Like Dreamers Do (Niall Horan Fan-Fiction)

Chapter 20

The window was slightly ajar in this room.

The bed sagged just so, the way mine had at home in Australia.

There was a desk pushed against the far wall, exactly as mine had been so many weeks ago.

This room was square and painted blue, just the way mine used to be.

It suddenly became very difficult to catch my breath. I was alone, there was no one to help me.

Just as it had been that night.

This room resembled my bedroom from back in Australia. It wasn't exactly the same by any means, but it was enough to bring those memories flooding back.

I couldn't move. I couldn't shut my eyes, because all I saw was the figure of a shadowed man.

I tried calming myself down, but it didn't work.

Especially seeing as there was a noise coming from outside the door.

I felt my breath get hitched in my throat.

I wasn't entirely sure why I did it, but I reacted as soon as the door flung open.

I just screamed. For a long time too. There was no danger, no one was going to hurt me.

But everything had become too much, and I couldn't stop myself from freaking out.

I didn't even realize it was Niall who had opened the door, because I had run over to the open window and tried to climb out of it, whilst losing my breath and panicking.

"Go away!" I screamed as loud as I could, losing my footing as I tried to get a grip on the window ledge. I fell to the floor, curling up and turning my face to the wall.

"Please don't kill me. Please don't kill me." I was crying now. I curled my knees up to my chin and sobbed, covering my face.

I knew there was no danger. And as soon as I heard the door click shut, with a whimpering voice stating "Oh my god Elli what's wrong? I'm not going to hurt you Elli." I knew I was going to be okay.

But I couldn't even look up.

Niall had sat down next to me, wrapping his arms around me as he pulled me closer.

He kept repeating "It's okay, you're okay." But I could feel him shaking.

After what felt like forever, I looked up again. I was still in this room, I still felt unsafe.

But somehow having Niall next to me made it okay.

I wiped away the rest of the make-up from my face with the back of my sleeve and sighed, letting my head rest on Niall's shoulder.

"You must think I'm insane." I mumbled quietly, letting out an unenthusiastic laugh. He tightened his grip around me.

"No, I don't." He answered simply, rubbing my arm. "It's okay."

I was a little confused.

"I just had the biggest freak out in front of you, you think that's normal?" I asked, not looking at him.

He stopped rubbing my arm. I even felt him pull away a little bit, his breaths becoming quicker. He ran his hands through his hair and sighed, putting a hand to his mouth.

"I have to tell you something."

I thought that was my line, which is why I was so confused when Niall whispered it so quietly, unable to look me in the eye. I narrowed my own and shrugged.

"What?" I asked, my heart beating a million miles an hour. My words came out in barely a whisper.

Niall took his time to answer, as though his words could hurt me. I felt myself edge away from him, feeling more alone than ever. Slowly, Niall looked right into my eyes, turning away as he opened his mouth.

"I know about what happened in Australia."

There was silence then. From downstairs, the music was pumping and people were still screaming and yelling in excitement. But I couldn't hear a thing, except Niall's words running through my mind.

"What?" I repeated, my voice barely audible. Niall looked guilty, as though he shouldn't have said anything.

"Elli I-"

But I didn't let him answer.

Picking myself up as quickly as I could, I made my way to the door and ran down the stairs as fast as I could.

I need to get out.

I heard him calling out after me as I fought my way through the crowds of people that had turned up, but I didn't stop.

I didn't even know where I was going but before I knew it, I was out on the street in front of Shelly's house, walking as fast as my legs would allow.

"Elli would you just wait up!" Niall was calling out after me. I quickened my pace.

"I don't need your fucking sympathy okay Niall, just leave me alone." I called back, but I felt my legs slowing down. He was catching up.

"Just hear me out okay?" He had caught up to me now, his hand perched on my shoulder in an attempt to slow me down. It worked too. I felt my legs give in, stopping in the middle of the street.

"No you hear me out." I threw my hands in the air in exasperation. "Now that you know, you might as well just leave. Is that why you've been hanging out with me this whole time? Because you felt sorry for me? Fuck that, I don't need this." I was so close to tears now and as confident as my words were, my thoughts had turned to mush.

"Just listen to me okay?" He called back, both his hands on my shoulders. "The day I met you at that radio gig, I decided to call you. And not because I felt sorry for you, it was because I wanted to see you again. Your grandad told me over the phone about what had happened with your parents. About the guy, that fucking horrible guy that did it. I wanted to tell you, I really did but you were just so happy with us, I couldn't ruin that."

We stood in the middle of the road like that for a while, his hands on my shoulders as the two of us simply stared back at the other. My mind was so foggy.

He had known, all this time.

"That night at the club." I began, my voice quiet. "You kept asking me what I had seen..."

Niall nodded, his bright blue eyes swimming with something unfamiliar.

"It was him." Niall was stating this more than asking, so I merely nodded and let him pull me into a warm hug. I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face into his shoulder, instinctively taking in his familiar scent.

I never want to let him go.

He didn't let go either, which would have been a strange sight to anyone walking past. The weather had picked up now too, a slight drizzle beginning to fall from the sky lightly pattering onto the concrete below. I was shaking.

"Do the others know?" I whispered into his neck, feeling his hands pulling me tighter, closer to him.

I felt him shake his head.

"I didn't tell them. All I said was for them to not bring up Australia."

Even when he didn't know me, he was looking after me. Why did he do that?

I felt so - so fucking vulnerable. I had always been able to take care of myself. Ever since that night with my parents, when all of this had happened, I had learnt to live alone.

But I don't want to be alone anymore.

And with Niall holding me like this, in the middle of an unknown street as though he would never let me go again, I realize why I don't want to be alone.

Because he means too much to me.

And I don't think there is any going back now.