone blared threw my room. I looked at the contact name. The same one that had been countlessly calling for three days. The three days since that night. Like the stubborn little girl I am, I hadn't picked up. I knew exactly what he was going to say, and I didn't want to hear it. Plus I'm a terrible liar.

I looked at his goofy contact picture and sighed, feeling bad. I'm going to regret this. I thought as I answered the call.

"Hello?" I asked wearily.

"Emma Rose!" Louis called motherly. I rolled my eyes but smiled at the same time. "You better have a nice excuse for ignoring me missy."

"Ignoring you? What are you talking about?" I tried to act innocently. "I haven't gotten any calls, there must be something wrong with my phone! I should take it to the apple st-"

"Oh cut the shit." He cut me off. I gulped so loud, he probably heard through the phone. "Care to explain why Niall trashed our hotel room the other night?"

"What?" I laughed nervously. Louis sighed.

"I heard him on the phone with you. It sounded pretty heated. Then he hung up and chucked his phone at the wall, making a hole. Next thing I know he's smashing lamps and vases like the bloody hulk. I had to get Paul to calm him down." I was definitely shocked to hear that. I opened and closed my mouth, unsure how to respond, I was sure I looked like a fish. Louis sighed again. "What happened Em? I know it has to do with your friend Seth."

"How the hell did he even see those articles?" I groaned.

"It's not like we're back in Europe. We're in New Jersey. Apparently New York news is a big deal here."

"Fuck." I grumbled, running a hand over my face.

"Yeah. Your lucky you weren't there when he saw it. I thought he was going to have a stroke. Thank god he calmed down when Liam and I explained who Seth was."

"Fuck Louis this is bad. I screwed up so badly." I shook my head holding back tears. I had been acting like such an idiot with Niall. I don't even understand it. My feelings for him, they're so strong, I'd never felt anything like it. Not for anyone. I guess that freaked me out, making me do crazy and stupid things.

"Why?"

"I told him Seth was my boyfriend." I admitted cowardly.

"What?! No wonder he's only left the room once, for the concert last night." Louis groaned. "I'm telling him the truth."

"No! Louis you can't. He's going to be pissed. Plus it's kind of true, for publicity at least. My grandfathers basically forcing me."

"I'm telling him Emma, I can't stand to see him like this." That brought a pang to my heart, at how desperate Louis sounded. I knew he was right. I didn't want Niall hurting because of me. Just thinking about him being so upset made me want to cry. Why am I such an idiot? I wasn't thinking when I said that the other night, well clearly since the obscene amount of alcohol I had consumed was kind of clouding my mind. I didn't want to hurt him.

"I'll tell him." I sighed, Niall needed to hear this from me, I would take whatever yelling he was going to give me.

"You have two days, then I'm stepping in." Louis warned.

"Okay." I was going to call him that night. After I survived the stupid event for my grandfathers business deal with Bart Mahoney. Just what I needed to be doing that night, pretending with Seth once again, while Niall was heart broken, barely two hours away from me.

"Good, Thank you Emma." He sounded relieved. "Now! Tell me all about this 'your grandfather forcing you' thing. It seems so Scandalish!" He raved excitedly. I chuckled, Louis and his gossip. Just as I was about to explain it all, my mother barged into my room. I swear no one knocks in this house!

She was holding up a white garment bag and a shoe box. I mentally prayed that whatever she picked for me wouldn't be too old lady-ish. She motioned for me to end my phone call so she could make me her barbie doll, before moving on to Bella.

"Lou, I have to go." I apologized as I glanced at the clock and realized it was already four in the afternoon. The Limo was coming here at six.

"What? No! Come on! Just a rundown!"

"I'll call you later, or tomorrow." I laughed. He grumbled an agreement and we hung up.

My mom revealed the gown with a proud smile as she caressed the silk. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't horrible, like most of the things she's had me wear in the past. Although I was 99% positive it was worn in gossip girl, which just proves my theory that my mom wishes I was Blair Waldorf.

She curled my hair and pinned it back into some low updo, and applied a light amount of make up to my face. I had to hand it to her, she had always been great at styling mine and Bella's hair. When she was done I put the dress and heels on, before helping her with Bella.

