They Don't Know About Us [L.P]

Chapter 7

(Kayla's POV)

     After my talk with Jesse ended, I went to lay down. I ended up texting Liam about the message he had in my book. I smile at our conversation. He called me beautiful again. Every time he does that, I swear I can never think straight. So I reply just with a simple with thanks and a heart. I set my phone down on my desk by my bed, laying down. I go to sleep, thinking about Liam and Jesse's advice. 

     I wake up from another nightmare with Toni, Connor, Danny and I shake myself awake. I take a deep breath and rub my forehead. I turn my body and I look out the window when I scream, seeing the sight of the three standing outside the building. 

     I close my eyes shut and open them again. No, that wasn't real. I'm 8 stories up. What the hell?

     My door swings open and Jesse ran at me. "Are you okay? What happened?" He asked. I lay back down, scared and breathless. I can't keep living like this. 

     "Another nightmare," I told him. He grabbed my hand. "And I saw them." 

     "DTC?" He asked, which is our abbreviation for them. I nod.

     "Outside the window," I said pointing at the glass window, still looking up at the ceiling. Jesse turns and looks out the window. 

     "We're like 8 floors up!" He said. I nod. "Kay, this is getting too out of hand. You've got some major PTSD." I look at him. 

     "It's traumatizing, Jess! I can't help but see these terrible things." I fall forward, putting my face into his shirt in his shoulder. "I don't want to live like this anymore!" I sob into his shirt. He pats my head, cooing me, reminding me of Liam's comfort. 

     "Hey, I'm not gonna let them hurt you anymore. You know that." Jesse told me. "And you know that Liam and the boys won't either." He pulls my head back and holds my face. "You're always safe alright!" I nod. Jesse pulled my head towards his lips and kisses my forehead. 

     "Can I sleep with you tonight?" I ask, hoping I wasn't being too weird. But it's been 19 years and we're already living together. I don't think it should be awkward anymore. 

     "Of course love." He took my hand and pulled me up to my feet on the floor. I grab my sweater and slippers and follow him out the door. I squint, seeing he has something in his hand. I pull my glasses down to my eyes and see the object. 

     "Jesse?" I say. He stops and turns around. "I scream because I'm scared and you thought I was in danger..." he nodded. 

     "Yeah." He said nonchalantly. 

     "So, as a weapon, you bring a dustpan?" I ask pointing to it. He looks at it. 

     "You had a pitched scream and this was my first approach. Don't judge me!" He pouted turning back around, walking out the door. I roll my eyes and chuckle, following him back to his room. I slide off my slippers and since Jesse had a king-size bed, he let me sleep on the right side. I climb in and fall asleep, knowing I had someone there with me. I now feel safe again. 

     Morning arises but it was early early. It was four in the morning and I was wide awake. I turn around and Jesse's back was to me. He's still asleep. I crawl out of the covers and slide on my slippers. I walk out of his room as quiet as possible. I walk back to my room grabbing my phone. I felt bad but I needed to call Liam and talk to him. I couldn't wait to get back to the studio and tell him. 

     My phone rings a few times before it ends and I hear a voice. "Hello?" He said in a groggy tone. More than the phone makes him sound. 

     "Liam, I'm sorry, were you sleeping?" I ask. 

     "Actually no, I wasn't. I was just doing a pre-workout. What are you doing up at four in the morning?" He asked. 

    "Could ask the same thing for you!" I said causing us both to chuckle. I then sigh and explain everything to him. "I had another nightmare. But this time when I woke up, I saw them outside my bedroom windows." 

     He hums. "That's odd. You're like 8 or 9 floors up aren't you?" I nod although he couldn't see me. 

     "Yeah," I tell him. "I had to go sleep with Jesse last night because I was so scared. I feel safe but not at the same time. I don't know what to do." I stress.

     "Well, this is very typical for people who go through horrible trauma. It kinda sounds like you've got some PTSD." he says. 

     "Jesse says the same thing. He thinks it's PTSD. But I think it's just trauma." 

     "Exactly. Post-traumatic stress disorder. Hence the name traumatic." He said, causing me to laugh. He chuckles on the other end. 

     "I just don't know what to do. Because no matter where I am, I have nightmares and I don't feel safe until I know someone is there with me physically." 

     "Makes sense on why you slept easier the night we had our talk." I nod again. 

     "Yeah, exactly. I knew you were there and I felt safe after I woke up and knew you were there to comfort me."

     "I wish I was there. I'm sorry love." He says, sounding guilty. 

     "It's not your fault, Liam. But if it wasn't for you and Zayn, my nightmare would have happened." I tell him. 

     "What was your nightmare about the other night? You did seem pretty freaked out by it." I sigh. 

     "I'd rather not say. It's kinda a dark memory for me." I admit to him. 

     "Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked that." He said. 

     "No, it's all good. But hey, I think Jesse's up. I'll talk to you later." I say. We say our goodbyes and hang up the phone. I scratch the side of my head and set my phone down. Is it wrong to say that I feel safer with Liam and the boys, whom I just met over 24 hours ago than my best friend who I've known for nearly two decades? This makes me guilty. 

     I get off my bed and walk into the kitchen. I grab my bottle of water that was left on the counter. Unfortunately, my ice melted but my water was still cold. I walked to the table on the other side of the counter and sat at the chair. I set my head on my arms. Everything that Jess and I talked about in my head was like it all escaped through my head. It's like it doesn't mean anything to me anymore. I might've just figured it out. 

     I think I'm in love with Liam.