"What should I wear?" I frantically ask Makayla over FaceTime, as I hold up a few shirts in front of the screen to show her.

"You're kidding me?" She laughs, really hard, before snorting. "Hours ago you were at my house begging me to let my family give you their non-existing poison ivy, and now you're stressing over what to wear?"

"Yes!" I sigh in exasperation. 

"Why are you so worried? Wear jeans and a T-shirt, it's not as if you're going over to impress someone," she pauses, before adding - "or, are you?" She grins, giving me that grin, and I find myself rolling my eyes.

"I'm not going over to impress anyone," I defend.

"Then wear your pajamas! You'll be comfortable, and you'll definitely not be dressing to impressing," she shrugs.

"I am not going to wear my pajamas!" I practically hiss.

"Then you are trying to impress. I thought you hated this kid?"

"I don't hate him, he's just a total ass. Those are two totally different things," I point out. "I want him to -- look, don't blow this up if I tell you, okay?" I say, hoping she doesn't go a bit overboard...like always.

"Ooo! Tell me!" She begs, before getting more comfortable on her bed.

"I want him to regret the way he treated me, you know? Like, if I show up smoking hot, he'll be like 'damn! I want a second chance!' and, maybe, he won't be a total ass after that," I shrug.

"He's hot isn't he?" She asks. "Because, you totally forgot to mention that the entire time you were over at my house complaining about him."

I roll my eyes, trying my best to fight a smile. "He's cute, Kay, he's cute."

"Ha!" She shouts. "He's gorgeous, isn't he?"

"Okay, okay!" I sigh in defeat. "He is hot. Happy?"

"Very much so," she smiles. "If you're going for smoking hot, yet trying not to show it, you should wear your white dress you bought just before school let out."

"The one with the birds?" I ask. "That's not really hot."

"It's adorable, and it shows you're trying but not too much. It's a safe play," she suggests.

"Should I wear the belt around it, or no?" I ask, wondering if the belt would overdo it.

"Girl, wear the damn belt, trust me."

"How should I do my hair?" I ask, wondering if I sound like a stupid school girl. I wanted to make him regret how he treated me, but I also couldn't help but wonder if this was too far.

"Scrunch it with some mousse," she replies. "I like your hair like that."

"Okay. Thank you. Are you sure it's not too much?" I ask, as I look at the dress I retrieved from my closet.

"Nope, not at all. Now you promise to text me during the dinner? I want to hear all about it! Tell me if you're swooning him with your looks!"

"I'm not trying to swoon him! I just want him to regret what he's done, is all," I sigh.

"Well, then, make him regret it," she smiles.

"I'll try," I laugh. "I have to go get ready, I'll text you."

"You better! Love you, good luck!"

"Love you, too, and thank you!" I smile, before hanging up and going to get my shower.

**********

"Crystal Rose Anderson!" My mom calls to me. "We're going to be late! What are you doing in there? Giving yourself a face lift or something?"

"No!" I yell back. "I'm just finishing getting ready."

"You're taking forever!" She sighs, obviously irritated by how long I'm taking. If I didn't want to be obvious before, I don't think it is going to matter now.

"I'm here, I'm here," I announce, as I walk out of my room and over to where they are waiting for me by the door.

"Who are you dressed up for," my sister grins at me, and I have the notion to slap her in the eye.

"What? I can't look presentable without first having the reason to dress up for someone?" I almost snap, not in the mood for her subliminal messages. I was still irritated she refused to watch Peter Pan with me yesterday. Serves her right to have to take summer school.

"Girls," my mom reprimands us. "We're going to have a nice evening. A new neighbor invited us over for dinner, and we're going to get along with one another, showing them that not all American teenagers are hooligans, understand?"

Cara and I just nod. Mom was giving us her serious voice, and we knew not to say anymore.

The air is actually warmer than it was earlier as we walk to the little red house across the street. It felt rather lovely to be in the warmth, especially after being in the cool house. I bless the person who made the A/C, but this weather outside was pretty comfortable.