Three hours later I was stepping out of a limo in an exclusive part of New York City. Paparazzi surrounded the pathway that led to the entrance of the ballroom. I plastered my fake smile on my face as Seth helped me up. As we walked along the path cameras flashed in every direction, and people were shouting like animals. I couldn't make out anything they were saying. I just smiled and let Seth lead me inside.

These parties are so painfully boring, it's almost torturous. I tried to act interested through the terribly long speeches given by my fathers parents and Seth's grandparents. I sat at my assigned table, in between Seth and Bella. If I didn't have to act like a lady I would be passed out drooling all over the expensive table cloth. Instead Bella and I were secretly watching One Tree Hill on her phone. It's always been something we've done to pass the time.

"Why don't you dance with Seth?" My mother interrupted right when Brooke finds out Lucas was cheating with Peyton! Fucking guys always cheating, I thought bitterly.

"May I?" Seth interrupted my thoughts, holding out his hand to me. I smiled and took it, quickly sending Bella a 'you better pause that' look. Dancing with Seth was fun, and surprisingly a better time distracter than One Tree Hill. I was happy to have him with me at these events, at least it's a friend other than my sister. He's made them more bearable.

"So how did that call go the other night?" He asked once a slower song came on. I froze slightly. I could not tell him what I said to Niall, that would just be mean, like I was using him.

"It was okay, nothing eventful."
"Oh come on. I found you passed out on the floor in Tara's backyard with tear stains on your cheeks." So that's how I ended up on Tara's couch?

"Yeah, I was just emotional I guess." I shrugged nervously, hoping he would by it. He gave me a suspicious look but before he could question further, I was ripped away by my arm. I turned quickly, shocked to see Bella with tears streaming down her face.

"We have to go!" She was holding back sobs. What was going on?
"It's grandma." This time she couldn't hold back and she pulled me into a hug shaking with her cries. I just hugged her back emotionless. I felt like my world was crumbling, and all noise around me was blocked out.

My grandma.

A large hand was pressed to my back soothingly and I knew it was Seth. I pulled away from Bella slightly.

"Is- is she...?" I couldn't even let that word form on my tongue.

"Not yet." She shook her head. "We need to go now, Mom's waiting at the door, Dad has to stay here."

I turned to Seth giving him an apologetic look and he just smiled sympathetically and urged me to go. Bella, my mother and I raced to the hospital in a cab. Luckily the press had lightened up since no one was expected to leave for at least three hours. We bursted in and the familiar nurse sent us up right away. I hadn't even let myself cry yet. I couldn't bring myself too, it would make it all real. She wasn't dead yet there was still a chance. My mom got a call, while I was with Seth. Her heart was failing do to overwork and it could be any minute now. They could take her in to immediate surgery giving her another week to a month of life, but my grandma had been refusing. She'd just been asking for her family.

We reached her room and we all entered without hesitating. Two doctors were busy connecting tubes and checking the monitor, which though I'm no med student, I could tell it was beating much faster than normal.

When they heard us they looked up but my eyes were only focused on my grandma. She looked so much worse since the last time I had been here. It was about three weeks ago, she spent the whole visit going on about Niall and how much he loves me and she wishes for us to be together. It was a few days after the whole me drunk seducing him, and him rejecting, well respecting me, thing. So you can imagine how awkward I felt.

She noticed us and a bright smile took over her pale and sickly looking face. It was heartbreaking how ill she looked. To me she would always be the fun lady who was so full of life. The grandma who taught me everything she knew and spoiled the crap out of my sister and I. The woman who was so in love with my grandpa. I was ten years old when he died but even at such a young age I could see the love they shared for each other. The woman who on her death bed still managed to offer a genuinely happy smile at the sight of her daughter and granddaughters.

My mother and Bella ran straight to her, giving light hugs as they sobbed. I stood back and just looked at her. The more I looked the more the tears threatened to break free. I wouldn't let them come. She didn't need to see them, she was going through enough. My mother and sisters crying would be enough. I saw how broken it made her, as if it were her fault for their tears.

