The bus journey seemed to go way too quickly, or maybe when he was with Niall he just lost all concept of time. Either way his day had started off amazingly and Harry had a strong feeling nothing would ruin his mood. For most of the ride to school Niall had just laughed at him, mocked him and just made Harrys stomach do flips. It was the way that his eyes crinkled up when he laughed, or the way he threw his head back when he found something especially funny, or was it the way his eyes, those clear blue orbs, watched him intensely and glistened when Harry said something that pleased him. Whatever it was, it just made Harry like the blonde boy more and more, several times he found himself glancing at the Irish boys wrist almost as if it was a subconscious action. Not being able to refrain a smile when he saw the lack of angry red lines on his arm, Niall began to ask questions. 'Shit' Harry thought.
'What do I say.'
'I'm gunna fucking scare him away.' Harry was pulled out of his worried thoughts by Niall saying something that actually made Harry freeze.
"You were checking my wrists right?" Niall said, making it sound more like a statement than a question.
"Well, no, it was, um." Harry didn't know how to respond so just stumbled over his words.
"Don't lie. Look if you want to know, ask and I will tell you, but if you don't ask you won't know." Niall just looked at him, one eyebrow raised as if he were daring the curly haired boy to say something. "So Niall, ever self harmed?" Harry said with mock enthusiasm, wincing slightly as he finished the sentence.
"Yes Harry, I have since I was nine ... Don't look so shocked." Niall spat defensively as he saw Harrys mortified expression. Harry just sat there and looked at the boy in front of him with a look of pain and anger on his face.
"But why." Harry whispered.
"When you lose your mum and your dad becomes a fucking potato its hard, then when you realize you're gay and get called fag by everyone including your brother, when you get pushed around on a daily basis well, it starts to get you down and you start to hate yourself and it is a way of relieving everything. And can I tell you something I have never told anyone."
Harry just nodded.
"I think my scars are pretty." Niall said so quietly Harry almost missed it. He looked up into the blue eyes that were rimmed with tears and could see fear and loneliness and everything he had faced throughout his shit life reflecting in them. Without thinking Harry picked up Nialls arm, pulled his sleeve up and began to kiss the scars that covered his pale skin. At first Niall flinched but once he realized what Harry was doing, he relaxed and let a smile ghost over his lips. When Harry had finished kissing the scars on his left arm he sat up leant over to Niall and whispered.
" When you feel alone and you're hurting, just remember I'll be right back."