"Look at her garden!" Mom ooo's, as she admires the flowers and plants Maura was working on the other day when I first introduced myself. "It's beautiful!"

"It really is," Cara admires.

"Flowers are pretty," Joshua nods. "But I want food."

"Don't we all," I laugh. "C'mon," I motion for them to follow me up the steps, before knocking on the door.

"The Judsons never kept it this nice," Mom thinks out loud, as she glances around the house even more. "It's adorable here."

I open my mouth to agree with her, only to be cut off by the door opening. I expected it to be Maura greeting us, but instead it was him. Standing there in a white button up and a pair of jeans, was the devil himself.

"C'mon in," he sighs as if it pains him. I also can't help but notice the look he gives me as I walk past him, as if I'm too vile to step foot inside of his house twice. "Mom's in the kitchen, getting everything finished," he tells my mom, only to extend a hand and introduce himself. "I'm Niall Horan," he smiles, and it looks pretty genuine. I then wonder if he only acts like Satan towards me. If that's the case, I don't understand why. So what if I crushed his pasta? It's going to get crushed in his stomach when he eats it, anyway, but you don't see him glaring at his digestive track.

"I'm Sarah Anderson," Mom smiles, before shaking his hand. I thought they didn't shake hands in this house, I almost scoff to myself. However, as Niall turns to introduce himself to Cara and Joshua, Mom gives me an inconspicuous thumbs up and a wink. I respond with a blush, before heading into the kitchen, seeing if Maura needs help. Even if she doesn't, I just needed to get out of there.

"Hi, Maura!" I smile, as I catch her in her apron, rushing around the kitchen and pulling bake wear out of the kitchen.

"Crystal! Hello, darling! I'm almost done with everything, just have to put it in it's rightful place in the dining room," she smiles.

"Can I help?" I volunteer.

"You're the guest, you're supposed to relax and enjoy yourself!" She scolds.

"I would still be enjoying myself if I helped," I promise her.

"Alright," she smiles. "You've won. You can set this on the table," she says, as she hands me a bowl of mashed potatoes. "When you return, I'll let you set the casserole," she winks.

"Sounds good to me," I tell her, before walking into the dining room and setting the potatoes down, only to admire how fancy the table had been set. There was china, wine glasses, a bouquet of flowers in the middle. It was simple, yet extremely beautiful.

"The table is gorgeous," I tell her, as I return to take the casserole.

"Thank you! Niall suggested we use the china. I had some other fancy dishes, but he likes eating off of the china. I think it brings back memories of eating dinner in Ireland when he was younger," she smiles as she hands me the dish, however, the smile doesn't quite reach her eyes, and I begin to wonder if either of them are truly happy here. 

Why did you come over here? What's your story? 

I want to ask, but instead I just smile in return, before taking the dish over to the table. However, as I walk past my family and Niall, my eyes meet his, and I can't help but blush and look away quickly, the thought of him watching me makes me feel...strange.

"Dinner is ready!" Maura announces, before walking over and introducing herself to my family, and greeting them all with hugs. "My, my! What a beautiful family. You all look lovely tonight," she smiles, before walking over to hug me. "You look lovely too, dear, doesn't she, Niall?" She asks her son, and I find myself blushing yet again. "Well, let's eat! This is my seat," she says, as she pulls out the chair at the head of the table. "Niall's seat is right here," she points at the seat next to hers. "Crystal, you should sit right here," she suggests, before showing my family which seat they should use.

I didn't have a problem with where she wanted me to sit, except that I did have a problem. She suggested I sit in the seat right next to Niall, and considering everything, this isn't exactly how I wanted this night to go. Originally when I wanted to torture him with a night of entertaining my family and me, I didn't plan on sitting next to him then. I don't want to sit next to him, and if I was two years younger, I might even pitch a fit. However, I'm seventeen, and because I'm more mature than my fifteen year old self, I sit down without a complaint.

