Since We're Alone |NH|

Chapter 58

The next morning, I woke up in the comfiest bed I had ever slept in.  Stretching, I rubbed my eyes, opening them to find semi darkness.  Light was coming in through the sides of the windows, but the curtains were quite dark.  I rolled over and found his side empty.  I frowned a little, having wanted to cuddle into him.  Instead, I curled up and buried my face into his pillow, holding on to that just as tightly as I would've held on to him had he been there.  Breathing in his scent, I sighed. 

After a few minutes, hoping he'd come back from wherever he had disappeared to, I decided to just get out of bed.  I had to pee, anyway.  After using the bathroom, I grabbed a t-shirt of his and my pants before running my fingers through my hair and walking out of his bedroom.

I made my way downstairs where I heard voices talking.  I was about to walk in when I heard my name.

"Ophelia is a sweet girl, Niall.  You've got to stop being so paranoid."  I think that was Willie's voice.

"I know.  I'm just scared I'm going to be played for a fool, again," Niall said, softly.

'What?' I thought, confused.

"I don't think she is.  She seems to genuinely like you," another male voice said. Deo, maybe?

"Yeah, man, she likes you.  You two were so cute last night."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, you were.  She did not want to let go of you.  She was nervous, we could all see that.  I am glad she loosened up a bit so that we got a chance to see what you see in her," Willie said.

"She's amazing," Niall said, again, softly. 

He seemed to be so concerned about something.  'But what?' I wondered, continuing to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"Guys, I really like her, but as I told you last night, I'm terrified she's just using me. I'm so tired of being used. I'm so tired of looking like the world's biggest idiot."

"You don't look like an idiot, Niall.  And from what I can tell, she doesn't seem like she's using you," Deo said.  "From what you've told us, she's been quite considerate and understanding when it comes to what you are comfortable doing in public.  If she was just using you for fifteen minutes of fame, she'd probably insist on being able to hold your hand or kiss you or do something in public so people would notice her.  But, you said she isn't doing any of that, right?"

"Yeah, but that's how Maggie was, at first."

"No, Niall, Maggie craved the attention she got.  You remember how pissed you were at her for kissing you after you had spotted a paparazzi?  I honestly don't see Ophelia doing that."  I think that was Deo speaking.

"I don't either," Willie said.

"Like I told you last night, give her an honest chance, Niall.  So far, no one has seen any warning signs that she is in any way like Maggie.  Maggie used you.  She used all of us.  And she lied to all of us.  Nobody sees that in Ophelia.  Granted, we just met her, but Mully seems to like her and Tara said she seems genuine, too."

"Yeah but all of you thought Maggie was good, at first," Niall said, defense in his voice.

"Yeah, we did," Willie said, "But then we all wised up to her.  We're just sorry you didn't want to hear it.  Not that we blame you, you were in love."

"Correction – you thought you were in love," Deo intervened.  "There was no actual loving Maggie.  You saw what she was doing to you and your other relationships with us and all of your friends.  You just didn't want to believe it, which we semi understood, at first.  It eventually got a bit ridiculous how you let her get away with so much.  But, as we've all said over and over and over again...Ophelia isn't Maggie."

I heard footsteps behind me and when I looked back up I saw no one but didn't want to risk it so I hit the wall slightly and called out Niall's name as I turned the corner and made my appearance.  Niall was, indeed, standing in the kitchen with Willie and Deo.

"Oh, morning guys," I said, trying to act like I hadn't been listening.

"Morning, babe," Niall said, reaching his arm out for me which I nervously took.  "Hungry?"

"Not just yet.  I can't usually eat first thing.  Give me a few minutes and I will probably be starving."

"Okay," he said, smiling at me.

"Morning, Ophelia," Willie said.

"Morning Willie.  Morning Deo," I said, looking at them all. 

They all had odd expressions on their faces which I may not have noticed had I not heard their conversation.  But, I did.  And, now, more than ever, I wanted to know what had happened to Niall in his previous relationship.  Who was Maggie?  And what the fuck did she do?