To Begin Again (narry)

the security is coming

"You can't keep avoiding him." Rachel tells Niall, placing a caprese sandwich in front of him.

"Thanks Rach." Niall will never get used to having someone cook for him and clean after him. "And I'm only tryin' not to bother anyone." Specifically Andrew.

"Harry keeps asking about you, he's worried you're not happy here." She starts chopping the vegetables for the stew she's planning on making for dinner.

"It's not that I'm unhappy livin' here, I'm just afraid of getting in the way of him and Andrew." He takes a bite of the sandwich, chews slowly before looking up at her. "They seem really happy, yeah?"

"They are," She nods in agreement. "Walked in on them kissing."

Niall falters his gaze, letting out a small sigh. "They're really loved up, aren't they?" He plasters on a smile, losing his appetite.

"Truly, and I'm really happy for Harry. He seems like a different person, a lot more cheery." Rachel leans her hip on the counter, she lets out a breath. "You on the other hand, you look miserable."

"Am not," He frowns, hating that they're back to talking about him. "Like I said-"

"Right," She cuts him off. "You don't want to be a bother." She says with an eye roll, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Exactly." Niall starts eating the sandwich to ignore the look of concern on her face.

"Can I give you a word of advice?" Rachel speaks up after a couple of minutes of silence.

"Go on." He sips on his lemonade, his eyes casted down.

"The more you love, the more you suffer." She walks over to him and wraps her arms around his shoulders.

Niall wishes the floor would open up and swallow him whole, the ache he feels in his chest is too unbearable. He struggles to keep it all in, his hands shake and his vision goes blurry.

"Hey," Rachel steps back to look at him, she cups his face and makes him look her in the eye. "You'll be okay, I promise."

He blinks away the tears and forces a smile on his face. "Yeah, yeah I'll be okay."

"Love, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to make you so upset, but I think it's important for you to protect your heart." She gives him a sad smile. "It isn't easy, I know it isn't. But you've got to get Harry out of your heart, he's only going to cause you heartbreak."

"Thanks for the sandwich," Niall removes her hands from his face, giving them a gentle squeeze before letting them go. "And your words." He really does appreciate her brutally honest words. He stands up and walks out of the kitchen, he walks through the corridor and is surprised when a door to his right opens and reveals Harry.

"Niall," Harry smiles softly, happy to finally see him. "Can we talk-"

"Sorry, H. I've got somethin' to do, I'll see you later." He walks away from him, he slips his cellphone out of his pocket and scrolls through his contacts until he finds Ellie's.

"Niall?" Ellie answers.

"No, the queen of England." He says sarcastically, trying joke around. "Sorry, yeah it's me." He fails.

"You alright?" She notices that he sounds different, he sounds sad.

"Yeah, fine." Niall steps out of the house and takes a deep breath before slowly releasing it. "You don't happen to know someone who is hiring, do ya?"

Ellie furrows her brows and clears her throat. "Well," She says slowly. "I thought we'd be short staffed but it seems like you've already been replaced. I'm sure you can have it back if you-"