"It looks delicious," my mom admires the meal, as everyone gets their plates ready. "Thank you so much for inviting us over."

"Yes, thank you," Cara and I say in unison.

"Thank you for the compliments! And you are so welcome! Thank you for having such a kind daughter," Maura smiles at my mom, before glancing over at me. "She was sweet enough to offer me help in my garden, despite the scalding heat."

"I'm glad she offered to help, shows I did something right," Mom smiles at me.

"Seems like you've done many things right," Maura confirms.

There was a bit of silence following her statement, and the silence was due to all of us taking our first bites of the chicken casserole in front of us, and getting lost in the heavenly taste. I've had good food, but this was good food. The idea of sitting next to Niall was even out of my mind, as I began to eat. I could have sat with Charles Manson, and I don't think I would have minded if I was eating this meal.

"This is delicious," I say, breaking the silence.

"It is," my mom sighs. 

"Thank you," Maura smiles proudly. "I thought I would try a new recipe. I was being risky," she laughs. "Sometimes they turn out good, and other times they're a flop. This one's a keeper, however."

"It definitely is," I agree with her, before we finish our meal, making small talk along the way.

"Thanks, Mom," Niall says, as he takes the last bite of his second helping. "I'm going to go practice," he tells her, before excusing himself and leaving the room.

"Boys," Maura laughs.

"What's he practicing? If you don't mind me asking," Mom asks.

"His guitar. He has this idea he's going to make it big, and he might. He has a good voice. That's why we moved here, actually," she smiles, her smile both sad and happy at the same time. "America has a lot of opportunities for talent. I'm not saying Ireland doesn't, but he wanted to come here. He wanted to come here, to make a life changing decision and find his career. He seems to love it here, and if he's happy, I'm happy," she informs us, and my mind beings to swirl with new thoughts, as I take in her words.

This mom, this single mom, moved across the world just so her son could fulfill his dream. She's the one that's not happy here, not Niall. He wants to be here, and she did all of this just for him. Just for her son.

"May I use your restroom?" I ask her, wanting to get away from the crown, as everything settles into my mind.

"Of course! Down the hall, first door on the left," she informs me, before going back to the conversation between her and Mom.

Quickly excusing myself, I walk down the hall just as my eyes cloud with tears. There is just something about a mother sacrificing so much for her child, that stirs my heart. There is something about this situation that makes me so happy, yet so sad at the same exact time.

Just as I reach the bathroom, I stop halfway in the doorway, only to hear a slight strum of a guitar coming from farther down the hall. I'm slightly crying as it is, so I definitely don't want to be caught listening, but I'm so curious. He has to be good, especially for Maura to sacrifice so much.

Before I know what I'm doing, my feet are carrying me further down the hallway, before I stop in front of a door where the music is coming from.

"Shall I stay?
Would it be a sin,
If I can't help falling in love with you?"

I never thought that the boy I ran into in the market, the boy with the snappy attitude, could possibly sing so well. Could sing with such emotion, with such rawness, that you almost can't help but feel as if he's singing to you. I know he's not, but the emotion in the song, just makes you feel. It almost makes you wish it was for you, and if it was anyone other than Niall singing one of my most favorite Elvis Presley songs, I would wish it was for me.

"Like a river flows
Surely to the sea,
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be."

I can't help but let the tears that were clouding my vision, escape down my cheek and drop onto the floor, as I listen to him sing. I can't help but cry, as I think back onto everything that Maura has done for her son, only to hear him singing. To hear his voice hold so much emotion, for he knows the sacrifices his mother has made. He knows what she has done to get him over to America so his dream can come true. He sings with the emotions of struggles and hard times, and I just can't help but cry.

However, he suddenly stops singing, and before I have the chance to escape back down the hall where I came from and into the bathroom, he opens the door.

"What are you doing?" He snaps, as he looks at me angrily, and I know that there is no way to escape this.

***
awe so now you all know why they came to america

alsoooooo, she was totally caught listening to him sing! things are getting exciting!