She looked up at me and smiled warmly, I was so familiar with that smile. It was filled with so much love, you wouldn't believe. After a couple of minutes of my mother and Bella begging for her to go into surgery and her continuously declining she looked back at me. I hadn't approached her fully yet. I just stood there at the end of her bed. I knew why she didn't want the surgery, it was pretty obvious to me. She didn't need to explain it, Mom and Bella were just too blinded by sadness to realize.

"Nora, Isabella, I would like to speak to Emma in private for a moment." She told them in her weak voice. They looked hesitant but agreed, leaving the room. She gave the doctors a warning look and they left as well, assuming there was nothing more that they could do. "Come, darling." She beckoned me closer. I took the few steps and held her hand in mine.

"Grandma," I whimpered, my eyes began to water but I fought to stay strong.

"Let it out my patatina." She smiled stroking my hand weakly. I gave her a shaky chuckle at the nickname she always used to call me. It means 'little potato' in Italian. Potatoes were my favorite, cooked in any way, so it suited well.

"I understand." I told her. She knew what I was talking about, there was no need to specify.

"I knew you would." She told me.

"You've been through so much, you deserve peace. I'm so sorry I didn't come visit more." I was crying now, I couldn't help it anymore. "I failed you, I just thought we had more time, I was stupid, I- I-"

"No, no, my patatina. You have brought more happiness to my life than you can imagine. You are the Luce dei Miei Occhi. I want nothing more than for you to be out living your life, not stuck in a hospital. Your so young, and have a bright future. I am so proud of you." I nodded, although I still felt horrible. "And that Niall of yours, he is going to make you very happy one day." She smiled.

"No were not-" I tried to tell her but she stopped me.

"I can see it. It was in his eyes. He loves you my Emma, and you him. What a lovely young man he is. I hope you'll follow your heart my darling." I just nodded again, through my tears, not sure how to respond. "I have something for you." She said as she struggled to reach behind her pillow. I helped her as she pulled out a light yellow envelope with Emma written in her script. "Your birthday card. Read it later." She told me and I nodded, blinking back more tears.

"Thank you." I said.

"Your so welcome my love," she smiled knowing I meant more than just for the card. For everything she's done my whole life.

"I love you so much grandma. I'm going to miss you so much." I cried, giving her a gentle hug as I shook from crying.

"I love you more than you'll ever know. I'll always be here." I held her for a bit longer, It was almost like I could feel her growing weaker in my arms. Suddenly the beeping got even faster. The doctors bursted into the room followed by my mom and Bella. They ran over to our side and we all held her hands. She just smiled assuringly at us as we cried.

"I love you my girls, always know that." She croaked out, she was so weak it broke my heart.

We held her and cried together until the beeping went flat. I took a step back staring blankly as the doctors attempted to restart her heart, but I knew it was too late. She was gone, she was happy, she was free. She didn't want to be here anymore, sitting in pain all day.

"Time of death, 8:53." One of the doctors reported. The sounds of my mothers loud sobs filled the room, as Bella held her. I found myself backing up towards the door. I couldn't stay in there any longer. Before I knew it I was sprinting down the long hospital halls, dodging nurses. I didn't know where I was going, my heels were long gone, in the back of the cab that took us here. I stopped at what seemed to be a dead end, some kind of waiting room. It was completely empty and the lights were off. I sunk to the floor against the wall, crying violently.

I lashed out, kicking the ground, and screaming as I hysterically cried at the loss of my grandmother. I clutched the envelope she had given me minutes earlier. It would be the last birthday card, I ever got from her I thought, making myself cry more. I couldn't bring myself to open it. Plus the room was too dark to read anything.

I couldn't even think straight. My phone had been continuously going off for however long I sat there. I couldn't handle it. I was breaking down alone. There was only one person I wanted to talk to. One person who could potentially calm me with the sound of his voice. He probably hated me after how I'd been acting toward him. I couldn't blame him. I just cried harder.

Without thinking straight, I found my phone and dialed his number. It continued to ring and ring, the butterflies building in my stomach, until finally I got his voice mail. I broke down even more, hating myself for potentially losing Niall too.

"Grandma," I sobbed to myself as I finally let it all out.

Notes

Okay, things are going to be moving along now! I'm sorry I've been so absent. I've been busy with finals and everything. I plan to update more now, finally finding some time!
Next Chapter is Niall's POV!!